Great interview! I wish Moon nothing but the best, because as a creative person, she has a caring soul that deserves to shine. HOWEVER, and I say this with sincere respect to her and anyone else: When someone important we love passes on, families learn A LOT about each other, often through times with ugly sentiments that have been repressed for YEARS, even DECADES. Some only want money ( feeling like they deserve rewards ), and some even want integrity ( seeing the bigger picture for maturity and not relying on others ). Moon's situation with Gail is eerily similar to what I experienced with three in-law grandparents, who passed on a while ago. The result was the deaths split several people apart in my own family. It didn't matter what the wills stated. What changed my family was the fight between integrity versus the money. And, seeing people close to me fight over money taught me a lot about most human behaviors. I love Frank's music because I didn't have to make statements like " he's a genius " or " he's a musician. " I was only a handful of small few that studied and played his music, for sheer enjoyment. I can't imagine what Frank was like as a father ( outside of interviews, novels either he wrote or others wrote ), simply because I wasn't born into the family. But, Moon brings up a valid point: To ask the question: " Is genius worth the collateral damage? " Well, it depends on the RESULTS, not the journey. Whatever struggles she went through, she turned out in a much more soulful and understanding person. Moon knew her own integrity, she became a successful person at least creatively ( as opposed to being financially successful say, like Taylor Swift, for example ), and she is able to keep memories of her father alive. THAT is successful in its own right. Dweezil has also become successful in keeping Frank's music alive for a younger generation of up and coming musicians. Not even Gail or Ahmet can touch what Dweezil/Moon has accomplished. They choose the integrity. It's NEVER easy to choose THAT pathway. But, regrets are FAR less severe than choosing to fight over money. I have no doubts that Diva and Ahmet will be seeing the worst in each other as Frank's influence diminishes from the recording industry ( releasing box sets of unreleased recordings will eventually die off through consumers moving on to other vital things in life ). And, in time, Moon and Dweezil will have less to regret. It's one thing being in Moon's position, even with the rough patches she went through ( I feel they were better off compared to some of the families I witnessed ). But, it's entirely different when you see people split apart, even healthy raised families, because they refuse to see the difference between integrity versus money. Wishing her all the best!
I have 2 (somewhat) older siblings. One is a narcissist, as is my mother. The other sibling worships our late father as well our very inaccurate, false family mythology, and is unbending in defense of it. I defended my siblings decades ago when I discovered that they had been m*lested by my dad’s brother. My parents took no action, and actually spent more time with my uncle. My siblings didn’t care that I outed my uncle, except to view me as my parents did - a boat rocking trouble maker. They no longer speak to me and have literally confirmed that they think I’m a loser. I had a heart attack a few months ago, and never heard from them while I was in the hospital. My mom contacted me about 2 weeks later to literally complain to me - about me. If I’m still here when our she passes away, I’m refusing any inheritance. I already know how horrible they all are without having to go through splitting an inheritance with them.
Yeah, these people posting "great interview!" are taking crazy pills. This is so bad, I tried just scanning to parts where she was talking, and just gave up.
Definitely. But to be fair, Frank fked the family up a lot, too. Super strange dynamics all around. In another interview, Moon says she left out the worst of her story because it would destroy so much, eerily suggesting some really horrible stuff about Frank ☹️
If it wasn’t for Frank, there would be no famous Zappa family. Nobody is perfect, and you’re grabbing at straws. How do you know it was Frank who f’d up the family dynamic? I only know that Frank was serious in commentary about anything that he viewed as unfair, un-American, etc. He was, of the many musicians in the industry, not afraid to speak his mind about the PMRC (parents music resource center) and their control of any artist who released an album, by labeling the album. That in itself can make or break an artist. Frank went before the senate on that one in the mid 80s. Only Dee Snider of Twisted Sister joined him in his rejection of the PMRC and their idea of labeling music. Which unfortunately is still alive and well. As for 9 months of the year Frank was on the road touring usually the U.S and Europe, where he had (per capita) probably his biggest following. He wasn’t screwing groupies as is said in one of these comments. I’m sure in the early days of the Mothers of Invention he probably had a few trysts with females. But as the years went on and his bands got younger and younger, as tryouts were not easy, most people auditioning just out of the music school, such as the Berklee School of music (Steve Vai). There were so many great musicians who cut their teeth as a ‘Mother.’ Anyway, Frank worked his ass off for both fame, and family. I’ve read his autobiography and it tells much of what you don’t get in other books about him. He wrote it to set the record straight. As there was so much that was written that was just hearsay. He wasn’t a perfect man; who is? But he made the name Zappa a household name. And as he says in his bio, you don’t want that last name. That’s the one that will get you into trouble, without even doing anything wrong. Love ya Moon, and looking forward to reading your new book. I’m hoping it’s a huge success for you. I met Frank once and saw him play 13 times, as well as seeing him at the University of Maryland lecture on the labeling of music when he was in DC taking on the senate. He would have made a fantastic politician. With that brain of his. Perhaps you, Moon , should enter politics? I bet you’d be very successful.
Frank was sleeping with several women and in love with one of them when Gail met Frank. I have always believed it was Gail’s intention to trap Frank in marriage by getting pregnant. Birth control was available for eighteen year olds. Gail was a groupie who had already been with other rock stars. When Gail became pregnant Frank was searching for the woman he had lived with in Cucamonga but could not find her. He then asked the advice of Ezra Mohawk “what should I do? Marry her?” To which Ezra said yes, do the right thing Frank. According to Ezra, Gail followed Frank on tour pointing to her growing belly, demanding he marry her. Gail knew what she was getting into and clearly believed she could control and manipulate Frank as his wife. I wonder if this will be disclosed in Moon’s book?
Something Moon might not remember: John Till was Janis Joplin's guitar player and his wife Dorcas Till used to babysit for Gail and Frank. They have a son named Mike who would have been hanging out with Moon and Dweezil. She's still living, we lost John a couple years ago.
Moon is a class act. I was a Zappa fan from Day One, but Frank obviously didn't know how to share himself emotionally. His music is brilliant but cold, lacking sentiment of any kind. I met Moon only once, years ago, and I knew that she must have grown up deprived of any kind of closeness. God bless her.
Moon is classy. Good comment, but "cold" is a little strong, doncha think? I can't hang that adjective on a guy who could play a 10 minute blues guitar solo, full of bent notes and emotion, in front of fifteen thousand screaming and applauding fans. Cold doesn't get that kind of reaction.
I get that. I think Frank was capable of stirring emotions with his playing but I think he avoided emotional commitment, certainly to his family. I think that at some point that became a defense mechanism for him.
@@rustybeltway2373o and the fact you don't know sharing emotionally between an adoring crowd is a MASSIVE MASSIVE difference to being vulnerable in an intimate level is WORLDS apart.
Lacking sentiment of any kind? His music is cold? Puhleeeese! How much of Franks music have you heard or owned? Have a listen to ‘Were only in it for the money.’ And so many more of his songs. They’re far from lacking sentiment and far from cold. You’re way off base with that comment. You want names of the songs that will break your heart with their sentiment? Just ask. I’ll give you a list that will make you think and hear twice.
Thanks for telling your story, Moon, keep up the good work. I am the 10th of 12 siblings, had a wonderful, fun but chaotic childhood. As much as I loved and admired both of my parents, they were HUGE triangulators and pitted their children against one another. When my dad died in 2004, all hell broke loose, sides were taken, all the gross greed and inability to just GRIEVE took over. My mom died in 2011 and it happened all over again, only our children were involved...and sides were taken among THEM (the 3rd generation) Today, I have meaningful relationships with only two of my 11 brothers and sisters.
Only one heritage matters in the long run: will I accept God's invitation to live in His House and sit at His Table...an eternal favorite of a Heavenly Father?
What a lovely, well done interview with our beloved Moon. I can hardly wait to read this memoir, as she is a gifted writer & one of my favorite people. ♥️🎶♥️
Really interesting to hear from Moon. Her Mom. Wow. I guess she would know where her mother came from. Motherly love is not that Downy ad. My mother had her trauma and man did she pass it on. I’ll read this book. Sounds like something I could learn from.
@@robinfowler9477 Agreed. I was fourteen when Freak Out was released. Became a fan and saw the Mothers live in September 1966. Met Frank twice in 1975, once at a radio station then he recognized me backstage on the Bongo Fury tour. For me, he was approachable both times. Didn’t act like a lofty rock star.
I find it interesting that Moon freely admits in this clip that her father was the funniest, most intelligent, most creative member of the house who--in *her* words--would make whichever of his children he was talking to feel like *they* were the most important person in the room. That sounds like a great dad (it certainly doesn't sound like "a narcissist", which so many have now labeled him), so it's kinda funny that she also talks about it like there was MAJOR trauma she has to unwind. I think a lot of it simply stems from that fact that while when Zappa was there, he was great, but that he was also on tour 9 months out of the year and so she was primarily left with her mother Gail, who seemingly really didn't care much about parenting. And what Gail did with the will after she died is obscene.
What a beautiful person who willingly gave her home to help pay medical bills only to get treated the way that she did. She only wanted a voice in the business from what I gathered. I hope her book release finds her well, healing and moving forward.
Just one man's opinion here. I find Moon to be really sexy. 🥰 I love her quirkiness. I love her facial expressions. She's a sensitive creature, and my heart goes out to her for having to have gone through what she did growing up and into adulthood. I'm getting a sense of peace from her now; I'm so happy for her. I still don't get what she does for a living, how she affords stuff, how she pays the bills. I know she said she's a creative person, but as we all know, that so often doesn't pay the bills. I hope this book of hers sells tremendously well. I just pre-ordered it today. Can't wait to dig into it once it arrives. 😃
Well she got 20% of MILLIONS Ahmet got in the deal with the record company for franks catalogue guess you missed that. She did whine quite a bit about that extra 5% her mom cut her off from I thought that was a bit much ....she complained like it was a HUGE amount. So she isn't poor whatsoever that's obvious. She probably had or has a husband or partner that made the money cuz she's not homeless that's for sure. I'd give so much for even 5% of millions in my old age like her ....I'm a little younger at 53, not much tho.
@@6Haunted-Days You might very well be right, but keep in mind that Gail left the estate millions of dollars in debt. So it's possible that after the millions Ahmet negotiated in the selling of the Zappa vault and such, there might not have been all that much left. But I don't know; I'm not privy to their financial information. I'm merely throwing that out there as something to ponder. Still, prior to the settlement, what on earth was Moon doing exactly to support herself for all those years?! I don't get it. I'm with you, though -- I'd be jumping for joy for even a little piece of those millions.
I've watched a few of these interviews on Moons book, and the interviewers never seem to let HER talk. They ramble on while she politely nods her head. By the way, Moon is purely delightful and a most beautiful smile. Shine on!
I’m definitely buying this. I, like, totally wanted to be her at the age of 10, so much that in 1983, my Halloween costume was a Valley Ghost, which consisted of me wearing a white sheet covered in pins, buttons. Friendships pins, stickers, etc bearing all of the slang. In Chicago. Moon, if you read this, thank you for indirectly being one of my muses in terms of finding it ok to be gay, to think for myself, to listen to whatever kind of music I wanted to, etc….and to have the strength to develop an identity that most Patriarchal Christian adolescents and educators really took for granted, while being completely cool with shutting mine down- and not really giving a fuck what that could do to a young person. So, for me, you’re up there in the Pantheon alongside Siouxsie Sioux, Deborah Harry, Joan Jett, Tanya Donnelly, Kristin Hersh, Toni Halliday of Curve, Kim Gordon, Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Stevie Nicks and Margaret fucking Atwood. Oh, and I went to high school in Chicago with someone you dated a while ago. Last name initial is K. You dodged a bullet. Xoxo
Moon Unit is so gracious in an interview that keeps dismissing her voice in the name of clarifying things that Geoff Edgers wants to Opine & Limelight in his Expertise. When Edgers casually deflects as though unimportant that he's East Coast, so doesn't know the difference between Hollywood Hills and LAUREL CANYON??! What a Dufus. The WaPo National Arts Guy doesn't----what? Hollywood Hills & Laurel Canyon? But thinks he's Down with Zappa lore. Ya talk to the family, but ya don't quite talk to everyone exactly----which IS kinda the raison d'être of the entire project. For a guy who writes, wins an Emmy, travels? Maybe one day try to find Hollywood, Hills, then what's left of the Canyon.
Cass Elliot, Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison, Carole King, Buffalow Springfield, Neil Young, Brain Wilson, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Ronnie Raitt to name a few lived in Laurel Canyon at that time. It was a true WAIT! WHAT? moment for me Edgers didn't know! The most insulting - when he throws Moon's book on the floor. YES, very dismissive.
It's an INTERVIEW for her book. She's smart enough to know this as well....this wasn't some fan interview it's by a PAPER....🙄 apparently you don't think she's smart enough to know this. Well you don't know it. Sheesh. Kinda silly to get this angry over something so obvious. She talked 85% of the time too.
And if he thought he was down with Zappa lore which he obviously didn't think he was....he wouldn't have asked so many questions. And sorry not everyone but those who live there or give a crap about the 70s lifestyle crap would even know that nonsense. 🤣🤷🏼♀️
Wish Moon the best on her book, but the Zappa family story is just sooo sad! Zappa died too young, not fully recognized for the unique artist he was. Sounds like his “enlightened” views on family created a toxic family dynamic. Frank Zappa slept with groupies that lived in their house and his wife and kids had to just accept it! Horrible on so many levels! No wonder their Mom was so unhappy and mean. Also, Dweezil and Ahmet used to be close and worked together when they were younger. And Moon has always been just cool, articulate. Hope your family can forgive and pull together.
I don't think Zappa ever slept with any groupies in the family house. Moon doesn't mention that, at least, in her book. Although he did have some of them over the house, which I guess is bad enough.
The cool thing is with all of Frank’s pretentious music = Here comes Moon with Valley Girl to help him out so he can have at least one hit song hahaha. Simplicity at it’s finest 🎶
Gosh you’d think Frank was a monster. Relax! Frank cared a lot for all of his kids have you ever read his autobiography? I didn’t think so. He loved his kids very much. Yeah maybe he had a different way of showing it but being a parent and almost a grandparent I know. and who asked for your comment about ‘yay I have a hit song now.’ He was proud of his daughter’s contributions. He also felt like he got lucky and he did. He had his daughter moon how much luckier can you get? P.S. Frank’s music was not pretentious far from it. Actually he spoke the truth even if it was about valley girls or Jewish princesses or heavenly bank accounts by TV preachers. I don’t think you know Frank very well and if I if you do, you haven’t been paying very good attention.
@@lusomargaoh please, we’re talking California. When I lived there I rented a flat in Marin County (Bay area)The upstairs was occupied by an extended family of mostly naked people where first names were the order of the day. Mom and dad had names I’ve forgotten. And times have changed a lot. People change too. I couldn’t imagine Moon or Dweezil calling Frank and Gail mom and dad. That’d be like Sunshine Kesey calling her adoptive dad, Jerry Garcia ‘dad.’ Nope, would never happen. I think it’s respectful. Kids are just little adults.
I just read her book. Her parents were total narcissists who should never have had kids. Her two younger siblings are selfish. They’ve kicked her in the teeth. Moon did not deserve any of this. She is the only unselfish person in the family.
I don't understand the attacks on the interviewer. He is clearly a Zappa guy with a lot to add and handles this really well, I thought! Moon seems v cool...
Youth, fame, and money will all eventually fade away. The relationships you build and the impact God put you on this earth are all that will remain. When Frank perpetually cheated on Gail he injured her, and injured people injure people. Gail’s bitterness toward Frank was apparent when she started withholding his coffee, and vital information in his last days from him. Her bitterness toward Moon and Dweezil was felt when her estate planning was meant to do nothing more than divide the family without context as to why. Today, her bitterness can be felt by the division between the siblings (especially Dweezil and Ahmet) who can’t even be interviewed together. As an old proverb states, “harboring bitterness and resentment is the equivalent of shooting yourself in the leg in order to hit your offender with the recoil.” In the end, Gail’s bitterness has had a lasting legacy that could divide the Zappa family forever.
Gail's decision to defy Frank's wishes didn't sit well with her fans either. Granted we didn't know the details of her decision, but we found it odd that rather than getting the music out to the fans Gail held it back dangling it over the fan's heads like a carrot. I even remember seeing her posting comments on blogs that showed her real disdain for his fans. I find it devastating that she treated her own family as shoddily as she did Frank's fanbase.
True true, considering Frank worked his ass off for his family first, business second. He talks in his autobiography about his best friend, his wife Gail.
I remember Gail or some other woman at the time referring to Frank and others of his ilk as gods while the woman that surrounded them were priestesses.
God Bless your interest in recovering from what you were put through, Moon! "You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your"...parents! (Oh, AND you could have picked a vastly better interviewer than a WaPo narcissist--which was, no doubt, the fault of your "publicist"...) As the ranking adult in your own life, glad to see you're making "lemonade" out of all that yellow snow F'n'G plowed up! **("Vivian Jenna Wilson", nota bene: >they< should reconsider >their< self-destruction in light of Moon's choices...sanity CAN prevail!)**
I've always been fascinated by Moon and the Zappa family. They were sort of the Osbournes before the Osbournes. I do wonder though, what her political affiliation is. I can sort of guess by default. I also wonder what Frank would've thought about the current state of the Democrat party. Being the champion he was of free speech and the First Amendment. He couldn't have been too on board with all the censorship and wokeism of today.
my god she must be tired of these interviews! she does great, but after writing that book and then doing all these deep dive podcasts! I couldn't do it.
ugh.. starting to see that Frank might have been so ahead of his time in the music and ideas, yet with patriarchy which was / still is to some extent in place.. he was not that ahead of his time when it comes to relationship….
Good grief it's a 5% difference from what her dad wanted. Why is she acting like the mother didn't leave her a dime or some small amount? AND if it hadn't been for Ahmet they wouldn't have millions to split! 🤷🏼♀️🤣🙄 I'd give sooo much to have THAT 20% in my old age. Sheesh. I'm gonna guess she still got a huge amount. I get why this might be some personal emotional thing but yea so she's upset over 5% more. 🙄🤣 she got 20% and it was supposed be even at 25% each sibling.
You're missing a couple of greater points here. The fact that Gail lied about the existence of Frank's will for 22 years - until her own death - AND she completely blocked Moon from any input into Frank's legacy/catalog/business. The "upset" fomented by deceit and betrayal has little to do with "a 5% difference."
What a strange, unpolite person this Geoff is. I won't mention at least 4 instances where he is actually demeaning her and the book. Interrupting and rude and loud. Eeek.
The guy moderating must be a liberal because he loves to hear himself speak thinks he knows everything and believes he has to speak over his guests and the viewers really want to hear what he thinks lol. Most liberals are narcissists and think their shit does not stink and really believe that they really know what's best for everyone and we all need them to save us from ourselves since they are so enlightened. They tend to virtue signal every chance they get. When you do not do anything virtuous and doing something virtuous requires effort for a liberal it's much easier to fake it and just spew out some popular politically correct slogans.
Bodhisattva (hindu - the word is “a being who is on the way to becoming enlightened.” Steely Dan has a song Bodhisattva, great guitat on it. The Enlightened Moon one
Great interview! I wish Moon nothing but the best, because as a creative person, she has a caring soul that deserves to shine. HOWEVER, and I say this with sincere respect to her and anyone else: When someone important we love passes on, families learn A LOT about each other, often through times with ugly sentiments that have been repressed for YEARS, even DECADES. Some only want money ( feeling like they deserve rewards ), and some even want integrity ( seeing the bigger picture for maturity and not relying on others ).
Moon's situation with Gail is eerily similar to what I experienced with three in-law grandparents, who passed on a while ago. The result was the deaths split several people apart in my own family. It didn't matter what the wills stated. What changed my family was the fight between integrity versus the money. And, seeing people close to me fight over money taught me a lot about most human behaviors.
I love Frank's music because I didn't have to make statements like " he's a genius " or " he's a musician. " I was only a handful of small few that studied and played his music, for sheer enjoyment. I can't imagine what Frank was like as a father ( outside of interviews, novels either he wrote or others wrote ), simply because I wasn't born into the family. But, Moon brings up a valid point:
To ask the question: " Is genius worth the collateral damage? " Well, it depends on the RESULTS, not the journey.
Whatever struggles she went through, she turned out in a much more soulful and understanding person. Moon knew her own integrity, she became a successful person at least creatively ( as opposed to being financially successful say, like Taylor Swift, for example ), and she is able to keep memories of her father alive. THAT is successful in its own right. Dweezil has also become successful in keeping Frank's music alive for a younger generation of up and coming musicians. Not even Gail or Ahmet can touch what Dweezil/Moon has accomplished. They choose the integrity. It's NEVER easy to choose THAT pathway. But, regrets are FAR less severe than choosing to fight over money.
I have no doubts that Diva and Ahmet will be seeing the worst in each other as Frank's influence diminishes from the recording industry ( releasing box sets of unreleased recordings will eventually die off through consumers moving on to other vital things in life ). And, in time, Moon and Dweezil will have less to regret.
It's one thing being in Moon's position, even with the rough patches she went through ( I feel they were better off compared to some of the families I witnessed ). But, it's entirely different when you see people split apart, even healthy raised families, because they refuse to see the difference between integrity versus money.
Wishing her all the best!
Moon, a very genuine person, isn’t she?
And that smile, wow.
You don’t know a person until you split an inheritance with them.
Don’t I know that.
@@gissellest333same 😔
I have 2 (somewhat) older siblings. One is a narcissist, as is my mother. The other sibling worships our late father as well our very inaccurate, false family mythology, and is unbending in defense of it. I defended my siblings decades ago when I discovered that they had been m*lested by my dad’s brother. My parents took no action, and actually spent more time with my uncle. My siblings didn’t care that I outed my uncle, except to view me as my parents did - a boat rocking trouble maker. They no longer speak to me and have literally confirmed that they think I’m a loser. I had a heart attack a few months ago, and never heard from them while I was in the hospital. My mom contacted me about 2 weeks later to literally complain to me - about me.
If I’m still here when our she passes away, I’m refusing any inheritance. I already know how horrible they all are without having to go through splitting an inheritance with them.
That's why I split inheritances with everyone I meet.
That's why I split inheritances with everyone I meet.
When the interviewer talks 70% and the guest 30%.
Yeah, these people posting "great interview!" are taking crazy pills. This is so bad, I tried just scanning to parts where she was talking, and just gave up.
By explaining I thinkg he is helping her M U so she doesn't have to talk and talk and talk and can fill in the details of the topic Q
@@williampalmer8052 Yes, I've seen at least 3 recent interviews with Moon that are much better and smoother than this one.
I hate how he cuts her off and interjects with his own thoughts.
I hate how, when he does, her audio completely goes out.🙄
Gail went totally against Franks wishes. Gail fked that whole family up
Definitely. But to be fair, Frank fked the family up a lot, too. Super strange dynamics all around.
In another interview, Moon says she left out the worst of her story because it would destroy so much, eerily suggesting some really horrible stuff about Frank ☹️
Frank was gone 9 months out of the years, screwing groupies and getting applause.
If it wasn’t for Frank, there would be no famous Zappa family. Nobody is perfect, and you’re grabbing at straws. How do you know it was Frank who f’d up the family dynamic?
I only know that Frank was serious in commentary about anything that he viewed as unfair, un-American, etc. He was, of the many musicians in the industry, not afraid to speak his mind about the PMRC (parents music resource center) and their control of any artist who released an album, by labeling the album. That in itself can make or break an artist. Frank went before the senate on that one in the mid 80s. Only Dee Snider of Twisted Sister joined him in his rejection of the PMRC and their idea of labeling music. Which unfortunately is still alive and well.
As for 9 months of the year Frank was on the road touring usually the U.S and Europe, where he had (per capita) probably his biggest following. He wasn’t screwing groupies as is said in one of these comments. I’m sure in the early days of the Mothers of Invention he probably had a few trysts with females. But as the years went on and his bands got younger and younger, as tryouts were not easy, most people auditioning just out of the music school, such as the Berklee School of music (Steve Vai). There were so many great musicians who cut their teeth as a ‘Mother.’
Anyway, Frank worked his ass off for both fame, and family. I’ve read his autobiography and it tells much of what you don’t get in other books about him. He wrote it to set the record straight. As there was so much that was written that was just hearsay.
He wasn’t a perfect man; who is? But he made the name Zappa a household name. And as he says in his bio, you don’t want that last name. That’s the one that will get you into trouble, without even doing anything wrong.
Love ya Moon, and looking forward to reading your new book. I’m hoping it’s a huge success for you. I met Frank once and saw him play 13 times, as well as seeing him at the University of Maryland lecture on the labeling of music when he was in DC taking on the senate. He would have made a fantastic politician. With that brain of his. Perhaps you, Moon , should enter politics? I bet you’d be very successful.
Frank was sleeping with several women and in love with one of them when Gail met Frank. I have always believed it was Gail’s intention to trap Frank in marriage by getting pregnant. Birth control was available for eighteen year olds. Gail was a groupie who had already been with other rock stars. When Gail became pregnant Frank was searching for the woman he had lived with in Cucamonga but could not find her. He then asked the advice of Ezra Mohawk “what should I do? Marry her?” To which Ezra said yes, do the right thing Frank. According to Ezra, Gail followed Frank on tour pointing to her growing belly, demanding he marry her. Gail knew what she was getting into and clearly believed she could control and manipulate Frank as his wife. I wonder if this will be disclosed in Moon’s book?
What is your source, please? (Not doubting or anything, just curious).
@@leandrobastos6962 She is the source. What a strange, woke, libtard question! Pet peeve af.
Something Moon might not remember: John Till was Janis Joplin's guitar player and his wife Dorcas Till used to babysit for Gail and Frank. They have a son named Mike who would have been hanging out with Moon and Dweezil. She's still living, we lost John a couple years ago.
What a great interview. I grew up with Valley Girl and it was such a phenomenal song
I was 10 when valley girl came out. Wow was it a thing. NorCal girl FYI
Moon is a class act. I was a Zappa fan from Day One, but Frank obviously didn't know how to share himself emotionally. His music is brilliant but cold, lacking sentiment of any kind. I met Moon only once, years ago, and I knew that she must have grown up deprived of any kind of closeness. God bless her.
Moon is classy. Good comment, but "cold" is a little strong, doncha think? I can't hang that adjective on a guy who could play a 10 minute blues guitar solo, full of bent notes and emotion, in front of fifteen thousand screaming and applauding fans. Cold doesn't get that kind of reaction.
I get that. I think Frank was capable of stirring emotions with his playing but I think he avoided emotional commitment, certainly to his family. I think that at some point that became a defense mechanism for him.
@@rustybeltway2373good grief yea apparently you miss me that part too cuz I get exactly what they means....
@@rustybeltway2373o and the fact you don't know sharing emotionally between an adoring crowd is a MASSIVE MASSIVE difference to being vulnerable in an intimate level is WORLDS apart.
Lacking sentiment of any kind? His music is cold? Puhleeeese!
How much of Franks music have you heard or owned? Have a listen to ‘Were only in it for the money.’ And so many more of his songs. They’re far from lacking sentiment and far from cold.
You’re way off base with that comment. You want names of the songs that will break your heart with their sentiment? Just ask. I’ll give you a list that will make you think and hear twice.
Thanks for telling your story, Moon, keep up the good work. I am the 10th of 12 siblings, had a wonderful, fun but chaotic childhood. As much as I loved and admired both of my parents, they were HUGE triangulators and pitted their children against one another. When my dad died in 2004, all hell broke loose, sides were taken, all the gross greed and inability to just GRIEVE took over. My mom died in 2011 and it happened all over again, only our children were involved...and sides were taken among THEM (the 3rd generation)
Today, I have meaningful relationships with only two of my 11 brothers and sisters.
Only one heritage matters in the long run: will I accept God's invitation to live in His House and sit at His Table...an eternal favorite of a Heavenly Father?
What a lovely, well done interview with our beloved Moon. I can hardly wait to read this memoir, as she is a gifted writer & one of my favorite people. ♥️🎶♥️
Shame on Diva, Gail, and Ahmet! It would have been so easy to do the right thing.
I'd seen photos of her on his albums, and even then thought "kind of a bitch, isn't she". I had no idea.
Really interesting to hear from Moon. Her Mom. Wow. I guess she would know where her mother came from. Motherly love is not that Downy ad. My mother had her trauma and man did she pass it on. I’ll read this book. Sounds like something I could learn from.
love you Moon. May you be happy, may you be peaceful, may you be loved, may you be loving, may you be healthy, may you be healed 🙏🏼
Moon , your smile made my day and probably more. So beautiful. Love from Argentina
Frank fan since 1965. wonderful interview and lens into a complicated life with a genius. thank you moon!
@@robinfowler9477 Agreed. I was fourteen when Freak Out was released. Became a fan and saw the Mothers live in September 1966. Met Frank twice in 1975, once at a radio station then he recognized me backstage on the Bongo Fury tour. For me, he was approachable both times. Didn’t act like a lofty rock star.
I have a lot of respect for Moon.❤
Excellent interview - very insightful!
Is this whole thing just a monologue by Edgers with occasional interjections from the guest?
It's the Washington Post.
It’s a remote interview. It’s hard not to step on each other unless you are in the same room.
@@mcolville There are much better interviews with Moon to be found on RUclips. Skip this one. He’s annoying.
I preordered the book and am looking forward to listening to it, so glad Moon is going to narrate it...
Me, too. I just ordered it today (it comes out tomorrow -- 08/20/24). I'm really looking forward to it.
I was "F"ed over when my parents died as well. My brother took everything, even sold my home without giving me a dime! I commiserate with Moon.
I find it interesting that Moon freely admits in this clip that her father was the funniest, most intelligent, most creative member of the house who--in *her* words--would make whichever of his children he was talking to feel like *they* were the most important person in the room. That sounds like a great dad (it certainly doesn't sound like "a narcissist", which so many have now labeled him), so it's kinda funny that she also talks about it like there was MAJOR trauma she has to unwind. I think a lot of it simply stems from that fact that while when Zappa was there, he was great, but that he was also on tour 9 months out of the year and so she was primarily left with her mother Gail, who seemingly really didn't care much about parenting. And what Gail did with the will after she died is obscene.
What a beautiful person who willingly gave her home to help pay medical bills only to get treated the way that she did. She only wanted a voice in the business from what I gathered. I hope her book release finds her well, healing and moving forward.
This was a _deep cut,_ to borrow the phrase.
Just one man's opinion here. I find Moon to be really sexy. 🥰 I love her quirkiness. I love her facial expressions. She's a sensitive creature, and my heart goes out to her for having to have gone through what she did growing up and into adulthood.
I'm getting a sense of peace from her now; I'm so happy for her.
I still don't get what she does for a living, how she affords stuff, how she pays the bills. I know she said she's a creative person, but as we all know, that so often doesn't pay the bills. I hope this book of hers sells tremendously well. I just pre-ordered it today. Can't wait to dig into it once it arrives. 😃
Well she got 20% of MILLIONS Ahmet got in the deal with the record company for franks catalogue guess you missed that.
She did whine quite a bit about that extra 5% her mom cut her off from I thought that was a bit much ....she complained like it was a HUGE amount.
So she isn't poor whatsoever that's obvious. She probably had or has a husband or partner that made the money cuz she's not homeless that's for sure.
I'd give so much for even 5% of millions in my old age like her ....I'm a little younger at 53, not much tho.
@@6Haunted-Days You might very well be right, but keep in mind that Gail left the estate millions of dollars in debt. So it's possible that after the millions Ahmet negotiated in the selling of the Zappa vault and such, there might not have been all that much left.
But I don't know; I'm not privy to their financial information. I'm merely throwing that out there as something to ponder.
Still, prior to the settlement, what on earth was Moon doing exactly to support herself for all those years?! I don't get it.
I'm with you, though -- I'd be jumping for joy for even a little piece of those millions.
@@Jim_L Moon got married. Her husband supported her.
@@spiritof6663 Read book for update on that
I've watched a few of these interviews on Moons book, and the interviewers never seem to let HER talk. They ramble on while she politely nods her head.
By the way, Moon is purely delightful and a most beautiful smile. Shine on!
It's not logical that I have a love for this woman
I love this. It is amazing like an open window! Thank you Moon for sharing.
I’m definitely buying this.
I, like, totally wanted to be her at the age of 10, so much that in 1983, my Halloween costume was a Valley Ghost, which consisted of me wearing a white sheet covered in pins, buttons. Friendships pins, stickers, etc bearing all of the slang. In Chicago.
Moon, if you read this, thank you for indirectly being one of my muses in terms of finding it ok to be gay, to think for myself, to listen to whatever kind of music I wanted to, etc….and to have the strength to develop an identity that most Patriarchal Christian adolescents and educators really took for granted, while being completely cool with shutting mine down- and not really giving a fuck what that could do to a young person.
So, for me, you’re up there in the Pantheon alongside Siouxsie Sioux, Deborah Harry, Joan Jett, Tanya Donnelly, Kristin Hersh, Toni Halliday of Curve, Kim Gordon, Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Stevie Nicks and Margaret fucking Atwood. Oh, and I went to high school in Chicago with someone you dated a while ago. Last name initial is K. You dodged a bullet. Xoxo
I listened to Moon's song "Valley Girl" for the first time on Punk Album 2012 or 2013 on CD!
Moon Unit is so gracious in an interview that keeps dismissing her voice in the name of clarifying things that Geoff Edgers wants to Opine & Limelight in his Expertise. When Edgers casually deflects as though unimportant that he's East Coast, so doesn't know the difference between Hollywood Hills and LAUREL CANYON??! What a Dufus. The WaPo National Arts Guy doesn't----what? Hollywood Hills & Laurel Canyon? But thinks he's Down with Zappa lore. Ya talk to the family, but ya don't quite talk to everyone exactly----which IS kinda the raison d'être of the entire project. For a guy who writes, wins an Emmy, travels? Maybe one day try to find Hollywood, Hills, then what's left of the Canyon.
Cass Elliot, Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison, Carole King, Buffalow Springfield, Neil Young, Brain Wilson, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Ronnie Raitt to name a few lived in Laurel Canyon at that time. It was a true WAIT! WHAT? moment for me Edgers didn't know! The most insulting - when he throws Moon's book on the floor. YES, very dismissive.
It's an INTERVIEW for her book. She's smart enough to know this as well....this wasn't some fan interview it's by a PAPER....🙄 apparently you don't think she's smart enough to know this. Well you don't know it. Sheesh. Kinda silly to get this angry over something so obvious. She talked 85% of the time too.
And if he thought he was down with Zappa lore which he obviously didn't think he was....he wouldn't have asked so many questions.
And sorry not everyone but those who live there or give a crap about the 70s lifestyle crap would even know that nonsense. 🤣🤷🏼♀️
Keep shining Moon!
I really like her...
frank passed dec 4 of 93,52 yrs old ,just shy of his bday
Wish Moon the best on her book, but the Zappa family story is just sooo sad! Zappa died too young, not fully recognized for the unique artist he was. Sounds like his “enlightened” views on family created a toxic family dynamic. Frank Zappa slept with groupies that lived in their house and his wife and kids had to just accept it! Horrible on so many levels! No wonder their Mom was so unhappy and mean. Also, Dweezil and Ahmet used to be close and worked together when they were younger. And Moon has always been just cool, articulate. Hope your family can forgive and pull together.
I don't think Zappa ever slept with any groupies in the family house. Moon doesn't mention that, at least, in her book. Although he did have some of them over the house, which I guess is bad enough.
The cool thing is with all of Frank’s pretentious music = Here comes Moon with Valley Girl to help him out so he can have at least one hit song hahaha. Simplicity at it’s finest 🎶
I always felt Frank was a serious composer who paid the bills by being a comedian.
Gosh you’d think Frank was a monster. Relax! Frank cared a lot for all of his kids have you ever read his autobiography? I didn’t think so. He loved his kids very much. Yeah maybe he had a different way of showing it but being a parent and almost a grandparent I know. and who asked for your comment about ‘yay I have a hit song now.’ He was proud of his daughter’s contributions. He also felt like he got lucky and he did. He had his daughter moon how much luckier can you get?
P.S. Frank’s music was not pretentious far from it. Actually he spoke the truth even if it was about valley girls or Jewish princesses or heavenly bank accounts by TV preachers. I don’t think you know Frank very well and if I if you do, you haven’t been paying very good attention.
I hear you, Moon. I'm too poor to buy it, so I'll put it on my shopping list.
2 words: public library.
Joe Bonamassa Interviewing MOON UNIT... Luv the resemblance 😁👍🏻
I’m going to Amazon now, I hope it’s available in hardback.
Oh I saw Moon's brother in the movie "Pretty in Pink" which played Mollys friend! They dated in a real- life at the time
HE TALKED MORE THAN HER. UGH
No he didn't ....stop being dramatic 🙄
Moon called her parents by their first names? My family is totally different! Well, Zappas are rock star legends!
@@susan-7865 Apparently that was what Frank and Gail insisted on. No mom or pop for them!
Sign of immature people refusing to take parental responsibility
@@lusomargaoh please, we’re talking California. When I lived there I rented a flat in Marin County (Bay area)The upstairs was occupied by an extended family of mostly naked people where first names were the order of the day. Mom and dad had names I’ve forgotten. And times have changed a lot. People change too. I couldn’t imagine Moon or Dweezil calling Frank and Gail mom and dad. That’d be like Sunshine Kesey calling her adoptive dad, Jerry Garcia ‘dad.’ Nope, would never happen. I think it’s respectful. Kids are just little adults.
I just read her book. Her parents were total narcissists who should never have had kids. Her two younger siblings are selfish. They’ve kicked her in the teeth. Moon did not deserve any of this. She is the only unselfish person in the family.
Gail's attitude towards Moon was that of immaturity, jealously and rivalry for Frank's attention. The book was a very sad read to most part...
She's the only sane, mature person in the entire family, including the parents.
I don't understand the attacks on the interviewer. He is clearly a Zappa guy with a lot to add and handles this really well, I thought! Moon seems v cool...
Why won't anyone let her talk?
Youth, fame, and money will all eventually fade away. The relationships you build and the impact God put you on this earth are all that will remain. When Frank perpetually cheated on Gail he injured her, and injured people injure people. Gail’s bitterness toward Frank was apparent when she started withholding his coffee, and vital information in his last days from him. Her bitterness toward Moon and Dweezil was felt when her estate planning was meant to do nothing more than divide the family without context as to why. Today, her bitterness can be felt by the division between the siblings (especially Dweezil and Ahmet) who can’t even be interviewed together. As an old proverb states, “harboring bitterness and resentment is the equivalent of shooting yourself in the leg in order to hit your offender with the recoil.” In the end, Gail’s bitterness has had a lasting legacy that could divide the Zappa family forever.
The host needs to be quiet and let the guest talk
The kids were not alright in the Zappa family 😢
I loved America, the Beautiful ❤
Best thing about valley girl has always been THE BASS !
I saw a leather teddie at Victoria's Secret.
Gail's decision to defy Frank's wishes didn't sit well with her fans either. Granted we didn't know the details of her decision, but we found it odd that rather than getting the music out to the fans Gail held it back dangling it over the fan's heads like a carrot. I even remember seeing her posting comments on blogs that showed her real disdain for his fans. I find it devastating that she treated her own family as shoddily as she did Frank's fanbase.
True true, considering Frank worked his ass off for his family first, business second. He talks in his autobiography about his best friend, his wife Gail.
I remember Gail or some other woman at the time referring to Frank and others of his ilk as gods while the woman that surrounded them were priestesses.
Rocktails? I'm definitely confused time-line wise. (Brando) ? Dweeze & Ahmet seem to get along just fine.
No, they don't. Where are you seeing that? LOL
If the inheritance money was evenly distributed I wonder if this book would have been written.
You have very little insight if you think it wouldn’t have been, given the dynamics created by her mother
😢 interesting
God Bless your interest in recovering from what you were put through, Moon! "You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your"...parents! (Oh, AND you could have picked a vastly better interviewer than a WaPo narcissist--which was, no doubt, the fault of your "publicist"...)
As the ranking adult in your own life, glad to see you're making "lemonade" out of all that yellow snow F'n'G plowed up!
**("Vivian Jenna Wilson", nota bene: >they< should reconsider >their< self-destruction in light of Moon's choices...sanity CAN prevail!)**
Talk to Leon Hendrix the brother about the Jimi Hendrix word.
I've always been fascinated by Moon and the Zappa family. They were sort of the Osbournes before the Osbournes. I do wonder though, what her political affiliation is. I can sort of guess by default. I also wonder what Frank would've thought about the current state of the Democrat party. Being the champion he was of free speech and the First Amendment. He couldn't have been too on board with all the censorship and wokeism of today.
my god she must be tired of these interviews! she does great, but after writing that book and then doing all these deep dive podcasts! I couldn't do it.
Moon is the oldest?? Hmmm.. I'm the oldest of the four like she did hmm..
ugh.. starting to see that Frank might have been so ahead of his time in the music and ideas, yet with patriarchy which was / still is to some extent in place.. he was not that ahead of his time when it comes to relationship….
Feelings an f-word .. Nowadays especially we know that’s not healthy :-(
"rose to prominence" might be overstating it...
Gail was clearly a narcissist!!
both parents were
Good grief it's a 5% difference from what her dad wanted. Why is she acting like the mother didn't leave her a dime or some small amount?
AND if it hadn't been for Ahmet they wouldn't have millions to split! 🤷🏼♀️🤣🙄 I'd give sooo much to have THAT 20% in my old age.
Sheesh. I'm gonna guess she still got a huge amount.
I get why this might be some personal emotional thing but yea so she's upset over 5% more. 🙄🤣 she got 20% and it was supposed be even at 25% each sibling.
You're missing a couple of greater points here. The fact that Gail lied about the existence of Frank's will for 22 years - until her own death - AND she completely blocked Moon from any input into Frank's legacy/catalog/business. The "upset" fomented by deceit and betrayal has little to do with "a 5% difference."
For all his musical accomplishments, it seems Frank wasn't good with handling finances.
What a strange, unpolite person this Geoff is. I won't mention at least 4 instances where he is actually demeaning her and the book. Interrupting and rude and loud. Eeek.
The guy moderating must be a liberal because he loves to hear himself speak thinks he knows everything and believes he has to speak over his guests and the viewers really want to hear what he thinks lol. Most liberals are narcissists and think their shit does not stink and really believe that they really know what's best for everyone and we all need them to save us from ourselves since they are so enlightened. They tend to virtue signal every chance they get. When you do not do anything virtuous and doing something virtuous requires effort for a liberal it's much easier to fake it and just spew out some popular politically correct slogans.
Terrible interviewer.
Cult mentality.
I mean this happens sometimes it happened to me it was the Mom's decision. The Mom made the best choice for the family.
Bodhisattva (hindu - the word is “a being who is on the way to becoming enlightened.” Steely Dan has a song Bodhisattva, great guitat on it. The Enlightened Moon one