Frank Zappa - Lost Interview - McCarthy, Elvis & Racism(2-7)
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- Опубликовано: 17 янв 2009
- PART 2 0F 7
Frank recounts the damage caused by the communist witch hunts. His early run ins with the popular crowd & Elvis
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![Frank Zappa • Interview (Censorship/Mudsharks/Overnight Sensation/Holiday Inns)• 1973 [RITY Archive]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUXZN6mKiS8/mqdefault.jpg)
Zappa thought for himself, which is quite a gift. You can see that in his eyes and hear it in his voice with every sentence.
I think that's why people are so upset.
Zappa said it best when asked how he wanted his legacy to be seen. He simply stated " it's not important to be remembered " - it might be off -- but I would say he had a slight existentialist bent-- live the moment, and be done.
Jason Rosner- Bass, I have always equated Frank Zappa with my absolute favorite book “ Be Here Now” by Ram Dass (the original version). They both seem to exist on the same plane. ✌️
It’s also rare for an American. We aren’t taught to do this. From day one of school it’s “pick a side”.
@@iownadodge7081 What is the bottom line of that book?
You sure as hell represent something to me, and you never let me down, Zappa. The musical enigma.
Here hear!! Agree 💯
Saw him twice! Love Frank !
I love FZ. But politically he was as opionated as he was ignorant and naive.
@@fastinbulvis2223 What makes you say that?
@@BrownSoldier96 In terms of interviews, FZ was a virtue signalling troll in search of narcissistic supply.
That's why, though he acted like he didn't give a s**t, he loved being interviewed. Because it gave him the chance to mouth off. But when you dig past the surface, there's nothing there. That's why so little of what he had to say has aged well.
At the end of the day he was just another guy with an opinion.
He's not bitter at all. He just tells it like it is. He wasn't out for fame. He wasn't trying to make hit records. He was anti-Elvis, anti-Beatlemania, and he didn't like being told what music he could play. He was on Nobodies bandwagon. A totally original guy who wasn't a sellout, what's wrong with that?
MacDisel1 what an asshole ! elvis was the greatest singer ever. this fool cant come close
Jeremija de Krstić without elvis this clown woyld have never been heard of
Jeremija de Krstić. what the fuck kind of name is de krisic !
MacDisel1 112 gold records! zappa wishes he had that
Jim Morrison's dad was an admiral.
The subtlest and finest sociological reasoning on music I have ever heard by a rock star ☺
He hates being called a rockstar
@@fz7788 yes, he’s not a rock star he was an artist/ musician/ composer.
@a p not a rock star, he’s as I described above lol.
Elvis was just singing what he sang... He grew up around all the blues, gospel, soul, and country artists.
Being white helped him, no doubt. But on balance, he introduced the white ears of America to culturally integrated music - and changed a lot of hearts in the process. He did a lot of good...
No. He didn't. He built a career off of the music of black musicians and had countless opportunities to credit or elevate them and squandered every single one of them because he knew his audience was racist and would turn on him. Stop whitewashing history. Tell the fucking truth.
I've always thought that that era's music was the civil rights movement's greatest weapon.
It really impresses me what a very intelligent guy Frank Zappa was
You mean oh wow not all media is directed and it's great to really hear what he thought without hearing it through second hand filters.
He is wrong about Mccarthy, and he would admit it now.
Intelligent?according to what he said McCarthy was a bad guy because he looked like a bad guy and Elvis was good singer because he looked good🤔
"first of all I don't owe anything to anybody, and that's different right there..." That's HOW
love how frank smiles at the question about his diverse band back in the mojave desert; he liked that question and his response is so different from the typical “rock journalism” questions that he was asked a million times...
Zappa's eyes have always seemed so warm to me. He seemed like such a well spoken warm character.
Exactly he was so real about everything!
I interviewed him briefly for a local underground paper with some other reporters once around 1970....he was so nice. Patiently and respectfully answering all our questions.
I love, respect and miss this man quite a bit. In his last years I thought he was ready to involve himself in the political process. I believe he would've made a great President cause as he said he didnt owe anything to anybody.
@@craigtarre7369 he would've been a good president, and that's why he never would've been allowed to win. When you show up at the white house you're arriving at a machine that already has this incredible momentum, and all these people are making all this money, and building their reputations and their identities around that money and that power, and their whole life is structured around it, and these guys control the media and the electoral process and the intelligence apparatus of the country, and if they don't like you you're just never getting anywhere near the white house.
He want “warm” guy ignored his kids but he was a smart man
@@fz7788 Many great men ignored their kids. I think if u asked his kids tho they would say different.
I could listen to Frank Zappa talk for hours.
I have 50 records of Zappa and 49 of Elvis. Love 'm both, for different reasons musically, but it's the love for music.
Frank Zappa was a musical and intellectual genius.
"Frank Zappa was a musical and intellectual genius"...incapable of critical thinking when it came to Elvis.
More like a pompous, arrogant douche. But a good guitar player.
Yes. Government. During this covid thing, He would be the first to say that government is blowing this out of proportion in the name of price gouging etc. I
How is he a douche to point out the obvious ? It is still the sons and daughters of the wealthy merchants calling the dhots
@@secretidentitynetwork3085 Arrogant is one thing Frank Zappa was not. I knew him well in the early 1970s and at that time he was unassuming about his fame.
@@paulinebutcherbird I appreciate your reply. My comment wasn't about this particular video, just kind of a vibe I got off him. I may have taken him as a typical, "we all think alike" liberal, and that's from whence the comment came. I'm going to watch more interviews. Peace!
amazing interview!!!....thank you for the upload!!!
I could listen to Frank talk music - and cultural - history for hours. Great to see him before his illness having such a relaxed and free-ranging conversation with someone who'd obviously done his homework.
He gets a FAIL in his homework actually. Zappa repeats a cliche that is factually incorrect about Elvis' recording of Hound Dog. His inspiration came from Freddie & The Bellboys version ,recorded in 1956 , it is well documented Presley & the Vegas group befriended each other while Elvis worked in Vegas...in 1956. You can clearly hear which recording influenced Elvis: ruclips.net/video/8N2IHNLFmcI/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/buAS_P0ly3g/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/wJ-iNqajUaM/видео.html
@@markr8326 I agree, he got Elvis wrong.
Zappa was a boring, without emotion
I very much enjoy listening to Zappa, I wish there was more recordings of conversations with the man. I find his thoughts interesting and creative while being fortified with a cold and cogent logic. it is rare and refreshing to experience his brand of insight.
Elvis didn't write...but he arranged, produced and was an amazing singer. He was completely innovative with style and moves. And it doesn't hurt that he was a great person.
Every part of that statement is demonstrably false.
Yeah, Elvis was a hack.
@@brianparks2594 NOW tell why...
@@brianparks2594 Brian is a Google Trollbot and his account is fake. This is part of the whole Communist Takeover. They want to create discord and turn everyone against each other so they can spark a Civil War as their masters have stolen all of the money and need a scapegoat so they can disappear and not be held accountable.
@@brianparks2594 do tell why.
I want to live in a alternative universe where people sets up a shrines to Zappa in motels across the land.
quickthunder86 yes, instead of Elvis!
200 of them!
I have a shrine in my room.
I want a garden (...)
I know this is a wry comment, but I think any shrines are awful. We should not make idols of other human beings.
Thanks for posting. He is answering questions honestly and sincerely; yes, even questions about Elvi\s
He got the Elvis thing wrong. Failed to mention his incredible voice and the emotion it evoked.
Because he was an ignorant
Folks who aren't particularly fans of Elvis will always say that he was only popular because of his look, but guess what... his recordings on Sun Records were big all in the south(Sun didn't have good distribution then), some even went fairly high on the national C&W charts, and one of them even hit number one, before anyone ever saw him on T.V. and before they even started printing his pictures on the 45rpm sleeves... Nope, the first reason those records became popular is: They're Amazing!!!
No, the records he ripped off were amazing. His were boring schlock.
@@brianparks2594 Yet nobody cares. Sad... lol
@@brianparks2594didn’t rip off nobody.He covered the music,credited it to the people who made it and did it better
Zappa fittingly refers to the racist varsity team as "the scum of the earth", yet later at 6:16 he used the term "gentlemen" to describe the attackers. I appreciate how the nature of such a sickening situation did not affect his recollection of the event in any biased way; surely these were no "gentleman", yet Zappa's choice words really show him as humble, honest and having refined character, in contrast to his physical appearance. You can't judge a person by the way they look nor can you gauge their musical genius.
well said
Frank Zappa, was no doubt a political genius who chose to be more like Robin Hood !
It’s also possible he was using the word “gentlemen” sarcastically, which fits with his sense of humor. It’s also satirical, because while you correctly point out that FZ thought they were “scum”, THEY thought of THEMSELVES as “gentlemen”.
spb 78 bingo
Thank you for those pearls of wisdom.
It's rare to come across someone so articulate and intelligent.
Agree completely. Who else could sing like Elvis??????
His voice is a treasure, who else could sing a song in so many different ways? Such a Night, A fool such as I, Suspicion, the list is endless.Especially, with the dross around today, Elvis's voice sounds all the more miraculous.His voice is pure GOLD.
Then why did he refuse to go on after Roy Orbison?
legend has it they're still changing the tape
I wish Zappa was still around. I would love to have heard his take on the current world situations.
Gosh, you wrote that a long time ago.
Be even more interesting these days!
@@g.pmoore4293 You lads barely even knew haha
Im delighted the clown is dead and gone :)
I would like to hear his thoughts on Trump? I'm sure there's no doubt that in his completely honest way. he would explain Trump for the pitiful excuse for a human being that he is.
Such a great interview.
Try mine from 1988: Pauline Butcher interviews Frank Zappa. There are five short videos: Parenting/Politics/Music/Avengilism/a question he asked me.
He was a boring clown
Elvis because of his looks?
He cant recognize that he had one of the most beautiful voices and could sing anything as rock, country, soul, ballads like no other.
When the Beatles guys and others first heard Elvis, it came through the radio and they havent even seen a picture of him. But as they heard him it was like the world stopped for them. Nothing to do with his looks.
Sounds bitter.
Norwegian733 ....Nonsense
I disagree completely. I am a huge Elvis fan and I can tell you Frank is
dead right with his opinion on Elvis. Whether he is jealous of how
successful Elvis was is completely irrelevant. It doesn't make what he
was saying wrong. Frank never said that he didn't think Elvis wasn't
talented or wasn't a good singer, because I am sure he would say he was,
he just didn't care for him. Not all talented people become famous.
Elvis wasn't just a pretty face but what it really took for the record
companies to change their opinion and want to buy him from Sun Records
was all the squealing the girls were making at his concerts. He appealed
to teenagers because he was a good singer but more accurately it was
because he was white, sexy and had explosive youthful energy and
expression in his singing and performing. This is the real reason why Elvis became such a huge
phenomenon. Teenagers also used rock n roll as a way to express themselves and rebellious teenagers ""james dean types, greasers etc"" used rock n roll also as a way to pull away from their parents who came from a more conservative, quiter generation. Rock n roll existed long before Elvis ever set foot in a recording studio but it was yet to find it's james dean or image to uphold it that the teenagers wanted ""a energetic sexy young white man"". Elvis was the guy to fill those shoes and as you would expect became the first huge rock n roll star. If people don't understand that then they don't understand Elvis.
If he was black or looked like the average joe he wouldn't have even gotten a record contract, let
alone sell over 600 million records worldwide. He was the complete
package.
That ending left me wanting more, more than it should have lol
You have given me something to believe in and that is called thinking for myself
Fascinating interview. He seems like a sober guy, matter of fact and with deep humor. You can sense it can’t ya?
Yes, I can.
He's a nice pale man
Frankly ..... A pious numpty. 600,000 folk a year don't visit his home 37 years after his passing, or get called "soul brother" by James Brown. Elvis has that something even today that Zappa will never attain.
Does McDonald's make good food? No. Do lots of idiots buy it? Yes. Are you an ignorant fucktard? Absolutely.
H Reed What an ignorant argument. Zappa respected the music. Not the adoring-induced circus around stardom.
As for being pious, any christian or religious person should know at their heart that the adoration of another person is a sin. People flocking to Elvis's home is not a reason to be proud of.
Zappa did not/could not give a fuck about some nickname or who worshipped who. Elvis Presley's music did not have the originality or creative yet technical makeup Zappa was known for. and anyone that uses the phrase "pious numpty" must understand that no one will take anything seriously that follows it because of how stupid it is.
Lots of morons also go to churches, too.
Majik0715
So, what/who is/was Elvis? What wasn't he?
Elvis had a great natural talent as a singer and actor. Yes, actor. In his first two films he was given good reviews for his ability.
Elvis was not a songwriter. If you wanted an Elvis single, you shared credit with him. Kinda criminal. Not Elvis' doing, but his slimy manager, Col. Tom Parker.
Elvis hated the shit movies, but Col Tom worked him like a cheap whore. Col. Tom fleeced Elvis and turned him into a bloated paranoid drug addict.
The later Elvis band brought up the level of musicianship and not. Great players and there was a kinship between them. Kudos on that.At the same time, how many thousands of wedding bands were inspired by them over the decades? How many shit versions of Elvis songs did they sing? Is this some wonderful cultural goal that was achieved?
Where was Elvis as a father and husband? Don't forget, he was a naive hillbilly with this crazy life. The 60s history of Elvis is a fucking roller coaster ride. He wasn't behaving very good or putting out much good music. Sure, the Studio B sessions in Nashville were great and the occasional killers song, but he's just a pop star at this point, doing shit gospel albums or whatever cheesey thing they can do as a marketing ploy. It's a totally cynical time in his career.
Elvis, while a zombie on pills, did fucked up things like back up Nixon's drug war. Elvis is the poster child or Grad-Daddy for big pharma gone wrong.
Elvis was so drugged out that he had to have diapers. That is a true fact. A grown man being changed by adults in his early 40s. I remember the day he died very clearly.
In the end, the era of pop culture wasn't all that. It is a kind of reaching to be one's best and shine. Elvis ended up a tragic figure.
Frank has inspired people to think and follow goals. Elvis inspired people to suspend critical thinking and follow dreams.
Much as I love Frank, he was an idiot for ignoring his health. See, nobody's perfect.
These interviews are great :) we'll miss you Frank. You told us the truth...
thank you for this post.....
I am a huge Zappa and Elvis fan. They are completely different kinds of artists but both are giants in their own way. Elvis had an amazing voice, incomparable I think, in his ability to instinctively sing songs in so many different styles and of course his influence on other artists was huge. Zappa on the other hand was an astonishingly original and prolific artist and also an amazing guitarist. The humour element in his music is unique. Still I am also IRKED by his mean attitude to ELVIS.
Roy Orbison had a much better voice than Elvis Presley. Elvis even admitted that Roy was a much better singer than he was.
Wow, Zappa really is a different guy. I wish he was still alive so I could have a conversation with him.
I lived and worked in his log cabin in Laurel Canyon 1968 to 1972. I write about it in my book, Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa'. It will give you some idea of what his daily life was like and what it was like living in his house. It follows my own journey from that lucky day I met Frank in London in 1967.
He was a boring clown
@@marlon-jl4ge 😁😆😅🤣😂
@@highwaystar3780 shit ugly zappa changed the music World of boring assholes 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Could shit zappa play guitar with his ugly nose? 🤣
!!! I know there are people who respects what I do and I try not to let them down !!! What an incredible Artist !!!!
Elvis appeal was that he was a great singer & that’s why his appeal lives on when u play his music particularly in the 50’s u can’t see him u just hear that voice. Long live that appeal
Wow, after watching this video, I relate to this guy allot. haha. I never really looked up any of Frank Zappa's work till now and wow, I love this guy.
Presumably, after 11 years, you have some favourite albums among his catalogue?
It's refreshing to see an interview of Zappa in which his 'dirty' words aren't censored.
Bad.....is action....the Eyes can be deceiving.....WE can never judge a book by its cover.....great interview with an outstanding songwriter....thanks
Frank's attitude towards all government is spot on, for a critical thinker.
7:48 so awesome to see Frank genuinely laughing -- damn he was a cool dude
Im one person who does have a shrine in honor of the genius of FZ...Love you Frank
Hound Dog was not Elvis Presley 's only song back then. I hate when this is how he is looked at? Love Elvis always!
Frank, 3:50 : " Well, I doubt whether there is anybody out there who sets up a shrine to me. . . I know there are people who respect what I do and I represent something to them. And I try not to let them down. " Folks, this is Frank Zappa. . . one of the very best things I ever heard him say about himself and to his fans.
Ultimately all who are opining on Zappa's commentary are proving what he always stood for, and that is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I don't know how we came to the place were we find ourselves now [i.e., condemning people for what they believe]. Ultimately we all can feel the way we are naturally inclined to feel…the reason his opinions were worthy of filming is that he had gained a degree of status as someone both influential and opinionated.
At the end of the day, if you don't agree with Zappa, that's your right, but being derogatory through YOUR opinion says that he isn't entitled to HIS. And that, my friends, is a double standard.
I agree with you.
Zappa has a forum and people listen and read Zappa. Not you. Not me.
Interviews, television, documentaries, clips, magazines. All we have S Allen is a response on RUclips. Zappa still gets to a wider audience for his commentary and opinion. And quite "frankly" Zappa goes from intelligent comments to obnoxious in a flash. Not an opinion. That's Frank. For decades.
Zappa was once quoted way back in the early 70's with this: “Compared to Elvis, all other rock stars are a bushel of leaves pretending to be a tree.” - Frank Zappa
I guess he forgot about that quote.
"a fart in the wind compared to Elvis"
A covers artist.
"obnoxious" is not an opinion. Your opinions are strong enough for them, as if by a sort of magic, to become facts for you, then. Thanks for the reveal.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black-influenced -- was anyone we can think of heavily influenced by Guitar Slim, Johnny Guitar Watson, and Gatemouth Brown? And what's wrong with that? Elvis was a big star before his first hit written by Leiber and Stoller, Frank just didn't know the chronology there. On the topic of integrated R&B bands, Elvis's first hit on the R&B charts played by an integrated band (pianist Dudley Brooks was black) was "All Shook Up."
Even before you could listen to the interview you knew Zappa hated Elvis. Elvis was handsome and well groomed; Zappa was neither. Elvis sang songs women wanted to hear; Zappa sang songs nihilists wanted to hear. Band members were irritated by 'his autocratic ways', exemplified by Zappa's never staying at the same hotel as the band members. Elvis had band members speaking reverentially about him until they themselves died.
one is a musical genius, the other, an overrated piece of crap who died producing a literal crap.
@@daleholmgren6078 There is all that, but still I'm also a Zappa fan.
Zappa was a boring clown and an ignorant
Frank is the most intelligent and considerate creative man. I m and his spirit of good fun and thoughtful straight forward guy. So sweet, and sincere and a penultimate professional performer. Never afraid to have a good time and always respected everyone involved artists, audience, opponents. We are better off because he delivered his sensibility every day. I miss him and his spirit.
Joe McCarthy terrified my parents. They were Journalists and had associated often with a lot of folks who were blacklisted.
I like them both. I do somewhat after with zappa'a statement but at the same time you cannot deny the fact that elvis started a revolution. Just took the sun records tour and the guide said that Bob Dylan once got on his knees and kissed the spot where elvis stood. Yeah elvis didn't write songs but he knew how to rock and it caught on with America. the stones the beatles led zeppelin are all influenced. And think how many bands that I just mentioned influenced others. See what I mean
I agree. Zappa should have acknowledged the emotional impact of Elvis' voice and the way he used it.
Shitty zappa ignorant
Gonna grow me some dental floss !
Just me and the pygmy pony, over by the dental floss bush...
Excellent interview.
"I don't think I'm a bad guy." Nope, you weren't Frank but you've had some of the most biting commentary and criticism history will ever hear. Thank the gods.
I miss Frank Zappa
The reason behind Frank Zappas niche and limited popularity is far more a mystery than what made Elvis as successful as he was. Zappas opinion of himself was far bigger than his talent.
😛He made a statement Once..."I make around $300k a Year and Do what I love to Do". I Never cared for His Experiment al music as some call it. Music has been Experimented with by far, far more brilliant people than Him and Music Theory was implemented Ages Ago. Zappa said in one of his interviews that Bach, Beethoven, Mozart...etc Don't interest him. Yeah,..perhaps that's why He couldn't conjure up ONE Decent melody or appreciated it if He heard it? But He was a Polarizing character if Not very Mystical or mysteriously fascinating in any way. He Also Enjoyed Attention very, very much!
Shit ugly zappa was an insult to other composers
@user-lv7in5nc7b 😄😁😆😅🤣😂😛😜🤪😝I gather u don't care for his appearance or Music??
Could shit zappa play guitar with his ugly nose? 🤣
Shit ugly zappa changed the music World of boring assholes 🤣 🤣
he had and because of who he was, kind, generous, sweet and treated his fans nice. Elvis is known and loved around the World. I can listen to a couple of Zappa's songs, Elvis is easy to listen to all day
Zappa put more blood sweat and tears into his music and composition than nearly any artist. he did not need to be "nice" and "sweet," he made excellent music and was a figurehead in speaking out against censorship in music.
Alex Millah I also said on top of being a nice guy he was "talented as all get out"!!! His voice was magnificent!
+Alex Millah Right on target Alex. Frank wasn't out to win a popularity contest, he felt he had to get his message out through music, like so many other performers. His style and his sound, is an acquired taste. Reminds me of Dylan that way. I definitely had to acquire that taste. Or even Coltrane. Frank came on the scene and said what needed saying at the time. Elvis had his purpose, Frank had his, Coltrane had his, on infinitude.........It's music, that's the beauty of it all.
Amazing how innovated he was in high school, "the Omen" now that is original
Elvis...'that poor thing'. ha ha I still laugh at. The look too.
We miss you Zap. Artists like Tupac, Biggie, Eminem, and others have nothing on Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Frank Zappa.
***** He wasn't saying that, just saying that they aren't musical genius's like these guys. Name one well known rapper that can read an intermediate piece of music.
TheStankyGreen
the silence 6 months later says it all. I don't really think rap is bad music so much as it is just not music but talking with music in the background that is often composed by a computer.
Kanye West, though it kind of pains me to admit that, and Dr. Dre to name two off the top of my head.
its because they are pawns to brainwash the young... its sad now to see little boys in skrits and see them in politics .
Hr just said he disliked the Beattles and couldnt stand elvis and im ptetty sure he hated the fuck out of sinatra for how he treated dean martin and sammy D
Zappa had a bad injury when he got pushed into the orchestra pit in '71 at a concert in England. His band thought he had been killed-he had suffered serious fractures, head trauma and injuries to his back, leg, and neck, as well as a crushed larynx, which ultimately caused his voice to drop a third after healing. I think if he had ever had the chance to sit down and talk to Elvis he would have liked him - most did.
He is so deep. I really appreciate to earing him
Elvis was a great singer. You cannot take that away from him. His voice is unique. Sure he had good looks and danced and other stuff, but Zappa should have given Elvis some credit. Elvis opened doors and Zappa should have been smart to recognize that.
Majik0715 Thanks for articulating Elvis and the impact he had on the world!
All the Elvis fanboys crying...Elvis was a manufactured product, mass marketed to the kids, and dumber than a box of rocks. There were multiple singers out there with better vocals than Elvis. He himself famously said that the best voice he ever heard was Roy Orbison. Elvis was massive, but he was suppose to be.
@@RSR423 he was being humble...things that nobody can be
@@RSR423 and which fan boy are you? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I wonder what he would say about what's going on in our country today if he was alive. I too was never an Elvis fan. By the way Frank is in no way a supporter of socialism.
He was not a supporter of any group activity including Women's Liberation, and even the unions.
@@paulinebutcherbird neither am I. At first unions may have been a blessing to factory workers until the mafia got into them. They became their own worst enemy. They destroyed the steel industry in the US along with the auto industry. What has women's liberation accomplished?
@@robertbishop5357 I am sure I answered this but in its absence I'll do it again. In 1970 Nixon had three women in his government. There were no women or very few in the judiciary, military , legal profession, engineering, etc. Look at those professions now. You think they happened through osmosis?
Zappa Shows no emotions
Zappa was a boring clown and an ignorant
Without Elvis history would certainly be different.Jagger might have become an estate agent,Dylan a Rabbi, Lennon a bricklayer or Johnny Rotten a judge. He was one of a handful of people who actually affected the course of human affairs. Moreover to quote Leonard Bernstein, Elvis introduced the beat to everything, music, language, clothes. Its a whole new social and cultural revolution that he started. This is why he was revolutionary !! A real agent of social change.
One of my bestest pals i’ve never met.
excellent interview, very funny in parts. Elvis-"drug infetsed blimp" - lmao!!
it's in the eyes
Frank Zappa was absolutely correct in everything he said in this interview. especially in regards to the United States Government. don't ever listen to any politician in our Government. because they don't have you're best interest in mind. I would would really like to know his thoughts on Trump? I'm absolutely sure that he would explain Trump as the pitiful excuse for a human being that he is. it would be so great to have Frank Zappa around today. he is definitely missed.
Elvis' biggest hit was "It's now or never".
Zappa was damn right, outspoken, informed, highly intelligent and articulate. Some people might not like his music, but darn he had his shit together. It was also the great George Carlin who said about Elvis that he was bogus and just whitewhashed black music to make it easier to consume for white people. He didn't evolve as an artist, he just had the looks. Love ya Frank! R.I.P.
Your an idiot. Elvis COMPLETELY re-invented himself in On his return to the states in 1960 he cut "ELVIS IS BACK" which allowed him to show his RB & Blues influences. He intended to move that direction but a huge $$ movie contract and Tom Parker put his plans on hold for almost a decade. By his comeback 1968 period he had developed a maturity and poise that only comes from life and his voice itself matured significantly. Stylistically he broke away from the earlier Rock & Roll sound as well as the 60's Pop and begin to delve into Soul/R&B/Country as well as other genres. His whole Band changed in both personnel as well as scale and capability to support his growth. His performances went from typical 4-5 piece bands to bombastic shows with structured complex arrangements with full orchestras. He also took a much greater role in the material he covered rather than studio material. As a matter of fact his 1969 MEMPHIS album is without a doubt one of the best studio releases of any artist ever. As far as stealing "Black Music" Elvis loved and readily admitted to being influenced by it and he honored and revered men like Jackie Wilson, Clyde McPhatter, Otis Blackwell & Roy Hamilton. Do your homework on the subject next time before making empty observations.
TEXASFENDERBENDER Who said I didn't do my my homework? I do it every day. I don't need to write books about it. I am very well aware of the musical styles in America and how they evolved and influenced each other. It is an integral part of my profession which is called musician. And please, spare me your opinion about my musicianship and knowledge of the subject matter. Much obliged. I didn't say Elvis was the only white artist to copy from black artists. The list is almost endless. In many if not most cases it was/is so obvious that the artist had/has no choice but admitting it. I knew I was touching a sensitive issue.
Jackie Wilson "MOST BLACKS COPIED ELVIS"
TheOnlyOneKing Elvis Well your name says that you are an Elvis fan and I respect that. And yes, musical influences often run in circles. Ray Charles for example integrated country music (which - like it or not - in turn integrated black gospel music - which in turn has roots in both African chants and European music, both folk and classical in the wider sense). The very concept of delivering music with a certain body language and letting your feelings all out is an entire African concept, together with "call and response" - type of singing. You will not find it (pouring your heart out while singing) in any traditional European music, folk or classical (in the wider sense), with very few exceptions such as the portuguese fado (urban folk) or spanish flamenco (gypsy folk).
Great observation Christian: good to hear the observations of someone who respects the topic enough to speak with credibility.
Funny how the counterculture hippies from the 1960's era attack Elvis. Presley may have had his faults but at least he never offended anyone. I can't say the same for Zappa. Who is Zappa ? as previously posted, an insignificant minuet relic who will always be defined as hippie trash. Peace out.
Frank Zappa.. a hippy ? What are you ? Crazy ?
Jane Doe Of course not. Zappa? he was not a hippie. I am however being ultimately sarcastic. no pun intended.
I agree. He puts Elvis down so easily. Elvis sang what he was told to sing. He didn't argue because he was a dirt poor boy that wanted to go somewhere. He became an international sensation. He was abusing drugs for sure but to tell you the truth, at least his music didn't imply that he was on drugs, like Frank Zappa and his weird music. He was, and still is, an international phenomena and Frank Zappa was jealous as hell that he couldn't, even be Elvis Presley's water boy. Seriously, imagine Frank singing to a girl the way Elvis sang a song, like Home is where the heart is. He would get laughed at and he talks this shit as though Elvis was a passing fad. Frank sold how many records as opposed to Elvis? Regardless of who wrote the material either, Elvis was the friggin bomb. It is funny to even hear this loser dump on Elvis in the first place, as though Frank were a genius of musical composition. His music sounded like pure shit and was the product of LSD laced minds in my opinion, even though he supposedly never did drugs, he could have fooled me. Yet he has this condescending attitude as though he could have taught Elvis something. Pffffffft. Really. All I have to say to the people supporting Frank Zappa's perspective on Elvis is a big well deserved LOL. R.I.P. Elvis AND Frank Zappa.
you sound mad
Why are some people so concerned with Elvis not having written his songs. He was a singer and not a songwriiter, he even admitted it. There were lots of singers who didn't write their songs before him like Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Etc ? Is it jealousy because he was the most popular singer in the world?
I’m pretty sure he previously had explained that his high school band The Blackouts at one point replaced him with another drummer.
Everyone knows Elvis borrowed heavily from some black singers who came before him, but he was a unique talent around the time that he put out his first couple albums before going into the service.
He wasn’t the brightest guy, and you can blame Colonel Parker for helping him squander whatever talent he had.
It’s easy to say that “the government lies,” but they weren’t kidding about the possibility of a nuclear war with Russia.
And even though Zappa used to jokingly refer to tobacco as “food,” health officials weren’t kidding when they warned about the possible repercussions of smoking cigarettes.
Frank, as we know, was an extremely intelligent man, but that doesn’t mean he always knew what he was talking about.
What I always liked about him, besides a good deal of his music, was the fact that he was very articulate.
A lot of touchy Elvis fans seeing offense where there isn't any!
Majik0715 Well, if you're a fan of Varese, Stravinsky or Johnny Guitar Watson, you definitely have a desire to made it to the level of Elvis Presley. Seems just legit.
Majik0715
You're kidding
Majik0715
Would you like fish with that?
A lot of Zappa fans commenting dishonestly with their heads up their asses.
The NRA contingency
In a hundred years people will remember Elvis because he changed music and culture who will remember Frank Zappa.ARTIST OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
It is what it is, Frank was a pure genius.He speaks truth in this interview and I love Elvis. Truth hurts sometimes. I still love Elvis and I still acknowledge Frank for being a genius well before his time he saw things and connected dots that no one or not many could do at the time of the hype of Capitalism and love of $ & Power in the US!
+Jack London What Zappa said about Elvis is not true. Lieber and Stoller certainly didn't make Elvis as Elvis made Elvis with his unique voice and stage presence. Pretty simple!
"first of all i Don't owe anything to anybody"...
This guy doesn't realise that Elvis Presley could sing anything. He didn't need to sing black music if he chose not to. It's Now Or Never went straight to number 1. Plus he sang many other songs that were hits. The Wonder Of You, Crying In The Chapel, Wooden Heart, Surrender, Return To Sender, Pocket Full Of Rainbows, US Male, It's Only Love, Your Cheating Heart, I'm Counting On You, My Wish Came True, Blue Hawaii, Can't Help Falling In Love, and many other songs prove this. The fact is Elvis Presley was a great talent, and remains an iconic legend who gave birth to the Beatles, Cliff Richard, and many other artists.
Don't feel sorry for Elvis Presley.....1,000 years from now people will still be listening to Elvis.
E L V I S FOREVER
haha that’s hilarious because no one will i guarantee it
@@dorkbwoy633 no trust me they will be
Elvis Presley no fuck elvis he’s a racist fucking slob who stole from the black community and didn’t write any of his fucking songs he’s a fat talentless piece of shit and he died on a toilet so that’s embarrassing
dorkbwoy Hey 10,000,000 Elvis fans can’t be wrong, not to mention 1/3 of the world watched him on a live satellite broadcasted concert from Hawaii. You can say he stole music from African Americans but if anything he gave them a platform to grow and he was the least racist person to walk the Earth. He refused to perform a concert in Texas due to the venue staff being prejudice to his background singers. A.K.A. The Sweet Inspirations. Do your research sir. The achievements and accolades that Elvis received certainly show he must’ve had some bit of talent in his body. HIS HOUSE IS THE 2nd most visited house in the USA next to the White House of course. And I’m sure you also didn’t know that the highest recorded number of flowers ever sold in a day was The King passed away.
Zappa is right in the respect that Elvis was dependent of song writers, not being a songwriter himself. And hey, not everyone has to be a big Elvis fan. But what Zappa forgot to mention is the voice of Elvis, his rhythm and perfect timing. They way he delivered that made you belive him when he sung. Yes he borrowed from black music, Italian music and more but he made that is own. You have everyone from BB King to Sammy Davis, Jackie Wilson, the Sweet Inspirations, James Brown and the list goes on, that loved Elvis. Yes he was a beautiful man and that helped but no-one would have listened to him if he had not been a fantastic singer. And that Elvis made it, made bands like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the brit invasion give the black blues musicians even more press amongst americans who were not aware of the blues. But not at any moment should the black mans contribution of music to the world be forgotten. Were there not for black music, the world would be a very sad place indeed.
Thanks. Well put. Frank wasn't feeling El, and I perceive that as one of his shortcomings.
I don't agree with Zappa, but is his opinion. Just because you don't agree with him, you can't say that his music was garbage or that nobody will remember him, because both are considered musical geniuses.
Welcome to the church of appliantology
It is false to say Elvis "ripped off" anyone. His influence was from a childhood, in where he lived in the projects being exposed to the blues. Going to church, where he was exposed to Gospel, Listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio, where he was exposed to Country, listening to records of Dean Martin, etc where he was exposed to popular music. His style was a blend of all of that. He didn't sound like anyone. From Rock N Roll to Country, Gospel, R&B, Pop it was all himself.
Listen to Ray Charles.
Just who did Zappa ripoff? His music sounds a lot like light doo wop much of the time. However, if there is anything that I think Zappa pioneered, this concerning his first album Freak Out, was rap music. If you listen to his song Trouble Coming Every day, it's modern rap music a few decades ahead of its time. There were other rap songs before that, such as Waitin In School by Ricky Nelson in 1958, but not with political jive like Zappa did with his song about the LA riots. The song sounds like it was recorded yesterday. I'm surprised it hasn't been covered by a modern rap artist, or maybe it has because I don't follow that music very close.
I give shit on ray charles, hahahaha
Zappa what a mind, besides all the art he made, he catch whats going on in the world.
Thank you for re-uploading this. I dl'ed it before the axe of censorship fell on it the 1st time, happily, 'cus this interview is a gem. The eyes and the gut reaction' you get from people being a decision criteria for what constitutes a good/bad person? May seem shallow, but it applies to Frank. It puzzles me how so many people fail to see the idealism behind the cynicism in FZ's case. He cared. For all his sarcasm and acidic wit, he always struck me as a kindred spirit. It's in the eyes.
Elvis is the greatest ever!
Elvis was an incredible talent despite what this douchbag thought.
Poor Frank. McCarthy was proven right, after the fall of the Soviet Union.
hollywood, academia, media =commie scoundrels
Zappa.... you were so brilliant So realistic. So aware. The George Carlin of music.... the most politically aware and eloquent writer/musician of the twentieth century. What a loss our children don't get to see you.... :-(
I've always thought that Zappa was terrible at interviews! He usually comes off as arrogant and condescending. And his mission always seemed to be, to offend someone/anyone, as his top priority. But having listened to his music for 45 years now, I've come to realize that Zappa was about the music and none of that other bullshit really mattered! I love the music and the man, despite the lousy interviews! A true 20th century Mozart, who had his flaws, just like the rest of us!
If Elvis didn't sing hound dog, no one would have heard of hound dog
Still doesn't make it HIS song. Stop minimizing stealing songs
You mean no white teenagers would have heard of it.
Elvis fanboy spotted...
@@tomcoryell right on
@@ramonfernandomirandanoguei365 right on
@fetnerg
Elvis was a Tenor, Baritone and Bass... His voice covered all three ranges.
Any Questions?
So. Mariah Carey's voice has five octives, but I find her completely boring.
He was a narc. Fuck Elvis
I agree with you. Frank's analysis of Elvis gave no attention to his incredible voice and its emotional impact, emotion being something left out of most of his own music.
Look, I like his music (not enough to buy it and support him, but I appreciate his talent) but that will never change that he was a bad person
Avkszm Tiryyov in what way do you think Frank Zappa was a bad person?
I admire honesty and I think Zappa delivered it
brillante, extraordinario!
Facts to clear up the ignorance:
Zappa was Catholic, and identified himself as Consevative, even though he criticized the Republicans' actions. He was anti-communist. He was a jazz, orchestral and musique concrète composer and a demanding bandleader surrounding himself with musicians who needed to be highly skilled to perform much of his music, NOT primarily a singer. Look it all up.
Um from what I heard he was raised Catholic but became an atheist and he seems to be very critical of religion and republicans in a lot of his music and interviews? I’m not claiming to know either of those things but would like some evidence
If I had to guess though I’d say he’s an atheist libertarian? Something along those lines
I may not be much of a Zappa fan, but this interview is dead on target. Especially his views on Elvis. Decent singing voice, minimal instrumentalist, and minimal performer overall.
Why? You can't handle simple truth. If that's the case, maybe you are the one with the handicap.
Majik0715 -Wow. That kool aid they serve at Graceland is a hell of a drug. First of all, elvis was no real musician. He may have noodled with several instruments, but he was no master of any of them. I think we need to draw the distinction between artist and performer. elvis was a performer, which means he didn't take much responsibility for the entertainment he represented. His voice (the most impressive of any of his features) still pales (literally) next to the ferocious vocals of Little Richard, Big Mama Thornton, or even Jerry Lee Lewis. (Part 1).
Majik0715 -Since elvis wasn't a songwriter, he loses major points in comparison to any of his contemporaries. Strike two for elvis.
Majik0715 -As an onstage performer, elvis couldn't carry a bucket of ice water for James Brown. Compare any documented performance of elvis to the T.A.M.I Show from 1964. Absolutely no contest.
Majik0715 -By 1958, his career is greatly diminished when goes into the army. His career never fully recovered after that. And by the 1960's, when the Beatles (artists) and Motown (artists and performers) take over, elvis is relegated to being a relic of a bygone era. Any careful analysis of elvis in comparison to other prominent pop figures of the day shows that the whole "king of rock and roll" title is nothing more than carefully propagated scam developed by white controlled, thoroughly racist record industry. And like the hip hop community likes to say, "Ain't a damn thing changed!"
Jason Rosner-Bass: RUclips isn't letting me make replies. I've never had much patience with the notion that Elvis stole from black music. Consider "Hound Dog," for instance. Big Mama Thornton's original (written by Lieber and Stoller, two Jewish teenagers) is an ace blues that did moderately well (if I recall) on the race charts circa 1951. Elvis' version, done about seven years later, is far harder rocking, more exciting, and better by every possible standard. That's simply the truth of the matter.
Let's entertain this notion: the " race " chart material--- you think it received the push that white country/ rock and roll records did? No. Go do the tours of the country I have, and see the Deep South-- it's monuments to that time-- the political propaganda/ memorandums- the legal notices--- I can remember a display of it in the royal ballroom in KC best--- and joints in Arkansas that held on to memorabilia from that era---- there was no contest--- if you were not white, you were not noted.
People just like the rock version. The reason why the other versions aren't as famous is because the genre of that music is targeted towards a bunch of fucktards with no taste. why it's more famous should be a good thing, people like you and i exist to enjoy it. Not idiots who put their hat on backwards.
+brachio1000 Very much of Elvis´singing style was directly influenced by black artists. Without that influence, he might have become the king of crooners for many - certainly not the king of Rock´n´Roll. By the way, Thornton´s original didn´t do moderately well. It was number one on the R&B charts for 14 weeks in ´53. I dig both versions :)
+twezzo99: You're right about the success of Thornton's version. I'm sure I knew that, and I'm embarrassed I forgot. I shouldn't have claimed that Elvis' is "better by every possible standard" either, only that it's more exciting. I guess I let Zappa's take on Elvis get me overly excited.
This is class Frank if you are there on the other side well you have not been forgotten and when you say that people may not remember you (well he's a thing ) I do
Zappa sometimes came across as a very bitter person
***** Yes... He did awesome music and was a genial guitarist. And his cynicism is a big part of his songs. Actually, you are right. He's just being honest.
***** My opinion is that there is great music being published today., just like there was shitty music being produced 40 years ago... I think the difference is that there is way more information coming at us.
I was talking about proportions. There's more of everything now. full stop. Good and bad, mainly because of the internet, but also because the digital era in general which has made it easier to produce and make available music of all types. Musicians can now make an excellent quality recording from their basement using basic readily available equipment and a computer, and release a version of it online, whether they actually have talent of not. This is similar to photography as everyone can be a "photographer" today, but it doesn't mean that they are the real thing, since the vast majority of them are crap. It is up to us to make that decision, and not the industry, and see the potentially great ones in the lot which would have never been known within the old mafia-like filtering system that existed in the music industry previously.
+Stefan Breton as a lot of intelligent righteous people,are. they ARE pissed,because they see;what way too many,don't see.
+Stefan Breton how about,thoughtful and introspective?
Actually there is a good chance Zappa's obsession with the drug nicotine caused his cancer
Literally everything he says is so true....I could not agree more with everything he said.
Bravo Frank....Forever ambivalent and a true iconoclast.He knew the people he comments on.Just the truth from the suburbs without the media bullshit.