I remember watching this at the time of broadcast. Zappa was/is hugely important - not just in terms of his music, but also because of his view of the world and his understanding of how stupid people are (myself included). Can you imagine what he would have thought about the pandemic and the WEF?
@@seanbrennan5192 What was so called left and right then is very different than today. Frank would in my opinion been consistent in what is a very different world.
I first got into Zappa in 1970 with Hot Rats, but then didn't stick with him. When he died, I recall seeing this documentary and thinking, "I liked Hot Rats, and I should check out more of his stuff.!" Later walked into HMV in Birmingham where I was living at the time, and Yellow Shark was on display. I bought it on impulse. I have become in the past thirty + years an absolute fan of his work. I just finished Moon Unit Zappa's memoire which I loved, despite it being quite tough on her experiences growing up. Zappa has produced some of my favourite music and over the past thirty years, hardly a month goes by without me playing one or more of his records. That says a hell of a lot about his work and its impact upon me. I am a music obsessive as it is, but the regular circulation of his music in my listening always gives me new insights into his work. (Currently revisiting Civilisation Phase III). He died far too young, and I would have loved to have heard what he might have gone on to do had he lived. Still, the legacy is enormous and full of zircon encrusted wonderment!
In college the room-mates and myself used to listen to his mid ‘seventies releases continually, especially Apostrophe on 100 watt JBL speakers with a Sansui amplifier.
Saw him about 1970. He & his band were amazing. Listened allot to Billy was a mountain... still sing Montana, Dinah Moe Hum...Yellow snow...so many great hours listening to Zappa in different incarnations. So much creativity.
You've gotta wonder why all these guys came along all at once, Zappa, Beefheart, SO many extraordinary free thinkers. Was it because it just hadn't been done before? Was it being born at the end of a war? Was it just cosmic timing? 'Cos man, there's nothing coming along now that even comes close.
There are still as many intelligent people capable of satire and forward thinking. The problem is platform. The 60’s generation were able to access the platform at a time where there was a willingness to give those types of people a chance. Frank himself said this himself when he said the old conservative record label owners would just throw it out there if it was cheap enough so they could make a buck. Nowadays we have corporate gatekeepers who care more about image and toeing the line as opposed to the guys who just wanted to make money.
It was all new at the time, as was everything that had to do with free thinking or thinking outside the box. As Americans, we shifted from going along with the status quo to a "New Age" culture. Eastern Philosophy, The Occult, Tarot and Astrology, and all of that new stuff was right there.
Caught Zappa & The MOI , in New Orleans . Phoebe Snow opened , I think it was October 1976 . He started the show , walking out on stage , in his underwear only. He said , the airlines had lost his luggage . So he said, that he'd have to play wearing just his BVD's ! What a guy !
Loved and enjoyed Mr. Zappa and his creations since the release of “Freak Out”. His thoughts expressed through speech and music align with mine ~ 98-99%. I will be happy to enjoy his output for the rest of my life.
Just imagine how much more he had inside of that magnificent mind of his. There was never anyone who vaguely compared to the exquisite genius that was Frank Zappa .
I really really REALLY respect Frank Zappa. I feel he was so cynical it could be productive, creative, inspirational, poisonous, cruel and, self defeating in equal measure. In one word, Beautiful.
As Ruth Underwood said, FZ was, first and foremost, a percussionist. An argument can be made that the guitar is a percussion instrument, but, not really. 😎
I literally bawled my eyes out to Watermelon in Easter Hay one time in my kitchen. 😢 couldn’t for the life of me explain to my girlfriend why. There were no words to express how beautiful it was.
Damn... RIP. His sense of humor was mentioned but there was not enough time to explore very well. His last complete album, Jazz From Hell, has a lot of it. You also hear the impossible music in his head at the time only a computer could render. Recommended.
He was one of the most arrogant but modest men that ever lived. Brilliant, both lyrically and musically, he deserved so much more appreciation than he ever received.
Moon seems really down-to-Earth. I only realized that sounds ironic after I typed it! But she created something really enduring, even if it was a satire of a real phenomenon, and that most of us don't even remember began with her and her father - really more so her as far as the germ of the idea. Unlike Frank, she seems not at all jealous of the success it has brought to others without her or her family getting paid. She should at least get a royalty every time somebody says "Gag me with a spoon."
that little moment at the end when Frank is seen embracing Johnny Guitar Watson is very sweet when you know how rarely Frank ever hugged anyone. I listen to his music every day and it just gets better and better
Many years ago, I encounter a school friend when buying records (we where both in the Jazz section). Then I went to his home and among his record were lots of Zappa albuns. For weeks I listened to all of them and I realized how full of music and unique he was.
One of the best concerts I ever attended! Won't he be surprised when he's resurrected on the earth and learns why the Bible was twisted by the majority because it was pure and honest.
"Oh No, I don't believe it?!", I stupidly thought Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.. Thank you and RIP Mr Zappa, your genius was and forever will be, abundantly clear.
Eternal thanks to my big brother, who had me listening to Zappa & the Mothers before I had heard of Led Zeppelin, or much of anything except A.M. radio - and yes I can like both...🤣🤣🤣
Right, Frank is a genius beyond compare. And when he mentioned how silly funny it looks when people are fu’@king I jumped up in agreement. I’ve been saying that for years! ( though enjoyable)Even our body parts , smelling actions, yes ! There’s an album there! Porno flicks are hilarious , that’s a Grammy award! RIP Frank. We were blessed in that era.
My older brother turned me on to Zappa in 73 and I thought it was that craziest, awful garbage there ever was. In other words, right up my alley! 🦇🦇🦇🦣🕷🪰🪰🪰🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱
This is a brilliant interview from the amazing public service BBC about an amazing and legendary thinker and artist which is RUINED by adverts every few minutes. The irony! The man who wrote “we’re only in it for the money”would have been disgusted
To fair Frank Zappa is very talented musician and intelligent person. When first got into him, I nearly thought of him as a Comedian more than musician. Because usually musicians are more serious .
I remember watching this about 10 times when I had it on vhs back in the day. fascinating chap. Can anyone tell me what the piece of music is right at the end, starting when the dude gives the thumbs up to camera? Many thanks
"stupidity is more prevalent so why don't we talk about it" but but but stupidity is one of the most talked about "it"s going ... everybody's ready to talk about everybody's stupidity but their own
Zappa & The Mother's suffered the same. bad recording sessions that the Velvet Underground did. ...in the 60's......... But appearing live in Britain ... those sessions showed what they actually sounded like.
I was born in 1956 and when I was a kid I just assumed that frank was a junkie because most of the guys who looked like him back then were. I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was a tea totaler as it were. I have to admit that I never really understood what his music was about. I was into purest blues.
Like his compositions (and other activities), Zappa's guitar playing was not for everyone, but I always enjoyed it. He was not a technical guitarist or shredder or anything like that; I think he just played whatever was on his mind and in response to what he was hearing, kind of like stories, thoughts, and even just ramblings, but interesting and original.
I wonder what happened to the archive now that Lady Gagga owns the house yes Gagga. This interview show was followed by a series musical clips from his career beginning with the BBC clip of the mothers playing in the TV studio. I have it on video in my own archive somewhere 🙂
No one like him before or since. He was gone too soon.😢
He sag character of sagittarius. Natural innovator. Like me. But we often have health issues because we restless and light for the world and too real
Dignified, intelligent and out of bounds. What a human he was. No one his equal in the 20th century.
Absolutely
Nobody. I still miss him
Or the 21st century either.
I think you need to read a lot -a lot- more widely.
Ridiculous claim .
This is the best version of this wonderful documentary. We miss him, we're grateful he was here with us.
Great upload! Remember seeing this on Auntie when it was originally broadcast.
Gods I knew him personally I miss this smart guy soo much, sigh. I am 65 now, he should bee too, sigh... And then some.
It's like the universe decides that all good ppl must die so the idiots can take over the world, sigh...
He left us way too early, but his enormous body of work will inspire generations of young musicians to come.
The man was an absolute genius
I found an album of Frank Zappa and the London Symphony Orchestra when I was younger. I listened to it constantly. Such a creative genius
Miss you Frank Zappa !!!
Watermelon in Easter hay will always be his song of reembrace.
Gets to me every time.
Luv and Peace.
An astonishing musician, and a remarkable human being. We'll not see the likes of him for a very long time...if ever.
He's as rare as Mozart or Plato sigh..
Louis Cole of Knower and Clown Core and is pretty rad.
I remember watching this at the time of broadcast.
Zappa was/is hugely important - not just in terms of his music, but also because of his view of the world and his understanding of how stupid people are (myself included).
Can you imagine what he would have thought about the pandemic and the WEF?
WEF ?
@@avolite719
World Economic Forum, an immense global lobbying group of corporations infiltrating governments transitioning us into Technocracy.
@@avolite719he WOrld Econocimc Forum:
„Young Global leaders“, transhumanism and technocratic totalitarian dystopia fanatics :))
It’s funny because in today’s political climate Zappa is closer to the right, but back then he was closer to the left
@@seanbrennan5192
What was so called left and right then is very different than today. Frank would in my opinion been consistent in what is a very different world.
I first got into Zappa in 1970 with Hot Rats, but then didn't stick with him. When he died, I recall seeing this documentary and thinking, "I liked Hot Rats, and I should check out more of his stuff.!" Later walked into HMV in Birmingham where I was living at the time, and Yellow Shark was on display. I bought it on impulse. I have become in the past thirty + years an absolute fan of his work. I just finished Moon Unit Zappa's memoire which I loved, despite it being quite tough on her experiences growing up. Zappa has produced some of my favourite music and over the past thirty years, hardly a month goes by without me playing one or more of his records. That says a hell of a lot about his work and its impact upon me. I am a music obsessive as it is, but the regular circulation of his music in my listening always gives me new insights into his work. (Currently revisiting Civilisation Phase III). He died far too young, and I would have loved to have heard what he might have gone on to do had he lived. Still, the legacy is enormous and full of zircon encrusted wonderment!
God, we really would need his satire in this day and age. And he would be un-cancelable!!!
Nope.
He's be woked to death.
Frank Zappa would be progressive enough to not be canceled
Best version of this doc on RUclips. Thanks for uploading
A genius is always looking for perfection. Frank never found it in this world. ❤😢
I’ve been listening to Frank since 1966.
ME TOO!
Me 2! My first album was Freak Out at age 9 in 1966!❤🎉❤😂❤🎉❤
Rite, heh .
In college the room-mates and myself used to listen to his mid ‘seventies releases continually, especially Apostrophe on 100 watt JBL speakers with a Sansui amplifier.
Frank is the only celebrity ive ever hung out with in my dreams. On several occasions ive gotten to spend time with frank.
I will never forget your Frank.....I miss and love you as always!
Frank was always ahead of the curve.
Saw him about 1970. He & his band were amazing. Listened allot to Billy was a mountain... still sing Montana, Dinah Moe Hum...Yellow snow...so many great hours listening to Zappa in different incarnations. So much creativity.
Terry Bozzio's wild jump onto the drum set at 26:09 and the following ten seconds is one of the most astonishing things I've ever seen...
You've gotta wonder why all these guys came along all at once, Zappa, Beefheart, SO many extraordinary free thinkers. Was it because it just hadn't been done before? Was it being born at the end of a war? Was it just cosmic timing? 'Cos man, there's nothing coming along now that even comes close.
Yep , agreed. But I would add John Lydon and Noam Chomsky to that small list too, truth tellers if ever there were any.🤘
Complete and total commercialism took over in the late 80s early 90s.
No idea.
I'm just glad it happened.
Made my own brain seem OK.
There are still as many intelligent people capable of satire and forward thinking. The problem is platform. The 60’s generation were able to access the platform at a time where there was a willingness to give those types of people a chance. Frank himself said this himself when he said the old conservative record label owners would just throw it out there if it was cheap enough so they could make a buck. Nowadays we have corporate gatekeepers who care more about image and toeing the line as opposed to the guys who just wanted to make money.
It was all new at the time, as was everything that had to do with free thinking or thinking outside the box. As Americans, we shifted from going along with the status quo to a "New Age" culture. Eastern Philosophy, The Occult, Tarot and Astrology, and all of that new stuff was right there.
Saw him live in St. Louis in a very small venue. I was 20 feet from him. Amazing showman!
"You might not like me but you ain't gonna forget me! Hey!" - Frank Zappa. Respect for the "Original Illinois Enema Bandit". R.I.P.
He was a Mozart of our time
Not only his music also the philosophy was fresh and right on for your time
Can't believe it was 30 years ago when this was broadcasted, remember watching & video taping this (still have the cassette too)
Never met or Heard or anything like you. Wish you were here!!!!!
A musician beyond compare.
Zappa always had the best bands because the musicians were also his biggest fans.
Caught Zappa & The MOI , in New Orleans . Phoebe Snow opened , I think it was October 1976 . He started the show , walking out on stage , in his underwear only. He said , the airlines had lost his luggage . So he said, that he'd have to play wearing just his BVD's ! What a guy !
Recorded it on vhs when it was on Dutch television way back ….still interesting after all this year’s , never gets dull! Quality time
Had this recorded on VHS in the 90s. Love this video.
One of the kind very intellectual 👏 💜
The kind of thinking that is sorely missed nowadays.
Loved and enjoyed Mr. Zappa and his creations since the release of “Freak Out”. His thoughts expressed through speech and music align with mine ~ 98-99%.
I will be happy to enjoy his output for the rest of my life.
Just imagine how much more he had inside of that magnificent mind of his. There was never anyone who vaguely compared to the exquisite genius that was Frank Zappa .
I really really REALLY respect Frank Zappa. I feel he was so cynical it could be productive, creative, inspirational, poisonous, cruel and, self defeating in equal measure. In one word, Beautiful.
Beautiful footage. He's so missed.
As Ruth Underwood said, FZ was, first and foremost, a percussionist. An argument can be made that the guitar is a percussion instrument, but, not really. 😎
Calling Frank a pop musician is an insult of the highest order.
“The man who put sneer into rock.”
Well put.
I literally bawled my eyes out to Watermelon in Easter Hay one time in my kitchen. 😢 couldn’t for the life of me explain to my girlfriend why. There were no words to express how beautiful it was.
Damn... RIP. His sense of humor was mentioned but there was not enough time to explore very well. His last complete album, Jazz From Hell, has a lot of it. You also hear the impossible music in his head at the time only a computer could render. Recommended.
He was one of the most arrogant but modest men that ever lived. Brilliant, both lyrically and musically, he deserved so much more appreciation than he ever received.
The man is revered in Europe but has an unmarked grave in California. Probably his wish.
Gails wish @@spooge33
Moon seems really down-to-Earth. I only realized that sounds ironic after I typed it! But she created something really enduring, even if it was a satire of a real phenomenon, and that most of us don't even remember began with her and her father - really more so her as far as the germ of the idea. Unlike Frank, she seems not at all jealous of the success it has brought to others without her or her family getting paid. She should at least get a royalty every time somebody says "Gag me with a spoon."
That first sentence is very funny. Well done
Zappa will be remembered for a very long time.
that little moment at the end when Frank is seen embracing Johnny Guitar Watson is very sweet when you know how rarely Frank ever hugged anyone.
I listen to his music every day and it just gets better and better
FZ spent alot of time hugging people
I saw it all the time I knew FZ for years....
@@Jack-vy6uo Women, not men.
@@paulinebutcherbirdAre you implying Zappa conducted gay experiments or perhaps was bi?
@@Jack-vy6uo, he didn't hug his daughter
The Apogee A to D converter was the first one that made digitized analog recordings sound pretty good. It came out around 1993.
Many years ago, I encounter a school friend when buying records (we where both in the Jazz section). Then I went to his home and among his record were lots of Zappa albuns. For weeks I listened to all of them and I realized how full of music and unique he was.
This guy was super intelligent I don't even know how to describe it brilliant vibrant articulate
So inteligent he thought tobacco was food, just forgot about all the chemicals... You can be intelligent in a field and really dumb in another.
One of the best concerts I ever attended! Won't he be surprised when he's resurrected on the earth and learns why the Bible was twisted by the majority because it was pure and honest.
I think he was sad that he is leaving mainly because he had so much more to say and create. You can hear it in his voice and eyes. ❤
Crying shame that his time was cut so incredibly short.
I miss that show
I never liked his music, but I loved his ideas and they represented.
LOVE YOU .. I SAW LIVE IN 1986
I wonder what frank would have done if he hadn’t past. Frank was an American icon. God I wish he was alive.
What the world needs now - is Frank Zappa (telling it like it is) - greatly missed xx
Before 200 motels, he collaborated with an orchestra on Lumpy Gravy
What a sound, interesting,unique artist.
Thanks for your effort UL!
"Oh No, I don't believe it?!", I stupidly thought Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.. Thank you and RIP Mr Zappa, your genius was and forever will be, abundantly clear.
what a treat. this was great. thank you.
Gee.....thanks for the great words of wisdom...I hope it has served you well...Tell me more oh great one!! lol
A true genius. I am so lad I saw this before I kick the bucket.
Eternal thanks to my big brother, who had me listening to Zappa & the Mothers before I had heard of Led Zeppelin, or much of anything except A.M. radio - and yes I can like both...🤣🤣🤣
Right, Frank is a genius beyond compare. And when he mentioned how silly funny it looks when people are fu’@king I jumped up in agreement. I’ve been saying that for years! ( though enjoyable)Even our body parts , smelling actions, yes ! There’s an album there! Porno flicks are hilarious , that’s a Grammy award! RIP Frank. We were blessed in that era.
Y'all put together a nice little piece there. I'm not sure it could have been done in America quite so succinctly in America.
The man was a truth sayer !
Yeah he predicted Donald Trump's dumbass cult back in 1986
I was born the day after Zappa died. Maybe I'm his reincarnation. Hi me. Lol
My older brother turned me on to Zappa in 73 and I thought it was that craziest, awful garbage there ever was. In other words, right up my alley! 🦇🦇🦇🦣🕷🪰🪰🪰🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱🪱
30:30----"There's gotta be an album in there someplace!"
I'm pretty sure even he didn't expect our times to be as fucked up as they are.
He just said there's more stupidity than hydrogen on the plqnet, so yes, yes he saw this coming.
Of course he did!
This is a brilliant interview from the amazing public service BBC about an amazing and legendary thinker and artist which is RUINED by adverts every few minutes. The irony! The man who wrote “we’re only in it for the money”would have been disgusted
So use an ad-blocker plugin.
Excellent video quality...thx
Frank,Bowie,Lou. The white album...
To fair Frank Zappa is very talented musician and intelligent person. When first got into him, I nearly thought of him as a Comedian more than musician. Because usually musicians are more serious .
Extraordinary guitar at 2:38. That tells us all we need to know about Zappa.
I remember watching this about 10 times when I had it on vhs back in the day. fascinating chap. Can anyone tell me what the piece of music is right at the end, starting when the dude gives the thumbs up to camera? Many thanks
43:53 - damn, this ending with Watermelon In Easter Hay in the background broke me
I think at this point he had about 6 months left.
Actually 9months
"stupidity is more prevalent so why don't we talk about it"
but but but
stupidity is one of the most talked about "it"s going ... everybody's ready to talk about
everybody's stupidity but their own
So bizarre and so out of bounds for me and Jo's garage!
Zappa & The Mother's suffered the same. bad recording sessions that the Velvet Underground did. ...in the 60's.........
But appearing live in Britain ... those sessions showed what they actually sounded like.
I was born in 1956 and when I was a kid I just assumed that frank was a junkie because most of the guys who looked like him back then were. I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was a tea totaler as it were. I have to admit that I never really understood what his music was about. I was into purest blues.
31:45 I hate Frank for being dead 60 years too soon. How Dare you Frank?!?!?!!!
I got this on v h s tape so cool
Zappa ='s genius classical, rock, jazz, punk and some heavy metal and lots of blues. He insulted everything 😂
Montana is just so good.
Wish I'd written it.
I'm still staggered by the fact that Frank never smoked a reefer.
My hemeroids have more to say than this little fellow ever did, and now im sure he would agree.
Like his compositions (and other activities), Zappa's guitar playing was not for everyone, but I always enjoyed it. He was not a technical guitarist or shredder or anything like that; I think he just played whatever was on his mind and in response to what he was hearing, kind of like stories, thoughts, and even just ramblings, but interesting and original.
The best musician ever!
I got to meet Frank. He is the most authentic man I have ever met as well as kind honest and well spoken. His music still lives on today!
I wonder what happened to the archive now that Lady Gagga owns the house yes Gagga. This interview show was followed by a series musical clips from his career beginning with the BBC clip of the mothers playing in the TV studio. I have it on video in my own archive somewhere 🙂
wow i miss that old BBC2 logo
I saw frank zappa in bangalore, karnataka, india in 1983
Genuine Genius 🙏🏻😎❤️
TODAY IS YOUR DAY 21 DECEMBER
Frank the one and only yippi ei oh ky ay
Some might say: "Avant-garde"
Some might say: "Rubbish"
Each to their own.