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Frank Zappa

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(1940 – 1993)

Frank Vincent Zappa (21st December 1940 - 4th December 1993) was an American composer, guitarist, singer and satirist. In his 35-year musical career, Zappa proved to be one of the most prolific musician-composers of his era, releasing over 75 albums during his lifetime, almost all of which consisted of original compositions. An obsessive recordist, later albums were often recorded live on portable twenty-four-track tape machines. ‘The Man From Utopia’, ‘Broadway the Hard Way’ and ‘Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch’ are all examples of this ‘live’ take on the studio album. He was also a renowned electric guitarist and a gifted producer-engineer who self-produced almost every recording he made after his 1966 début making use of techniques such as collage and xenochrony.

His work spanned virtually every contemporary musical genre (including , , , , and ), and was often noted for its blend of high art, rock opera, absurdity, scatological humour, and for its hilariously caustic social satire. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his various groups included such musical luminaries as Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Al Di Meola, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew, and Steve Vai as well as giving the lord of , Alice Cooper, his first break in music. His untimely death cut short plans to move into politics after his campaign against record censorship from the PMRC and a short posting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989.
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  • WoofWoofit wrote:
    6 hours ago
    Close pals of Woofit will know that Woofit has recently returned from the Planet Tarmac and is recording his observations exclusively for the Last FM collective - Many Tarmacians have become obsessed with the cult of celebrity. There are some who long to be plucked out of obscurity and attain celebrity status. It has become increasingly difficult to define what is a celebrity on Tarmac as it is possible to ascend to the position of celebrity from association with a recognised and established celebrity or via reality television. This is of great concern to the elite celebrities who do not wish their elevated social status to be contaminated by what they consider to be under qualified , limited shelf life (just over 15 minutes in some cases) lesser celebrities.

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  • WoofWoofit wrote:
    6 hours ago
    The elite or A list celebrities decided that they should define their status in terms of popularity and wealth , thus creating a recognised hierarchy for celebrities to adhere to. Lesser celebrities would know their place and would rarely encounter a celebrity from the upper echelons of fame. More recently lower status celebrities, particularly those of middle caste status have united with the lower caste celebrities and have taken direct and sometimes violent action to overthrow the elite celebrities. The response by the elite celebrities was to declare a state of emergency, introduce martial law and employ death squads to eliminate the ring leaders. It is not unknown on Tarmac for a lesser celebrity to be dragged out of a televised film or music award ceremony and unceremoniously shot.

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  • MaidenSlayer wrote:
    10 hours ago
    Yeah he was a man he was a muffin.

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  • HumanRadiator wrote:
    yesterday evening
    "Hey there, people, I'm Bobby Brown... They say I'm the cutest boy in town.." "My car is fast, my teeth are shiny... I tell all the girls they can kiss my hiny!"

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  • tom_dissonance wrote:
    yesterday morning
    and less fucking "Disco Boy".

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  • tom_dissonance wrote:
    yesterday morning
    needs moar "Broadway the Hard Way"

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  • Cozfunkel wrote:
    Thursday evening
    New Zappa album you can pre-order at his site.Philly '76.

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  • rocobain wrote:
    Wednesday afternoon
    "Hey there, people, I'm Bobby Brown... They say I'm the cutest boy in town.."

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  • SpanishGooner wrote:
    Wednesday morning
    Hey same here! Just recently I got the pun from Sheik Yerbouti.....even though i've been listening to Zappa for many years.

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  • glassbottle wrote:
    Wednesday morning
    He is free to speak his mind. Too Bad it's clouded... LOL! and maybe insted of speaking he should listen... to Willie the pimp, black napkins or muffin man. Melt your face son!

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  • chemicalZEN wrote:
    Wednesday morning
    hungry freaks, daddy

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  • Weed-N-Rock wrote:
    Tuesday evening
    'Sheik Yerbouti' is my most played album on Last.Fm but I only recently got the pun, Zappa you crazy guy

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  • volta1995 wrote:
    Tuesday afternoon
    lol. he pulled the freedom of speech wild card.

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  • PATMAN2288 wrote:
    Monday morning
    who is making these new brown clouds?

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  • rottmadgers wrote:
    Sunday evening
    Just to let everyone know, Zappa didn't use drugs and wouldn't allow his band members to use drugs while they played for him. So the whole argument that he was a "drug fucked incoherent piece of shit" is wrong.

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  • rottmadgers wrote:
    Sunday evening
    Excellent troll work, good sirs!

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  • wheredidyougo1 wrote:
    Sunday morning
    Hahahaha na dude Frank Zappa is the worst music to listen to. I find that evident in his songs. Just listen to them and you will either want to run for the nearest gun, or just trip out simply on the fact that people actually still listen to this guy. I must say, I am fucking amazed!

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  • TaintedxSanity wrote:
    Sunday morning
    Did that message include that I even liked HIM? I dont think it did. All I state in the comment is more or less this: HIM are better. But thats all im saying because alot of ppl on lastfm hate freedom of speech and will run and cry to the mods if i dare speak my mind any further.

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  • glassbottle wrote:
    Saturday evening
    HIM IS SERIOUS MUSIC! Who writes songs about dental floss, golden showers, anal sex and yellow snow??? Damn Porn rock!

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  • volta1995 wrote:
    Saturday afternoon
    i just got a private message from taintedxsanity - "Dont say that HIM are a shitty band when Frank wanka Zappa is your TOP listened 'artist'. You fucking FAIL mate! Fuck you and Zappa the drug fucked incoherent piece of shit!!! a serious pathetic excuse for an artist and a straight up fail for ripping on HIM before Zappa." . lol

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