Of all the qualities that typified Frank Zappa, perhaps the most striking is that he was a paradox. A workaholic perfectionist rock star who eschewed the hippie culture of the 1960s, deploring its conformism, spurious ideals, and drug use, Zappa was not only a brilliant rock guitarist, but an orchestral composer, innovative filmmaker, music producer, businessperson, iconoclast, and perceptive political and social commentator. His oeuvre continually amazes: over 60 albums of music from rock to orchestral, in addition to innumerable films, concerts, and other accomplishments. Frank Vincent Zappa (b. 21 Dec 1940, Baltimore MD) began to play drums at the age of 12, and was playing in R & B groups by high school, switching to guitar at 18. After narrowly graduating from high school, and then dropping out of Junior College (where he met his first wife, Kay Sherman), Zappa worked in such jobs as window dresser, copywriter, and door-to-door salesperson. With the money he earned from scoring Run Home Slow (written by his high school English teacher, Don Cerveris), Zappa purchased a recording studio, and, after concocting an allegedly obscene recording for an undercover policeman, spent ten days in jail. Zappa's diverse range of albums (both with the seminal and protean groups The Mothers Of Invention, and Zappa; as well as solo releases) are renowned not only for their bravura musicianship, and satire, but also for offending various groups (usually religious and political). The 200 Motels soundtrack was deemed too offensive by the Royal Albert Hall, who cancelled scheduled concerts in 1975; and the song 'Jewish Princess' (1979) led to Jewish calls for Zappa to apologise. These, and such events as Zappa testifying before Congress in 1985 against rock music censorship, being appointed by Czechoslovakian president Václav Havel, as his Cultural Liaison Officer, or considering running for US president, have, unfortunately, been Zappa's only real source of mainstream publicity. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991, Zappa nonetheless continued working at his Laurel Canyon CA home, until his death on 4 Dec 1993. His widow, Gail, and children, Dweezil, Moon, Ahmet, and Diva, soon-after released a statement to the press that simply stated: "Composer Frank Zappa left for his final tour just before 6pm Saturday."


When marrying Gail Zappa in a civil ceremony, Zappa pinned a pin saying 'congratulations from Mayor Lindsay' onto her in the absence of a ring. Is known affectionately by his fans as FZ. In July 1994 the International Astronomical Union named a Czech-discovered asteroid, "Zappafrank." As a child, his favorite TV program was Robert Clampett''s puppet show, "Time for Beany" (1949). Was of French, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Greek and Arab ancestry. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. In recent years, various re-workings of his songs have been recorded, including versions in Baroque instrumental and a'capella vocal stylings. Zappa is the first, and so far only, artist to be inducted into both the Jazz and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. Gave up his driver's license voluntarily, because he hated standing in line at the DMV. Used a wah-wah with his onstage guitar setup, which he'd usually leave set in one position as a filter, rather than rock it to get the wah effect. Started out playing drums in his teens, then adopted his brother's f-hole acoustic guitar, trying to copy horn and guitar solos on blues and jazz records. Later studied Music Theory in college. He was voted the 21st Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone. Gene Simmons visited with the Zappa family at their home, socializing, some time before Zappa's death. During their visit, Zappa showed Simmons something that proved how prolific Zappa was - hundreds of master tapes of unreleased music. Had planned to work on a movie with the Mystery Science Theater 3000 crew before his death.