It's The Last Name: Frank Zappa the Father

[mozo-pg]

I just thought this was a cool YT piece. There is also a poignant clip about Frank's cancer.

[Polypet]

Thanks for sharing this

[Mister Triscuits]

Will there be sequels about Frank Zappa the Son and Frank Zappa the Holy Ghost?

[rcarlberg]

[Dave (in MA)]

Will there be sequels about Frank Zappa the Son and Frank Zappa the Holy Ghost?

Those will cover the battle between the Dweeze/Moon and Ahmet/Diva camps?

[rcarlberg]

Et tu, Dweezil?

[mozo-pg]

Thanks for sharing this

No problem! It's nice to get a perspective on the nature of Frank's relationships with his children that is meshed with some of his live performances. I think he showed a lot of dignity when hollywood types laughed at his kids' names.

[rcarlberg]

He said often -- in interviews and in his books -- that any kid with "Zappa" for a last name is going to have a lot of issues to deal with growing up, so (like the song "A Boy Named Sue" says) he figured imbuing them with unique first names is simply a way to give them a head start in dealing with their lineage. And it seems to have worked pretty well, up until he died and Gail took over the merchandising and legacy-massaging. By then perhaps Moon (age 25) and Dweezil (age 23) were grown up enough to be immune, but Diva (13) and Ahmet (18) fell under her spell. I dunno, maybe.

[mozo-pg]

He said often -- in interviews and in his books -- that any kid with "Zappa" for a last name is going to have a lot of issues to deal with growing up, so (like the song "A Boy Named Sue" says) he figured imbuing them with unique first names is simply a way to give them a head start in dealing with their lineage. And it seems to have worked pretty well, up until he died and Gail took over the merchandising and legacy-massaging. By then perhaps Moon (age 25) and Dweezil (age 23) were grown up enough to be immune, but Diva (13) and Ahmet (18) fell under her spell. I dunno, maybe.

Do you have any recommendations for Zappa books?

[rcarlberg]

Do you have any recommendations for Zappa books?

• The Real Frank Zappa Book
• No Commercial Potential (David Walley)
• Freak Out!: My Life with Frank Zappa (Pauline Butcher)
• Necessity Is... (Billy James)
• For Mother's Sake (Jimmy Carl Black, the Indian of the group)

[mozo-pg]

^^^ Thanks.

[Dave (in MA)]

The Real Frank Zappa Book was an interesting read, despite the fact that its author has an annoying, idiosyncratic writing style.