Drummer reacts to "The Torture Never Stops" by Frank Zappa

[@Kpiz316]

Zoot Allures is such a great album. This song was a staple in Frank’s midnight Halloween shows at the Palladium in NYC. So freakin’ crazy. Must have been there 4 or 5 times. Every year on Halloween, Frank would preform two shows there. The midnight show would go on to 3-3:30 in the morning. Nothing better in the world. The music world was so much different then, 70 & 80 was an amazing time to grow up. But he was the top of the heap.

[@L33Reacts]

Man that sounds like a hell of a show. I bet frank got really freaky for Halloween haha. I really have become a zappaknight over the past couple months lol

[@Kpiz316]

@@L33Reacts you bet, one year he told all the girls to go the the bathroom and take off their panties and bring them to him because he “”was making a quilt” and came out with this huge sheet of all these panties sewn together. Then played a song to it. It later appeared on his Tinsel Town Rebellion album. Only Frank can do stuff like that.

[@L33Reacts]

Fuckin frank, man. Hahaha

[@myhomeo429]

The first few Halloween shows at the Felt Forum were great but when they moved down to the Palladium, a big old vaudeville theatre with a giant stage, It was a perfect fit for Frank. Those were some incredible bands. You’d go to two shows in one night and see two different shows. Each show had new stuff along with different old; stuff. And the next night you might see one of the same shows from the previous night but the old songs could all be played at different tempos and styles. It was wild.

[@brianvangyzen6040]

I was there. Great memories!@@Kpiz316

[@Raiderblack]

Can't wait... Probably my favorite Zappa album... many awesome songs ...

[@Alix777.]

Probably one of the most difficult Zappa song for a reaction video because there's not much going on, it's slow, very long and monotonous. It's so uncharacteristically dark and gloomy for FZ and I've always wondered if I was just missing the metaphor. Definitely a song I don't really like, but it's a favorite among fans.

[@L33Reacts]

This shit was so different, but still so zappa. I dug it. So much restraint and a very.. sexy yet disgusting atmosphere. Just like sex! 🤣

[@Alix777.]

@@L33Reacts Yeah this track is a bit nasty and sticky 😆

[@GoodCorporateRobot]

This is one of those Zappa tracks that you have to hear once or twice because it is as Zappa as it gets. You can’t say you know Zappa if you haven’t heard this song.

[@bjwnashe5589]

Terry Bozzio's wife Dale is the female voice. She went on to front Missing Persons.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

There are two women moaning, there's Gail Zapla and another woman. Not Dale, she does appear on Joe's Garage and Thing Fish.

[@pascalsimon9780]

Thanks for The torture never stops! This song is important in the FZ carreer, several versions exist. You can find a live version in the album "the best band you never heard in your life" in the side 2 which is just extraordinary...Certainly one of the most inspirated FZ guitar solo. I'm French, excuse for my bad language !

[@wowwhywow]

This Terry Bozzio on drums... and Frank Zappa on EVERYTHING else.

[@L33Reacts]

Frank Is a freak lol 😆

[@richardwirt3193]

Growing up in the 60s and 70s back when I lived in New York I was at 4 or 5 Halloween concerts to watch Frank Zappa at the Palladium and this Album came out in 1976 and I saw it live

[@Kpiz316]

Bro we’re must have been there together, midnight on Halloween was beyond words and comprehension.

[@L33Reacts]

That is awesome dude! I wish I could have been there. I bet the parties were crazy. Younger Lee would have been in heaven.

[@timfeeley714-25]

Shout out to Peter K, he's been assisting minds to become warped and unsettled for years now, Thanks Peter!👍

[@L33Reacts]

He rocks! He's the man for sure

[@GoodCorporateRobot]

@@L33ReactsI’ve been stalking his Zappa requests for years. Thank you PK.

[@waltercrain2910]

yes, thanks peter.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

FZ-guitar, bass, keyboards, vocal, director of recreational activities Terry Bozzio-drums

[@L33Reacts]

Hahahahah oh man that's great. What a dude...

[@alldayadventures5418]

The Female Vocalist in this tune is Frank's Wife... Just Sayin... This tune, if played too loud will attract the Police to your Home. AND when it is played too loud, the Bass shakes the Walls, and you can feel the reverb in Zappa's Voice. The Title Track from this Album is the Hottest tune and must be heard. (TODAY...! Frank Friday PART 2) This WHOLE Album ROCKS... should do a complete review.

[@L33Reacts]

Man If I had known I would have doubled up on that track and this one. Maybe we will do it next week :)

[@stevedotwood]

Totally agree on the title track. One of my fav. instrumentals. It shows the control he had over his guitar.

[@bjwnashe5589]

No, it's Dale Bozzio, Terry's wife.

[@bjwnashe5589]

No, it's Dale Bozzio, Terry's wife.

[@bjwnashe5589]

No, it's Dale Bozzio, Terry's wife.

[@robinreiley1828]

"Flys all Green and Buzzin' in this Dungeon of Despair....." You are in for a Dark Ride.... "Stinks so Bad, the Stones been Chokin'"

[@dlwseattle]

Zappa plays every instrument on this song - except the drums. There are so many other great tracks on this album that Terry shines on. I would easily put this in my personal top 10 albums from Zappa - and I have heard nearly everyone

[@stevebinning977]

There is an earlier, more bluesy version of this song with Captain Beefheart on vocals, which appears one one of the "You Can't do that on Stage Anymore" albums. It is quite different but also worth a listen.

[@robinreiley1828]

"The Torture Never Stops" has become a staple on Dweezil's Zappa Plays Zappa Tours . He is so dedicated to playin his Dad's music correctly,vand often has Artists who played with Frank on the Tour, Napoleon Murphy Brock on Vocals, was a nice surprise,. Dweezil wanted to learn "The Black Page" for his tour and enlisted Steve Vai to help him learn the guitar parts and Tour wirh him. He took 2 years to practice it!

[@L33Reacts]

I'm so proud of dweezil... I did his version of the black page and it was so good I didn't even know it was him 🤣🤣

[@fd1930]

Dweez is an amazing guitarist His version of this song is at a slower pace and has a just incredible vocal performance by Napoleon Murphy Brock I’m asking for it next month bro!

[@robinreiley1828]

@@L33Reacts Hopefully you'll get a chance to see Dweezil Live, while he is still honoring his Dad's music. I only saw Frank Live near the end of his career, when he was touring the "Jazz from Hell" album. I was a Union Stagehand for 30 years and worked with almost everyone over the years, but I never worked a Frank show. But I did work in a Scenic Studio building scenery with his Head Carpenter, Paul Merkel, who was the Metal Shop Foreman

[@reidwhitton6248]

I prefer the many live versions. Especially Halloween '77 and Zappa In NY.

[@markb491]

My 1st acid experience, 10th grade,in 1977, my friend and I split 3 orange barrels . This album was the 1st,2nd,and 3rd one that we listened to...by choice. Memories that last. It was the only Zappa album I've owned. It's a good one.😃

[@RichieG]

Find her finer, friendly little finger, ms pinky, zoot allures, wonderful Wino, and more. Great album

[@jimmayors2315]

I am so happy to see someone who gets Zappa!

[@andyshan]

A great album and such a great vibe throughout.

[@brucepieroni9102]

Three margaritas to wind! Buzzed on some insane bud and you play an all time favorite of mine. I found the Freak Out album in 1968 and I was hooked. I have needed some Zappa every day in order to remain sane. Sane? Did I say sane??????????? Insane perhaps???? Let it flow, baby, let it flow................. And... Thank you.

[@gerryk3114]

I am a Huge FZ Fan !! Out of His Catalog of 127 Titled Releases you can count on one Hand the number of titles I Do Not Have already (such as the remastered Vinyl Box Sets) SINCE I ALREADY OWN ALL OF THE VINYL RELEASES (purchased within days after released !!!) IN 1966 while I was 12, I Discovered “FREAK OUT” and I was HOOKED FOR LIFE ))) DON’T EAT THE YELLOW SNOW, NANOOK RUBS IT, St ALFONSOS + !

[@markb491]

We HAD a GREAT RADIO STATION in Reno, once upon a time: KTHX - The X . Free form radio . Frank Z to Frank S . Once it was ended, and was brought back by the demand . Tho not as free, still Zappa friendly. Franksgiving in Nov. Conglomerated &corporatized, contaminated & commercialized , it was cut. BRING BACK THE X !

[@xane4101]

Probably, imho, the best version of TTNS due to Gail and her friend(s) being the best tortees! Zappa Lives!

[@wowwhywow]

You have only scratched the surface. As you continue down the Zappa path, if you pick and choose correctly... you still have about 15 styles you haven't heard... there's reggea Zappa Doo-wop Zappa Disco Zappa...Punk Rock Zappa Tibetan Monk Zappa... you got a ways to go before you're out of Zappaville.

[@lassekristoffersen5906]

Yuuugely handsom melody.

[@stephenmichael8837]

Now I’m ready to face the world … in the details he is the best. Dungeon party music 🎉

[@L33Reacts]

That's exactly what this is. 😎

[@Greg-bz2bf]

I was 16 in 1976 when I bought this album after a positive review in Circus Magazine (I had a subscription, lol). I have been a fan ever since. Keep shining 👍 (Nina Hagen, "New York, New York" live)

[@bokkiegerber4628]

I see this song as ametaphor for the modern world we're living in. 🌚

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

Zappa was suing his manager with his assets held in litigation. So he disbanded his band and locked himself up in the Record Plant for a couple weeks, recording the bulk of this albhm with a rhythm box/drum machine (the 70s equivalent). When he was done he called up his drummer Terry Bozzio to lay down drum tracks.

[@ansparaco]

This song is an essential piece of the Zappa pie. Keep it going, you'll be at G-spot tornado in no time son.

[@kurtkish6970]

Hi Lee- new (basic) patron here! I HIGHLY suggest you investigate the instrumentals on albums from 1969 through 1972: Uncle Meat Hot Rats Burnt Weeny Sandwich Weasels Ripped My Flesh Chunga’s Revenge 200 Motels Waka/Jawaka The Grand Wazoo. Personally, I like these albums more because they are more about musical creativity and less about technical virtuosity. And the humour seems to less immature sexual topics- which I always thought detracted from the genius a FZ reaching a wider audience. I could recommend particular tracks if you’d like.

[@timfeeley714-25]

Theme from Burnt Weenie Sandwich!👍

[@L33Reacts]

Sure man! Leave a track or three you like and make sure to do one for an upcoming Frank Friday

[@gilbertgiuliani.4452]

Eddie Jobson is on the album cover but not playing on the album another great tra k from this album is Wind Up Workin In a Gas Station . Ps if you have not listened to it yet The Purple Lagoon o the live in New York album

[@shemanic1]

Haha, yes I often have Zappa tunes playing in my head. Thanks for this one, a great experience in it's self. I have only EVER heard one great cover of a Zappa tune & it was of "Torture" by 2 Irish Brother's who call themselves F.O.S. Brothers (they maintain it stands for Full Of Shit). Their version is on acoustic guitars & mandolin, with a drummer & violin & sometimes Didg. Please check out their rockier version on you tube.

[@waltercrain2910]

"iron sausage" shows up in a joe's garage song, too. conceptual continuity. he leaves little connective threads everywhere.

[@gregjones861]

L33: The music is so good. It could even be an instrumental and hold our interest. Maybe his estate could issue a remix without vocals and call it something chilled out like "Prelude To A Quaalude"? Anyhow, more great musicianship at work. The lack of shredding made the few guitar solo licks and Bozzio's rare fills really shine.

[@L33Reacts]

Greg you are so right this could have been just the moans... and it would have been still great 🙂🙂 yeah the restraint is intense here. It could have.... exploded... at any time it felt like 🤣🤣

[@danbardos3498]

There's a ton of versions of this song. One of my favorites is off You Can't Do That Onstage Anymore. Vol 3 I think? Terry plays on it and he cranks it up to 11 for the ending jam. I wanna say it's the same band as the Halloween Album. Great lineup behind the Roxy one. Edit: It's Vol 1. Check it out!

[@davidbutterworth877]

Seen him 4 times in the early 70s his music is tits love his music 🎵 bad ass

[@bobling8093]

Check out Black napkins, Lets make the water turn black, Winos do not march, all fantastic Frank tracks

[@brianvangyzen6040]

It's on the threshold of pleasure and pain. Lol.

[@gerryk3114]

FROM THAT SAME ALBUM COMES THE ONE SONG FRANK SAID IT HAS NEVER BEEN PLAYED SUCCESSFULLY: SHIP ARRIVING TO LATE TO SAVE A DROWNING WITCH !!??

[@madmanasaurusRex]

Congratulations on breaking 8k! 😊

[@xlerb_again_to_music7908]

Congrats on breaking 8K Lee, and also high watch numbers on the Beatles vid! :)

[@L33Reacts]

Thanks bro I appreciate you! 🙏 it's all you guys! And yeah I'm very pleased with that video:)

[@dennispope1355]

This is the first Zappa album I heard as a whole. There's also a couple of fine instrumentals on this LP. If you think "Gregory Peckory" was bizarre try "We're Only in it for the Money" the songs are short but all run together so it needs a full album (or at least whole side) listen. He makes fun of psychedelia by making an extremely psychedelic work. The studio manipulation was quite amazing for it's time. Great video "The Torture Never Stops" doesn't get much attention so thia was quite a treat. Enjoy

[@L33Reacts]

You can thank Peter K for the deep cut! I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. Not my favorite zappa track but I liked it for what it was.

[@L33Reacts]

Someone else brought that album up so I will look into it

[@davidaustin4910]

Try Dynamo hum. I am glad this track was selected as it is underappreciated and he has another version of the torture never stops which is very different.

[@raymondregis6219]

I wonder if Frank imagined the 'victims' to be Warner Bros execs.

[@cheyneallen7186]

As a fan of Willie the Pimp you should check out the original version with Captain Beefheart on vocals. A very different groove as well. Much rockier.

[@gentle_goy23432]

"Good song" as they say. It seems to me that Zappa has several threads in his musical work. When he makes orchestral music (fortunately, there is enough of it), relatively simple songs, often with or without satire (like this and almost the entire album), improvisation or almost improvisation (mainly at concerts), something like jazz, but in an eclectic way form. And in the compositions at the intersection of rhythm and blues, jazz, conventional orchestral complicated music, it’s pure Zappa, for me. But everyone has their own Zappa

[@timfeeley714-25]

: fun facts: two of the guys on the cover aren't on the album, background screams courtesy of Frank's wife and her friend supposedly stimulated and recorded by Frank one night at home. A night at the Zappa's! P.S.Zoot Allures the song is one hell of a guitar piece.

[@L33Reacts]

Hahaha so I was right that was real.... that's great lol

[@kidpoker007]

Can you listen to Larry Carlton "Point it up" the studio version...the guitar work will blow your mind!!!

[@circulation69]

The live version on "You can't do that on stage anymore vol 1" is off the planet, possibly my favourite Zappa solo 🙃

[@440hz7]

The torchum ,

[@justaplainspokengirl]

Well that one took me back 🤑

[@gerryk3114]

NOW LISTEN TO THE VERSION ON THE ALBUM: IN NEW YORK

[@rp89d28]

You gotta check out Pinky from the same album.

[@davidpeters44]

Like that Frazetta poster.👍 Really, in this case, much prefer the Live in New York version of this song.

[@440hz7]

This song is really about dr foulchi

[@kidpoker007]

I used to listen song in the 80's when I was in my 20's...always thought it was a crazy fucked up tune and lyrics but very cool

[@tomratcliff3755]

I was lucky enough to see Zappa on the zoot allures tour. Stick up your thumb if you're really dumb. Yup that's me.

[@matthewshackelford5490]

The best version is the live version in Buffalo... 22 minutes long with a guitar and drum solo

[@jbdbsb]

Willie the pimp is such a toe tapper.

[@stevedotwood]

The screaming was his wife Gail and a friend. I only wonder every time how he made them scream that way : )

[@L33Reacts]

You know frank was a freak.... you can tell by the art he makes hahaha

[@stevedotwood]

@@L33Reacts "Me I'm just a lawnmower, you can tell me by the way I walk" PG's Genesis

[@flabdablet]

Frank played *endless* variations on this track live; there really is no canonical version. For yet another take, have a listen to what Zappa Plays Zappa does with it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXTQnH5jZtaLnaM

[@flabdablet]

And when (not if) you want more of them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpvUdXWNdsiBr7c

[@larryhelmeczy4320]

Being an old Zappa fan, i've been enjoying your Frank Fridays. Most Zappa fans have their favorite periods or bands. This song doesn't do it for me; too long and dragged out, though I do like "Wind up working in a gas station" and "Black Napkins" from this album.

[@L33Reacts]

Glad you still stopped by my friend 🙂 I'll definitely be checking out black napkins I've heard great things about that one

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

What about wonderful wino you gotta love the verse; "I went to the country And while I was gone I lost control of my body functions On a roller-headed lady's front lawn I'm so ashamed, but I'm a wino man I can't help myself First time I heard this I was in hysterics. It definitely struck my funny bone.🤣🤣 I'm laughing just writing this.

[@larryhelmeczy4320]

It IS a great line. Zappa had a creative offbeat sense of humor that a lot of people don't get or like. For me, after all these years of listening to him, I still appreciate his compositions, his arrangements, his guitar skills, the skills of his band members and less so his lyrics. Probably because I still find subtleties in that while I've grown accustomed to his lyrics. That's what's fun for me to observe appreciative 1st time reactions. I can't go back to the 1st time I heard something but I can watch others do it. @@MatthewBerginGarage

[@SpaceCattttt]

Great song. However, I'm not too sure how I feel about Frank recording himself, his wife and one of her friends having sex, and then putting the recorded moans on this track! I can only think of one other well-known example of this, and that's Guns 'N Roses' "Rocket Queen", where Axl infamously recorded himself having sex with Adriana Smith. Not too sure how ethical this "practice" is...

[@gerryk3114]

THE MIX YOU ARE PLAYING DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THE ORIGINAL VINYL RELEASE ??? MIGHT BE A RYKO RE-MIX ??

[@Joe-t4j4p]

YOU wanna walk in a bar and punch someone? I'm your huckleberry. You should probably stay out of bars homeo.

[@wowwhywow]

I guess after listening to Greggary Peccary last week, you deserve an easier to listen to song like The Torture Never Stops...lol

[@L33Reacts]

Hahaha yall are ruthless! Each one is weirder then the next LOL

[@diverdown631]

Did you get my comment about doing Beatles, it will get you copyright strikes keep them on pateron

[@L33Reacts]

Yeah I saw! Thanks for the heads up bro

[@carlsmoker1167]

That's Franks daughter doing the screams. Moon Unit is her name

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

No. Moon was all of 9 years old. Frank, to an interviewer in Daily Mirror, 1977: "The sound effects to 'The Torture Never Stops' were an evening's work. We did most of it in the bedroom of my house. There were two chicks there-one was my wife-plus myself. I think they enjoyed it very much. We got four hours on tape and then cut it down to just under ten minutes. My friend opens up with the first grunt and it carries on from there. Er, I don't think it's worth telling you precisely what went on . . . you wouldn't be allowed to publish it."

[@timfeeley714-25]

Not Frank's daughter ya sick bastard, she was nine not 15!

[@danielcobbins8861]

@@Royale_with_Cheeze However, Moon was the one who did the voice in "Valley Girl," from the 1982 album "Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch."

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

@@danielcobbins8861 Well, yeah... but that has nothing to do with the erroneous statement by the original poster.

[@L33Reacts]

I doubt that bro... that was a woman. And sounds like she,his kid, was 9 when this was recorded... so yeah that's fucking gross.