Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention - King Kong (1968 at BBC) 1/3

[@pystalcrepsi]

lead guitar - Frank Zappa (obviously lol) drummer 1 (the one in the back with the long black hair) - Jimmy Carl Black drummer 2 (the foreground one) - Art Tripp bass guitar - Roy Estrada keys - Don Preston baritone sax (first solo) and tambourine - Motorhead Sherwood tenor sax (the one on the right with white/gray hair) - Bunk Gardner alto sax (the one on the left) - Ian Underwood This set was recorded (October 23, 1968) two days before the show that can be heard on the second half of the CD Ahead Of Their Time (October 25, 1968)! Check it out if you want to hear this lineup play a full 40-minute instrumental set.

[@mnbluestube]

up

[@suntfierbinte]

Thank you!

[@ThrillhoWiggum]

I thought tambourine was Mitch Hedberg. I should look into this.

[@johnhorton4424]

I wonder what don Preston went on to do with his life after the mothers

[@Orcastruck]

Man I have this on vinyl, uncle meat.

[@swedishknightingales6349]

So yoko heard those horns and was like… “This is my song now. Help me steal this shit, John.”

[@alexanderv7702]

Was Yoko a lady with values?

[@raimoroine5331]

😀

[@zdave6083]

She's an artist.....y'all aint.

[@johncaldwell643]

@@zdave6083if she's an artist thank the Lord I'm not!

[@juliangallegos7627]

Best comment

[@giuseppelobasso1318]

Jeezus Christ how is it so flowing and improvised while being so tight and on point? One of the best live performances I've ever seen. Up there with Can's Paperhouse and Miles Davis' So What.

[@squeakeththewheel]

In an interview in around 2010 or so Don Preston said that before they ever played out they practiced 8 hours a day 7 days a week including thanksgiving and christmas.

[@nopants4259]

This is so beyond amazing ! luckily UK tv wasn't run by conservative idiots in those days

[@jean-marchuygevelde4911]

I agree with Can. But I would put Miles "Call it anything" on top of "So What"... My call anyway!

[@jiannisDimi]

In the first Minute I would say shit Rock music, nothing like Ornette Coleman free jazz, but as i listen throught the whole piece, i do hear a million "shapes of riffs to come"... Oh oh... they play some music, and I stay still... For much more time after it...

[@venomouscasca]

Noise is all hear

[@jamesyclarke]

This is just about my favourite clip on the entire internet.

[@timmitzlaff8960]

FZ and the MOTHERS of INVENTION was the first concert I ever attended. 1968 my girlfriend and I we were 15. It was at the Shrine Auditorium L.A. Of course. Also the Sir Douglas Quintet. Wow we were so 😎 cool telling our friends at school about it. Her older Brother drove us.

[@richardgross400]

SO COOL. I WISH I WOULD HAVE SEEN HIM. 1968 WAS A KILLER ZAPPA BAND .

[@richardvernon9150]

Lucky kids!! 😀🎶❤️

[@jansandin845]

The camera man was on strong stuff

[@JoaoSantos-ep1qr]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Terp311]

Okay

[@GreenManalishiUSA]

Frank had so many amazing bands. But this band is one of my favorites, not only because they were amazing musicians, but also because they were Hungry Freaks Daddy.

[@earlblack2914]

This sounds like a good old Zappa song. The man is like the best jazzy infusion player he's always been. I couldn't mix that up for the life of me. Wow, still a mind blower and I'm 65 years old. His music will never get old to me though. I really don't think anyone else would be able to do this with music today. A master of this work for sure.

[@Yanquirocker]

Check out the group Club D’Elf

[@jacobntsuki]

There are plenty of great musicians today, just cause its not whats played on the radio doesnt mean it doesnt exist.

[@deirdre108]

@@jacobntsukiThis wasn’t played on the radio either.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

This was shown on the BBC in 1968, just a couple of years previously the viewers would have been watching Freddie and the Dreamers.....this must have been a complete mind fuck for the audience.

[@marklines2599]

"Something's gotta be done before America scarfs up the world, and shits on it". Damn I think that's happening now....

[@jimbrewer7328]

Too late

[@flaccidego9468]

+Jim Brewer yeah. We shit on it. Smeared it all over the globe, them we topped it off with a full intestinal diarrhea shit spray.

[@klaa22]

Trump. . The giant American turd that America is shitting on the world. . .

[@andytrimble5615]

Would you rather have China do it? Or Islam? Seriously, just what are you complaining about? Is there a better, freer, inclusive society than America? Is there a higher standard of living someplace in the world? Without us, commies and fascists would rule the world. Remember that the next time you want to criticize our country's heritage. The only thing with us now is the secular humanists who are taking us down a road to financial ruin.

[@tixximmi1]

@@klaa22 You couldn't be more wrong. Don't be plastic.

[@Ert_tv]

This is what a caterpillar hears when it transforms into a butterfly this is pure greatness

[@bertspivey3214]

At 2:36 they went from complete chaos to the tightest band on the planet.

[@solarwindlass]

true forever -- electrifying

[@kevinbking1]

Frank reportedly ran a very tight ship!

[@deirdre108]

@@kevinbking1Right. No drugs on his ship.

[@davidsimpson911]

at 2:36 one of the greatest moments in music...such a wonderful and magical surprise...there will,sadly,never be another Frank Zappa.

[@stephenharperisgay]

+David Simpson Hey man, at least he didn't fuck around and put out a stupid amount of music. Frank Zappa was a musician not wasted, squeezed every last drop.

[@Oslerian]

Yes! I totally agree. The transition at 2:36 is something holy. Good to know someone appreciates it as much as I do.

[@wozzer2727]

Total agreement, love the drum intro"

[@vollsticks]

No shit. This is one of the greatest live "rock" performances in the history of the music, bar none.

[@ddrazga]

Oh yeah. They're just screwing around, and then they lock into that killer riff. They were so far ahead of their time.

[@Caniballe]

The early Mothers were not the best Mothers, but they had a little something that made them unique in the history of music

[@xbmpr]

Frank had said in various interviews he never ever wanted to go back to this lineup but didn’t regret it because he’d liked and played with them for so long.

[@vollsticks]

I'd much rather have these than Steve bloody Vai and Terry Bozio

[@jillsandwitch67]

the later mothers always felt too poppy and clean to me, these guys had sauce

[@pwkpilot]

The mothers were WAY ahead of their time! I miss Frank...........

[@vollsticks]

Late reply but funnily enough the version from Ahead Of Their Time (Live In London '68, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra) is probably the official release which sounds closest to this masterpiece. Which kind of makes sense--I read ages ago that Zappa recorded THIS version very soon after the concert that became A.O.T.T. And the BBC shelved it, unseen, for 25 years. Because we weren't ready for it then. First aired as part of the BBC Zappa documentary shown soon after his death--it was a total exclusive at the time and caused quite a stir amongst Zappa freaks, I recall!

[@3lullabies]

Amazing...as if King Crimson and Soft Machine somehow had a baby, then Gong and Quicksilver Messenger Service had a baby, and those two babies grew up and had a baby ...that's this. Zappa's musical mind is amazing.

[@uubuuh]

and that last baby had Varese playing on the Fisher-Price

[@Nick-fi1mc]

Frank's awesome guitar work often gets overshadowed by everything else he was really good at. He could play a mean guitar

[@carolynzaremba5469]

Yes, he could.

[@colt1954]

Such a shame it stops short, the last 6 mins are surely amongst the most brilliant studio performances, and in 1968, crumbs truly amazing.

[@DSM9]

This is brilliant. Watched it many times. God knows what BBC TV viewers in the UK made of it back in 1968! 😅

[@duncality]

Grandma says: "Is that music you are listening to?"

[@buddesantis4227]

Genius ! The Original Mothers were amazing . Saw them at the Garrick Theater in NY on their first trip east . Hooked ever since .

[@cpdaddy7]

Art Trip and Jimmy Carl Black both on drums. Yowza!

[@chaosmos24]

Art Trip was monstrous behind the kit.

[@vollsticks]

"Tripp"

[@georgiethumbs2438]

So awesome, I could listen to this forever

[@carolynzaremba5469]

I'm sure I listened to it at least once on acid. I went somewhere else. Don't know where.

[@Attentionseekingnoob]

"We are involved in a sort of low key war against apathy, I don't know how you are doing in apathy over there but we have a lot of it boys and girls. A lot of what we do is designed to annoy people to the point where they might, just for a second, question enough of their environment to do something about it". Its odd to see a young and rather nervous Zappa utter such prophetic words

[@carolynzaremba5469]

He was right then and he's still right in 2024.

[@buddesantis4227]

Was lucky to wander into the Carrick Theater in NY as a college freshman and Motown fan. Exited a stone cold hippie. Thank you Frank and the original Mothers.

[@venomouscasca]

The dude with the sun glasses learning how to play sax is hilarious.

[@helpimarock66]

I just realized something, King Kong first appeared (briefly) on lumpy gravy in 1968, so I'll bet like at least one person who went to a mothers of invention concert before the release of uncle meat recognized it.

[@georgiethumbs2438]

3:37 is my favorite part, so awesome, it just takes off into outer space with the bass and drums holding down the groove, so brilliant.

[@davidbussell7799]

I have listened to King Kong many times over the past 50 years and continue to enjoy it every time. How many other compositions meet that standard ? For myself personally I can think of everything few. This is my favorite MOI standard that crashes into my consciousness consistently along with Let's Make the Water Turn Black.

[@davidbussell7799]

Sorry meant very few not everything few.

[@blackzeppelin6028]

He aquí la más clara muestra de por que Zappa para nosotros (los mas adictos al rock) es una figura clave en la historia. Rompiendo los esquemas musicales y aún así siendo exitoso y convirtiendose en una leyenda. ;-{D

[@kurtknutsen9972]

glad seen zappa 110 times!

[@KillerandUndertaker]

So far ahead of their time it's almost a joke. Heavy as hell this band.

[@cuffedpans]

A lot of people say miles invented jazz fusion but fz was doing this a whole year ahead of bitches brew

[@sandraita906]

Traditional Jazz, my favourite Zappa track, period.

[@vollsticks]

Mine too. Fuck Lennon and his jam rag. Even though that was a pretty good rendition of the same song...

[@gordo64ful]

It was actually performed by the Mothers on a night in which they invited Lennon and Ono onstage. Lennon then released the track with that stupid name and never gave any credit to Frank.

[@nastyhardcore7641]

This isn't traditional jazz. I don't think zappa ever played traditional jazz or any kind of jazz

[@SaltpeterTaffy]

@@nastyhardcore7641 He did occasionally make a jazz noise.

[@nastyhardcore7641]

@@SaltpeterTaffy well he had albums with 'jazz' in the title that i don't consider jazz. actually the jazziest he ever got was when he played a couple guitar leads on one of george duke's solo albums. in my opinion his playing was quite bad on those tracks and he was out of his element.

[@cliffspencer9989]

Mr Zappa. Absolutely brilliant. Thank god he was born. Is all I can say

[@chamberpaint]

I love seeing Motorhead here, playing sax & tambourine like a wildman, and doing some very fancy dancing as well. Sending him lots of light and love at this heartbreaking time.....

[@Crutchman13]

Saw the Mothers play many times while growing up in LA. Always great shows. Great to see this video. RIP Mr. Motorhead.

[@blastfromtheeast]

2:36 . . . Crowd's about to find out that these guys mean business

[@syourke3]

Zappa was a huge fan of the French composer Edgar Varese and I think you can hear that influence here.

[@skyhouses9324]

Walking around auckland city in New Zealand .... night time ...... headphones playing Willie the pimp ......... 2019....... tripping ........... AWESOME

[@gfisher8710]

Starting at 2:36 I had this as my walkup music in my beer league baseball team. Good times. Thank you, Frank

[@bobski7032]

Pretty cool jam

[@amafirenze-vi1uh]

Zappa and Miles Davis at the time were reinventing jazz music.

[@genlob]

The Kingest of Kongs. Don't think I'll ever tire of listening to this piece of magic.

[@chrisharry3475]

This is probably one of the better early recorded performances on this tour

[@DaTrip2warez]

They broke into the house where future lives and plundered a thousand years of music.

[@borisblade564]

from the pure chaos and planned noodling at the beginning steps forth a work of magnificence,absolute quality

[@jameskennedy721]

This band accomplished amazing things in its brief time . They did exactly what they felt like doing .

[@carolynzaremba5469]

They rehearsed like motherfuckers.

[@MBFamilyFoodsPensacola]

My first concert was Zappa and the Mothers. Amazingly, the opening band was Simon and Garfunkel. Yin and Yang in one night.

[@AT-kb1ik]

Anyone seen their performance of this piece where Yoko Ono tries to fuck it up by joining in? They still manage to make it amazing!!!

[@carolynzaremba5469]

I can't stand Yoko Ono.

[@leirgauk]

Awwww, it cuts off before it ends :( Soo sad, because this King Kong recording was AMAZING!!!

[@vollsticks]

+leirgauk It's the BEST version of King Kong I've heard. And I always piss myself when Zappa says: "we've heard people in this land like traditional jazz". It fucking rocks like a bitch, love this line-up of The Mothers.

[@leirgauk]

vollsticks Yes!!!! :D It's my fav line-up! Same (or similar) line up as Ahead Of Their Time (also has an amazing version of King Kong!). You obviously have an extremely good taste in music, so I want to share with you my favorite song/album of all time: François Tusques - Intercommunal Music (it's on KZbin). It's far out, energetic free jazz that VERY few people are able to appreciate (but you might be one of them!). Please listen to the whole thing uninterrupted.

[@vollsticks]

leirgauk Hahah flattery will get you everywhere! Yes, the AOTT LP has a great version of King Kong, I agree--also there's a really good version similar to this video on the Live In Toronto LP (can't remember if it's called that--it has John Lennon and Yoko Ono on it) that comes close. Francois Tusques--whow that's a name to conjure with! European free jazz is some of the harshest, most uncompromising music ever recorded--Thurston Moore wrote a great "Beginners Guide"-type article about the genre and I investigated some of the artists he mentioned. There's some particularly bonkers Swedish stuff but I'm glad to check out your recommendation, thank you!

[@leirgauk]

vollsticks Ah cool, you referring to the infamous "Jamrag"? :D Haven't heard it, but I'll find it. Haha, ye, his name doesn't do him any favors ^^ But ye, European free jazz is far out! I love it very much, although nothing fondles my soul quiet as much as Afroamerican free jazz. And that album is a PERFECT mix of French (Tusques and Guerin) and Afroamerican (the rest) free jazz, hence "intercommunal". You can really hear the racial tension, the aggressive expression of freedom and the bortherly love that is united through the free expression of music. They all contribute with their own unique and brilliant expression of their deepest, most intense emotions. This album is love, this album is life. Please lemme know what you think :) I'll check out the Thurston Moore thing. Sure would love to hear some particularly bonkers Swedish stuff ^^ Saw his top 10 underground free jazz list - lotsa good stuff, such as my definite favorite drummer, Sunny Murray, whose BRILLIANT contribution to Intercommunal Music truly makes it the magical wonder that it is!

[@flaccidego9468]

+vollsticks awesome version. I keep returning to Dweezils version on 'Return of the Son of' That version spectacular.

[@bobknobbe3561]

oh my god. Amazing! I was at my granddaughter 3 years old preschool, and they made the exact same music. almost note for note. I think old frank stole this from a preschool music class

[@donaldlong3996]

02:35......get goosebumps every time i hear those drums come in together, totally awesome piece.

[@harrysowerby1666]

Donald Long it sounds beautifully monstrous at that part.

[@TheOrangeGamingBox]

Frank Zappa is my dad's third cousin, I am Logan Anthony Zappa and I intend to make emotional rocks songs that sound a bit like Nirvana, my dad is Anthony Steven Zappa and he would hang out with Frank all the time. (Yes I live in Minnesota and I am Italian like my father.) I am kinda proud to say that I have the same ancestors as Frank.

[@phoatohjoe8281]

I live in a Orange County lumber truck and am friends with Bunks daughters. Big world

[@jmgmarcus808]

BurningOranges Dude, Frank is a God. My great great uncle is the composer Aaron Copland. It's great to be related to someone so special. Also, neither of our relatives did anything really bad. They just put amazing art out into the world which is all I've ever wanted to do anyway. Cheers, Mr. Zappa.

[@shemsuhornephilim7702]

Holy Shit this is Fusion, and in 1968 pretty crazy a few years ahead of its time....

[@forku5749]

I'd love to see a band recreate this moment today

[@venomouscasca]

Easy, just get a bunch of pre schoolers and have them make noise with musical instruments. Same sound lol. Ridiculous.

[@carolynzaremba5469]

@@venomouscasca You have no idea about brilliance.

[@michaelellingson9282]

a man ahead of his time !

[@tarhunta2111]

That was fantastic.What a genius.

[@nickdamico3087]

This is exactly why I keep my Eric Dolphy records mixed in with my Mothers records!

[@carolynzaremba5469]

Bingo!

[@jesjes21]

that ride cymbal that looks like a skookum garbage can lid is fantastic

[@dantean]

I have trouble convincing people to treat Frank seriously unless I play them 1966-1971 MOI. Thanks for posting!

[@BenLubin]

By far the best group Zappa ever had.

[@artkirakosyan2633]

Ahead of their time? Literally every band is from that era. How zappa is ahead of their time?

[@Supertimegamingify]

@@artkirakosyan2633 "Ahead of Their Time" is a live album featuring this incarnation of the Mothers.

[@slcbr0fus600]

This is amazing! Love this song

[@wmoli872]

Mitch Hedberg on tambourine.

[@Guitarsoul24734]

Haha nice.

[@maxaronow712]

his real name's Motorhead Sherwood, if you were curious, but that's funny, he does really look like him.

[@MarkCzuba]

Nobody rocks a tambourine like old Mitchy.

[@mikew9543]

I was just watching the video and scrolled down to make this exact comment. " I want to hang a map of the world in my house. Then I’m gonna put pins into all the locations I’ve traveled to, but first I’m gonna have to travel to the top two corners of the map, so it won’t fall down."

[@lanceuppercut2013]

He likes Kit Kats...unless he is with four or more people.

[@GordiansKnotHere]

The only element they are missing is Captain Beefheart!...

[@Axes83]

Pure Genius.... Ahead of their times and of ours either!!!! That's just above.... a difference of level....

[@pye007]

One of his very best. Extraordinary.

[@flaccidego9468]

"High boys and girls. I'm Jimmy Carl Black and I'm the Indian of the group" :)

[@strumbolli]

sit on it

[@flaccidego9468]

Ayyy!

[@peterlewis6820]

aaay but you de Fonz!!

[@lynwoodloco77]

What??? I thought you were Jewish man!?!

[@chrisriches4688]

‘You can’t do that on stage’

[@lazyboylarry4345]

Is that Mitch Hedburg with the tambourine?!

[@paulharris9360]

Thanks for sharing some other Zappa fans already know!!!!!!!!

[@r.menzel8020]

I was given the pleasure of seeking FZ at the Greek Theater in Berkeley back in 84 i think it was. What a show!

[@carolynzaremba5469]

I saw them in Berkeley in 1971.

[@briancatanzaro]

Thanks so much for posting this. This is my favorite era of the Mothers.

[@jochanaan58]

Monsters, all of them! And that's a high compliment. Cool video too.

[@XMIR10C]

Sounds like the day we all went to the Eric Dolphy barbecue. It was a great time , lots of great food and the Thingfish salad was out of this world.

[@tomn9094]

Yep. Would have been nice if they'd hook up.

[@leftyodaniels2645]

I love how Frank is jamming out heavily while the Dopey European cameraman shows us the tambourine and the sax player standing there grooving

[@Efferpheasants]

It was 11.30 at night everyone was stoned.

[@andrewj.mulheriniv4075]

Epic. Raw and astounding.

[@helpimarock66]

The Percussion starting at 0:50 is so Fucking amazing. It's a staple of nearly every single early mothers show I've heard and I will never get tired of it, its just so unbelievably epic in the ugliest of ways :)

[@JLKDOOM]

I have literally blown about 30 pairs of headphones listening to this, no lie. I crank it all the way up on my soundboard when it kicks in!! I love it. I listen to it so loud that my headphones get hot to the touch and my ears are hot as hell

[@nige3801]

Lol Billy 🤣

[@garethjenkins5922]

Start learning to lip read my friend.

[@georgiethumbs2438]

Do not do that. I did that for years and have severe hearing problems today

[@stevesanders6770]

This is what ‘A low key war against apathy’ sounds like

[@ronaldnash488]

FRANK ZAPPA.. Genius Supreme..If it weren't for this Unique Person just think you how much a disadvantage from what we received vrs what we would have never heard from anyone else !!...😇

[@Ro1Gg2Bv3]

Great sound quality!

[@LilHaseProductions]

I'm a big fan of Canterbury Scene and early 70s british prog. That main theme at 2:48 is so revolutionary and obviously highly influenced the sound to come out of UK over the next few years. Sounds very like something Soft Machine would write.

[@jillsandwitch67]

i remember reading somewhere that zappa wouldn't let the soft machine open for the mothers because they were so good

[@LilHaseProductions]

@@jillsandwitch67 I'm a massive fan of Soft Machine. The first iteration of the band across the first 3 albums was just brilliant. They really were doing their own thing.

[@jillsandwitch67]

@@LilHaseProductions im totally with you there, third is the best album ever

[@LilHaseProductions]

@@jillsandwitch67 completely agree with that. I heard Third at a revolutionary point of my life and I would listen to a track of it almost every day. That album feels iconic to me from that period of my life.

[@Maxyl56]

They were my first concert too Mother's Day 1970, I was 14

[@patrickfeehan6975]

Mind blowing

[@geraividet]

Thanks for sharing!

[@josedias1387]

Love this! Great musicians and lisergic music.

[@Colt4.5.]

Zappa was fucking sensational.

[@jeffw497]

Is this KK performance released digitally? The best non- acid acid music. The core of the Mothers! Estrada lays it down, Frank wails. Underwood, fresh outta Choate and Yale, is great. Love it.

[@pjpucci]

Babe Ruth honored this song. Incredible Frank Zappa

[@gurgisjones1120]

Great to have Motorhead Jim Sherwood at the center of it all. And how come he looks like Lemmy? Some kind of future connection there?

[@mireilledischer3380]

I imagine the BBC cameraman with cardigan and pipe having no fucking idea what this is...not one deliberate shot of Frank through his solo.

[@jackelliott8050]

this is exactly where jazz met acid rock without the acid ! the great piano player DON PRESTON intentionally playing badly . Love it cause it's so funny and serious at the same time .Zappa is up there with Thelonious !

[@JudeJaded15]

+jack elliott Frank definitely had the spirit of Monk in him.

[@jan_Travis]

Do you know who all the people in this lineup are? I can't really make out who is who.

[@Videographic69]

Has not gotten better than this! Lee

[@markknego5743]

the MOST BEYOND BELIEF BAND EVER ! ! ! THANK YOU UNIVERSE ! ! !

[@dizzymystics]

Mitch Hedberg is a hell of a tambourinist

[@lopakavolmer6723]

read my mind.

[@guitarheroplayer-fs5js]

people watching this on tv in 1968 were probably so confused by this.

[@carolynzaremba5469]

Saw them in Berkeley in 1971. Fucking amazing.

[@rdeye-rb1pe]

Want to thank frank and john carl black for there major influence i finally figured out how to progress my lead drumming and rythym lead meaning fill in dropins alot of change ups and rolls reminding myself to let it just flow . i cant help it but yo gotta give thanks to my elders man this is heavy

[@garyhunt8067]

This footage was featured in the 1971 Rock and roll years.

[@diegofreire537]

4:16 I love this moment!

[@SuperPanther34]

reminds me of Soft Machine at times

[@Dogdrum]

Early Soft Machine were very Zappa-esque.

[@alicemccafferty7111]

Endlessly inventive!