Frank Zappa - Interview - 12/8/1984 - unknown (Official)

[@bokehintheussr5033]

Frank’s demeanour in interviews always like he’s being interrogated by the enemy.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

and like he is sitting in an electric chair about to get zapped

[@bokehintheussr5033]

@@lastnamefirst4035 ha! yes XD

[@calebweberlov00]

He knew the media was always the enemy.

[@Joe-mz6dc]

He was a genius but yes, he was also a bit of an asshole.

[@Gaba_Ghoul]

@@lastnamefirst4035 Z a p p e d

[@ericmiller2189]

he murdered MTV on MTV.. he is such a legend

[@Allan-et5ig]

Yeah, but like a lot of 'Frank,' (no one is perfect) his thoughts about MTV are contrarian. He told Van Halen and Ratt's guitarist he loved watching ther videos...I'm sure there's more. He was also a jealous guy, and I think he envied the success of other artists on MTV. Nonetheless, his description of MTV is clinically correct.

[@rl4889]

You must be a blm supporter. Oh yay

[@ericmiller2189]

@@rl4889 ?

[@coughpillbox748]

@@rl4889 you're weird

[@talastra]

That's the advantage of working independently and not being beholden to anyone. His first name is Frank, what did you expect? He's as Frank as an old Victorian woman ... they had the luxury of stating the facts as bluntly as they could too :)

[@wesleydavis3387]

I think the reason people call Frank a genius is because it's clear that he understands himself. This is a man who is immune to peer pressure. Most of us aren't.

[@jamesdragonforce]

Most people are simple apes. I mean… We technically ARE apes.

[@shuckyducky3508]

maybe hes asking then most of you get your heads out of your asses. !!

[@davidnelson3173]

I met an older lady at my job at time, she said she taught convey piano. We stayed talking classical. We discussed compete old and new. I asked about frank. She said he is an absolute-genius.people….listen to his orchestral She was 83

[@davidnelson3173]

But Bobby brown is still great

[@joeferris5086]

Its definitely that. But its also being a self taught composer. I always think about when he said "If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want to learn something go to the library." He writes some of the most technical and mathematically complex music ever written and not only did he not go study music in college, he never took a private lesson as a child. He also predicted the internet. He said the future of music would cut the record labels and stores out of the deal, and eventually artists would sell their music directly to consumers, probably through a phone line or coaxial line.

[@joaquingarcia915]

"they may call it rock and roll but it's corporate america". he made his interviewer, who works for MTV, say that. that's why frank is a genius.

[@jadezee6316]

she was the genius for realizing she had to say that to get Zappa to be serious....he distrusted her...she knew it....and you can feel the difference in the interview....afterward

[@GlenFaircloth-xg2dh]

0:20 0:22 0:22 0:22 0:23 0:23

[@quickthunder86]

"You have a piece of time and you get to decorate it." This is the best description of human life - from birth to death - that I ever heard.

[@juanpablovivanco9254]

Damn right

[@alvaroperez9473]

yes but he is taking about guitar solos

[@craigcaver4051]

But it can apply to any instrument or arrangement.

[@JGNeher-om4fy]

only if the circumstances of your life allow you time

[@brianklewis7434]

Talent and awareness can be paralleled to anything, if you really want to.

[@zmbewolfable]

I played my zappa vinyl so much you can almost hear both sides at once

[@tmoneypopnfesh6559]

Badass

[@OlympusHeavyCavalry]

LMFAO Well met :-)

[@bryanprillwitz2394]

Kahunna Kahhuuna, Tikki Toytown Ho

[@Galogalog]

I love this comment.

[@johayes7529]

You too, I thought it was just me.

[@rhesreeves5339]

We need him now more than ever. COULD YOU IMAGINE THE ZAPPA PODCAST?!

[@Roscoe.P.Coldchain]

For Sure

[@jimmydweeb9096]

he would never but that would be awesome

[@seanbatiz6620]

Well, lets imagine his cohost of said podcast, be Bill Hicks! Now THAT would’ve created some interesting dialogue for certain

[@unitrobe0]

From this interviews performance as reference, it would be a complete bore. The guy has nothing to say. He hates everything and gives one word answers instead of saying what he wants to say. Yawn.

[@joeferris5086]

I always wanted to see what he'd do with modern day midi. VST instruments these days are insane and he'd be having an absolute field day with modern tech.

[@fazbell]

One of the most intelligent rockers of all time. A man who did not suffer fools gladly.

[@Rroc13]

a progressive rocker 😝

[@andrewwabik5125]

@@Rroc13”I wouldn’t describe myself as progressive rock”. -Frank Zappa

[@davedillon1372]

You have 142 fans in agreement so far. He killed himself & blew cigarette smoke at his own kids and Gail while he ate a very poor diet and can't figure out how he died earlier than necessary for most people with some money. What a sharp choice maker !

[@davedillon1372]

I just want to ask 1 question: Who's the Drummer for the RUSH Reunion Tour: Terry Bozzio (&/) or Chad Wackerman? Chad's worked with Alan Holdsworth for a long time & when I asked for a bunch of autographs by him he was very very accommodating as was Alan on the original UK LP cover (that I found w/2 autographs on the back in blue ball point ink by Wetton and Eddie Johnson. I mean for $1.95(±) that's a good deal for a VG+ disc, even if people wrote their own names on the back of the cover. Musicians‽

[@David-h4z2s]

Loved His Anti Drugs Stance Like John Lydon Class A Drugs A Horrible way to to live👎😫Class A Drugs a road to nowhere But Horror

[@whiteshadow59]

I love the way he speaks. No fat. Every word and sentence is thought out.

[@kaipeterson]

My thoughts exactly!

[@zombywoof1015]

And it's so quickly delivered.

[@kipponi]

And without ums...

[@georgedoss12.51]

@@kipponi but why?.....

[@qua7771]

He's used to performing in a spontaneous way.

[@HoovyTube]

Seeing an artist so aggressively sober and well-spoken is wonderful. His stoicism impresses me! He totally earned his high opinion of himself.

[@sb-qv5oe]

yeah that album is actually a secret double lp, the first record gradually dissolves over time and use to reveal the second one which is both sides at once, and is widely considered to be the original direction zappa wanted to go with the album.

[@treatb09]

you mean, like you didn't? cause you couldn't do the same, but just exacerbated the hypocrisy of mankind all in one self blown egotism?

[@bhack544]

he had the best mentality. you do you and I'll do me and fvck you if you don't like it.... everyone so sensitive. probably rolling in his grave about today's society

[@edydon]

Aggressively sober, but not very smart. Look to his right. He's sitting next to what killed him.

[@gekyumerising3152]

@@edydon he's sitting next to prostate cancer? Lmao listen to his song "why does it hurt when I pee?"

[@supersupera82]

Shoutout to the interviewer, she made him comfortable and allowed for Zappa to speak freely and uninterrupted! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@efeuluyc]

hahahhauduwususuuq

[@4runningaway]

i agree

[@geometricart7851]

She knew she had to start playing good cop or he would have just completely shut down.

[@AI_Image_Master]

It's not really an interview per se. Just a bunch of questions to get clips from Zappa to put in a documentary. Even when he is flippant she is even tempered.

[@jerbear1601]

To what end? He is a miserable guy most of the time, likely due to the fact that massive commercial success eluded him. He apparently didn't do drugs but likely should have to improve his abrasive demeanor.

[@tiffanybuie2263]

Zappa is the only guy who knows how to be arrogant without being a jerk. I love what he says about soloing live and keeping it organic.its ture.thats a big reason I appreciate the grateful dead so much as well. The audience knows the band enjoys what they do.and that's how magic is made

[@Halcyon156]

If I had to pick two artists to listen to for the rest of my life it would be the Dead and Zappa. No contest.

[@wlnp03]

I really like how he shows his distaste for the corporate organization, but doesn't take it out on the interviewer. He's giving real thought and responses to even the basic questions and he's respectful to her as a person, but certainly not to her company. A really classy guy who's not afraid to hide his intelligence.

[@Hurious]

He doesn’t hide his intelligence. He uses it.

[@DoomKid]

@@newdamage5945 more like Brain Damage

[@tbooks2483]

New Damage If you're upset that he looks regal here, just say that?? There's something you've been bottling in, and this is a KZbin COMMUNITY.. we just wanna see you back on your horse/feet brother :)

[@bryanprillwitz2394]

@@tbooks2483OP yoko & lennon stole his song, anybody realize he married ugly grinch granny for her familys super rich cash?

[@talastra]

I'm not sure he was respectful to her as a person throughout. Pretty rough interview. But he warmed up.

[@losamigosrecords]

Zappa was on another level mentally.

[@JohnSmith-fq3rg]

Yeah, a whole 'nother "spectrum."

[@dondrysdale7297]

anyone that is intelligent presently is on another level than the apparent half of society that has had their brains rewired by Bill Gates and i-phones, to the point they bought into this utterly absurd ludicrous covid bs.

[@allgunsblazed9106]

@@JohnSmith-fq3rg nah wrong

[@rohanroll]

Any level. As insane good as he was as a guitar player, composer, frontman... Zappa really knocks me down when he speaks. He always knew where he was at, always had his purpose. The way he is bashing down all that MTV shit before the very MTV journalist is not only amazing, but deeply inspiring. A mental monster. One of the very few real original artists in the 20th century.

[@shady8045]

@@dondrysdale7297 lol go away moron

[@GrantSchinto]

He always struck me as one of the most intelligent, well spoken, thoughtful, and articulate musicians of the 20th century.

[@UncleFexxer]

Because he was. Good call.

[@tracymanning5024]

Yes, I agree. Check out a Jerry Garcia interview. Very articulate, lots of charisma and a lot sweeter than Frank.

[@honuman39]

An intelligent creative man with definite points of view and who has a clear sense of who he is I'm sure makes people uncomfortable

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@like_totally_pending_approval He never sat at a dinner table. He hated idle talk. His family had to drag him to a Thanksgiving or Christmas day dinner.

[@joeessig3550]

Better mind than musician, for my money. Hell of a mind, great charisma, too. To have that presence for that long while a camera is flat on you is cool as hell

[@JMGilberto]

FZ and George Carlin. A musician and a comic. The two greatest philosophers of my time.

[@rdm5190]

I think they were gifted with the "knowing" if you understand what i mean... They both saw our current todays "events" coming years ahead almost to the letter

[@morbidmanmusic]

nah, just a great composer and comic.

[@chrisconley8583]

George Carlin is overrated and more proof that dying is a great career move.

[@JMGilberto]

@@chrisconley8583 dying has always been a positive career move as an artist.

[@nicholasmartin297]

That had never occurred to me before. I haven’t really thought about it, but I think you may be right. Great observation.

[@brucepierson9941]

"Government is the entertainment division of the military industrial complex." - FZ

[@cryptotharg7400]

Always loved FZ's music, but he (like many other Laurel Canyonites) came from a MIC background. The MoI came together under CIA auspices, I believe, just as the Beatles, Stones, Who etc. were creations of MI5, and Tavistock.

[@taurtue]

It was meant to be a joke and now people take this literally...

[@Mark-jy4qt]

@@taurtue you started a joke.... and the joke is on you....

[@Mark-jy4qt]

@@cryptotharg7400 well said sir... tell that Bryan Callen, he wont believe you lol

[@taurtue]

@@Mark-jy4qt ? FZ started the joke

[@connorlarkinbass]

this dude is so sober. and i love him for it.

[@mikeyteee95]

You can tell FZ would turn into a horrible alcoholic if he ever drank 😂

[@Valkonnen]

Why? Are you Joyless too?

[@reginaldsfarm7541]

@@Valkonnen what're you trying to prove, you turd?

[@ThePthompson41]

If sobriety males you a dick, have a drink

[@stevec4899]

@B0omer96 He made it clear to them when he hired them - just like most employers do. If you signed-on to tour with him on those conditions, then it was your own decision. He also didn't like it when his great instrumentalists (esp. keyboard players) took liberties on taking extended improvisational solos. If he told you could take 6 bars and you took 10, you got corrected. His music was his baby, and he was all about controlling its performance and the circumstances of its performance. But everyone signed-on to the terms ahead of time....he didn't just arbitrarily boss people around. Frank was all about freedom and choice. You do whatever you want, but if you play my music in my band, know that these are the rules...choose it or leave it.

[@XxXxXJonathanXxXxX]

"What a great attitude!" Zappa: "It's called rational thinking"

[@user-mt4ny2zw7t]

I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or respected how little he cares about people who don't enjoy his work. I have always enjoyed listening to Frank Zappa's thoughts on things more than his music. I didn't grow up with his music so take that in mind. He always comes across as someone that his passionate about his art and his beliefs and doesn't care about much else.

[@craigcaver4051]

You don't have to grow up with something to appreciate/like it.

[@guyguyguysh]

He would put on a face for these interviews.

[@mylenesau]

AHAHAHAHA

[@levitatingoctahedron922]

that cringy political comment afterward though.

[@alexisbuchanan2028]

Can't say I'm a big fan of his music but I love listening to him speak. He talks so much sense but keeps his sense of humour throughout. We need more artists like him

[@michaeltingle78]

Apparently you’ve never watched his live version of muffin man .. search it .absorb. It’s what drew me in

[@DoomKid]

The live performance of Watermelon on Easter Hay is phenomenal..

[@undercarver8777]

Try Apostrophe 😊

[@VictorRice]

I'm the opposite - I think his music is genius but his attitude was unnecessary.

[@peacebeyondpassion2]

Same here. Accept "Valley Girl" that was just my generation lol

[@garypear4552]

I love how he answers the question like he is being interrogated.

[@lastnamefirst4035]

If he didn't want to be there he could have left

[@williamharbuck8575]

@@lastnamefirst4035 yes, but he’d rather talk and educate her on how good music has been Ruined by an industry that only cares about money and not talent. They take away musicians freedom and control them. That’s why he’s pissed. Did you not deduct that from his words by getting past his tone that had no bearing on what he says ?

[@lastnamefirst4035]

@@williamharbuck8575 😀 been a frank fan since mid sixties. What I find funny about alot of zappa fans is they are forever telling eachother what frank is saying as tho few understand him. Ive been listening to zappa since I was a teenage girl in the 60s. One thing that's always bugged me is Ive found few female fans of his besides me. But then I don't meet many who care as much about music as I do

[@joyandpeacefullaughter5307]

She's a bad interviewer. Someone like Conan/ David Letterman/Joe Rogan would have expatiated on what he was saying not throwing just rapid-fire questions at him. It's so boring.

[@mulliganstew72]

I disagree. I like how naïve she is. Those three idiots don’t know how to talk about anything but Trump or the coronavirus…

[@neilcripps192]

Its like the camera operator just discovered the zoom.

[@jourdanrolland522]

I laughed so hard.

[@kcrelax3330]

I just saw that when I read the comment lmao

[@W0J0SM0J0]

Ironically the zoom In & Out is a byproduct of post editing, you actually thought that the camera operator was that in tune with what Frank was saying that he felt the need to "Zoom In" you are adorable!😊

[@SplendidCoffee0]

@@W0J0SM0J0​​⁠you do realize that’s entirely wrong, right? It’s not post zoom because you can see that the background is moving along with the zoom, while a post zoom makes the background static. The cameraman is in fact using the zoom function.

[@SergeiRomanoffelevenCubed]

As you zoom into pixel cluster the picture noise increases whereas a zoom-in is in full resolution with Long lens.

[@davidweber5833]

I think the interviewer held her own. She never got rattled. She laughed along with Frank. She deserves some credit. Where is she now?

[@apropo0]

Is the interviewer his daughter?

[@mikephalen3162]

I dunno. The interview was done in 1984, so his history was well-known. She asked unnecessary questions (how the group got its name, how the band came together). She sounded like she'd written out questions and was running down the list, one by one.

[@nicholash4525]

She is dead.

[@DailyMontaigne]

@@nicholash4525 But who was she?

[@jimmyfreeman5714]

She sounds condescending, snarky, and on an intellectual cliff.

[@Bat-Georgi]

"King Crimson?" "Sometimes..." No doubt about it, he was absolutely fucking with us.

[@AK-lg8fj]

No doubt, I've heard he was the guy who found Adrian Belew. I think Crimson was one of the bands that really kept progressing through the 80s.

[@xbmpr]

@@AK-lg8fjwatch Baby Snakes.

[@DavidSush1]

I miss Frank. I wish he was able to live another 30 years or so. Such a brilliant man.

[@anthonyj.lobreto5544]

He spoke out against the system he refused to be a part of so they made sure to give him that magical C word that killed him. I'll always believe that he tried to wake people up and they killed him for that.

[@pighater951]

@@anthonyj.lobreto5544 yup he knew wt was going on with the cia controlling the music industry

[@Dragonking-fd1qv]

same :/ worst of all i could never have seen him play, i was born 13 years after he died, i wish he stopped smoking, maybe he could have survived the whole ordeal

[@charlieandhudsonspal1312]

@@pighater951 what did his father do for work, it was in that same strain as the cia wasn’t it?

[@cammo777]

@@pighater951 and who controls the cia? It’s a small rich country that the Zionist States of America gives 8 b$ per year to.

[@bonzo21290]

"it's a game where you have a piece of time and you get to decorate it and depending on how intuitive the rhythm section is that's backing you up, you can do things that are literally impossible to imagine." I love that

[@autorotator]

When the jam becomes super natural

[@talastra]

"literally impossible to imagine" while they're sitting there, but obviously perfectly imaginable at the time :)

[@dondrysdale7297]

well, then check out more jazz records if you haven't.

[@kerrykoeppen9319]

That's art!

[@fredericsangiorgi9507]

He is sharp as a razor and i only heard him say “ahh” twice in the middle of a sentence. Eloquence can be brief. Great interview.

[@MatmoeLP]

I completely agree with you but I think you overheard a few "ahh's" because I heard him already saying ahh 2 times between 1:40 and 2:15 after reading your comment. Edit: 3 times between 1:40 and 2:20

[@rubymorris44]

Well said.

[@Dixler683]

Fred, Exactly! No umms, so’s or likes. He is well spoken , a musical genius and intelligent.

[@joeadams2340]

the sheer disgust he has in his face after every question she asks is great

[@bobyost42]

To me the best thing about this interview (aside from Frank's frankness) is the massive shift in tone from the interviewer. At the beginning she's irritated because Frank doesn't give her what she expects... But as she starts asking better questions his answers become more revealing...and she hears the unvarnished truth in a way she has never considered before... by the end you can hear in her voice that she really digs & is in awe of him! Really cool!

[@laracroft4782]

Was thinking the same thing - it’s nice to see her take a step back after a while and actually laugh at his abruptness, getting in on it and not taking it as a personal attack (which it wasn’t)

[@SRNF]

I can't see that. I see Frank realizing she is a nice person putting effort in listening to him and starting to go easier on her//opened up. Her questions are set in stone, not as if she had started to make up new questions....lol

[@twangbarfly]

Very well put - I thought FZ reeled her in and then steamrollered her into admitting that her company and the mainstream music business was just another part of corporate America. I wonder what her bosses made of this interview and her cozying up to FZ's assertions...

[@OldRunt]

Very true. Well put!

[@melodyvernon]

Yes. Both of their postures come around.

[@RM-gm7lu]

"Science fiction hair and diagonal zippers on your clothes" This guy kills me

[@dondrysdale7297]

why? he was just saying the truth about it since the early 80s.

[@derycktrahair8108]

He was a MUSICIAN who knew the difference between Music & the Music INDUSTRY. He had a rare insight for someone in that scene.

[@IC-Alchemy]

His father was also a military intelligence officer which is why he avoided talking about how the band formed to strongly at the beginning of the interview. The "hippy music scene" was manufactured as a PSYOP in order to redirect the antiwar protesters of the late 1950's and early 1960's into harmless automatons who were into peace love and drugs. Frank knew this

[@kulturfreund6631]

@Blasto labs I once heard that the women liberation movement was funded through the CIA in order to increase productivity and tax revenues and in order to take control of the kids by the educational system during time of absence of their parents. Can you confirm that?

[@krisscanlon4051]

Oh yeah...the biz in show biz...you nailed it 👏

[@RatDog84]

"It is sometimes not rock and roll it's just consumed by a rock and roll audience".. excellent quote

[@xgman9846]

Gotta love the way he burns MTV with the truth, in an MTV interview.

[@creamcannon825]

I also love how MTV had to take that on the chin for the sake of the pretty penny they'd make off of Zappa. They essentially ate shit in exchange for free food.

[@jacklitterini]

“It’s a piece of time and you get to decorate it “ as a guitar player that sentence spoke volumes to me

[@nploda1408]

Same. I love that quote.

[@JAYSONGS]

Indeed 💜

[@MrShotthat]

-"What a great attitude!" -"It's called rational thinking." That sums up the interview. Wish he were still around...

[@NourRodriguez]

This sentence literally changed how I deal with life!

[@dondrysdale7297]

any intelligent person would have the same attitude.

[@JS45678]

I return every year to re-watch this interview to keep my perspective and beliefs about the music industry and life on point.

[@roneystapes]

Well said

[@almead66]

Still valid today ( if not more ) . The world needs him more today than ever.

[@ThemGoodOldBeans]

If MTV made him recoil in horror 1984, he'd get a heart attack seeing what it is now.

[@BrownSoldier96]

No doubt about it, my friend. It sickens me.

[@fusionhar]

And me!!! Another mention for Allan Holdsworth

[@GRA1NG3R]

You hear this all the time. I think the opposite. I believe people like Zappa would rise to the challenge. How we yearn for people like him.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

Why? - they don't play music anymore.

[@andreasnielsen7229]

Some say that's what happened a decade later

[@palix5925]

"I'm easily influenced by things that I hate..." I love that.

[@kramalerav]

I use that quote every time someone responds with ‘then why are you here watching this video?’, after I make a critical or derisive comment about an upload.

[@Grimosaur]

This went from a normal interview to a full on therapy session

[@krakajak67]

I wonder, if Frank was alive today, what he would think of how the world has become. He saw it all happening back in ‘84, he was way ahead of his time, a pure genius.

[@bigtimeadventures3115]

I figure he would say something like “Well, here we are. I’ve been sounding the alarm for decades, and everyone seems to choose easy upfront money as opposed to distinguishing yourself as an artist, and retaining ownership of your music.”

[@ksmoove12able]

Today I became a Frank Zappa fan:) Before I seen this interview. I listened to some of his songs and realised how ahead of his time he was and liked his off beat style and also his on beat style is really good too. Im a huge rap and underground hip hop fan but I love other genres as well. Respect for this man.

[@SUdatsthecalloftheWU]

Is attitude is hip hop all over g

[@bnorteno9157]

Congratulations!

[@missesmew]

Keenan Moore I think we all are nowadays or should be. I was a heavy metal guy with dance thrown in with country that discovered Biggie, led to loving what at first I couldn’t stand which was rap and now has come full circle to this incredible era of Blues. Oh yeah can’t forget my love for mow town. What I’m saying is it’s all good. Gotta have an open mind. It’s all about quality and mood.

[@rbagel55]

@@missesmew Great attitude man. I'm like you, I will listen to anything from Metallica to Ohio Players, to Willie Nelson to Kansas to Zappa to Mozart and beyond. I like it all. Life is boring being stuck in one genre of music

[@missesmew]

rbagel55 that’s right. So much great stuff, not just on the radio but on here. I’m discovering new blues artists recently. Samantha Fish and Eric Gale are awesome 👌🏽

[@Pun2404]

I'd give anything to have Frank Zappa around in 2017...

[@tonewall1]

agreed.

[@joeduce2752]

frank was a italian man thats nuts.

[@chrisbova9686]

He'd be pissed you brought him back here. Real pissed.

[@martigrant3707]

I'd give anything to have Frank back period.

[@nicholaswilkinson6126]

No doubt it's a shame that he died so young, but it is what it is! Nothing anyone can do, but celebrate and enjoy the legacy of his music. ❤️

[@RAMUNEsweet]

"see what mtv does to you? You can't laugh..." man i lost it

[@gmy33]

Never new i qould like Appa this much as a person .. it great to hear he likes balkan and classical and barok music .. love it !!

[@musicpersonality]

I deeply appreciate how the reporter is seduced and swayed by Zappa during the interview. It’s so rare these days to actually feel how a fan would experience interviewing their idol. She laughs, she admits things that I’m sure jeopardized her work, she stands amazed by the mind of the musician she so obviously admires. It’s a thing of beauty. A testament to the magnetism of a genuine personality, a person, a human.

[@mattperry3771]

She is clearly enamored with him.

[@notnotknowing2946]

Frank Zappa my all time favorite, his concerts were so much fun, so precise, his fans came before the almighty buck.💕🌠love in sound. Absolutely brilliant.

[@geoycs]

I don’t think she knows the first thing about Zappa and his music. She basically asks a question and then moves on to something else. No real discussion. Just my opinion.

[@rohitl7636]

And a genius!

[@jerbear1601]

Conversely I believe she couldn't wait to end it. He was aggressive and nasty about most topics.

[@mahmudhossain4315]

"Give yourself and the audience a break" hahahahhahahaha I laughed at that part so hard

[@bazdaniels7420]

SAME HERE ! lol

[@chansfor]

Priceless, he wasn’t just years ahead of his time, he was decades ahead of it.

[@biffphuddle6581]

Love Frank's analysis and honesty about the music industry... and attitude about how he approaches soloing every show.

[@paulogp4629]

Yes. I'm thinking about my whole life playing a guitar in my room, playing music from others, never creating.. FOR WHAT?! I'm sad now. I'm not joking.

[@Nateh918]

"It's corporate America" "Push the button, pull the train, out comes the little brown choo choo train."

[@willrichardson519]

Pull the chain, rhymingly...

[@johntiney1985]

Respect to be able to sit in silence like that...

[@jamescassidy3995]

Amazing how virtually everything Frank says is true & relevant all these years later.

[@goodpeopleoftheworldunite]

It's more sad than amazing.

[@jamescassidy3995]

@@goodpeopleoftheworldunite that’s true 😢

[@goodpeopleoftheworldunite]

@@jamescassidy3995 If you can't beat them, do not join them.

[@1BuckeyeRob]

I just started LISTENING to Zappa and looking up these interviews. Man, he was a special gift.

[@TheDude8008]

I just disagree with music videos being disposable, I keep coming back to some and they are still a joy to watch and hear.

[@thomascerulli8013]

Frank, as always spot on. Theirs a very dark side to the music industry. Franks always been. Anti-Establishment RIP Frank 🙏

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

I'm pretty sure that Frank would very quickly become bored with any static "peace." Rock on, keep pushing that envelope is probably a more fitting benediction. (And now I'm picturing annoyed archangels plugging their ears and rolling their inhuman eyes...)

[@lwiggins2able]

I love this guy❤️ he gives zero shits about your standards.

[@dlxinfinite6623]

Wait? Are you a Black or Latino woman who even understands Zappa? I'm Black. And I have been looking for you all my life.

[@Garrysullivanjones]

Right on

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

He didnt give a shit because his were much higher

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

DLX Infinite im black too and somewhat a woman

[@dondrysdale7297]

he tried to warn people about Nazi creeps like Nixon back in the 70s--it was in part why he did get involved in politics somewhat.

[@MarianoPereyra]

"In fact they don't even care about the tape because they can always get Trevor Horn to fix it". I love this man!

[@Underhills]

That's a huge compliment to Mr Horn. One of my favorite producers. So thanks Frank.

[@tylilbug88]

He was so ahead of his time.. RIP Frank Zappa

[@mikedemike5393]

I think many are arriving to where he was in the 70s...

[@ListenToManicAntenna]

He'll always be ahead of his time, in my opinion.

[@Anoana79]

@ Right. He was exactly right where he was.

[@robertm6820]

I’m in the early stages of getting into Zappa… growing up in Hollywood in the late 70’s/early 80’s and hearing Frank’s point of view on the era and with the benefit of hindsight, this makes makes me wonder what else I missed in my youth. He’s spot on about MTV and the music industry… He was amazing!

[@halcyon289]

Check out the brilliant : We're Only in it for the Money. A masterpiece.

[@jasonwhite7427]

Roxy and elsewhere

[@jakediddy3658]

Iconoclast, realist ,amazingly honest, genius pioneer and definition of a real artist.

[@talastra]

An example of a real artist perhaps, not a definition. He's an artist of the "too cool to care about humanity" type, like Stravinsky. There's something to be said for trying to be neutral as an artist, but the only real you have to take "be neutral" to mean "not give a shit about people" is because you can't get your own emotions under control. Zappa's immense talent means this his playing isn't merely masturbatory. It's his compositions that are more important, although his avant-gardism is (1) not that advanced, and (2) interesting because he's working in a rock context that changes the orchestration of music. I mean, if he wants to flex his rationlist thinking, then it's only correct to judge him in those terms. He was obscure in his lifetime, and he's quickly disappearing into history. (Yes, we know him, but we're old.) Maybe he'll be rediscovered in 30 years. With how culture piles up these days, probably not. Zappa made serious music, to be sure, even at it's silliest, but he's not much of an iconoclast--or have you not listened to his pious homage to doo-wop? :) The dadaism of his lyrics might be worthy of eternity however! *snicker*

[@jakediddy3658]

talastra You judge him on a subjective level in points. Was it hate of humanity or just a non tolerance for the repetitive stupidity of humanity. He was prophetic in his discussions of culture , art and politics.He had the courage to go against the grain of human insanity.

[@talastra]

@@jakediddy3658 First, it was early in the morning when I was responding, and I probably included less detail than I should have. So, that's my fault. Second, there's no such thing as an "objective" level, but your point is that I'm judging him in too idiosyncratic of a way. A difference between me and most people judging him (positively or otherwise), I have a very clear idea of what my criteria are for judgment, and that's not the case with most fans, of anyone, also. If someone has not read someone like Raymond Williams, or gobs of other people, then Zappa might seem "prophetic". Carlin is equally "shallow" in that respect, maybe even more so. I don't think Zappa would have agreed with you that he was courageous, because most people who just "do" things will tell you, "I just did it." There's no particular bravery or courage involved.. As a libertarian, he wanted to be able to follow his own lights, and that's what he did, partially because any sort of career (as a classical composer, mind you) was shut down early on by the music industry he rightly excoriates. There's an early classical piece by him (The Great Deceiver) performed by the Pomona (Valley?) Orchestra; he'd dropped out of Pomona College, after a month. So, he tried that game and either went in a different direction or saw that he was shut down. (Classical music departments are positively disgusting with arrogance and discouragement.) The credit due him (beyond his musical talent) is perseverance; most of us give up on what we do once we encounter that first big "no". He didn't. But as far as whatever he had to say about the music industry, there's a bitterness that is gratuitous and his cynical observations are not offset by his successes in the industry or that he's anticipated in his critique by dozens of historical materialists [in a "recent" lineage starting with Walter Benjamin and his derivatives]. You could throw Chomsky in as well, if you like. Above all, he was just somebody who wanted to do what he wanted, was able to do so, and didn't have to kiss anyone's ass in terms of doing that, eventually (relatively speaking, from early on). "Freedom" was always his watchword, his excessive emphasis on it is what makes him libertarian, whether he voted that way or not. Not being held accountable for one's activities is sometimes very necessary for creating art, and Zappa did, but that luxury also comes with social costs as well. Whether or not we let the artist be a part of our judgment on their art is a question to answer culturally. Zappa isn't going to last in a long-term sense. He's just not. Part of why is because he wanted to take music seriously, and did take music seriously, but didn't allow himself to always take music seriously enough. Partly, because he did trashy rock music, serious music will ignore him as completely as Pomona did way back at the outset. That's a loss for music, but it's not a surprise in light of his contrarian-ness toward "music". Luckily, we can still enjoy the stuff he recorded, and appreciate it. If we really want to change that, we have to promote his work intelligently to more people. This still isn't really cogent enough, but it sketches out the outlines.

[@birderybirdery]

To hear Frank express admiration for Allan Holdsworth made me smile.

[@kipponi]

Allan was really different player. Even Steve Vai said he did not understand what Allan was doing.

[@Miler97487]

Don't forget Chad Wackerman as he played with both Zappa and Holdsworth.

[@nickdunlap255]

I had the opportunity to talk to Allan and Steve at Carvin by my house when I was 18 years old (13 years ago) I have a picture with me and Steve and I have my Scorpions shirt on haha. I got an autograph from Vai, Holdsworth and MacAlpine that day!

[@tyronesharp401]

@@nickdunlap255 that was a good day

[@dam1106]

The interviewer did a really good job keeping her composure throughout. Interviewing Frank successfully would have been a serious challenge for most people. Nothing against him, as I know he was a very intelligent man, but he often came across as very arrogant until he decides to loosen up and let you in.

[@Pencilman246]

As much as I love his music, I'm not sure I would have wanted to meet him for that very reason. I've met too many people who were proud of being arrogant and cynical who I hated being around, no matter how talented or intelligent they were. He could have said all of the great things he says in this interview without coming across as cold as he does, even if he has valid reasons for doing so. And I'd be really depressed if I, as Frank says herr, hated most of the music that came out since the 60s. That's probably overly-cynical but hey, that's Frank. Now I have met his son, Dweezil, and he was a really kind guy. So maybe Frank had a soft side that he didn't like showing off too much.

[@aeroaddict]

Ben Miller Frank told a story when he met Miles Davis. Miles was very cold to him. Frank said from that moment he was done with Davis, since that’s not the way he treats people. He seems pissed in this interview, because you can tell he had big issues with MTV and the music industry. But if you watch his interviews with Letterman, he’s totally different.

[@johnwatkins7382]

I agree, it's like, obviously he hates mtv, so why do the interview? Its not like a record company was forcing him to, he owned his own label! I think he really enjoyed agreeing to interviews just so he could arrogantly talk down to the lowly interviewer. Love his music, but he kind of comes off as a prick.

[@AnthonyPerris]

Best Zappa interview I've ever seen. And mostly because he began to respect her about half way through.

[@dewdew34]

@@AnthonyPerris From the moment he told her it was ok to laugh and she did, the mood changed

[@R0yL33]

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion . At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain , they will just take down the scenery , they will pull back the curtains , they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater . " -FRANK ZAPPA

[@nevedofficial466]

project 2025

[@markbarboza1407]

Frank was so far ahead of his time, an articulate artist who made music regardless of what any record company said. A warrior for the artistry of music the emotion of music, the truth of music that is beyond explanantion...

[@marlon-jl4ge]

He was a boring clown

[@asapfilms2519]

@@marlon-jl4ge for people who listen to Britney Spears

[@marlon-jl4ge]

@@asapfilms2519 and his music too

[@marlon-jl4ge]

How many fools listen to shit zappa music? Hahahaha

[@asapfilms2519]

@@marlon-jl4ge you are at the wrong party…this isn’t a place for the timid and the conformist…

[@markw1354]

I've played guitar & Keyborrds for nearly 40 years. I discovered Frank at the age of 19. In my mind, he was ALWAYS my mentor. Saw him at Berkeley, CA, Santa Monica, CA, and Santa Cruz, CA. Also was in the front row when he did the tribute to Edgar Varese in San Francisco conducting. RIP Frank . . .

[@BrownSoldier96]

You're one lucky man. Frank Zappa is one of my three heroes. He's the reason why I began composing myself. Hopefully, I'll be able to see Zappa Plays Zappa in May.

[@markw1354]

Did you ever wake up in the morning, with a zombie wolf behind your eyes ? Dwezel does well. Peace . . .

[@OldRunt]

Mark W Who cares?

[@acetate909]

@@markw1354 Zappa plays Zappa? I've been to that show. My dad says it's ok but not the same.

[@BernieHolland-w4l]

@@cammo777 Well done - you just spread a bit more. . . . . . . .

[@dromadrosis]

I love him with all my heart. I miss him enormously. I always end up crying when I see these interviews... Gosh, what gentle genius...

[@universoulistic]

dromadrosis ha! Possibly the BEST profile name..EVER.

[@universoulistic]

..and well they should.

[@luckyswine]

Gentle? Wtf. Try effing up a percussion part and see how gentle he was.

[@Sandra_aschenbach_doyle]

Its amazing how he hates being there and still makes it as comfortable as he can for the interviewer. Legend

[@nathanmeans1548]

I love how he looks straight at the camera more than at the interviewer.

[@richcampus]

I don't know what I love more, Frank's music or his words. So much substance.

[@jacques-andresaint-laurent1300]

Man... He said it. He sang it. What do you need ? Music is the best !

[@muhrvis]

His contempt for the interview process is so evident... If I had been a music journalist, interviewing Frank Zappa or Lou Reed would have struck fear into my heart.

[@rscottenglish]

And yet he is giving an interview.

[@kevcatnip7589]

Dont think contempt was his game ,,think he did like people

[@YogsenForfoth]

Bless this man. He was quite literally the best of us. I wish, with all of my heart, that we could have had Frank around for so much longer.

[@daviddoyle4516]

Miss you Frankster,,, Genius backwards and forwards,,, Uncompromissing badass genuis,,,,

[@santonucci]

Zappa was telling us things 45 years ago that we needed to know... and didn't want to hear. I am the slime....

[@ProfessorTime]

Pure. Fucking. Genius. Frank totally bashes 80’s music here. Imagine what Frank would say about today’s music! Holy shit. How I’d love to hear that!

[@tasiociafancelli9912]

hahahaha I think he would find interesting the scene in technical death metal...

[@salvadormarley]

Yes today's music. I'd love to hear that

[@sdmsdmsdm]

This is accurate. Most sub-genres of metal for that matter.

[@MrLazarus535]

Your an idiot.A glittering jewel of colossal ignorance.

[@diegov.miranda7182]

You're.

[@bwalla50]

I miss Frank. There was and is no one like him. His "I'm doing what I want" is what is sadly lacking in today's mainstream music.

[@biganimetiddies1287]

Bullshit, there are thousands of artists out there with that "devil may care" attitude today, the issue is with exposure. You have so many artists to go thru, you'd be forgiven to think the industry is set up like a macrocosm of pop music itself, but it's just not the case. Truth is, you just have to look harder to find it, that's all.

[@Knapptime95]

The problem with good music today is you really have to go out of your way to find it. But to be fair, when you really think about it, mainstream pop music has always been shit…for example, look at 1973…that’s the year Dark Side of the Moon came out, among many other fantastic progressive rock albums that stood the test of time….the NUMBER ONE song of that year, according to Billboard…was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree”….I rest my case

[@marlon-jl4ge]

Zappa was filth

[@MrGozieBoy]

@@marlon-jl4ge Please elaborate.

[@marlon-jl4ge]

@@MrGozieBoy he changed the music World of boring assholes 🤣

[@completesentences2125]

Losing Frank Zappa was a substantial loss for humanity. He was truly one of the good ones.

[@HughCorbyCruick]

This guy was more Punk than “Punk” ever was.

[@andya2665]

You cant box Zappa.

[@michaeldejong2700]

No because most punk bands just follow the herd. Frank Zappa genuine does his own thing.

[@andya2665]

@@ThisIsTheMajor Or the Dead Kennedy's?

[@TarantuLandoCalcuLingus]

@@ThisIsTheMajor i need a new copy of blabk generation thatnks for the reminder!

[@andya2665]

@William Magee Yeah, its like who can name-drop the most esoteric and obscure bands. And if there was audio we would all sound like Spicoli fron "Fast Times" while doing it.

[@earlgrey2130]

He is so on point and well spoken. Rare these days.

[@dondrysdale7297]

that's because h Bill Gates and C.O. would have people to the point of walking masked zombies like we've seen in the last year; i'm sure he's upset he's not here to of seen it.

[@HistoryChannel1776]

John should see the democrat now. A Marxist fascist now. Their acutely the republicans now.

[@Chudley716]

His top of head critique of the business of music videos is brilliant.

[@fortunatoofamontillado1059]

Glad to have been alive while this guy was creating music .. There will never be another Frank Zappa … Miss the reality

[@franciscassidy2966]

wow... i cant stop laughing, zappa is such a character. all his interviews are gold. awesome guitarist of course aswell

[@shaftalight]

If you understood him properly, you would realize he is not a character, he is one of the most authentic pieces or reality the modern world has ever seen.

[@rlevanony1]

Yeah he's really funny I laughed as well.

[@BlackAlbino2000]

He isn’t arrogant nor cynical nor pessimistic, it’s called being honest

[@pCeLobster]

Oh he's all 4 alright.

[@shaneryan9040]

Or just being a dick.

[@mulliganstew72]

He’s sharing secrets and teaching her things.

[@antlerr]

@@shaneryan9040 truth fricken hurts doesnt it snowflake too bad no one cares of feelings get over it.

[@OwenAllRound]

@@antlerr I do

[@stevekrejci1574]

I have been listening to FZ since 1973. I have seen him live in CA in 1985. An amazing musician in his own category of music that nobody can duplicate. Yes a musical genius if you ever studied him or his music or his musicians. One of the greatest losses to the music world. RIP Frank, you are missed every time I turn on my stereo and gaze at all my FZ CDs and albums ❤

[@jasonwhite7427]

Wish I could've seen him live I did see the mothers once though

[@georgecandreva2842]

Frank Zappa was a visionary! He couldn't just sit back and eat the proverbial load of crap lying down. It was an honor to see him perform his music with such greats as George Duke. But, it is also worth noting that after the untimely death of Jimi Hendrix (at that mysterious age of #27) that Frank reaffirmed his commitment to playing guitar and just kept getting better and better at it as the years rolled by. His extended live solo escapades are brilliant and unique. His anger and disdain for MTV and what it says about the business goes deeper when he refers to himself as ugly and unmarketable (by record company standards) to the mainstream population. But, he cut his hair and put on a suit and tie and tackled many issues that were controversial because he knew he was right. All the rest of us should just say thank you Frank. You are a real American hero and one hell of a musician. I always admired you and you've been a real role model for those of us who hear you loud and clear.

[@kenrowland7864]

Pure Class...Extremely Intelligent man.

[@Blakelysworld358]

I can't get over how honest and relatable he is.

[@kimdurig1322]

I saw Frank in concert twice back in the day , what a tight band and his incredible guitar work .

[@Tommyr]

Man I miss that guy......

[@the-eye-is-watching]

+Tommyr you took the words out of my mouth!

[@lc3360]

@Laverne Johnson , stfu

[@williampaschall8609]

@Laverne Johnson ur a dick

[@ericwarrington6650]

OMG I love this man so much...the pure honesty and his personal integrity and unique approach to music is unmatched in history as is the incredible complexity of his songwriting...he marched to the best of his own drums...and guitars...man a straight LEGEND

[@patrickmccutcheon8860]

"Press the button, pull out the chain, and here come the brown Choo Choo Train." Very cool to hear that Zappa liked Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

[@talastra]

Who doesn't?

[@andyfetter]

I could never get into his music but there’s no denying his genius and his unique perspective on art. I could listen to interviews with him all day.

[@kingwoods385]

"Flower powered stupidity" lmaooo

[@puggilove]

I know!🤣 also the comment about space age hair and diagonal zippers😆 press the button, pull the chain, out comes a lil brown choo choo train! Hed be turning in his grave if he saw how bad things have become. Oh genius Frank.

[@helugoconache]

@@puggilove bad?? if you mean mtv/vh1/FM radio and corporate media they always suck as said by Frank in this interview, on other hand the internet its perhaps the greatest tool for music making, distribution AND listening of all time!!, first of all its a two way media, no longer sitting idle just as a passive spectator, no more need for commercial radio or tv to show "new talent" around the globe, in fact, there is a growing trend of finding obscure composers, bands and music including Zappa's enormous work output

[@chorinu7609]

I am aware this comment was made months ago. If you cannot see this man as at least a rational thinker, I would suggest you might not know what rational means. :) It has nothing to do with finger pointing and name calling. Lay it out smooth and be respectful, as you view here.

[@dantierney5563]

Zappa was so intense and multi-faceted. His hatred for anything facile is palpable. And driven? He did 13 albums in one year. There will only be one Frank Zappa.

[@calebbowers1152]

It looks like he’s giving a deposition and I love it

[@scotchallenguarde1]

Lol he is

[@JoeWild1984]

That's what interviews are! No wonder why he hated them! "Being interviewed is among the most abnormal things you can do to a human being" - FZ

[@majordudette]

Ha! On the nose, dude.

[@rkris1]

This woman is truly an amazing interviewer.

[@nerblebun]

Unappreciated genius.

[@terrypussypower]

+Grandpa the Grey I appreciate him! Lots of people appreciate Frank! Could be doing with a lot more though.

[@lisaspikes4291]

I appreciate him. I wish there were more people like him around! I miss straight shooting honest people. He tells the truth, whether you like it or not. You always know where you stand with someone like him. This is how I choose my friends.

[@papagreenemusic]

One of the most appreciated geniuses of all time, by those who appreciate true musical genius.

[@0okamino]

Unappreciated by bozos who can't handle the jazz discharge party hats.

[@terenceboris851]

I’d say he’s appreciated, dickhead.

[@johnnyrambo5083]

Some of you people are nuts. He's doing an interview with MTV. Even back in 84 Zappa knew everything it stood for. We are talking about a guy who did things HIS way and represents true artistic expression. The guy is rolling in his grave at how soulless and vacuous the entertainment and music industry is these days. Basically he was an innovator and anti-establishment before it was cool to do so.

[@mikedemike5393]

read dr days speech to pediatrics with dr dunegan......they said in 1969 the future of music was going to make it more horrible................besides they dont need music to ritualistically to indoctrinate people with spells when the internet and the visual meme is more effective......the whole thing with all the protest music of the 60s was to push NWO socialist to fascism-dictatorship agenda...

[@lc3360]

@Laverne Johnson , stfu

[@UberLummox]

"These days" as you say. Every generation says that about the upcoming generation to this day.

[@Andyface79]

He could’ve not done the interview.

[@UberLummox]

@Matt Dylan Good points, and I would add bitterness, (inner turmoil, stress, etc.), IS what causes cancer.

[@viktoryeshchenko1181]

I will use this as preparation for my IELTS speaking exam

[@denni95HM]

That's really random, but good luck

[@colingullberg]

If you can talk like Frank on an IELTS speaking test you'll get a 9.

[@StephanieLimon-i3o]

He was such a genius and it holds true. He never said people shouldn’t do this and that. He stated what wasn’t working and I think we can look back and say he had it right. He upheld creativity in a light of its own and invited creatives to rise to the occasion. He narrowed in on the mainstream and disqualified it from being inventive for fear it wouldn’t be mainstream. He lit a light under our asses to make more and be better and be unique. And he left a pathway for many to do that. And maybe he didn’t see this one coming… but maybe he was the mother of inventions. The willingness to be brave, bold and different. It’s why we gravitate towards him. Lest us not miss the mark.

[@pbr146muc8]

"The illusion of freedom will continue for as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will take down the scenery, move the tables and chairs out of the way, then they will pull back the curtains and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater." - Frank Zappa

[@chrismowbray4437]

I love F.Z.,but I feel for the interviewer. I don't know whether he had a bad experience with her or mtv in the past,but I think he was expecting an mtv dork,but he seems to warm up to her because she proves to be respectful and somewhat intelligent.

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

She did very well. She knew who she was interviewing.

[@williamtaylor5193]

Frank had a great speaking voice.

[@Allan-et5ig]

He says it became much, much deeper when he fell into a pit described in Deep Purple's SOTW. I am NOT kidding.

[@Mountainrock70]

A record that makes you feel something inside you can listen to hundreds of times! Man was a genius! Its the things some people think or don’t think. Frank comes right out and says it!