Frank and Moon Zappa Talk "Valley Girl" | Letterman

The Zappas play the name game and do valley speak.
(From "Late Night," air date: 8/10/82)
#frankzappa #valleygirl #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. The language may strike you as quaint & flowery, the clothing comically lacey & ornate - but that’s how things were back in this colorful and now bygone era.

[@paulamiles9559]

You can tell Dad is proud of her. He's trying so hard not to step on her lines.

[@KB-ke3fi]

He's just promoting an old record that has no sales now.

[@terryr_zappa8193]

​@@KB-ke3fiwow. just wow man.

[@marksinger2360]

@@KB-ke3fi The slightly ruffling you just felt was the breeze from the point that sailed right over your head.

[@Canada_Dominium]

@@KB-ke3fi Why were you here?

[@electrictroy2010]

@K B you just described every song that had ever existed. It’s popular for a year or two & then disappears with very few sales. (Except maybe a greatest hits album.)

[@adamjenkins190]

The best part is watching the pride in Frank's face everytime Moon speaks so colloquially and succinct. I would be equally as proud as a father.

[@bfboobie]

You'd describe her speech as colloquial? Are you referring to her natural speech or her valley girl impressions?

[@Faeriedarke]

I hope you mean articulately, I don't think colloquially means what you think it does.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

I hate correcting people but, as others have already chimed in with their opinions, l think the word you wanted was eloquently. Colloquial means informal or familiar of a type that would not be used in written English. I wondered if you had been a victim of auto correct.

[@RobMacKendrick]

@@nikiTricoteuse Ah ha. That's it. Thanks. I was trying to figure out what OP was going for.

[@johnsmith-yk8by]

amen you want your kids to be real amen

[@justayoutuber1906]

My grandma once casually said "Oh Yeah, Frank Zappa - we used to have dinner with him and his wife sometimes." WHAT???? OMG

[@stewartgibson5802]

DONT LET THAT BE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT PLEASE

[@rigodon97]

Can we know more ? 🥺

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

Lmao. Grandparents have some crazy ass stories, don't they? My great grandfather said he witnessed the great Brinks heist in Boston while standing nearby, and saw the faces of the perps and where they took the money, but he was also a full-blown schizophrenic. LOL.

[@echoparklady3170]

If your granny lived in Echo Park around Preston Ave, believe it!

[@elizabethk117]

Awesome!

[@nunyabisniss1179]

I grew up in Studio City, California, and knew Zappas kids, a little bit. We had mutual friends, etc. Frank definitely raised his kids well. They aren't perfect, like most of us. They were a lot of fun. Good people. Miss Frank so much!!

[@Illumignostic]

Why they have same hair?

[@guitarjonn7103]

I'd recommend you read Moon's new book, Earth to Moon.

[@michaelparks6120]

@@guitarjonn7103 why do you recommend it?

[@michaelparks6120]

@@nunyabisniss1179 yes, Frank always impressed me as a nice guy

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@@guitarjonn7103 Unfortunately, readers get the impression that Frank and Gail were dreadful parents. They weren't.

[@CristianVargaMastervargas]

She's astonishingly articulate, witty and inteligent for a 14 year old. Well, no suprize there considering who's daughter she is ...

[@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212]

Daughter of a clown?

[@alistairproductions]

She looks in her 20s

[@justinkase1360]

I don't think it was so uncommon back then. Think of how much modern teens reflect our current culture, we just chose to change our culture. It's not just teens that reflect these differences. Environment matters.

[@aarondigby5054]

​@Matthew Alistair those names would be normal these days.

[@aarondigby5054]

​@Matthew Alistair those names would be normal these days.

[@garyhoward2490]

We lived in "the valley". Used to see Frank, his wife, and kids around, a lot. Spoke with all of them, many times. Super nice, engaging, and fun family. Frank was a real genius in many ways, but always listened, and was interested in whoever he was speaking with. His kids were the same way. Good parenting. Moon was several years younger than me, but I had a crush on her, when she was older than this clip. Really cute, and quick witted Great family, and a great time associating with all of them.

[@vdussaut9182]

Seems rather absurd that they would have remained there for so many years if they despised it as much as they claimed to in this interview. I guess it’s nice you got to see a pleasant side of them bc here they just seem like arrogant, self important, holier-than-thou douches.

[@ackerjawaka1966]

Little fact for ya...dweezil was in the running man 😜

[@ackerjawaka1966]

So was mick fleetwood also when frank went to register dweezil the powers that be wouldn't let him do it until he changed the name dweezil so he named him after every member of the band he had then, when dweezil found out when he was about 15 he went and changed his name by deed poll back to dweezil ♠️ 🍀 😜 what a dude

[@SpeegBJ]

What to add but NICE.

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

@@ackerjawaka1966 Close, but no cigar. It was the L.A. Presbyterian Hospital that wouldn't allow Gail to have the baby there if they were going to name him Dweezil, so Frank rattled off the band members, including Cal (Schenkel). Dweezil was 5 when he found out (probably when it was time to go to school), and Frank officially had his name changed.

[@Zig_Was_Here]

Wow, just blown by how mature and poised Moon Unit was throughout the entire interview. I had almost forgotten this album and the unrelated movie that followed. Valley Girls were definitely a phenomenon that swept the country.

[@utube9000]

Certainly the most mature, poised (and funny! ) 14 year old girl I've ever seen! Frank raised her good!

[@kosmosyche]

@@utube9000 She is 14 here? Wow, she looks and speaks like she is at least 18

[@fordhamdonnington2738]

Ok fine, like Fer sure

[@rickwilliams967]

If your dad is Zappa, you kinda have to be.

[@alexbaum2204]

Nowadays everyone seems to talk like them. Scary and sad.

[@beowulfvladmax7710]

My brother baby sat Moon and Dweezel Zappa when Frank had family in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii back in the late 60s!!!!! Time certainly flies.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

Frank didn't have family in Hawaii. It was where Gail's mother and Gail's siblings lived till they also left home.

[@ackerjawaka1966]

I once babysat the lad who played lip in Shameless...jodie Laytham I think he was called 🍺🍻

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@@ackerjawaka1966 What is this? One-upmanship?

[@michaelparks6120]

You can just sense the intelligence and wit of both Zappa's.

[@markdavies9117]

You're right: both of them!

[@patgalvez4563]

I believe Zappa's father was military intelligence.....

[@hyzercreek]

She learned how to be smart from him

[@DieFlabbergast]

"both Zappas" (no apostrophes need apply for the job of pluralizing nouns)

[@bongodave13]

@@patgalvez4563 So was Jim Morrison's. Coincidence? Yeah.

[@johnasbury3856]

Frank Zappas charisma and musical genius combined with his one of a kind uniqueness is totally awesome. Such an out of this world guy who still seems completely down to earth. R.I.P.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

If you are interested in the man, you might be interested in my detailing of Frank's life not shown in other books, from getting up to going to bed, composing at the piano, rehearsing with the Mothers, visiting rock stars, freaks, family squabbles, and more. 'Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa, Laurel Canyon, 1968-1971'.

[@snoozer_who_snuffed_it]

@@paulinebutcherbird I remember finding Freak Out in a box of records "down stairs" and it was part of the undoing of my connection with the Lord and my parents. Up until then, my parents gave me music that was not from their generation, (30s-40s) the new back beat stuff like "James Last" and what not. Bless their hearts. Now my parent's weren't really very religious at all, I mean, as the last of 5 kids, either you're all in or to Hell with this. This was a bit more of the latter. They tried but I mean, if you knew one of my brothers and one of my sisters, you would agree that this makes some sense. So I am on the cusp of my teens and on a lonely summer afternoon I pull the Mothers Of Invention: Freak Out from a stash of my much older brother's stuff. He was in some sort of transition phase, I guess. So I put it on the stereo. "I remember doot doot I remember doot doot I remember doot doot, they had a swimming pool" WTF is that? I'd worn that record out. At 12 years old I was quoting lines that I had didn't any understanding the real meaning of. The kids in my peer group also had no idea what was wrong with me. We didn't go to Church, but dark clouds would gather if I passed by. You know, biblical stuff. So this is me and Frank Zappa. Now I am all caught up in that chord structure. What in the hell is wrong with this guy?

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@@snoozer_who_snuffed_it I'm not sure quite where you're at now, as you write about your young self. Presumably you're a musician?

[@snoozer_who_snuffed_it]

@@paulinebutcherbird Yes.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@@snoozer_who_snuffed_it It is my experience that most young Zappa fans are also musicians as Zappa's music does not otherwise have a wide appeal.

[@agalgonzalez]

"I'd like to do a Hawaiian Punch commercial." -Moon (Unit) Zappa. Classic!

[@lisadavie5282]

It's what she said directly after that which is cut out its unfortunate we will never know due to editing lol

[@rossmacintosh5652]

I saw Frank Zappa in concert in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, about 1988. A young woman tried to climb up on stage but security grabbed her. Frank had her put up onto the top of a huge bank of speakers where she couldn't get down. She sat perched up there for a couple hours about 16 feet above the stage. Concert was great.

[@dewilew2137]

That’s weird.

[@jdaniels1313]

@@dewilew2137 I'd say, "that's awesome!" There was a somewhat negative consequence for her, but she didn't get thrown out of the concert or arrested, and got one of the best seats in the house! Win/win!

[@9sheri9]

That is both epic & appropriate 😂 ❤

[@confit]

​@@dewilew2137 I think you're lost.. You are watching Frank Zappa.

[@dildonius]

​@@confit 🙄 Get over yourself.

[@ZepG]

My roommate in 1979 was obsessed with Frank Zappa and I still thank him for introducing him to me.

[@jayhawkjd8565]

Roommates were great for that sort of thing. Mine got me into Neil Young to my never-ending gratitude ... meanwhile I got him into punk. No telling what he thought of that !

[@lisadavie5282]

​@@jayhawkjd8565if you like Neil Young you'd Love this song written as an anthem for him by a Band that describes how perfect music can be. It's called "White Falcon Fuzz" by The Mother Hips! They've made some amazing records and songs that are classic. And are incredible live! Funny that Scott Thunes played bass with them for a minute.

[@thromboid]

You can tell they've answered the names question so many times that they're ruthlessly well-prepared for it.

[@SergeantPancake]

"life was pretty sick back then, wasn't it?" The look, that statement, perfect.

[@WillHal1000]

I was amazed when Moon announced she was only 14 here. She showed the poise, confidence and ability to intelligently engage as someone with much experience. Kudos to Frank.

[@fishhuntadventure]

ya, I had to go back and listen again. She looks a bit older than 14, but not much; that she spoke with the poise, timing and wit of a 25 year old was confusing to me!

[@Pteromandias]

They say people looked older for their age back then. No idea why.

[@michaelparks6120]

Why can't I meet any women like this ??

[@michaelparks6120]

@@Pteromandias because they were lying, silly.

[@toddplager8676]

@@michaelparks6120 lol!!

[@spockboy]

Never been a big fan of his music but I seriously enjoy EVERY interview I have ever seen with Frank. Very smart and witty guy.

[@curtrod]

his music was never pleasing to me either, but I read his autobiography, a great book and life story!

[@spockboy]

@@curtrod Sounds good!

[@Rob_Kates]

I like a lot of his music, and he was a brilliant guy. The definition of avant garde.

[@fromthepeanutgallery1084]

WHAT? You have to hear. "An evening with wild man Fischer" Merry-Go-Round is a masterpiece.

[@kurtsherrick2066]

I would say a person has to have a abstract mind to get Frank Zappa. It took alot to put alot of his songs together. He was actually a tremendous guitarist. I always wondered how he thought up alot of that stuff. But being a Teenager in the Seventies it made a lot of sense. My friends and I called High Talking because we would say the wildest stuff. Then there was microdot and blotter that made us sound like Aristotle. So I get it. That was such a long time ago. Had a blast!!

[@tonyarmes66]

I just smiled through this whole interview. The world needs more genuine people like these two. Please excuse me now. I am going to jam out to "Valley Girl" now. Peace everyone! ✌️

[@Kevin_Carlson]

Letterman had only been on the air for about 7 months at this point. I fondly remember staying up late and watching many of those shows.

[@shirleyasnaza2604]

That would be 1981/82. 😊

[@melissasmith7544]

Letterman has a morning talk show before he started doing the show at night

[@TacShooter]

I used to love when Moon was VJ'ing on MTV. Her sense of humor had me in stitches.

[@ithinkaboutthings9052]

That was a good role for her at the time.

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

Moon is incredibly Poised, Charming and Pleasant. She must have a Great dad!

[@padawansound6423]

Her recent book would suggest otherwise..

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@@padawansound6423 I am writing everywhere that Moon covered 50 years in her book and by necessity focused on the drama. She has left out all the happy times because everything changed after Gail died and Gail betrayed Moon. She still hasn't got over it. But in between Moon's difficulties - and what child does not have those - she had a privileged childhood and was cared for by good parents in their way. They just didn't tolerate emotional whimping which I agree, Moon could have done with some. But the book is skewed toward a victim role. Any sign of a victim in her incredible poise and confidence in this video?

[@paulinebutcherbird]

Unfortunately, Moon''s book gives a different perspective. I lived in the house and saw it happening when Moon was young. Frank himself told me he was a good parent. (My interview with him in 1988 on KZbin: 'Pauline Butcher interviews Frank Zappa - parenting.' There are four other segments: composing/TV evangelists/Party Hats/Ask me a question.

[@Jangocat]

I miss Frank, he was so intelligent. Moon was impressive for a 14 year old in this interview. She was mature beyond her years in this interview.

[@princesssolace4337]

I'm with u 100%. Looking at Moon , we need to stop labelling people or other culture that have consent when they were married at that age. My grandmother was 15 when she got married in the 1930s

[@Snoop_Dugg]

Their haircuts

[@fishsquishguy1833]

@@princesssolace4337 You know she’s his daughter right? Still a child at 14 though. Not sure what you mean by “labeling”? Something very creepy about a man in his 20s, 30s or older with a 14 yr old girl if that’s what you are implying.

[@princesssolace4337]

@@fishsquishguy1833 U know I'm talking about any 14 year old girl and older that we haven't seen but only read. I'm using her as an example of not judging a person base on what we read or heard on sum social justice dumb ass post on YT/Internet. My point is don't be bias and dumb like u are right now

[@--M--1111]

People looked older back then and before that. She is 14 but looks between 25-30 over here. Which today 25-30 look their own age or younger.

[@romanmcdonald]

The humor in this is subtle perfection.

[@BeyondOurSolarSystem]

She's so mature sounding, my jaw dropped when she said she was 14 years old. She has a strong command of the english language. So does her father ...he taught her well.

[@--M--1111]

People looked older back then and before that. She is 14 but looks between 25-30 over here. Which today 25-30 look their own age or younger.

[@alfredtaylor1076]

Before the internet, kids were forced to disconnect from their peers and be around adults at home. Their dumb jokes and comments were negatively reinforced by eye rolling adults. They took their social cues from those adults and thus were more mature. Nowadays, kids don't get that mature interaction. They go home and proceed to get on the internet where their dumb, immature humor and dialect is positively reinforced by their immature peers. Its kids raising kids, even if they have parents.

[@ErinKFun]

What world do you live in? Sounds just like a teenager, looks like a teen, and why was she having boys over at 14??! Such an awful name Moon.

[@YewrMan]

That's completely true. ET is my great grand uncle and often visited us on our little house on the prairie.

[@cal2780]

Moon is hysterically funny. Such poise

[@michaelparks6120]

Frank has such a sly and knowing smile in this.

[@tuxuhds6955]

Frank keeps a poker face until his kid cracks a joke, I find that adorable. 🙂

[@bobastu]

Frank Zappa is the man. One of the original GOATs.

[@Rascoundrel1]

My husband went to the same school and had playdates with Dweezil. There are some colorful parenting stories.

[@TarotTarot1]

I laughed so hard when in the beginning Dave was talking about how successful her dad was and she rolled her eyes

[@legalgal12]

He was brilliant. Too many people wrote him off as weird, but he was incredibly intelligent.

[@MichaelMattison]

Complex fusion jazz. Anti-pop, as Primus would say

[@johnmericle1955]

You're probably wondering why I'm here.. Hungry freaks daddy.

[@moxnix]

Yes he was .... incredibly intelligent

[@Jesse-gr2xo]

That was the good thing about the 60s. You could be weird, imaginative, creative. Now people are like clones.

[@antonystringfellow5152]

"he was incredibly intelligent." Yes, I got that part just listening to his music and lyrics as a teenager. It was many years later before I actually heard him conversing.

[@karlyohe6379]

Thank you for this. Frank Zappa was a great man. He is missed. He did as much as he could to introduce the world to the great music of the 20th century.

[@guitarjonn7103]

It's interesting to see this after reading Moon's new book, "Earth to Moon", which I highly recommend.

[@bryanchristophe5419]

Just got done reading it today and could not agree more!

[@paulinebutcherbird]

A lot of readers get the idea that Frank and Gail were dreadful parents. They weren't.

[@guitarjonn7103]

@@paulinebutcherbird OK. I was actually referring to how Moon mentioned she hated doing that Lettermen interview. But without getting into all the book's details, I think it's fair to say that Moon writes about her parents as being quite flawed and she claims it deeply affected her. Your experience with and opinions of them are obviously different. I, of course, have no rock solid opinion here, I'm just a long-time Zappa fan from CT.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@@guitarjonn7103 Of course Moon is a natural writer and deserves the praise but she covers 50 years and so by necessity focussed on the drama. All the good times are left out. You may or may not be interested in my memoir when Frank was first famous. It ends when Moon's begins and covers three years when Moon was a a baby to four years old and fills in a lot of the gaps. 'Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa, Laurel Canyon, 1968-1971.'

[@keiththompson713]

Frank and Gail were hardly model parents, but as this interview shows, they obviously did something right raising such an intelligent, perceptive, and witty daughter. And Dweezil is also intelligent and immensely talented.

[@theyrekrnations8990]

Frank Zappa is a very interesting character. It's like he knows so much that he does not talk about.

[@Radicalharmonypodcast]

I just finished her Memoir and it makes my heart hurt watching this video knowing what I know. She is fabulous ❤

[@pollymorphic500]

I'm reading it now and it makes me cringe how many people are ignorantly fawning over Zappa thinking her poise and maturity are a result of his great parenting.

[@matthewpocock4824]

This is the side of Frank Zappa that I wish more people knew. I love his music, but his social commentary is spot on. He's no fool and wouldn't be played for one by anybody.

[@kirstinline]

moon's autobiography is actually great. lovely lady.

[@eyemoeba]

oozing guru wisdom. how solid they both are in manner, how relaxed they are in this most intense of spotlights. if that's weird, we all need to be weirder.

[@edsurfmich]

AMAZING how Dave turned the interview around

[@jotice9]

This is actually the cutest interview I think I have ever seen on the Letterman show.

[@stephenwaraksa805]

Always a delight to see this man!

[@stephenwaraksa805]

@Godsabitch Why not?

[@sunshine3914]

@Godsabitch Because he was an extremely unique & intelligent individual - one that shall never pass this way again.

[@richardtaylor8595]

I love Frank and Moon and the whole family. They are wonderful people that are all amazing.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

Moon's book suggests otherwise, but she's crammed all the drama from 50 years into it and has left out the good times. As a result, Frank and Gail come across as dreadful parents. They weren't. I was there and saw when she was a young child. Gail was a loving and caring mother, Frank was distant, but the man in charge, trying to work to raise enough money to give them luxury life-styles.

[@MrBiggles53]

Incredible composer; saw his som, Dweezel, a few years ago in concert carrying on his father’s musical legacy. Excellent band.

[@user-lu1xp4ze8w]

Ditto here, like totally! 😎

[@Richard-xu4cj]

@@user-lu1xp4ze8w fer sure fer sure!

[@flickwtchr]

Zappa Plays Zappa has been a great series of live shows.

[@yargnad]

@@flickwtchr I think you mean ZPZ. Don't get Dweezil in trouble again. Seen them twice and even took one of his masterclasses back in 2014. Very interesting human being.

[@michaela2757]

Frank is the cooolest dude ever. Great musician and saw thing just a little clearer than most. Rest in peace.

[@27TacitusKilgore]

Wow! Moon was more mature as a 14 yo than most of our elected officials today.

[@robotron17]

Government is our main enemy. Doesn't matter who is in charge.

[@27TacitusKilgore]

@@robotron17 is that another child of zappa?

[@hyzercreek]

She makes Kamala Harris look 8 year old

[@jasonmoran5152]

@@hyzercreek thats sad because she is vastly more mature than any republican

[@dynodin81]

@@hyzercreek And Donald Trump like a Toddler - Oh wait he does that already on his own. 😆

[@lucasd1646]

"A mind is like a parachute, it needs to be open to work". - Frank Zappa.

[@andyhinds542]

One of the most intelligent comments ever made. However, being open-minded doesn't mean accepting what you are told as truth without evidence. It doesn't mean rejecting mainstream thinking which is the basic norm except if you're a conspiracy theorist.

[@okeydokey3120]

The earliest known time this was quoted was in 1927, well before Frank Zappa was born.

[@lucasd1646]

@@okeydokey3120 Care to educate us who exactly quoted it first and site the source plz.

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

@@okeydokey3120 That's the best thing about quotes; they can be recycled over the decades as long as they still ring true, and it doesn't matter who coined it first. I quote Alan Watts all the time yet he's quoting old Eastern philosophical texts and whatnot.

[@MokkaMatti]

@@StrangeScaryNewEngland Alan Watts probably wishes he could be like David Watts.

[@mistyrious1111starseed]

I was also 14 when this came out and I had the album. I loved them both! Moon is one day older than I am. All the girls spoke valley girl including me because of this album!

[@--M--1111]

People looked older back then and before that. She is 14 but looks between 25-30 over here. Which today 25-30 look their own age or younger.

[@lorip.1110]

One of my all-time favorite Zappa clips (along with this one) was when he appeared on Crossfire and deep-fried those bloviating meatheads over music censorship.

[@user-er1xz4zq9v]

I love that clip too. Frank speaking at those PMRC hearings was great too.

[@7karlheinz]

Two must-see Zappa TV appearances (for ballbusting weirdness, not music) were when he appeared on a game show called "Make Me Laugh" with Bobby Van where FZ sat with his arms crossed and refused to laugh at any of the stand-up comedians. The other was the "Dinah Shore Show" entitled Hitmakers of the 60s' where he was particularly offensive, an absolutely hilarious appearance.

[@STELLASCUTENESS]

…..yet now people he would be voting for today are all about censorship. The liberals have truly lost their direction.

[@lorip.1110]

@@STELLASCUTENESS couldn't disagree more.

[@donHooligan]

@@lorip.1110 shoot, John Denver hit them with a hard left by not being the weak little puppet they thought he was going to be....those hearings were almost as interesting as the Whitewater Hearings....where Bernie Sanders fkd us all...the Clintons would have gone down in that investigation....along with the majority of government officials. What a mess that would have been....one can only imagine.

[@EdG-oc9gd]

I adored this family..Growing up in middle class America when all my friends were Valley style preppy types. I was a black kid into break dancing, Billy Idol, Madonna, and Duran Duran..So I mixed well into just about any social dynamic..but I was such a closet Valley guy.

[@anthonyhislop3006]

Fantastic! RIP Frank

[@Floydisgr8]

Honestly, that was a really cool interview. I've never been a fan of Frank Zappa, not that I dislike him, he just never stuck with me, but oddly, what led me here was a rock and roll jeopardy episode with Moon, George Clinton, and Dave Mustaine. I looked her up afterwards to find out what she was all about, found out about the valley girl song, listened to it, and then clicked on this video, and it's now one of my favorite interviews ever.

[@pollymorphic500]

She has a memoir out now. Her home life growing up was pretty sad.

[@frankbreuer8849]

One of a kind.... Everything you can ask for in a man and his daughter ... they crack me up and bring up my tears as well as their sophistication reminds me how much of that we need more of today.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

Read her book and see how Moon views things now. She covers 50 years and includes only drama that leaves readers thinking Frank and Gail were terrible parents. They weren't. She leaves out the good times. Then read mine which covers three years when Moon was a baby up to four years of age, and see how good her parents were. 'Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa, Laurel Canyon, 1968-1971'.

[@maestroaxeman]

Frank Zappa was on another level😉 A very cool dude.

[@MariVictorius]

She is more intelligent and mature at 14 than most 25 year olds today.

[@duffbaker9554]

*Most 40 year olds today.

[@markfrost2707]

no doubt! More than people in congress!

[@dildonius]

Except for you guys. You're special. It's all the other people who are dumb.

[@MadScientist267]

You spelled "all" wrong

[@dildonius]

@@MadScientist267 I’m sure you had everything all figured out at 25 or are the only 25 year old who isn’t a big stupid dummy like all the others. You special little guy you!

[@vladimirputindreadlockrast812]

As a father, I absolutely loved this.

[@sergebrunet4218]

My first Zappa album was Overnite Sensation ! Love that to this day ! since the early 70s !

[@scottpitner4298]

Dweezil is such an awesome musician

[@davesillys8344]

5150

[@mvwoon]

"Hawaiian punch commercial, or an Encino housewife"

[@maggiemalone9270]

Fantastic lyrics. They're naturally poetic in everything they do.

[@lynnlegault9297]

Moon was very mature for her age, you can tell her dad loved, and respected her.

[@pollymorphic500]

Please read her memoir. He was an indifferent and emotionally and physically absentee father

[@williamkoppos7039]

That was a LOT of fun. Love their dry wit.

[@eatmoreporkporky4342]

The look she gave when Dave said she must be making a lot of money of the song. Lol. Quick witted just like her dad.

[@elmerkilred159]

That sort of subtle banter is gone in conversations nowadays. I'm not too sure if people even communicate on this level anymore with the inception and replacement of physical communication with texting. It's a people over the age of 40 thing.

[@eatmoreporkporky4342]

@@elmerkilred159 Exactly, people nowadays don't have the patience or dare I say social IQ for that type of communication. I wouldn't limit that to just social IQ either 😀 But they sure are good at whining, being confused, and feeling entitled.

[@jvallas]

Rude Letterman comment. She handled it well.

[@jvallas]

@@elmerkilred159That might give people some insight why we Boomers sometimes get all het up about things not being like the "before times." I know a lot of us are a pain in the ass, but when younger people see this kind of interview, or hear some of the old music, or the way politicians & Presidents behaved, they're often kind of amazed what used to exist. Sometimes we miss it (& I'm fully aware a *lot* of things have improved since then 😏).

[@paulinebutcherbird]

The look she gave about money is explained in her book. It was her mother who insisted Moon received the correct royalties for her role in it.

[@jmsmeier1113]

To appreciate the genius of Frank Zappa, you have to understand his sense of humor, and in the case of his daughter, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

[@drewgeraci8434]

Saw Zappa live in 1981 at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh. My very first concert!

[@bonzo713]

I was there too...great gig!

[@juanfilipwinifred]

Lucky lucky bastard

[@williamworrell178]

Frank has always owned the coolest facial hair

[@leopabalan9537]

I am from the Philippines and I like Frank Zappa 's music.

[@ddburrows988]

Zappa helped me through my teenage years.

[@HOTD108_]

Perhaps one day we'll forgive him.

[@ladytanyaalexis5448]

Good to see Frank wearing shoes. I remember he'd come to parent-teacher open house sans shoes. I still love Moon's "Valley Girl" speak!! Nostalgia!

[@jvallas]

I just watched an *awesome* 15-minute clip of him on Steve Allen when he was, I think, 23 - all buttoned up in a suit, short hair, no beard. Definitely with shoes. Playing a bicycle as a musical instrument. It's amazing. A complete unknown, but equally as poised and self-possessed as in later years.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

Now why didn't Moon mention that in her book? Frank went to parent-teacher evenings. I would never have known that but for your comment. So he could be an attentive parent. But going shoeless shows his contempt for the education system.

[@ladytanyaalexis5448]

@@jvallas Never let the hippy presence fool you--Frank was a classically trained musician and sought the same from his fellow musicians.

[@ladytanyaalexis5448]

@@paulinebutcherbird She probably didn't think anything about it. It was my observation, one of my memories. The Zappa Family was very hard to miss--I road the school bus with Moon and Dweezil. I like your take. I hadn't considered that, and it makes sense to me!

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

Interesting Frank factoid. I don't know of any other music artist who only had one Top 40 hit, Valley Girl, in this instance, and *never* performed that song live in concert. That's Frank Zappa, ladies and gentlemen.

[@johndanielsforJesus]

That happens often, at least the detest of said "pop" song, much to the chagrin of the artist or band. Simpleminds comes to mind, for me, although I'm sure they performed their star-making hit from the movie "the Breakfast Club", the song 🎵 "Don't you forget about me" 🎵 when required to. My understanding is that lead singer Jim Kerr HATED that song.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

@@johndanielsforJesus You missed the operative word, the word NEVER played live. Bands may tire of playing their hit song night after night and even come to hate it, but they played it. Valley Girl, being Frank's ONLY Top-40 hit, was never played live. Johnny Mathis said he was tired of singing Chances Are, night after night, every night of his performing career, so he dropped it from the repertoire. Then HE went to see a concert and THAT singer didn't sing his signature song and Johnny felt cheated. From that day on, Johnny gladly belted out Chances Are to never again let his audiences feel cheated. That anecdote has nothing to do with Frank but speaks to the notion of not wanting to play the hit.

[@toncraym]

I'm reading Earth to Moon A Memoir by Moon Unit Zappa. They performed it 1 time live. She was incredibly nervous because they were in another country, and he just sprung it on her. No one laughed, and she didn't understand. He told her after, no one spoke English and no one understood. She said it was a cruel prank. Read the book. It's absolutely mind blowing.

[@Royalle_with_Cheese]

@@toncraym Hi. I'm Royale with Cheese but with this new username. I stand corrected. I never knew that, so I looked it up. Frank had Dweezil on two gigs and Moon on one gig in Germany. During King Kong, Moon did her Valley Girl "rap", so not exactly the song itself but Moon doing that thing. That was late June, '82. What I find interesting is that the album and song came out in early May and Frank didn't even know the song was a hit until he came back. Apparently, he did learn of it because he did, indeed, bring Moon on to do her schtick. I still maintain, however, that the actual song itself was never performed live. I am interested in reading the book and I expect it may not be very a flattering portrait of life in the Zappa household. Am I right? I'm much older now and know that Frank wasn't perfect, although I will always admire his musicianship and intellect. Will I come away with a very sour image of Frank, and Gail, after reading Moon's memoir?

[@cskillet2003]

Ahh.. I love Frank! That guy really put in the work with regards to his music. Great arrangements.

[@brianrossiter2547]

My jaw dropped when she said she's 14

[@the406seadonkey6]

It's truly insane. I've never seen a 14-year old look and act 28.

[@rimrunz1795]

Very sharp looking and great composure, deportment

[@teddyray8597]

Same. I figured early 20s at most.

[@godisbollocks]

That's what I told the judge.

[@michaeljordan6008]

Looks 41

[@AtortAerials]

Holy cow 14 that's crazy my 50 year old brain would have thought older for sure. She seems so mature for 14 that's wild.

[@susannpatton2893]

We were

[@EdKazO-Vision]

Proud dad.

[@gekko7683]

This was where it all started for me. I was not a Valley Girl but I could sound like one. I loved Frank Zappa but this song❤️❤️

[@maestroaxeman]

Why is it, that through the awesomeness that is Frank; there is a "squidward is not impressed" shining through...years before there ever even WAS a "Squidward"🤣 Moon is a doll😍 Frank sure let his daughter shine😎 This is legendary awesomeness🙏

[@Twilightzoneisreal]

Frank was a genius and to me a funny comedian with his lyrics.

[@RebelBuddha1971]

So effing cool. How Moon made it through the Zappa household, Valley Girl success and subsequent life as an actress/writer relatively intact says so much about her character. Looking forward to her book!

[@orangemanonsteroids8569]

It's times like this I wished Zappa was still alive! Could you imagine him on between two ferns with Zack "oh what's his name?"

[@danbarrette9888]

Dave definitely doesn’t know how much of a musical genius frank was. Frank is for sure one of the people we lost too soon.

[@jbetnar]

He was a Brahms or Chopin to psychedelic rock.

[@theyapsta]

Actually Dave is well aware of Frank's musical genius. Another time on the show he discusses the making of Frank's album with the London Symphony Orchestra. He shows some knowledge and appreciation of his music and the magnitude of his talent. Most of all in that interview Dave is amazed at how dedicated to his craft Frank was. To fund the recording of his compositions with a world class orchestra and not caring at all if another human being ever bought a copy and listened. So yea. Dave knows alright.

[@danbarrette9888]

@@theyapsta Actually I worked in Dave’s research group. We researched every guest and gave Dave notes on past present and future things they were involved in. They only thing Dave was interested in was ratings.

[@wtfdude5738]

14 she acts 24..amazing

[@bbb462cid]

Frank, being on a level several stories above the audience

[@9sheri9]

Several stories above most everyone, actually. ✌️

[@toddtrimble2555]

And several stories above David Letterman in particular. The interview was cringe-y in its superficiality.

[@dildonius]

Jfc the narcissistic fart-sniffing going on throughout this comments section is so tedious. "Oh man, Frank is such an untouchable genius! These normie FOOLS in the audience don't deserve to be in his presence!" **FRRRRRRT** **S'NFFFFFFFFF** "But _I_ would!" **FRRRRRRT** **S'NFFFFFFFFF** "Oh God, I'm a genius too, I'm just like Frank!" **FRRRRRRT** **S'NFFFFFFFFF**

[@roscius6204]

@@dildonius say's the guy who puts himself above said narcissists 🤣 I assume you currently have a lungful.

[@dundeedolphin]

Imagine having such a great artist on your show and asking about the names of his children. Seems like a bit of a wasted opportunity.

[@Jules_73]

It was a sign of the times. Social oddities were looked upon differently than today.

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

everybody who cares already knows about that stuff nobody knows why he gave the kids the goofy names until somebody asks

[@jvallas]

EXACTLY

[@beat.levity]

Lol you're expecting an awful lot from broadcast television in 1982. Maybe a show on PBS would have been more intellectual, or in the UK at the time, but not in the US on a big 3 network in 1982.

[@dundeedolphin]

@@beat.levity I feel there was more chance in 1982 than there is today. 😂👍🏻

[@ruabonehead]

Frank just epitomized indifference. He seems like someone who would rather be anywhere else than on TV.

[@RadicalCaveman]

He must have been a cat in his previous life.

[@maryerb6062]

Boy, does that say it.

[@PreyAsLamb]

@@ruabonehead He was just very humble, unpretentious and could really care less where he was. This kind of thing really WASN'T his thing, he liked his music to do the talking for him (and man did it ever!). However, when "Valley Girl" became a huge hit, considering how it came about and what it actually was - a daughter's way of spending time with a very busy father - it was inevitable his label was going to make him do a Press Tour. In a lot of ways, it was Moon Unit people wanted to know about. She was a cultural phenomenon before she was even born when her Dad told the press what she was going to be named, but little was known about her. This was their chance to get to know her. And I believe Frank knew that and allowed his daughter to take the lead

[@LibertyHawk71]

Saying he didn't like a 14-year-old boy because he was a "nerd" on national TV was pretty scummy of him. Frank seems like a lousy person in every interview he did. I still love his guitar playing.

[@isaacshaver6218]

​@@LibertyHawk71yea, he comes off very condensing

[@thedude4672]

Adore Frank and have had a crush on Moon for nearly 40 years now

[@frankbreuer8849]

Of course, who wouldn't love a partner to be as smart and sweet as Moon

[@Vans4me]

Great interview! Always been a fan of FZ I believe he had another interview with Barbara Walters and her inquiry about naming his children and if he thought it would be difficult for them, Frank responded that it was not their first name that will cause them problems.

[@Happy-uy5wc]

I remember as a teenager, sneeking in the exit and up the back stairs to the balcony at the movie theater to watch "1001 Motels" over and over again. I must have been 15 years old.

[@bjc2]

200 Motels

[@craigharmon9494]

I was 15 when the "Valley Girls" single was released. I purchased it, the 12" single edition, with a picture sleeve. On that photo, Moon's hair was shoulder-length. She'd cut it, by the time they made this appearance on Letterman. It's always a pleasure to watch Frank Zappa speak. Just to look into his eyes, and feel the wheels turning...One knows a great intellect is processing. I have grown to appreciate Frank's recording career. No one else ever did what Frank did. It's beyond analysis: either you find it intriguing, or, not. In 2023, I found myself getting obsessed with his albums again. It keeps my brain happy, to listened again and again, trying to figure it all out. It was great to see this clip.

[@randymiles904]

Best valley girl impression ever.

[@peterstevenson5418]

Frank was a smart guy he knew what was going on in the world

[@thenostalgicpodblast]

Man, I love that novelty song!

[@chuckselvage3157]

I love them both awesome people.

[@MikeMatthews-d2n]

Awesome Family, love, favor and Happiness for Frank Zappa's Family!😊

[@Tommyr]

Man I miss Frank a lot. Get his book if you can, it's awesome. A real genius.

[@patgalvez4563]

i saw a concert of his in 1977..Very entertaining...

[@Tommyr]

@@patgalvez4563 Saw him in 1988 on the Broadway the hard way tour. AWESOME night!

[@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212]

He was mad.

[@wolfgangdevries127]

Yeah, genius to start an autobiography with: "I did not eat shirts from stage!" Pretty brilliant. What truly fills the heart, makes the mouth flow like a waterfall. Human nature. As Mr. Zappa thought it was the first thing that came to mind when he was jotting down his carefully crafted image that reads: I AM EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. While eating shirts from stage to built a legacy is obviously not that important, according to Mr. Zappa himself. But just important enough to start an autobiography with, apparently. Seems legit. Now wait.. should not 14 years olds just behave like 14 years olds? Or be daddy's private one hit wonder? The only way a real genius can score a hit, I assume.

[@Tommyr]

@@wolfgangdevries127 Ut oh, seems someone needs a tissue. You O.K. Corky?

[@stevenrobbins1111]

Takes me back to Filmore West in San Francisco. When Frank preformed The MudSharks. Epic !

[@JessieI]

A great friend of mine from jr high school loved his music tremendously, I was the only other kid who knew who he was speaking of because my uncle also loved him greatly. One day I cut out a newspaper article on Frank and brought it into school for him, something I had long since forgotten, Well, at our 20th High School reunion, he brought the story up and told me just how much it meant to him. I knew it at the time; I love doing little things like that for my friends. It makes me happy that it made him happy. But what makes it all the more fantastical, was that he grew up to become Frank's guitarist. He was a genius when we met in Jr. High GATE summer school classes, and is still quite the genius. A mutual friend of ours from High School, another musician in fact, says he thinks our friend probably dreams in music theory, likely why he and Frank were a fantastic match.

[@9sheri9]

She is definitely her father's daughter. ❤ This world was better with you in it, Frank. You are missed & still much loved by many✌️

[@robbiePlanetaSano]

I love Frank Zappa. Went to See him in concert in San Francisco at the Filmore in the late 60s.. changed me forever ❤️

[@stevenzilinsky3766]

Happened upon this interview I guess through the algorithm, but it’s actually a very good interview.

[@MK-xl9tt]

Had a pic of moon unit in my locker in middle school, the start of my love for progressive rock music and valley girls😂

[@henrimatisse7481]

I will never forget standing the early morning watch in the military (also ridiculous), the radio always playing, and a very large man comes in to lip synch Valley Girl for us. Priceless. Thanks Bruce

[@johnmalerba804]

Frank and Moon with the 80`s perm🤣🤣