MUGC 4890/5890 — The Music of Frank Zappa: Supplemental Course Resources
This page contains a variety of additional materials that are relevant to the course, including supplemental readings and links to interesting websites.
Websites
afka.net (an extensive archive of written and printed material about FZ)
Kill Ugly Radio (includes FZ discography, forums, and links to other FZ-related sites)
Videos
Some of the more significant video documentation from FZ's career (including interviews, performances, and video/films), arranged in reverse chronological order:
FZ interview on Today Show
One of FZ's last interviews, with NBC's Jamie Gangel (14 May 1993).The Yellow Shark Rehearsals [1 2 3]
German documentary with FZ and the Ensemble Modern; in three parts (1992).PMRC Hearing [1 2 3 4]
FZ's testimony before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee regarding the Parents' Music Resource Center proposal to label music that contains "explicit lyrics or content"; in four parts (19 September 1986).FZ as panelist on CNN's Crossfire
Discussion of censorship and PMRC hearings with John Lofton and hosts Tom Braden and Robert Novak (28 March 1986).Does Humor Belong in Music? (excerpt)
Live performance of "Bobby Brown Goes Down," recorded at The Pier in New York City — featuring FZ, Ike Willis, Ray White, Chad Wackerman, Scott Thunes, Bobby Martin, Allan Zavod, and Ed Mann (August 1984).FZ interview on Late Night with David Letterman
Discussion of recent projects including Thing Fish (31 October 1983).Halloween concert at the Palladium (NYC)
Live performance of "Stevie's Spanking," featuring FZ, Steve Vai, Ray White, Chad Wackerman, Scott Thunes, Ed Mann, Tommy Mars, and Bobby Martin (31 October 1981)."You Are What You Is"
This 1981 music video includes controversial religious, political, and racial themes, and is full of conceptual continuity references (begins at 5:15). [This clip also includes "Night School," featuring clay animation by Bruce Bickford.]Baby Snakes
Promotional trailer for FZ's 1978 concert film.FZ on Saturday Night Live
Performance of "I'm the Slime" with Terry Bozzio, Patrick O'Hearn, Ruth Underwood, Ray White, the SNL Band, and announcer Don Pardo (11 December 1976).FZ on KCET-TV Los Angeles
Demonstration-performance of "Approximate" with Roxy Band — Napoleon Murphy Brock, George Duke, Chester Thompson, Tom Fowler, Ruth Underwood (August 1974).FZ interview on Adelaide Tonight with Ernie Sigley
FZ demonstrates his improvisational hand signals on this Australian talk show (June 1973).200 Motels
Promotional trailer for FZ's innovative 1971 film.The Mothers of Invention on BBC's Colour Me Pop
Studio performance of "Oh, In the Sky" featuring FZ, Roy Estrada ("pachuco falsetto"), Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston, Ian Underwood, Bunk Gardner, and Motorhead Sherwood (1968). Also, note in the interview at the end of this clip (c. 2:25) FZ's prescient comments about American society.FZ on Steve Allen Show [1 2 3 4]
FZ's first television appearance, including demonstration and performance with a musical bicycle; in four parts (March 1963).
Miscellanea
A collection of documents, articles, and various conceptual continuity clues:
A collection of Archetypal American Musical Icons: Twilight Zone Theme, Jaws Theme, "Whip It" (Devo), Mister Roger's Neighborhood Theme.
An example of 1970s pop-culture detritus referenced by FZ in "Catholic Girls" and "Charlie's Enormous Mouth."Franz Kafka: "In the Penal Colony"
Short story referenced by FZ in the liner notes to We're Only In It For The Money.Steve Martin's "Cruel Shoes": Zeitgeist or pop culture reference?
This short story from Steve Martin's 1979 book of the same name and stand-up routine from his 1979 album Comedy is Not Pretty! bears a conceptual relationship to FZ's "Sinister Footwear."
