The Frank Zappa companion : four decades of commentary / edited and introduced by Richard Kostelanetz ; assistant editor, John Rocco.

Other author Kostelanetz, Richard editor, writer of introduction.
Other author Rocco, John (John M.), editor.
Format Book
Publication InfoNew York : Schirmer Books ; London : Prentice Hall International, ©1997.
Descriptionxv, 274 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Subjects
Zappa, Frank--Criticism and interpretation.
Music--Social aspects.
Rock musicians--United States. --Biography.

Contents Absolutely free: his life, his times. Zappa, Frank (1992) / Nicolas Slonimsky -- Frank Zappa: the present day composer (1994; Revised 1996) / William Ruhlmann -- Brown shoes don't make it: the early years. Are you hung up? (1993) / Dave Marsh -- Only in it for the money (1972) / David Walley -- Zappa interviewed (1969) / Robert Levin -- Frank Zappa (1994) / Miles -- You can't do that on stage anymore: performer/composer. The mothers live (1969). In person: the Mothers of Invention / Doon Arbus -- At the Fillmore East, 20 April 1969 / Richard Kostelanetz -- Frank Zappa: guitarist (1977) / Steve Rosen -- In respect of rubbish (1982) / Ben Watson -- Orchestral maneuvers (1984) / Bill Milkowski -- The best band you never heard in your life: on record. Performing quotations: Frank Zappa as Freak out! aphorist (1996) / Stephen Paul Miller -- Frank Zappa on disc (1991) / Mike Fish and Ben Watson ; FZ on CD (1988) / Art Lange -- Frank Zappa as Dadaist: recording technology and the power to repeat (1996) / Ben Watson -- Plastic people: politics and culture. Record labeling: hearing before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, Ninety-ninth Congress, first session, on Contents of Music and the Lyrics of Records, September 19, 1985 (1985) / Frank Zappa -- Revolt against mediocrity (1986) / Batya Friedman and Steve Lyons -- Signs of the times (1991) / Bob Guccione, Jr. -- Zappa for president? (1991) / Brian Doherty -- Don't eat the yellow snow: life and legacies. I enter the age of absurdity (1988) / Nicolas Slonimsky -- Abnormal life (1990) / Elaine Warren -- Playboy interview (1993) / David Sheff -- Frank Zappa, 1940-1993 (1994) / Tom Isenberg -- Revolutionary (1993) / Václav Havel.
Abstract The '60s produced many creative new musicians, but none was more inspirational, controversial, scatological, or creative than Frank Zappa. Beginning with his band, The Mothers of Invention, Zappa created music in a wide range of styles, from tape montage to light jazz to heavy metal rock to lovingly recreated doo-wop to satirical operas ... all in his own unique style. Zappa was an agent provocateur--always pushing the envelope, amazing his fans while infuriating his critics. This book collects articles, reviews, interviews, and the full text of Zappa's famous testimony against the labeling of records before the United States Senate.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 253-254) and index.
Bibliography note"Selected Discography" : pages 249-251.
LCCN 96041352
ISBN0028646282 (alk. paper)