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Frank Zappa Biography
Rock Musician / Guitarist / Composer
Guitarist Frank Zappa was also a production wizard whose early work with The Mothers of Invention displayed terrific musical knowledge and an outrageous sense of humor. His foul and funny lyrics were consciously crass, earning him cult status though at times masking the complexity of his compositions. After dozens of solo albums, including Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Apostrophe and Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar, Zappa went from being an underground rock star to being a highly regarded -- if not widely appreciated -- composer. He died in 1993.
Extra credit: After Václav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia in 1989, he asked Frank to take a position in the ministry of culture.
Four Good Links
Dweezil Zappa on the Frank Zappa Archive
Technical, long article on his son's effort to edit recordings
Frank Zappa
Official family site that tracks other Zappa-related links
Zappa Plays Zappa
Official site of his son Dweezil's band
A Tribute to the Grand Wazoo
Archived interviews and Zappa links
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Death
4 December 1993
(prostate cancer, age 52)
Best Known As
Iconoclastic rocker who did "Dynamo Hum"