Frank Zappa

(1940 - 1993)

born in Baltimore, Md., December 21, 1940

died Laurel Canyon, Ca., December 4, 1993
(prostate cancer)

Frank Zappa is the first, and so far only, artist to be inducted into both the Jazz and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. Released the first 3-inch CD single, with a remix of "Peaches En Regalia"

Spouse
Gail Zappa (1967 - 1993) (his death)
Kay Sherman (1960 - 1964?) (divorced)
Birth name Frank Vincent Zappa

Of all the qualities that typified Frank Zappa, perhaps the most striking is that he was a paradox. A workaholic perfectionist rock star who eschewed the hippy culture of the 1960s, deploring its conformism, spurious ideals, and drug use, Zappa was not only a brilliant rock guitarist, but an orchestral composer, innovative filmmaker, music producer, businessperson, iconoclast, and perceptive political and social commentator. His oeuvre continually amazes: over 60 albums of music from rock to orchestral, in addition to innumerable films, concerts, and other accomplishments.

Frank Zappa began to play drums at the age of 12, and was playing in R & B groups by high school, switching to guitar at 18. After narrowly graduating from high school, and then dropping out of Junior College (where he met his first wife, Kay Sherman), Zappa worked in such jobs as window dresser, copywriter, and door-to-door salesperson. With the money he earned from scoring Run Home Slow (1965) (written by his high school English teacher, Don Cerveris), Zappa purchased a recording studio, and, after concocting an allegedly obscene recording for an undercover policeman, spent ten days in jail.

Zappa's diverse range of albums (both with the seminal and protean groups The Mothers Of Invention, and Zappa; as well as solo releases) are renowned not only for their bravura musicianship, and satire, but also for offending various groups (usually religious and political). The 200 Motels soundtrack was deemed too offensive by the Royal Albert Hall, who cancelled scheduled concerts in 1975; and the song 'Jewish Princess' (1979) led to Jewish calls for Zappa to apologise. These, and such events as Zappa testifying before Congress in 1985 against rock music censorship, being appointed by Czechoslovakian president Václav Havel, as his Cultural Liaison Officer, or considering running for US president, have, unfortunately, been Zappa's only real source of mainstream publicity.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991, Zappa nonetheless continued working at his Laurel Canyon CA home, until his death on 4 Dec 1993. His widow, Gail, and children, Dweezil, Moon, Ahmet, and Diva, soon-after released a statement to the press that simply stated: "Composer Frank Zappa left for his final tour just before 6pm Saturday."

IMDb mini-biography by Matthew Randall (randallm@postoffice.sandybay.utas.edu.au)

Frank Zappa Filmography (Composer)

Film	Year of Release
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note	2002
And Your Mother Too	2001
Happy Together	1997
"Duckman" (TV Series)	1994
Peefeeyatko	1991
Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez	1989
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (V)	1998
The Amazing Mr. Bickford	1997
Uncle Meat	1987
Does Humor Belong in Music? (V)	1985
Video from Hell (V)	1985
The Dub Room Special (V)	1984
Baby Snakes	1979
200 Motels	1971
Run Home Slow	1965
The World's Greatest Sinner	1962

Frank Zappa Filmography (Director / Producer / Writer)

Movie Title	Director / Producer / Writer	Year of Release
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (V)	D / W	1998
The Amazing Mr. Bickford	D / P / W	1997
Peefeeyato	P / W	1991
Uncle Meat	D / P / W	1987
Does Humor Belong in Music? (V)	D / W	1985
Video from Hell (V)	D / W	1985
The Dub Room Special (V)	D / W	1984
Baby Snakes	D / P / W	1979
200 Motels	D / W	1971

Frank Zappa Filmography (Actor)

Film	Character	Year of Release
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (V)	??	1988
Video from Hell (V)	??	1985
The Dub Room Special (V)	??	1984
200 Motels	Member of Mothers of Invention	1971
Sex in Today's World	??	1968
Head	The Critic	1968