Frank ZAPPA

Frank Zappa's biography begins on December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland. Frank Zappa has a variety of origins. His father is Sicilian-Lebanese and his mother is French-Italian. He began composing his own songs in the late 1950s. He joined the ranks of a local rhythm and blues group. Then, he took charge of operations as a guitarist. He came up with the name “Motherfuckers” which he shortened to “The Mothers”. But the record company that had just signed the group was not fooled and asked for another name. Frank Zappa's band was then renamed “The Mothers of Invention”.

The 60s
In the 60s, Frank Zappa and “The Mothers of Invention” released 8 albums, from 1966 to 1969.
The first album “Freak Out” will be double. It will be the one and only record that Frank Zappa will not produce. From the second, “Absolutely Free”, he will take the reins of production and never let go. Then, a handful of records will follow, still cult in the discography of the Mustached. “We're only in it for the money” in 1968 which scratches the American high society. There is also “Lumpy Gravy” experimental record of one piece recorded in 3 days.

The 70s
On December 4, 1971, he performed with his band at the Montreux Casino. The audience was jubilant and a spectator fired a distress flare at the ceiling. The latter, which was covered in rattan, immediately caught fire. The room was packed, more than the expected capacity. In addition, and to prevent those turned away from entering, the emergency exits had been blocked. Frank Zappa actively participated in the evacuation of the room, an operation that was carried out calmly. No casualties were reported. On the other hand, all the equipment on stage was completely destroyed. Following the event, the group Deep Purple recorded the album “Machine Head” in the Rolling Stones’ mobile studio. It included their greatest hit: “Smoke on the water” which evokes the smoke from the fire above Lake Geneva. Finally, he separated from the Warner label, following a lawsuit, and set up his own label: Zappa Records. It was on this new medium that he released the last two records of the 70s, “Sheik Yerbouti” and a rock opera “Joe's garage”.

The 80s
The 80s would see 20 new albums from Frank Zappa enrich his already substantial discography. During this decade, he would accentuate the experimental side of his music. What he called “learned” music would take shape on many albums and initiate a return to rock in some cases.

In late 1991, his eldest daughter, Moon Unit, told the media that her father was ill. He had prostate cancer. As expected, on December 4, 1993, Frank Zappa retired from the stage at the age of 52.