There are those that KNOW Frank Zappa and his music, and there are those that are familiar with his name, and these days there is an entire generation of music lovers who have no idea who Frank Zappa is... which is why there is a documentary out called "Zappa".
If you are a music lover who has never sat down and listened to the music of Frank Zappa, then you might just discover a rare treasure. There is no simple description that can be used to sum up Frank's music.. brilliant.. proficient. original.. comical.. expert.. and the list goes on and on. There are some that simply will not get it.. and that's ok.. but for some, a dive into the music that Zappa made can be a life changing event.
In today's music world, 99% of all pop and rock tunes use the same chord formulas. The originality and daring desire to experiment has all but left the ballgame. It is my hope that a whole new generation of artists watch this documentary and perhaps... with any luck.. a couple will find a eureka moment, pick up the torch, and run with it.
I have placed a very cool video with guitarist Steve Vai, who started working with Frank when he was only 17 years old. Steve has a total inside view of the man, his work ethic, and the genius that he brought to the table, and that all comes out in this short video with Australian Musician.
It may seem a bit odd that the man who brought you Bill & Ted is the man behind this documentary.. then again.. maybe that is perfect! Alex Winter had a long career as a documentary film maker way before Bill & Ted saved the universe with their music and time traveling adventures. This project started as just an idea on Kickstarter, which quickly was well funded, and off it went. With unlimited access to the Zappa estate and the ridiculous amount of archival footage and music, this documentary is sure to be a hit with any Frank Zappa fan. I also believe that any true music lover will find it to be a worthy watch.
written by Patrick Capone