Frank Zappa was a very patient man when it came to handling mainstream media. Interviews were sometimes shallow, with questions about the weirdness of his 'strange' comedy music, the names of his children, and if he was a good role model or not. Others challenged the value of his music or views on censorship. Most of the time, he answered inane questions or criticisms with wit and good grace - other times a fixed stare and controlled but obvious annoyance were apparent, and it's not surprising when you consider what was actually behind it all.

"I'm famous, but most people
don't even know what I do"
Frank Zappa (Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words 2016)

Zappa produced a huge wealth of music during his lifetime. His musical understanding went deep and drew on many influences and his own talent. He was an accomplished guitar player, an arranger, songwriter, and composer. As a consequence, the musicians invited to play his music were also talented and the best in their field - they had to be. This was no joke.

The music was not produced with mainstream audiences in mind, and was not about hit records or lucrative record deals. The music didn't fit any particular genre either - although rock, blues and jazz influenced much of the guitar work, classical, avant-garde and psychedelic references often appear along with random noises, percussion, experimental composition techniques, and even neo-doo-wop.

Zappa employed many musicians over the years and he often stretched their personal limits, or pushed them into new genres or experimental and unusual musical directions. He didn't suffer fools or egos, and expected a professional performance to drive the on-stage craziness and when in the studio. Zappa often name-checked his musicians during live shows to give them the recognition they deserved. He gained respect from the people who played with him, and set standards for those aspiring to become a 'proper' musician in that players must have solid musical knowledge, and the ability to develop their craft with an open mind.

Much of the comedy element satirised American culture, religion, the music industry, or politics, and was often related through a story or continued theme. Because the music underlying the satire was finely structured and well written, layering this element over the top didn't diminish the compositional value - it added an extra surreal aspect or a social commentary instead. It's inevitable that his critical reviews were as mixed as his music. However, Zappa was far beyond worrying about the opinions of critics.

Frank Zappa was very much his own man. He stood up for issues concerning freedom of speech and censorship, and encouraged people to vote as the way to change things. Where possible, he circumvented the corporate side of the music business and operated his own record labels after many legal issues and disputes with record companies. He gained experience by starting Bizarre Records with manager Herb Cohen in 1968 for his own output, followed by Straight Records a year later for other acts. Zappa later replaced these labels with DiscReet Records which existed from 1973 until 1979.

During this time Zappa Records was also formed (1977) followed by Barking Pumpkin Records (1981) which was started with a new distribution deal after his previous distributor refused to release I Don't Wanna Get Drafted, a single about the American military draft system.

Recording contracts, publishing, and distribution deals are a part of getting music to the people, but can involve legal constraints which are often commercially driven and don't always reflect the artist's creative intentions. This can sometimes stifle (or even stop) musical output. After time, a lot of legal issues, deals and yet more deals, Zappa finally gained control of how his music was handled through his own labels. This kind of tenacity, and a desire to distribute his creative output to his audience, and as intended, goes some way to demonstrate there was a lot more behind the man than just the music.

Zappa had the right look and lived the rock and roll lifestyle to some extent, but he was never really a rock star. His only drug of choice was tobacco, which he considered to be on the same level of necessity as food. Music and his audience always came first and he was in control of what was going on with his musical direction, both live and on record.

Frank Zappa died in 1993 aged 52. His legacy is vast and many previously unreleased recordings stored in a large vault have been released posthumously. There are official online resources including a website run by his estate. An official Youtube channel carries a wide selection of music and video.

Love him or hate him, Zappa is an example of what's possible if you find your vocation and apply yourself creatively and have an awareness of sustainability and continuity. If you're good at what you do and get noticed - fame, fortune, and recognition often follow. If you're great at what you do, and have the confidence to put it out there regardless, you will be remembered and become an inspiration to others.

By Matt Sheen July MMXX - See video playlist for references

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