Frank Zappa, the great American composer, guitarist, performer, band leader, record producer and film director was born today in 1940, and in this particular household, the birth of the baby Zappa is a much bigger holiday than the b’day of that other kid this week. As I type this, there is a diptych painting of Frank Zappa and the original Mothers of Invention hanging over my desk, looking down at me.

Frank Zappa would have been 71 today if he were still with us. Truly an artistic titan of the 20th century. 

Below, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention doing a splendiferous work-out of “King Kong,” the titanic instrumental centerpiece of live Mothers’ shows of the late 1960s. (I probably own 200 versions of this song on bootlegs):
 

Previously on Dangerous Minds:

Frank Zappa reads from ‘Naked Lunch,’ 1978

Zappa/Mothers ‘Sleeping in a Jar’ animated film

I woke up this morning thinking about this clip, wondering when would be a good time to repost it.  I had no idea today was Frank Zappa’s birthday.

Steve Vai reminisces about his audition for Frank Zappa…

http://youtu.be/r6cplMM3d_Q

I bought You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore (6 double cds) when it came out. I moved in to a hipster apartment where I was given endless amounts of shit for having that in my collection by people who only liked records from Drag City, Pop Cap Can and other avant stuff. Finally sold it when I needed the money. Who needs an ugly purple wood CD holder anyway?

Happy Birthday, Frank. I invited you to dinner with Jesus but you both never showed.

  How about an interview with author of No Commercial Potential ?  A book Frankie didn’t like for some reason (hunh…?) And, why not posting a different version of King Kong every week here for the edification of attending Zappateers here at DM.

I miss Frank.