No journalist understood Zappa’s level of intelligence enough to do a good interview. Frank was a serious composer & philosopher, not just a rock musician.
@@guitarontheflipside596 At least he managed to get a genuine laugh out of Frank. I'm sure he's had a lot worse! The end is just informal chat while the promo pictures are being taken.
@@guitarontheflipside596 I disagree 100%, Frank seems to be enjoying this interview and he’s really opening up, even if he’s has that tough exterior. This is one of the best interviews I’ve ever witnessed with FZ. The journalist is respectful, Asking appropriate questions and understands Frank’s humor and message.
@@rhythmfield I’m English and think Frank has a kind of humour that English people like, well I do anyway, he can be caustic with his wit and quite often has a sarcastic sneer or a look of disdain. I rate the guy highly as a composer and free thinking artist.
One thing that always strikes me about Frank in all interviews is how fiercely intelligent he is. In a way it works against him because he's always so much smarter than the people he's talking to, and he can't hide his impatience and frustration from them or us.
@@TheKitchenerLeslie that's an idea, watching the video somehow the word savant just came to mind but then in my view we are all somewhere in that spectrum.
I'm not sure. Young people generally listen to things either on 'shuffle' or random and also music for most people now has to something you can have on in the background, conversation-conducive, unobtrusive yet with profile ie. a simple earworm riff or hook that is enough for someone to call out "choon" then talk over the rest of it. People think they listen to music but thry don't. They don't stop, do nothing snd listen properly. So....I just can't see how Lumpy Gravy or I'm The Slime or G-Spot Tornado or Watermelon In Easter Hay would fit in with the musico-lifestyle of the next generation. This isn't because the music isn't good enough but the way music is consumed has changed. Fortunately I come from a time where sitting down and listening to music was satisfying enough. ai still have my vinyl collection and hopefully my equipment will last me another fifteen years till I'm dead at which point after that I don't care what happens really.
Frank Zappa was a gift that will never be replaced. He was the unwilling spokesperson for plain common sense and was so good at it that he was interviewed relentlessly, something he disliked very much. Lordy how some of us miss you now.
The damned Stones - and the Eagles - were "established" by that prick Jann Wenner and his over rated magazine(now, Empire) Rolling Stone. Wenner is also guilty of starting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Which has, since Zappa's demise, become "Respectable." Which, in America, means "a money-maker. I admire the few artists that have gone there - to be inducted - and blasted them for their smug, phony BS. I'm talking about Steve Miller, Eddie Vedder and Alex Lifeson.
Frank is so right. Even today this applies. If you want to be accepted at work, in school, etc. you must act a certain way, be a certain way not necessarily the way you want to be. If you want to be accepted, you can't really be yourself. You must conform to the way you are expected to act. This did not only apply in the 1950s but today as well.
That's what Hendrix said. He pointed out that a lot of the freaks and hippies were just as exclusionary as the Young Republicans. You had to wear your hair a certain way, talk a certain way, or you weren't accepted in the group. He believed in real individualism, not adhering to arbitrary rules of conduct.
A good analogy for being Neurodivergent also. I feel like if I just existed the way I actually am at my core, I wouldn’t be accepted or is just be attacked all the time
If wanna something from someone, you gotta like them. As long as people are useful you unfortunately have to act out. Dunno whether this is tragic or it isn't, but that's how life goes. So, if you wanna be completely "yourself", become a bum, homeless, or go to an island and enjoy yourself. I hate pretending, but you gotta survive don't u think?
There's just no celebrities or anyone in the media these days that are as intelligent and willing to speak their mind like Zappa did. We need people like him now so badly and there's no one. The closest we had was Carlin and he's dead now too. What are we going to do? I was born in 79' and both these men were old enough to be my father, yet even I can see how invaluable they were to our society.
Jacob Bassett If youve watched his internet show youd know that what you said is not true. Conspiracies exist- just because you dont do the research dont look down your nose at those that investigate these things.
THANKS for this... truly an outstanding FZ interview. One of the many things I admire about FZ is that he was completely on top of technical developments, as is made clear in his discussion of video editing etc... and he was even more ahead of everyone else in the domain of sound, naturally...
"FM, that mysterious signal that creeps its way into the dentists office without people looking".... That may have went over your head if you don't have any metal dental work.
Ive always really liked the way he took into consideration the working man that spent their hard earned pay on his records ,because I know I enjoyingly spent my money on franks stuff since 1975
The gentleman interviewing Frank Zappa is Cerphe Colwell from WHFS 102.3FM in Bethesda, Md. and was an early influence in the early 70's on the music scene in the Washington, DC area. Cerphe was was instrumental / responsible for bringing public awareness to musicians like Little Feat, Bruce Speingsteen, Bonnie Raitt and countless others. Cerphe continues to pursue his love of music and can be found active in the Washington, DC are as a historic iconic figure to this day. Google him and be aware
Tomtiddler1 you deserve a badge for the upload! I've not seen this before. Its a really interesting interview. Makes you realize what a huge void he left!
The interviewer is a Washington based DJ named Cerphe, pronounced Surf. I've known him for years- he's a real pro and a true music lover. Zappa was/is so far beyond most composers I don't think another one like him will come around for a hundred years.
Mac Maccc I think he would advocate their use as tools for self production and not depending on labels or others that stand in the way of artistic expression
First thing Mr Zappa would say is "Who are these people who we seem to point to and listen to as gods? There is *nothing* that says any social media person is even a real person today. It is just *human stupidity* at play here.. Same as Mr. Zappa has pointed out over and over in his interviews.
It seems a lot of the issues he took with the record industry, radio and TV become much smaller problems with the internet. I wonder if he'd be less cynical now.
Zappa was fucking fantastic. Even when he was really young (see Inside Pop), he seemed like a composite of souls belonging to every chain smoking grandpa in America and wrapped into one individual. I'd advise any of you who are seeing Zappa here for the first or second time to check out all of his interviews. Sit down and listen to the wisdom of Grandpa Frank. You won't be disappointed.
I have read and watched many interviews with Frank Zappa and he looks more comfortable and relaxed with this interviewer than I’ve ever seen him. The guy clearly did his homework and is treating Frank with respect, which Frank is returning in kind, even if it’s very dry and restrained, he is just pouring out information and enjoying this interview, you can tell.
I'm from Baltimore my sister who when to school at Towson town jr high schoo at the time when Frank when there introduce me to Frank Zappa. And I know, I just have say this, we are African Americans.
"You wont be able to touch a human being on this planet without putting you life in danger; jerking off is the way of the future." HARD line from Zappa that speaks volumes in this pandemic times. i really enjoy watching and listening Zappa's interviews. His intelligence is always outdated. He was truly ahead of its time.
Man Ohhh Man.. Do we ever need a FRANK ZAPPA in the BS of the 21st CENTURY... Sadly there's not even 1 close to ZAPPA.😎 What an amazing Interview and the Interviewer with Brains ! 😁👍🏻
I have had this thought too and I found a video on here (if I find it I'll post the link) of a guy comparing them. Tesla has an invention called "The Zapper" supposedly, close to Zappa. Initially I thought they looked extremely like one another.
Cool! Complete with B-roll of the interviewer at the end! What a great interview- now to go update the Waka Jawiki with the new defintion of the Chrome-plated Megaphone. :)
His ability to churn out brilliant music covering many different genres and attract musicians of almost unparalleled talent is the benchmark of success in modern times.
Frank Zappa was a true American entrepreneur. Never backed down. Always went for what he wanted and used his strong interpersonal skills to achieve what he wanted. He saw reality for what it was and reasoned about it. His field was entertainment, but he would've been accomplished in any endeavor because he knew how to deal with people. He is truly an inspiration for those who dream big and a model of the American dream.
He accurately saw through Reagan and the whole Moral Majority ”movement” long before the rest of us. And it is going strong in the day of Trump. The only difference being, now the “Moral Majority” turns a blind eye to graft, corruption and sin - so long as doing so helps retain their hold on the game.
@@brainsareus That was mysteriously the point my fellow Zappa admirer. "Yet" .. Sarcasm , Irony.. I recommend " Are What You Is-.getcha back up to speed.
The material at the end - for those who may not know - is called "reverse angle" shots, and it would be used as "cover material" for post-editing. Like if they needed to remove (aka censor) any of Frank's comments, they could use the close-up of the interviewer (looking like he's listening intently) to cover the edit point, and then switch back to the close-up of FZ so there wouldn't be a visible jump-cut over the edit point. But if you didn't know that, you would definitely wonder WTF the interviewer was doing just staring at Frank. :-) And, I just scrolled a little further than I did before I made this comment and saw much more concise explanations of what I said. My apologies for being redundant. :-)
So after an interview where Frank gives us honest and straightforward opinions and then at the end there's fake footage so that they can censor him later. What a mindfuck.
This should be retitled "Washington D.C. Interview". You hear the interviewer (Cerphe Colwell) say "...here in Washington", and you hear FZ say "I'm coming back to Washington but not on tour..." Cerphe is a good guy and did at least some homework for the interview. He worked at WAVA and then I believe DC101, which by '85, was where he worked. Yes FZ did live near Baltimore briefly, but this is not a "hometown" interview and it's not even mentioned. Thank you very much for posting this wonderful interview.
I'm absolutely enchanted by the way Frank is wiggling around... squirming. It's like he's hearing a composition based on everything happening in that studio.
he probably did. I read an interview in... Cherry magazine in 1978-79?, about how the wallpaper and wood grain in the paneling gave him musical ideas which led to some of Joes Garage. I mean WTF? Every stimuli inspired him and he has inspired many. You can't soar like an eagle when you surround yourself with turkeys. look it up
The film masters never got erased. 200 motels was released about 8 years ago on dvd. The liner notes were written by Tony Palmer and comments about FZ always said for years that he had them wiped. According to Palmer, he kept them safe and sound.
raised on Heavy Metal, but when it comes to my individual rock idols, I always loved these intellectual rock musicians such as Bowie, Zappa, Lou Reed, Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel, John Lydon, Fish(Marillion) etc...... they are the reason why rock music is not only musically the greatest genre, but also lyrically......
Interviews of FZ always require active listening, like anything else worthwhile. Active listening, not just skipping the commercials. The root cause of all that's wrong in America today: not enough active listening. Yes, he was a genius- but we all have that same potential. Long live RU-vid , and I say that knowing it's Google's fun little brother. God bless America.
@@mustang7603 Not sure what that has to do with this conversation, but the upside down flag indicates DISTRESS SIGNAL, very appropriate display of Old Glory in this final period (thank you Jesus) of the Donald J. T______ administration - and thank GOD he’s almost OUT of our great White House.
@@fartkerson God, not god. Yes God the father does dwell in Heaven, it is where his throne is. But His Spirit is omnipresent. The Son of God dwells with His father in bodily form and will come back to earth someday in the clouds just like he left. There, a free theology lesson. You're welcome! And no, no collection basket!
It is 2023 and the truth about the music world is more accurate than ever. Thankfully there are wonderful artists who are creating outstanding music outside of the “industry” that is accessible to anyone who dares to dig a little deeper.
You don’t really know what’s in the interviewers mind at the end, he could be thinking i know this guy has an illness and I’m so lucky i got to interview one of the greatest minds in modern history , i mean Frank is/was brilliant!
"You learn by doing." I said that to someone else a few days ago and was told "that is the most insane thing I ever heard". And then Frank talks about the videos accompanying music releases in the form of videos. Ain't that the truth. Just look at what passes for "music" these days and think about what it would amount to without the glitz and glam of the accompanying pictures. Zappa is one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the privilege to listen to no matter what he talks about. RIP.
So many interviewers are lame, just empty headed dolts. But I like this guy. He's sharp. He's knowledgeable. And he's not there to just kiss ass. They guy's in control and is real. And he's very aware of where Frank is on things. Really nice job. Solid questions throughout.
Frankincensed the interviewer is cool but not the station he works for they actually destroyed this tape before broadcast, but somebody leaked it on to zappateers
Proof that Frank Zappa was brilliant, articulate and willing to vehemently defend his and our rights as citizens of the United States. Frank Zappa is a great part of American history and a model for sane decision making for generations to come.
