You are correct Sir! Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought up substituting the horns in place of the guitar solo. But it works so beautifully like it was always meant to be that way! All provided to us through the genius of Zappa!
It happened almost by accident: As was Frank's usual practice with his later bands, they learned the song without him and another guy (Scott Thunes, in this case) rehearsing the band; the original intention was for FZ to take a solo on it. During that period, Mike Keneally (stunt guitar) - who has an AMAZING ear - learned Jimmy Page's original solo, and played it as a placeholder. At some point in that process Paul Carman (alto sax) picked up the solo from Mike playing it repeatedly, and started playing it in unison with him. When Frank showed up and they ran through the tune, they played it the way they'd rehearsed it - and Frank said, "That's brilliant! Can all the horns do that?" So Paul wrote it out in harmony for all five horns.
worst cameraman in the history of live concerts. The coolest thing about this is that the whole horn section plays the guitar solo at the end but cameraman is focusing on the bass player and the guitarist
@@plumage_againEd Mann did. He turned most of the band against Scott to the point where the band wanted tö continue the tour (US westcoast and cross country summer festivals) IF and ONLY IF FZ got a new bass player. Breaking in a new guy would mean four months of rehearsals missing out on all the summer fun. If those guys weren't the petty toddlers they were this band would have continued the tour.
@@plumage_again FZ acknowledged that Scott ishard to get along with. But at some point on the 88 tour thhere were three people that still liked him, the other two being FZ and Mike Keneally. I think for FZ it didn't matter whether he liked someone or not, the only things that mattered were: can they play and will they do onstage what I tell them to.
I saw Zappa in Vancouver ,October 1981, didn't know what to expect but was blown away by Franks musicianship ,his guitar solos were unbelievable and to this day myself and the two friends that were with me always talk about how great of a concert it truely was, rip Frank....
I saw that tour a month or so later. Little Stevie Vai! Not only was the musicianship incredible (of course), but it was so FUNNY! I left the theater with a sore gut from laughing so hard. RIP Frank; we miss you, man.
I saw them in concert myself. they were the best technical band I have ever seen. so many changes in rhythm and key and the guys were always perfect. so well practiced.
Frank was always so original, even when re-arranging music he didn’t write. The unpredictability and re-imagining, improvising was the essence of his musicality
That would've been May 11, 1980. Killer show, too. Arf arf! Here's the setlist to jog your memory: Chunga's Revenge Keep It Greasey, Outside Now City Of Tiny Lights Society Pages I'm A Beautiful Guy Beauty Knows No Pain Charlie's Enormous Mouth Pick Me I'm Clean Cosmik Debris You Didn't Try To Call Me I Ain't Got No Heart Love Of My Life Easy Meat I Don't Wanna Get Drafted Joe's Garage, Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? Dancin' Fool You Are What You Is Dong Work For Yuda Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up Don't Eat The Yellow Snow The Illinois Enema Bandit
I saw this band play this in Cleveland and it still ranks as one of my favorite performances I've seen. The horn section took the top of our heads off with the solo.
Ike Willis is fantastic. Seems to be saying with his gesture to the band, Yes, I know echoing with laughter is wonderful, ok yes, enough with the laughter, thank you I will proceed with next verse now
Frank Zappa (guitar/Synclavier/vocals), Ike Willis (rhythm guitar/vocals), Mike Keneally (stunt guitar/keyboards/vocals), Robert Martin (keyboards/Synclavier/ vocals), Ed Mann (percussion/Synclavier/vocals), Scott Thunes (bass/mini-moog), Chad Wackerman (drums/electronic percussion), Walt Fowler (trumpet/flugelhorn/Synclavier), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Paul Carman (alto/soprano sax), Albert Wing (tenor sax), Kurt McGettrick (baritone sax). Personnel on the 1988 tour
Hard to describe the amount of joy and mirth delivered into my life by encountering the music of Frank Zappa and the comedy of Monty Python back when I was merely twelve years old.
@@TooSkinnyKenny His music was incredibly serious. He just didn't take himself seriously in the process. This is an absolutely brilliant arrangement and performance.
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 yes his music was serious but it was just so quirky. Apostrophe and Sleep Dirt are the ONLY albums of his i could sit through completely.
I named my youngest son Zappa - as a first name. As far as we know, the only one on planet earth. He is 15 now and he loves his name - Frank’s music not sooo much. I am sure it will come.
Saw this in Rochester with the whole Beatles thing and was blown away. The horns are great but bobby Martin belting out the vocals at the end kills it. Miss u frank, but thanks for years of great music.
@@benaustin6361 Actually, I think it's Zappa's way of saying that Page's original version is not a "real" solo. Frank was very disdainful of the idea of the guitar hero, and often referred to the phallic symbolism of both the solo and the instrument. Frank did a couple of iconic rock covers on that tour (this one and I Am The Walrus) as well as Ravel's Bolero. I'm certain Zappa had cogent and conceptual continuity reasons for including them, but I never heard him explain why. You may be right though. Perhaps it was Frank's way of tipping his hat to other forms of genius, or it may be because he loved to thwart audience expectation!
yepp! n Frank could do any genre n song n way better then the org. version. I saw most of his Norway- shows incl this '88. Cry every day didn't go abroad see more.. eg. string of cons this time of year London Hammersmith Odeon '78. How could i be 22 yrs n such a fool- makes me wonder
@@pallland496 I saw him twice in Glasgow (1977 and 1979) and once in London (1988). The first one was only my second gig, and I was in the front row! The only problem was the stage was 12 feet high, and I saw NOTHING! The good news was when Frank appeared he came right to the edge of the precipice and looked right down at me. Bodyguard John Smothers spent the whole gig kneeling at the edge of the stage, but there was no prospect of anyone getting up there. Not unless we'd formed a human pyramid!
This appears on the Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life album. It IS pure genius that he has the horn section play the solo note-for-note. I took it as an homage to Page. That Zappa wouldn’t f*** with one of the most iconic solos ever. Instead, he lets us hear it in a fresh innovative way. Genius!
I saw them at the Beacon theater in NYC met Frank n hung with Ike n a few members that night...but when they were doing Stairway i remember thinking to myself as the solo was coming up....what is Frank gonna do? his mangle it strangle it Frank solo?...or Page's solo.....my head exploded when the horn section slayed it.... flash forward ...I would end up doing countless shows with Ike n many Zappa Alumni in Project Object
What an amazing rendition. Frank was a true genius that would be such an asset to the current dialogue musically and political discourse. Thank GOD for the gift of hearing.........
I was among the fortunate few Americans that got to see the Zappa tour that year. I still can't believe a small group of musicians could be so petty and throw away a season of touring with a Zappa band. You can hear it all on "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life". Did not expect the horns solo. Powerful to see and hear live.
I was among the fortunate few Englishman that got to see this band too. They did a few concerts here, I saw them at Brighton on the south coast, just down the coast from where I live. A whole bunch of us hired a bus. Zoot Allures on 'Best Band' was recorded that night. It was a fabulous night, they were brilliant.
I saw this tour. He did this tune and a medley of other early bands like The Beatles. It was all in good fun. Little did I know, it was all coming to an end.
The horns are flat-out fuckin` KILLIN` it ! Zappa was my first-ever concert (The Balloon Farm, NYC 1966), and saw him multiple times through the years. He always had the most amazing musicians with him. Even STING (!) did a guest appearance with Frank....
Saw this tour at Wembley, absolutely amazing. Top musicians and Zappa's humour made it a wonderful show.They really did an amazing version of Stairway, kudos to Frank.There'll never be another like him, genius ☘
What makes Zappa special for me, is that he always had an eye on other artists music. This is a wonderful homage to one of the greatest song in the era of rock, just played a little different. 😃
This was a fantastic and ear-opening version! The horn charts, especially for the final solo, were incredible. However, for me, it's hard to beat the Kennedy Center Honors version with Nancy Wilson, Jason Bonham, multiple guitarists, orchestra and choir! In any case, what a tribute to the song and to the band that created such magic.
Oh yeah He was recently diagnosed with cancer if anybody up here in the comments section didn't see that on the subreddit the other week I wanna say that it's prostate cancer but it could be lung
@@maplelafe7671 I think his GoFundMe or whatever site he used reached its target a couple months ago or so but if you have a link to a more current funding project I'll try to donate. Thanks
I saw that in Secaucus; NJ in 87 as an encore along with a Beatles medley. It rocked! I was barely able to vote I was so young, but they registered me during intermission. vote folks, or your rights will mysteriously disappear…….
I saw Zappa and his various bands, five times in the 70's at the Uptown Theater in Chicago. It was always great, and we were always tripping on acid to kick it up a notch.
My last day of high School in El Paso Texas May 1975 we were hours early for Zappa's show . He sent out a roadie that said if we had tickets we could come inside because it was so hot . We got to watch Frank run through tunes with El Paso's own Jimmy Carl Black, the Mothers of Invention's famed drummer and watch the crew playing volleyball. Best show I've ever seen.
Check out their cover of "I Am the Walrus" by The Beatles. Also, The Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post", featuring multi-instrumentalist Bobby Martin on lead vocals.
Burnt Weeny Sandwich had two covers on it (WPLJ, Valerie) and Zappa began covering Whipping Post in '81 and it remained in the setlist for every tour afterwards. So it's rare but he has done it.
I saw this live in London in '98 and it blew my mind especially the horn solo. And it Makes Me Wonder.....What Page and Plant thought of this version. No one else on earth could manage to turn it on its head, make it so unique and fresh, and equal in stature to the original. Ike's vocals, Frank's fender, the weird Synclavier samples and the horn section = pure magic
I'm sure you meant 88. I was there too. I think Frank played two nights if I remember correctly. I was there on the first night. I travelled back to Scotland after the gig on the overnight mail train!
@@periurban yeah ‘88. 😁 I moved to US in ‘92. I never forgave my girlfriend at the time for that night ‘cause i’d wanted to see Frank for years and she made us late so I missed the first 15 of that show 😡
@@jammygitt I hope you didn't marry her! lol I remember on the day of the show going to Tower Records in London, and the whole place was decked out in Frank Zappa stuff - posters, albums covers - and they were playing Zappa over the speakers. Everyone there was a Zappa freak. I felt like I'd walked into my perfect world. I'd seen Frank twice before in Glasgow, but the London show had a much bigger vibe. It was a great night, and at the show I met two friends from back home who'd been given free tickets by AC/DC (they knew the band) who'd played there the night before. Happy days!
@@periurban if you are in NYC check out Ed Palermo Big Band. NYCs best musicians play Zappa. Often with alumnis like Napoleon Murphy Brock (!!!!), Mike Kennealy etc guesting. Always sense of humor. Some shows on TH-cam. Used to play Zappa exclusively. Got threatened by Gail etc so while Zappa is heavily featured sometimes they mash up with other artists. Sometimes his versions compare with original or even excel. Sacriligious to say I know 😀
This is recorded in good quality live on one of the “Best band you never heard in your life” CD sets released by Frank. All great recordings from the road. What excellent bands he had. Ike nailed this one as usual. Great voice!
Got to see tmoi several times. Halloween shows and Mothers Day shows were super. (70's, and 80s) So much going on (Verese-esqe) that you didn't want it to stop. I can see the sea of lighters now Encore! Encore!
I've been a Frank Zappa fan since 1967 when I was 16. First time I've heard this and love it. For anyone, especially the younger crowd go back and listen to Peaches in Regalia and Montana and I Am the Slime. There will never be another Frank Zappa.
It blows my mind that this line up had so much drama and fell apart so badly after they went to Europe. Regardless, Frank was ALWAYS changing and adding to the orchestrations. The way they played these songs at the beginning of the 88 tour vs the end is mental. I miss you Frank. So, so much.
I’m a fan of Zappa’s musical creativity/genius, but, by no means would I call myself a "Frankophile". This is the first time I’ve ever heard him perform a cover of anyone else’s music and it was great. Thank you very much for sharing this with us. Great stuff!!👍🏼
@@splubber thanks very much-I saw Sting on the "10 Somner’s Tails" tour. I felt for him, just by the crowd’s indifference to his solo material. He took a break, & the crowd started to get confused-the "house lights" weren’t on so what was going on? I don’t know, but he came out & as soon as he played the 1st chord of "Roxanne", the crowd went nuts & in typical Vancouver style, they rushed the stage & went crazy after every song in the 2nd half of the show-which was all songs from his time in The Police-the 1st half was strictly solo material. He put on a great show. Christopher Cross could play the juice out of a guitar, I’m looking forward to hearing that. Thanks.
This is from Bootleg , good Concert, i have this too...From this Song gives a Maxi Single , of the other Side is Bolero.. ZAPPA was a Genius !!! Thank you from Germany for this good make repair Video.
Hello fellow Humans. How 1st Magnitude we’re Lead Zeppelin if the Mighty incredible Frank Zapper covered this song. Love to you all out there. From Bob Beer from England. 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸👍.
Ya gotta love Ike Willis here! And despite the seeming irreverence with the comical sound effects, etc., there's no mistaking the homage to Page's guitar solo with the note-for-note ensemble treatment!
I was at a four or five shows when the band came to NYC and NJ on this leg of the tour, and Frank's sense of fun was obvious when they did this. Each time the horns broke out into Page's solo he was grinning from ear to ear. True. I sat close enough to see it. There didn't seem to be any sarcasm there, even though I assumed there might be. I think the assumption of a greater 'joke' was mine, and not Frank's. But damn, I didn't remember him being this thin.Amazing what you can miss when it's right in front of you. Damn.
I saw the band in Chicago at halloween time a few times. They didn’t do this. I did see Led Zeppelin do it (76) and I love this! That said, Page on the double neck is pretty freekin’ cool.
I saw Frank do this bit in the 80s at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Yeah, the horn section solo was incredible! Take Jimmy Page's iconic solo and play it note for note with the horn section as if it's the hokiest piece of music ever written! Such fun, I registered to vote at that show! RIP Frank!
Musik wie ein interessantes Gemälde - Begleitet mich schon 25 Jahre und erinnert mich an meine Jugend. Mir geht immer noch das Herz auf, wenn ich es höre ❤
@@hksoundpro I saw the Cleveland show when they did Stairway and yes it was one heck of a show. The audience rose as one and roared like a lion at the end of this one...it was one of many standing ovations that night....Zappa also did Lets Move To Cleveland that night to make it extra special.
For me, the horns playing the guitar solo is best part of this awesome performance…Zappa was a national treasure
Like it was written for them.
You are correct Sir! Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought up substituting the horns in place of the guitar solo. But it works so beautifully like it was always meant to be that way! All provided to us through the genius of Zappa!
It happened almost by accident: As was Frank's usual practice with his later bands, they learned the song without him and another guy (Scott Thunes, in this case) rehearsing the band; the original intention was for FZ to take a solo on it. During that period, Mike Keneally (stunt guitar) - who has an AMAZING ear - learned Jimmy Page's original solo, and played it as a placeholder. At some point in that process Paul Carman (alto sax) picked up the solo from Mike playing it repeatedly, and started playing it in unison with him. When Frank showed up and they ran through the tune, they played it the way they'd rehearsed it - and Frank said, "That's brilliant! Can all the horns do that?" So Paul wrote it out in harmony for all five horns.
Too bad the cameraman had no clue where to point his camera
worst cameraman in the history of live concerts. The coolest thing about this is that the whole horn section plays the guitar solo at the end but cameraman is focusing on the bass player and the guitarist
Definitely was the best band you never heard in your life!
Until Scott Thunes killed it. :/
@@plumage_againWord
@@plumage_againEd Mann did. He turned most of the band against Scott to the point where the band wanted tö continue the tour (US westcoast and cross country summer festivals) IF and ONLY IF FZ got a new bass player.
Breaking in a new guy would mean four months of rehearsals missing out on all the summer fun.
If those guys weren't the petty toddlers they were this band would have continued the tour.
@@hansvandermeulen5515 You're right. But Thunes remains an asshole. Even with Zappa play Zappa. He was fired by Dweezil.
@@plumage_again FZ acknowledged that Scott ishard to get along with.
But at some point on the 88 tour thhere were three people that still liked him, the other two being FZ and Mike Keneally.
I think for FZ it didn't matter whether he liked someone or not, the only things that mattered were: can they play and will they do onstage what I tell them to.
Zappa was as brilliant a musician and composer as rock or jazz has ever known. On top of that, he was wildly entertaining !!
'Jazz from Hell'...
Not to mention a brilliant businessman.
I saw Zappa in Vancouver ,October 1981, didn't know what to expect but was blown away by Franks musicianship ,his guitar solos were unbelievable and to this day myself and the two friends that were with me always talk about how great of a concert it truely was, rip Frank....
I saw that tour a month or so later. Little Stevie Vai!
Not only was the musicianship incredible (of course), but it was so FUNNY! I left the theater with a sore gut from laughing so hard. RIP Frank; we miss you, man.
Zappa was a fucking genius both intellectually & definitely musically. !!!!! 🎸
Frank Zappa, the Maestro
Only Frank Zappa could get away with this, absolutely brilliant 😊
The splendid transcription of Page’s solo for the horns is such a wonderful honor for him.
he'd learned that someone in the band, I think it was Paul Carman, knew the solo; so now, all systems go
But it's beefed up by someone -- Keneally? -- at the back of the mix.
Ike was the best singer Frank ever had !
The guitarist plays the solo note for note along with the horns.
@@robbiedaug Proof that it CAN be played correctly on stage. Despite much Led-zevidence to the contrary! 😄
The thing about Frank is he could stand back and let the truly amazing group of people he put together shine!
Yeah !he pushed them to be as best as they ever can be !
absolutely
Yes He Did !
I saw them in concert myself. they were the best technical band I have ever seen. so many changes in rhythm and key and the guys were always perfect. so well practiced.
I saw the band in Syracuse that tour.
Still can't believe a few idiots forced Frank to cancel most of the tour that year.
I wish Frank was still with us, what a wonderful human being he was.
really ?
@@stompfolks you're one of those who think he was "problematic" and cancellable?
Just another great Christian trucker man for the community to enjoy.
@@windyhead7960 Facebook is not TH-cam
Frank was always so original, even when re-arranging music he didn’t write. The unpredictability and re-imagining, improvising was the essence of his musicality
I was at this concert. What a great experience. Always loved Frank Zappa ❤❤❤
Me and wife saw Zappa in Baltimore on mother's day around 1978. Zappa is as unique as it gets, guitar master
That would've been May 11, 1980.
Killer show, too. Arf arf!
Here's the setlist to jog your memory:
Chunga's Revenge
Keep It Greasey,
Outside Now
City Of Tiny Lights
Society Pages
I'm A Beautiful Guy
Beauty Knows No Pain
Charlie's Enormous Mouth
Pick Me I'm Clean
Cosmik Debris
You Didn't Try To Call Me
I Ain't Got No Heart
Love Of My Life
Easy Meat
I Don't Wanna Get Drafted
Joe's Garage,
Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?
Dancin' Fool
You Are What You Is
Dong Work For Yuda
Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up
Don't Eat The Yellow Snow
The Illinois Enema Bandit
Was it at the bmore civic center slash bmore arena?
@@williamfitzgibbons3083
Baltimore Civic Center. May 11, 1980
I saw this band play this in Cleveland and it still ranks as one of my favorite performances I've seen. The horn section took the top of our heads off with the solo.
Ike Willis is fantastic. Seems to be saying with his gesture to the band, Yes, I know echoing with laughter is wonderful, ok yes, enough with the laughter, thank you I will proceed with next verse now
Frank Zappa (guitar/Synclavier/vocals), Ike Willis (rhythm guitar/vocals), Mike Keneally (stunt guitar/keyboards/vocals), Robert Martin (keyboards/Synclavier/ vocals), Ed Mann (percussion/Synclavier/vocals), Scott Thunes (bass/mini-moog), Chad Wackerman (drums/electronic percussion), Walt Fowler (trumpet/flugelhorn/Synclavier), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Paul Carman (alto/soprano sax), Albert Wing (tenor sax), Kurt McGettrick (baritone sax).
Personnel on the 1988 tour
Those legendary Zappa concerts are part of my life forever. I will never forget.
there is nothing even close to FZ in concert...
Hard to describe the amount of joy and mirth delivered into my life by encountering the music of Frank Zappa and the comedy of Monty Python back when I was merely twelve years old.
And don't forget Firesign Theater! We're all bozos on this bus!
You were lucky.....we 'ad it tough..!
Good times
My sister gave me Joe’s Garage for a birthday present on my 13th(?) birthday. I had no idea what genius Zappa was then but I loved it!
As if it matters at what age you were. I was minus 213 years, when Mozart...
What a brilliant tribute. Frank sure knew how to create an amazing arrangement!!!
He truly was a Genius
@@ralphecat Not so much.
@jondough930 wtf are you talking about?
The people who disliked this, have no idea how great Frank Zappa was.
Tom, there's no dislike and even if there would be some, we don't care, Frank was THE ultimate composer.
I agree he was a great guitarist but his records were full of jokes and narration. The only one I own that is all serious music is "Sleep Dirt".
The deaf Dumb all over and maybe Christians are the the dislikers
@@TooSkinnyKenny His music was incredibly serious. He just didn't take himself seriously in the process. This is an absolutely brilliant arrangement and performance.
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 yes his music was serious but it was just so quirky. Apostrophe and Sleep Dirt are the ONLY albums of his i could sit through completely.
Frank was the first to discover the blues buried behind this musical masterpiece. He LISTENS and ORCHESTRATES but he also IMPROVISES. 😎🎸
Frank's first divebomb in the intro is amazing and just says it all. Brilliance.
I'm just thankful to have lived in the same timeline that Frank Zappa did. Easily in my top five grouping.
My fave was Roxy era, and I liked him better on an SG, but still great.
I named my youngest son Zappa - as a first name. As far as we know, the only one on planet earth. He is 15 now and he loves his name - Frank’s music not sooo much. I am sure it will come.
Sweet vocals. . .totally relaxed delivery. . .reverent yet chillax
Then Robert Martin comes in for the outverse and blows my head off every time I hear it!
First time I have seen video of this. Thank you so much!!
Nicely done is an understatement.
Seems fun as hell to play this!Unbelievable rendition!
Saw this in Rochester with the whole Beatles thing and was blown away. The horns are great but bobby Martin belting out the vocals at the end kills it. Miss u frank, but thanks for years of great music.
I hope you mean 'kills it' in a good way. Hard to tell sometimes :)
That moment when Zappa DOESN'T play the solo, but instead gives us an arrangement for the horn section. Genius.
You goddamn right.
To me, it's a way of saying "this is above just another rock solo, this is Musical Canon" -- I agree, it's Genius.
@@benaustin6361 Actually, I think it's Zappa's way of saying that Page's original version is not a "real" solo. Frank was very disdainful of the idea of the guitar hero, and often referred to the phallic symbolism of both the solo and the instrument.
Frank did a couple of iconic rock covers on that tour (this one and I Am The Walrus) as well as Ravel's Bolero. I'm certain Zappa had cogent and conceptual continuity reasons for including them, but I never heard him explain why.
You may be right though. Perhaps it was Frank's way of tipping his hat to other forms of genius, or it may be because he loved to thwart audience expectation!
yepp! n Frank could do any genre n song n way better then the org. version. I saw most of his Norway- shows incl this '88. Cry every day didn't go abroad see more.. eg. string of cons this time of year London Hammersmith Odeon '78. How could i be 22 yrs n such a fool- makes me wonder
@@pallland496 I saw him twice in Glasgow (1977 and 1979) and once in London (1988). The first one was only my second gig, and I was in the front row! The only problem was the stage was 12 feet high, and I saw NOTHING! The good news was when Frank appeared he came right to the edge of the precipice and looked right down at me. Bodyguard John Smothers spent the whole gig kneeling at the edge of the stage, but there was no prospect of anyone getting up there. Not unless we'd formed a human pyramid!
Just the genius at his best...nobody can take a song like that and makes it his own,,,,just amazing
Nobody can … because there are copyright laws in place for such a thing .
Zappa was incapable of coming up with anything like 'Stairway'
This appears on the Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life album. It IS pure genius that he has the horn section play the solo note-for-note. I took it as an homage to Page. That Zappa wouldn’t f*** with one of the most iconic solos ever. Instead, he lets us hear it in a fresh innovative way. Genius!
Surtout que les textes sont sur l'argent ou les rêves et les intentions d'en profiter , conditions, conditionnée . il en fait un thème notre frank😉😆
I saw them at the Beacon theater in NYC met Frank n hung with Ike n a few members that night...but when they were doing Stairway i remember thinking to myself as the solo was coming up....what is Frank gonna do? his mangle it strangle it Frank solo?...or Page's solo.....my head exploded when the horn section slayed it.... flash forward ...I would end up doing countless shows with Ike n many Zappa Alumni in Project Object
... and backed by a ska groove. Sort of a homage in a Zappa way.
💯
2 guitarists were playing it too.
Frank Zappa and band were like the Harlem Globe Trotters of Rock and Roll.
Perfect analogy!
What a kool way to describe Frank & company. Ya nailed🔨 it!
His intention was to mock and expose the absurdity of pop rock.
Adónde fueron a parar todos esos genios que deambularon con Zappa???? Gente única!!!!!
wow i wonder if Jimmy ever saw this, what a group of musicians... just outstanding... RIP Frank
I am sure someone would have seen it and brought it to his attention 😂
I saw this tour in upstate NY. The crowd ate up every second of this. Awesome
Buy "Zappa,the hard way "a book written about that tour.Frank canceled the tour halfway through, took a 450k hit and never toured again.
What an amazing rendition. Frank was a true genius that would be such an asset to the current dialogue musically and political discourse. Thank GOD for the gift of hearing.........
Protect your hearing because when it’s damaged…it’s gone for good.
... absolutely, Frank would have made a mark even in 2024.
I was among the fortunate few Americans that got to see the Zappa tour that year.
I still can't believe a small group of musicians could be so petty and throw away a season of touring with a Zappa band.
You can hear it all on "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life".
Did not expect the horns solo.
Powerful to see and hear live.
I was among the fortunate few Englishman that got to see this band too. They did a few concerts here, I saw them at Brighton on the south coast, just down the coast from where I live. A whole bunch of us hired a bus. Zoot Allures on 'Best Band' was recorded that night. It was a fabulous night, they were brilliant.
I saw the last show he did out on Long Island. They threw away a lot of history. The versions evolved during the tours. We missed some good stuff.
I'm not a big fan of Zappa, but I do admire the fact that he didn't give a f*** what anyone thought about his music, he just wanted to perform.
Zappa war einer der besten Amerikaner.und er war der größte Kritiker der Gesellschaftsverhältnisse.
Die USA ist total krank.
Und er förderte viele Musiker.
Seine Musik spiegelt die kranke Gesellschaft.
Diese Version gefällt mir besser als von LED Zeppelin
actually, composing music was more important than performing.. i have been a fan since 1967.
Frank was a genius! 🎶🤙🏼
No, he was a nitwit.
@@poopy_pants_joe1194... and you're an idiot 🎉 🍻
@@poopy_pants_joe1194Idiota és tu, que pertences à mediocridade imposta e nem te apercebes...😢
I saw this tour. He did this tune and a medley of other early bands like The Beatles. It was all in good fun. Little did I know, it was all coming to an end.
The horns are flat-out fuckin` KILLIN` it ! Zappa was my first-ever concert (The Balloon Farm, NYC 1966), and saw him multiple times through the years. He always had the most amazing musicians with him. Even STING (!) did a guest appearance with Frank....
I'm so happy and grateful that he created such incredibly good music, to be honest I don't really understand how you can do without such good sound !
Frank was a genius
Absolutely Amazing
Classic...
Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be. --Frank Zappa
What God made it as.
I heard this arrangement for the first time three days later in Zurich. I was so in awe and I still am!
This genius of a man left us way too soon, fortunately the music can live forever....RIP my brother
Saw this tour at Wembley, absolutely amazing. Top musicians and Zappa's humour made it a wonderful show.They really did an amazing version of Stairway, kudos to Frank.There'll never be another like him, genius ☘
He'll be back. I promise.
Because this was before.
All this is just
Eternity. Not understood yet.
🤣❤❣💋
The night I was at Wembley Robert Plant was in the audience and Ike said "Thanks for letting us play your song Robert"
Frank Zappa was my first concert 1978 at the Apollo in Glasgow Scotland
What makes Zappa special for me, is that he always had an eye on other artists music.
This is a wonderful homage to one of the greatest song in the era of rock, just played a little different. 😃
Yes, and a lot of young musicians who played for him became famous.
Best cover of this song I’ve ever heard. Not surprising coming from zappa. Incredible
This was a fantastic and ear-opening version! The horn charts, especially for the final solo, were incredible. However, for me, it's hard to beat the Kennedy Center Honors version with Nancy Wilson, Jason Bonham, multiple guitarists, orchestra and choir! In any case, what a tribute to the song and to the band that created such magic.
Dolly Parton's cover is really good.
Dredd zeppelin's
Brilliant band,the horns playing the guitar solo is incredible
Frank is great. Pople who dislike this appreciate how good Robert Plant was. Those vocals are like pub Karaoke
Ike really does do this song justice. Always loved his voice.
+Stev0BabaGhanoush Yeah Ike's real good.
I think he and Robert work well as a pair, too, because Robert can sing that much higher.
Oh yeah He was recently diagnosed with cancer if anybody up here in the comments section didn't see that on the subreddit the other week I wanna say that it's prostate cancer but it could be lung
Ike is sick😭😭please donate to the fundraise to cure him? Thx freakz
@@maplelafe7671 I think his GoFundMe or whatever site he used reached its target a couple months ago or so but if you have a link to a more current funding project I'll try to donate. Thanks
I saw that in Secaucus; NJ in 87 as an encore along with a Beatles medley. It rocked! I was barely able to vote I was so young, but they registered me during intermission. vote folks, or your rights will mysteriously disappear…….
I saw Zappa many times , every show was different and awesome
still remember bumping into him at a McDonalds on Ventura in Encino in the 80's...
I saw Zappa and his various bands, five times in the 70's at the Uptown Theater in Chicago. It was always great, and we were always tripping on acid to kick it up a notch.
Same! Bro!
Such an amazing talent; gone way too soon.
I am glad this is preserved on video, BUT it wold have been nice to actually see horn section when they rip into it!
I cant see Zappa as a wonderful human being but one of the greats of modern guitar, yes
I have listened to this a hundred times and never tried of it! Great to see the performance even if it is an amateur video. Thanks for that!
Frank Zappa was an under appreciated musical genius…
By whom?
@@stephenj8576by ABBA fans 🤭
Todos os que são excepcionais são pouco apreciados, numa sociedade com valores medíocres ...
My last day of high School in El Paso Texas May 1975 we were hours early for Zappa's show . He sent out a roadie that said if we had tickets we could come inside because it was so hot . We got to watch Frank run through tunes with El Paso's own Jimmy Carl Black, the Mothers of Invention's famed drummer and watch the crew playing volleyball. Best show I've ever seen.
Only Frank could make this work...fantastic.
thank you for that, I was there, incredible concert, this and Bolero were the (unexpected) highlights for me!
A great song with a Frank Zappa twist
Awesome
I’ve never listened to ‘Stairway’ all the way through. I still haven’t but this is far more appealing.
when you need a song to be happy again,this is it.
Frank Zappa was our mascot growing up in Ontario. This is superb!
With more than 50 years of listening to and admiring Frank's music, this is the very first cover I've heard him play. As usual, Well Done!!
Check out their cover of "I Am the Walrus" by The Beatles.
Also, The Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post", featuring multi-instrumentalist Bobby Martin on lead vocals.
m.th-cam.com/video/Mu32TgPeXM8/w-d-xo.html
m.th-cam.com/video/3KNF7enNCpA/w-d-xo.html
Burnt Weeny Sandwich had two covers on it (WPLJ, Valerie) and Zappa began covering Whipping Post in '81 and it remained in the setlist for every tour afterwards. So it's rare but he has done it.
Saw this tour front row center Cleveland Music Hall. One of best ever
I saw this live in London in '98 and it blew my mind especially the horn solo. And it Makes Me Wonder.....What Page and Plant thought of this version. No one else on earth could manage to turn it on its head, make it so unique and fresh, and equal in stature to the original. Ike's vocals, Frank's fender, the weird Synclavier samples and the horn section = pure magic
I'm sure you meant 88. I was there too. I think Frank played two nights if I remember correctly. I was there on the first night. I travelled back to Scotland after the gig on the overnight mail train!
@@periurban yeah ‘88. 😁 I moved to US in ‘92. I never forgave my girlfriend at the time for that night ‘cause i’d wanted to see Frank for years and she made us late so I missed the first 15 of that show 😡
@@jammygitt I hope you didn't marry her! lol
I remember on the day of the show going to Tower Records in London, and the whole place was decked out in Frank Zappa stuff - posters, albums covers - and they were playing Zappa over the speakers. Everyone there was a Zappa freak. I felt like I'd walked into my perfect world.
I'd seen Frank twice before in Glasgow, but the London show had a much bigger vibe. It was a great night, and at the show I met two friends from back home who'd been given free tickets by AC/DC (they knew the band) who'd played there the night before.
Happy days!
@@periurban ah. Tower Records - when major cities still had some life.
@@periurban if you are in NYC check out Ed Palermo Big Band. NYCs best musicians play Zappa. Often with alumnis like Napoleon Murphy Brock (!!!!), Mike Kennealy etc guesting. Always sense of humor. Some shows on TH-cam. Used to play Zappa exclusively. Got threatened by Gail etc so while Zappa is heavily featured sometimes they mash up with other artists. Sometimes his versions compare with original or even excel. Sacriligious to say I know 😀
Love it. Simply a genius.
I was at this concert!great to have seen FZ live he was the best!!!
This is recorded in good quality live on one of the “Best band you never heard in your life” CD sets released by Frank. All great recordings from the road. What excellent bands he had. Ike nailed this one as usual. Great voice!
Haha, the camera guy did not even get it when the horns took over the solo and kept focusing on the guitarists. Great! 😅 So much on surprises.
Geniusz. Bardzo "niegrzeczne" wykonanie tego klasyka. Ale jak wspaniałe i intrygujące. Mistrzostwo. Chylę czoło przed Frankiem.
Amen
I once saw Frank Zappa .He gave a free concerts..Happy together
remember when flo and eddie (the turtles) were part of the mothers???? wow!!!!
Totally insane, to I it had a flair of fusion and a touch of reggae!
Got to see tmoi several times. Halloween shows and Mothers Day shows were super. (70's, and 80s) So much going on (Verese-esqe) that you didn't want it to stop. I can see the sea of lighters now Encore! Encore!
been a zappa fan for 20+ and this is just so cool
I've been a Frank Zappa fan since 1967 when I was 16. First time I've heard this and love it. For anyone, especially the younger crowd go back and listen to Peaches in Regalia and Montana and I Am the Slime. There will never be another Frank Zappa.
Hot Rats
@@rickystrychnineJoe's Garage is probably my favorite. It's just amazing and hilarious and even moving by the end. Insane.
50 50 and any downers and apostrophe are all great also...
It blows my mind that this line up had so much drama and fell apart so badly after they went to Europe. Regardless, Frank was ALWAYS changing and adding to the orchestrations. The way they played these songs at the beginning of the 88 tour vs the end is mental. I miss you Frank. So, so much.
The horns for the solo work well. Thank you!
I’m a fan of Zappa’s musical creativity/genius, but, by no means would I call myself a "Frankophile". This is the first time I’ve ever heard him perform a cover of anyone else’s music and it was great. Thank you very much for sharing this with us. Great stuff!!👍🏼
He had Sting as a guest perform Murder By Numbers. He also recorded a version of Christopher Cross' Ride Like the Wind
You never heard 'Happy Together '?.
This is one of my all-time favorite covers:
th-cam.com/video/-TItmXT8DkM/w-d-xo.html
He did a pretty good version of Whippin' Post. Also did I Am The Walrus on this tour.
@@splubber thanks very much-I saw Sting on the "10 Somner’s Tails" tour. I felt for him, just by the crowd’s indifference to his solo material. He took a break, & the crowd started to get confused-the "house lights" weren’t on so what was going on? I don’t know, but he came out & as soon as he played the 1st chord of "Roxanne", the crowd went nuts & in typical Vancouver style, they rushed the stage & went crazy after every song in the 2nd half of the show-which was all songs from his time in The Police-the 1st half was strictly solo material. He put on a great show. Christopher Cross could play the juice out of a guitar, I’m looking forward to hearing that. Thanks.
I love when the horns play the guitar line
This is from Bootleg , good Concert, i have this too...From this Song gives a Maxi Single , of the other Side is Bolero.. ZAPPA was a Genius !!! Thank you from Germany for this good make repair Video.
Hello fellow Humans. How 1st Magnitude we’re Lead Zeppelin if the Mighty incredible Frank Zapper covered this song. Love to you all out there. From Bob Beer from England. 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇸👍.
Ya gotta love Ike Willis here! And despite the seeming irreverence with the comical sound effects, etc., there's no mistaking the homage to Page's guitar solo with the note-for-note ensemble treatment!
I saw this tour. As ever just amazing.
That was brilliant! We need more musicians like Frank!
There Will Never Be Another One Like Him !
There are none. Frank was and is unique in all the world
I saw him in Dallas in 1980, their encore was Whipping Post! You just never know!
Fantastic cover, seeing this live was terrific. I only wish there was some watchable video evidence of this great performance. Zappa Forever!
Saw Frank Z. in Madrid, Spain(Courtesy of the USAF) ca.1978, glad I got to check that box!
I was at a four or five shows when the band came to NYC and NJ on this leg of the tour, and Frank's sense of fun was obvious when they did this. Each time the horns broke out into Page's solo he was grinning from ear to ear. True. I sat close enough to see it. There didn't seem to be any sarcasm there, even though I assumed there might be. I think the assumption of a greater 'joke' was mine, and not Frank's.
But damn, I didn't remember him being this thin.Amazing what you can miss when it's right in front of you. Damn.
I saw the band in Chicago at halloween time a few times. They didn’t do this. I did see Led Zeppelin do it (76) and I love this! That said, Page on the double neck is pretty freekin’ cool.
The fine camera work adds so much.
This title is on album "The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life"
Such virtuosity. I saw him live several times. Perfection embodied.
I saw Frank do this bit in the 80s at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Yeah, the horn section solo was incredible! Take Jimmy Page's iconic solo and play it note for note with the horn section as if it's the hokiest piece of music ever written! Such fun, I registered to vote at that show! RIP Frank!
Musik wie ein interessantes Gemälde - Begleitet mich schon 25 Jahre und erinnert mich an meine Jugend. Mir geht immer noch das Herz auf, wenn ich es höre ❤
That horn section covering the guitar solo.... Oh Lordy!
Sheer brilliance.
Saw him do this in NOLA, and you're exactly right, horn section made my jaw drop
@@TMullins123 That must have been one heck of a show.
@@hksoundpro I saw the Cleveland show when they did Stairway and yes it was one heck of a show. The audience rose as one and roared like a lion at the end of this one...it was one of many standing ovations that night....Zappa also did Lets Move To Cleveland that night to make it extra special.