People regard him as an arrogant asshole, I’ve always thought he came across as someone who was extremely opinionated, but knew his own limitations. He knew so many aspects of life, not just music, inside out and was quite impartial on many subjects. Even though he was against use of recreational drugs and prohibited them in his band, he once said “drugs do not become a problem until the person who uses the drugs does something to you, or does something that would affect your life that you don't want to have happen to you, like an airline pilot who crashes because he was full of drugs.". He had an amazing brain and an incredible imagination, even if some people found his sense of humour a little off, and nobody should deny that he was pretty cool. Even if you’re not a fan of his music, nobody should deny he really was a genius
I don't think he did know exactly but he hadn't seen what was to come. We see it now because we have more information. He was right, but he didn't know who the bugmen were. Historical revisionism was just getting kicked off when he said this.
It’s better now. You can go online and listen to any song you want: I’ve found very obscure artists from the 1930s on TH-cam. There is no way I would have been able to find stuff like that back in 1970s-80s. Difference is now that you don’t need a record label to publish music. If you have a computer you can record, produce, and publish music online and become relatively successful. If you think it’s worse now, you’re not looking in the right places. Forget the radio. There’s a plethora of independent artists on TH-cam and Spotify that are doing really cool things.
@@eoz27 Frank was talking about pop music. Have you listened to the charts recently? Everything is autotuned, everything has a massive kick drum, everything is mastered to be louder than everything else. No variety. No musicianship. No creativity. Pop music. Get away from pop and you're 100% right. It's better than ever. But pop is awful these days.
An example would be Sid Nathan of King Records. Based in Cincinnati they put out country and r&b (hillbilly, sacred, & race, as their logo put it) and had a young guy named James Brown on their subsidiary Fidelity. The cigar-chomping Mr Nathan didn't "get" James Brown. "Where's the song?" Right? Those tunes are like a groove with some accents, not the traditional song form of verse, chorus, etc. But old Sid Nathan said, "I don't get it, but put the record out and see if it sells." Thus, James Brown records change American music. Frank was on the same label as the Velvet Underground, later on Warner with people like Grateful Dead, Neil Young and Captain Beefheart. The labels weren't taking chances in the 80s when Frank made his observations.
@@ytr3488 Concerts were cheap then. A lot of my friends and I did concerts all the time. We didn't sit around, staring at a fucking phone like people do today. We did acid at most of the concerts. That was cheap back then too, and it was good.
@@kerbygator The one time I saw him was right after Overnight Sensation was released. I went with 13 of my friends and we were all on acid. It was an amazing experience. A number of hilarious moments that I still tell people about rank as my favorite memories as a youth.
I saw Frank's final tour before he broke up the band mid tour 1988. There was a book written about the last tour ,'' Zappa ,the hard way''. A great read...
I couldn't appreciate Zappa's music but always liked to hear him interviewed about his knowledge, experiences, and views. I read his autobiography and it was also very interesting. Seemed to be a prick sometimes but he had definite opinions about music and maybe he just came off like that.
Iam 57 my older brothers listened to Zappa when i still was liquid. As a baby i heard Zappa melodies in my crib. It became a part of my life,grew and stil growing on me . Praise youre parents for excellent taste . 💗👍🇳🇱
BROTHER FRANK WAS EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT AND A NONE COMFORMIST AND EXERCISED HIS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND CRITICAL THINKING ON A LEVEL WAY BEYOND MOST HAVE EVER TOUCHED
True then true now, "arbiters of taste", in the mainstream, there is no taste, it's straight garbage recycling over and over down to the same chord progressions in the same keys.
He's right, that's why Japan produces such unique content to this day as oppose to the US. The executives are really old dudes with no idea what "works" and ste willing to fund you to do the stupidest shit to see if it works. Thats how Japan produces unique shows like one where you have to find the item made of chocolate to escape and we get big brother but on an island.
I worked in the corporate music industry and Frank's right, the problem isn't necessarily who's at the top, but the mediocre upper-middle class arbiters of taste who all went to the same schools and like the same thing and all got hired because they're somebody's cousin.
And they are in a way, came to those positions with some merits. They did good work in schools, work as hard as anybody else, and kiss enough behinds to get promoted. And after years of doing that successfully, they did not know much about taking creative risks and the taste reflect that.
Zappa was a true genius
People regard him as an arrogant asshole, I’ve always thought he came across as someone who was extremely opinionated, but knew his own limitations. He knew so many aspects of life, not just music, inside out and was quite impartial on many subjects. Even though he was against use of recreational drugs and prohibited them in his band, he once said “drugs do not become a problem until the person who uses the drugs does something to you, or does something that would affect your life that you don't want to have happen to you, like an airline pilot who crashes because he was full of drugs.". He had an amazing brain and an incredible imagination, even if some people found his sense of humour a little off, and nobody should deny that he was pretty cool. Even if you’re not a fan of his music, nobody should deny he really was a genius
The opinion in that quote was echoed in his song Cocaine Decisions.
That dude was sooo ahead of his time. Wish we still had him around
You are greatly missed Mr. Zappa
A very intelligent, well-spoken and clairified gentleman.
He knew, he knew.
I don't think he did know exactly but he hadn't seen what was to come. We see it now because we have more information. He was right, but he didn't know who the bugmen were. Historical revisionism was just getting kicked off when he said this.
Light years ahead of his time!
It's actually worse now than it was then. [EDIT: Or possibly not. Nice discussion here anyway!]
100 times worse now, correct!!!
Nah, it's always been the same level of shitty. There has never been a golden era.
It’s better now. You can go online and listen to any song you want: I’ve found very obscure artists from the 1930s on TH-cam. There is no way I would have been able to find stuff like that back in 1970s-80s. Difference is now that you don’t need a record label to publish music. If you have a computer you can record, produce, and publish music online and become relatively successful. If you think it’s worse now, you’re not looking in the right places. Forget the radio. There’s a plethora of independent artists on TH-cam and Spotify that are doing really cool things.
@@eoz27 Frank was talking about pop music. Have you listened to the charts recently? Everything is autotuned, everything has a massive kick drum, everything is mastered to be louder than everything else. No variety. No musicianship. No creativity. Pop music. Get away from pop and you're 100% right. It's better than ever. But pop is awful these days.
@@periurban yeah pop is not my cup of tea, I agree with you there
Frank was a Genius
Fu il GENIO !
An example would be Sid Nathan of King Records. Based in Cincinnati they put out country and r&b (hillbilly, sacred, & race, as their logo put it) and had a young guy named James Brown on their subsidiary Fidelity. The cigar-chomping Mr Nathan didn't "get" James Brown. "Where's the song?" Right? Those tunes are like a groove with some accents, not the traditional song form of verse, chorus, etc. But old Sid Nathan said, "I don't get it, but put the record out and see if it sells." Thus, James Brown records change American music.
Frank was on the same label as the Velvet Underground, later on Warner with people like Grateful Dead, Neil Young and Captain Beefheart. The labels weren't taking chances in the 80s when Frank made his observations.
Frank was one of those rare musicians, a genius for sure you realize just how astonishing he was as we progressed ourselves. Surly missed.
I went to see him 5 times in Chicago, back in the 70's. Glad I did.
Sure you did
@@ytr3488 Concerts were cheap then. A lot of my friends and I did concerts all the time. We didn't sit around, staring at a fucking phone like people do today. We did acid at most of the concerts. That was cheap back then too, and it was good.
Because of my age and when I discovered him I had one opportunity to see him, in 1988. It turned out to be his last tour. So glad I did.
@@kerbygator The one time I saw him was right after Overnight Sensation was released. I went with 13 of my friends and we were all on acid. It was an amazing experience. A number of hilarious moments that I still tell people about rank as my favorite memories as a youth.
And it’s even more true today than when this interview was recorded
Frank wasn't a drug fueled stoner. He actually was an extremely smart person.
He was actually one of the rare musicians who didn't do drugs and wouldn't allow any of his other musicians to do drugs
I have a buddy that is a drug addict and teaches science at Harvard to phd students. Not all stoners are lazy.
@@snapcult464 The exception not the rule.
@@milt6208 Somehow I must know all the exceptions. Or you're wrong and offering up cheeky crap found cut into drift wood in cheap AirB&Bs.
@@snapcult464Well that explains a lot
Great insight.
I've often thought that music illiteracy was better at the executive level, than music snobbery.
I saw Frank in concert , wow, WHAT A SHOW…
Still applies today
this guy blows my mind. as they say ahead of his time for sure for sure
A unique talent
I saw Frank's final tour before he broke up the band mid tour 1988. There was a book written about the last tour ,'' Zappa ,the hard way''.
A great read...
I saw the Broadway the Hard Way tour.
Great show. Second and last time I saw the genius that is FZ.
It was the first, and as it turned out the last, chance I got to see him.
Zappa was WAY ahead of his time.
It's only gotten so much worse. I wish you were here. My friends and I really appreciate you.
He is a vision/ist of art and rhythm and sound and the compounds rare earth he is…..
Many thanks for publicating this short. Greetings from Warsaw, Poland
Greetings brother, we honor your comments. Oh an we used to say this...FRANK ZAPPA FOR PRESIDENT!!¡!
we need you more than ever, Frank....
Frank zappa played a mean guitar 🎸. RIP FRANK
@Andy Gadd I don't know where you heard that. The one and only time he played with Floyd, he claims to not remember.
Frank Zappa was a great guitarist. One of the top 20.. RIP Frank
Frank brightens my day
There will Never be another Frank Zappa... Truly missed
I couldn't appreciate Zappa's music but always liked to hear him interviewed about his knowledge, experiences, and views. I read his autobiography and it was also very interesting. Seemed to be a prick sometimes but he had definite opinions about music and maybe he just came off like that.
He was wise
Frank Zappa was an incredible mind and musician.
Feank just always seemed to know. No clue how he did it, but he always knew.
Wow.
Zappa never ceases to amaze me
We miss you Frank…❤️
Frank truly was a very smart human being. Check some of his interviews about many topics…
YourOldDroog showed me this quote, never knew it was Zappa till now
A lot of music executives back then were ex jazz musicians. So they had a somewhat open mind.
I just love listening to him. A genius
Frank is saying, let the consumer decide! 👈🏼😊
Wise words from a genius.Only one Frank Zappa
I'm 35 and was introduced to FZ (via his albums) by my mom and dad. I grew up listening to him. Best decision my parents made!
Iam 57 my older brothers listened to Zappa when i still was liquid.
As a baby i heard Zappa melodies in my crib.
It became a part of my life,grew and stil growing on me .
Praise youre parents for excellent taste .
💗👍🇳🇱
BROTHER FRANK WAS EXTREMELY INTELLIGENT AND A NONE COMFORMIST AND EXERCISED HIS FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND CRITICAL THINKING ON A LEVEL WAY BEYOND MOST HAVE EVER TOUCHED
What a shame Frank left us before the Internet.
Times were a changin...
the wisdom of Frank..
Brilliant Composer! Massive amount of Product. Simple supply & demand strategy. He was a genius ❤❤❤
Great points Frank. RIP
Love him
Truth to power was one of Frank Zappa’s many specialties. A real opposition leader against the establishments BS!!!
Wise words, Frank 😉
Them young uns tucked everyone up.
He said exactly what is going on in our industrys
I'll tumble for ya!Best version of Karma Kamelion ever at the Tower theatre in philly,81ish.
True then true now, "arbiters of taste", in the mainstream, there is no taste, it's straight garbage recycling over and over down to the same chord progressions in the same keys.
Let the masses decide what they like.
Frank was a genius.
I always wanted, just once, to hear him begin a statement with ;
"Let me be frank",,,,
Here ye here ye I second the motion...an so recorded!!!
thats how we got our britneys and taylors
I don't like Zappa's music but I love hearing him speak, brilliant always.
So true!!! Frank is always spot on!
FZ had the uncanny knack to slap you upside the head with truth and common sense. We could use some of that today.
RIP Frank Zappa.
Is it that what you meant with your album-strictly comercial😄👍🎸
Sometimes you need an adult in the room.
The big problem is people who aren’t musicians or artists telling people what is and isn’t music and art.
Was a Brilliant Man
My SMART MAN I SALUTE YOU ! ITS STILL HAPPING !! R.I.P., THANK YOU!! YOU CALLED IT !!!!!!!! THANK YOU FLINT MI
Telling it like it was, and is.
When he’s right he’s right!
Right on!
A true intellectual.
100% Correct!
Imagine what Frank could have done had he live longer.
It's odd that Zappa was as interesting just talking as he was with a guitar in his hands
I miss Frank
Play this clip on repeat in Meatball Ron’s prison cell
~ Don't you mean Roy?
He's right, that's why Japan produces such unique content to this day as oppose to the US. The executives are really old dudes with no idea what "works" and ste willing to fund you to do the stupidest shit to see if it works. Thats how Japan produces unique shows like one where you have to find the item made of chocolate to escape and we get big brother but on an island.
He forgot to add that real musicians were gone after 1989 as well
The same happens in other fields, companies, etc.
R'amen Frank!!
Zappa speaking nothing but _facts._
Joe Smith at Warner Bros being a great example of this and how he worked the The Grateful Dead and other experimental bands.
One of a kind. The mold was broken after…
So true. Love this!
It's a mafia/ luminati now.
Talk about foresight
I think he was smarter than everybody. He knew exactly what he was doing. I’m so sorry we lost him way too soon.
The Prophet Frank
Frank was an intellectual.
I never thought that theory, Zappa know all the angles
True.
well said
and look at us now
I worked in the corporate music industry and Frank's right, the problem isn't necessarily who's at the top, but the mediocre upper-middle class arbiters of taste who all went to the same schools and like the same thing and all got hired because they're somebody's cousin.
And they are in a way, came to those positions with some merits. They did good work in schools, work as hard as anybody else, and kiss enough behinds to get promoted. And after years of doing that successfully, they did not know much about taking creative risks and the taste reflect that.
Hear, hear!
That's so good and dirt true
He’s right!!!
I remember Frank saying this back in the 70's. It makes absolute sense.
Brilliant ! Frank was too intelligent to do drugs. A man of his talent never needed drugs !
Just described the Spotify CEO
Frank is so interesting on every level.
This guy is a genius, he’s a genius to his time to anybody’s time, what a shame he’s gone, and intellectual
He's known more for his opinions than his music 🎵🎶🎶
@@zenzen7136 what? Zappa has one of the most legendary and influential discographies ever
@@jimit.4220 I know of one Zappa song I heard years ago and it was silly. Give me three influential or iconic songs by Frank Zappa please 🥺.
@@zenzen7136 Cosmic Debris, Montana, Don't Eat the Yellow Snow, Peaches En Regalia, Dirty Love.
@@zombywoof7309Don't forget about Blessed Relief and Son of Mr. Green Genes.
He is so right
Frank was on point, if you want great music you must assume risks. Nowadays they take no risks and the results are mostly a bunch of crap.