Q: "Are there any rock lyrics, Mr Zappa, that you have heard in the past couple of years that you wouldn't want you children listening to?" Zappa: "We are the world" 😆
Hello. Mike here, proud Frank Zappa fan from Warrington, North West England, and may I declare that Peter Gemma and Jeff Ling are seriously in need of a good St. Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast!
Imagine this guys being teleported to 2020, turning on the radio and getting themselves familiarized with the delicate poetry of the song WAP, probably they would drop dead on the spot.
I watched several other Franck Zappa's interviews that talked about lyrics censorship. Today we can see what was already in preparation at the time, this big wave of twisted puritanism that apply to everything today: - you must agree and be proselyte in promoting and supporting gender inclusion otherwise you're intolerant - you must care about the environment and realise your current way of life is destructive otherwise you're selfish - you must agree with equality for all about everything because that's the path to a better world otherwise you're heartless - ... No one needs these freaking rules, we need more common sense, less corrupt leaders and power structures, and better education for our kids. When such empty morality is so visible, it outlines the fact we're heading into dark ages because it sets people to lose their freedom of will. But history teaches us that hope still remains. Let's hope for the best!
If anyone is interested in Frank Zappa's home life, not shown in other books, from getting up to going to bed, composing at the piano, rehearsing with the Mothers, visiting rock stars, freaks, family squabbles, and more, then read 'Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa 1968-1971 Laurel Canyon'. It is my story from meeting Frank in London when publicising the Mother's first European tour in 1967 and ended up living and working in his house with Gail, Moon Unit, and seven others, thus the book's unique access.
I don't know about the updated version of this book, but I read your original version and wasn't impressed. Not much about Frank at all, and what is has about him has mostly been documented in other books. Your book is about YOUR life in the Zappa household and your experience of living in America. Throughout most of the story, Frank is either off working in his office (not to be disturbed) or away on tour, so he's only involved in about 20% of the book. The rest of the story is about adjusting to life in a new country, the people you meet and deal with along the way, and your romantic interests while living in Frank's house. To its credit, the book is well-written and gives good insight into the environment of living in the Zappa household in the late 60s: it was care-free, at times crazy, and not without its share of infighting. If a reader is interested in that aspect, it's a decent read, as long as they're not looking for details about Frank himself, because he's absent most of the time. A more accurate title would have been "My life in the Zappa House."
@@scandata Valid points, I think, which have been attended to in the new edition which focuses more clearly on Frank, Gail and me. And thank you for reading the original but the new one is a better book.
Absolutely! The best musician and the best philosopher. And he had morals and a conscience. Always loved him for it. Play his music every day. Saw FZ live in Rotterdam in 1981. Awsome! 😊
When you understand the album Joe’s Garage… this video makes you so incredibly disappointed. In 79 he wrote about the government banning music, and then had to defend its right to exist unencumbered by gov intervention. They grabbed a religious zealot and a gov regulator to cry crocodile tears about “safety”, when in reality, Zappa’s worst nightmare was becoming a reality. Watermelon in Easter Hay (and the liner notes) brings tears. Rest in peace art.
I’m from 1969, and still proudly have a “Parental advisory” sticker on one of my old speakers, from a Prince CD I got back in the days. IMHO these stupid stickers were considered some kind of quality label by people like me😂
I like how the guy with the glasses can't hide his excitement on the subject, that he's with Zappa on this... he even seems to get horny talking about lyrics that mention sex, like a teenager. 😂
6:17 - "Frank wants to continually put the burden of responsibility over onto the parents"...uh, parents HAVE a responsibility in how their children evolve, grow, thrive, etc., unil they're of legal age, thtat is.
Go Frank! He has zero responsibility for the sex lives of young people. He must've enjoyed sitting back and watching the little scuffle between the other two.
Looking back on this interview, I have to give credits to the host on this subject. He points out both sides of the opinions from the two and opens a good discussion from that
I don't think the Dead Kennedys were ever on MTV, aside from maybe some documentary way after the fact. They were a hardcore punk with kind of a wiseass lefty dancing hissy-fit aesthetic and a notably edgy band name. The most extreme metal lyrics they cite here are more than anything else cartoonishly stupid. Any teenager "influenced" by them more so than day to day parental inputs to their behavior and character, are poorly raised young people. If they seek to imitate the extremities in those lyrics there's probably something familiar to them going on right in the home in addition to a lack of guidance. It just reinforces abuses they see, hear and experience. It just sets them to rhyme and melody.
Wow they got all the good stuff. I remember there was a 1989 crossfire with frank defending the art institution and a nice debate it was. I last saw it on TH-cam back in 2013. I remember even on the comments section someone had said this will be the last time they post the video up before it is removed permanently. They suggested someone to record or download it before it got pulled down forever. Please tell me someone has this interview!!!!
I think you are looking for this. CROSSFIRE-THE ART OF CENSORSHIP-CNN 11/16/89 I do have it, but it is probably at least a 3rd gen copy. Not the greatest quality.
@@Lagzatzappateers I'm sure it's that one. Is there a reason it hasn't been uploaded after all these years? Why won't TH-cam allow it? It kept getting pulled down. Is there a way you can upload it? 🙏🙏🙏🙏
@@Lagzatzappateers wow thx a bunch. I really appreciate your hard work for all these gems of videos . If it wasn't for your private collection we the fans wouldn't know so many other facets of frank.
Did anyone catch this? First, the pro-PMRC argument is all about "informing the parents." Then Frank agrees, and NOW it becomes, "So you're putting the burden on the parents?" Some people just love how it feels to be butthurt.
It's saddening how many people still believe in big brother. The siren song that the state can force about a better world is one of the most dangerous impulses on earth. Thankfully Frank understood this implicitly.
Always loved FZ as a musician, satirist and independent mind who certainly brooks no nonsense among the Crossfire crowd here. Kinda makes sense that William S. Burroughs called on Frank to pinch hit for Keith Richards at the Nova Convention.
Great point that it happens generation after generation. The childish fears of the parents that there's a set of Boogeyman words that will hurt their children distracts them from any legitimate education and connection. Of course there are malicious words out there that have no positive use. But I think we're in the first Generations that agree with the parents, that there are these evil words that can hurt you so we must stop the people that say these words. We must shrink the vocabulary of others rather than grow our own inner strengths. It's just a new set of rules by a different group of people. The same way that Christians were ashamed for saying or even hearing Words in lyrics.. people are told that they are required to be offended by certain things and to demonize anyone who ever says such a thing, exactly how the Christians did before them. Childish fears instead of mature adult strength. Let's change them and censor them, whoever's on the opposite side. Let's do that instead of changing ourselves. Let's pretend we can change the world.. when there are things that will never go away.. but what can go away is the power we give to them
so fun - it's the rock lyrics... don't talk about the guns.... don't talk about bad parenting... it's them lyrics! This was almost 40 years ago and still - the lyrics, the music, but we keep the guns. Sad USA, really sad.
It isn't the guns that have the power to influence and mold. They're an inanimate object. Are we to blame other inanimate objects for the ways that they're abused by some? Do spoons make us fat? Even in the early 1980's the U.S. had rifle teams in high schools...... something that our current Western society can not fathom. So what changed in less than half a decade? Our culture did, and not for the better. You're correct about bad parenting, and that's where it all starts.
@@Evom777 An unarmed idiot is just a drooling fool. An idiot with a weapon is a clear and present danger. A weapon is an inanimate object designed especially for maximizing harm to the target - so yeah, there should be some regulation to ensure these harm-oriented inanimate objects don't get into the hands of unsuitable people.
I remember when this was the big issue of the day so to speak. Then some of the horrible tragedies over the years people tried to blame music lyrics etc etc.. Fact is putting a rating on an album or movie usually results in more sales for simply curiosity,
God forbid that parents take responsibility for raising their children and to blame music or schools or governments for mistakes THEY made for not raising their children correctly is just ridiculous just push the problems on someone else if you can’t raise children correctly DO NOT HAVE THEM!!!!! But I’ll be danmed if someone is going to tell me what I can watch or listen to because someone can’t take responsibility for things that children shouldn’t be exposed too the nerve 🤬🤬🤬🤬🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻Why should I be punished for someone else’s mistakes or actions because censorship punishes everyone and I’m not gonna take it anymore
I think I can see now why Jon Stewart was pissed at Crossfire. Maybe. These people seem to be raising a massive dust for the sake of it, just for the sake of making a fuss and give us a debate that looks genuine, whereas they are only spouting stupid ideas.
This didn’t age well. Haha. These people, Jeff Lynn, would have a heart attack if they spent 5 minutes on TH-cam. Where is this guy today? I’d love to ask him how this turned out.
I saw that George Michael video on MTV all the time! What are they talking about! Gee, how would have people reacted if George Michael sang, “I want your gay sex.” George Michael wasn’t getting anyone pregnant.
I have the age to have listened to Frank's music for a long time now. These rating discussions totally surprise me. If you listen to any of Frank's songs which "involve sexually explicit lyrics" they are always in the context of humor (does humor belong in music?). This was an absolute non issue back in the 80ies, and it still is today. Frank's music is about the genius of it. The explicit lyrics are humor.
even better is Frank's appearance in front of congress opposing Cow Tipper Gore on this same subject. Whose more about censorship now, the political right or left? Or either depending on which sees self interest served
Round 1 goes to Zappa: "It's not my problem." "No." "Yes." "No."
He's wrong though, there's a reason why they push trash culture.
@@GeneseeBenexcept he's not.
That shit was cold when Zappa refuted all the allegations without even attempting to make his case, such _brio_ !
FZ had an uncanny sense of humor. granted not for everyone, but his timing is impeccable. " we are the world." that was absolute gold.
Master of deadpan.
@@billyjackoff smartest dude in the room.
Hearing someone refer to Dead Kennedys as a heavy metal group makes my head explode
The guy was so wise that he could answer their intellectual paragraph length speeches with a single 4 or 5 word phrase.
I love how Frank is so done in this show. Apathy truly can get the point across.
Appreciate the comments!
Thanks for watching!
Q: "Are there any rock lyrics, Mr Zappa, that you have heard in the past couple of years that you wouldn't want you children listening to?"
Zappa: "We are the world" 😆
Hello. Mike here, proud Frank Zappa fan from Warrington, North West England, and may I declare that Peter Gemma and Jeff Ling are seriously in need of a good St. Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast!
Love the way that Frank simply said "No" when asked if teen pregnancies were caused by rock music. The charge was baseless and absurd.
Well said.
The dude in the glasses was the only one besides Zappa making actual sense
That's Michael Kinsely. He is brilliant. He was also the founder of Slate Magazine.
I love how Zappa is just so done with everything
These men can't handle Frank's intelligence. 😂😂😂
Miss Mr. Zappa, one of the most interesting people I have had the pleasure of listening to.
lol those talking heads had no idea what they were talking about. one guy thought the dead kennedys was a heavy metal group. for the love of christ.
Frank's a genius.
And he is also right about it being the parents responsibility
Yes, PLEASE bring up the song Louie Louie when debating Frank Zappa! Thank you!
the conceptual continuity rages on
Imagine this guys being teleported to 2020, turning on the radio and getting themselves familiarized with the delicate poetry of the song WAP, probably they would drop dead on the spot.
I’ve never heard such an incendiary “yes” and “no” answer to questions! 😂
Oh Frank, if you could see us now.
I was thinking the same thing, can you imagine?
@@CharlieGirl1964
I Can Only Imagine. The wrong people die young.
Frank Zappa is the Man! Nothing more needs to be said
Music is the best.
Frank was the best.
It was obvious the host mediator was a fan of Frank. Always smirking at the dorks.
I watched several other Franck Zappa's interviews that talked about lyrics censorship. Today we can see what was already in preparation at the time, this big wave of twisted puritanism that apply to everything today:
- you must agree and be proselyte in promoting and supporting gender inclusion otherwise you're intolerant
- you must care about the environment and realise your current way of life is destructive otherwise you're selfish
- you must agree with equality for all about everything because that's the path to a better world otherwise you're heartless
- ...
No one needs these freaking rules, we need more common sense, less corrupt leaders and power structures, and better education for our kids.
When such empty morality is so visible, it outlines the fact we're heading into dark ages because it sets people to lose their freedom of will.
But history teaches us that hope still remains.
Let's hope for the best!
If anyone is interested in Frank Zappa's home life, not shown in other books, from getting up to going to bed, composing at the piano, rehearsing with the Mothers, visiting rock stars, freaks, family squabbles, and more, then read 'Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa 1968-1971 Laurel Canyon'. It is my story from meeting Frank in London when publicising the Mother's first European tour in 1967 and ended up living and working in his house with Gail, Moon Unit, and seven others, thus the book's unique access.
I don't know about the updated version of this book, but I read your original version and wasn't impressed. Not much about Frank at all, and what is has about him has mostly been documented in other books. Your book is about YOUR life in the Zappa household and your experience of living in America. Throughout most of the story, Frank is either off working in his office (not to be disturbed) or away on tour, so he's only involved in about 20% of the book. The rest of the story is about adjusting to life in a new country, the people you meet and deal with along the way, and your romantic interests while living in Frank's house.
To its credit, the book is well-written and gives good insight into the environment of living in the Zappa household in the late 60s: it was care-free, at times crazy, and not without its share of infighting. If a reader is interested in that aspect, it's a decent read, as long as they're not looking for details about Frank himself, because he's absent most of the time. A more accurate title would have been "My life in the Zappa House."
@@scandata Valid points, I think, which have been attended to in the new edition which focuses more clearly on Frank, Gail and me. And thank you for reading the original but the new one is a better book.
fck i miss this guy. "we are the world"... Legend!
We Are The World 😂😂 Frank was the Best!!
😆Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment.
Absolutely! The best musician and the best philosopher.
And he had morals and a conscience. Always loved him for it. Play his music
every day. Saw FZ live in Rotterdam in 1981.
Awsome! 😊
What did the reporter ask?
The smartest in the room says the least of all.
Zappa is my hero
When you understand the album Joe’s Garage… this video makes you so incredibly disappointed. In 79 he wrote about the government banning music, and then had to defend its right to exist unencumbered by gov intervention. They grabbed a religious zealot and a gov regulator to cry crocodile tears about “safety”, when in reality, Zappa’s worst nightmare was becoming a reality. Watermelon in Easter Hay (and the liner notes) brings tears. Rest in peace art.
We need Frank Zappa back, we'll trade for Diddy
😂😂
@@ericescanes amiright?? Lol!
I’m from 1969, and still proudly have a “Parental advisory” sticker on one of my old speakers, from a Prince CD I got back in the days. IMHO these stupid stickers were considered some kind of quality label by people like me😂
Nice to see this in color, thanks a lot for posting!
You're welcome.
Thanks for watching and your comments!
6:53
I like how the guy with the glasses can't hide his excitement on the subject, that he's with Zappa on this... he even seems to get horny talking about lyrics that mention sex, like a teenager. 😂
8:14 "Frank, how about Megadeth?" HILARIOUS
The "Parental Guidence" labels backfired on the PMRC. The records with the labels way outsold the unlabeled ones.
Class act Frank Zappa, clearly less is more, he said about 50 words
6:17 - "Frank wants to continually put the burden of responsibility over onto the parents"...uh, parents HAVE a responsibility in how their children evolve, grow, thrive, etc., unil they're of legal age, thtat is.
AMERICAN HERO!!!!!!!!!!!
Just HERO would have sufficed.
Recording holds up well after 35 years! Intro voiceover is David French
Thanks sharing that intro tidbit and watching.
the moderator is a cool guy
Go Frank! He has zero responsibility for the sex lives of young people. He must've enjoyed sitting back and watching the little scuffle between the other two.
Looking back on this interview, I have to give credits to the host on this subject. He points out both sides of the opinions from the two and opens a good discussion from that
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Appreciate the comments.
It took them almost 40 years and they succeeded in burning books not only banning words.
Frank's Right, the government shouldn't never be in the home
So what you're saying is that government should be in the home sometimes?
I don't think the Dead Kennedys were ever on MTV, aside from maybe some documentary way after the fact. They were a hardcore punk with kind of a wiseass lefty dancing hissy-fit aesthetic and a notably edgy band name.
The most extreme metal lyrics they cite here are more than anything else cartoonishly stupid.
Any teenager "influenced" by them more so than day to day parental inputs to their behavior and character, are poorly raised young people. If they seek to imitate the extremities in those lyrics there's probably something familiar to them going on right in the home in addition to a lack of guidance. It just reinforces abuses they see, hear and experience. It just sets them to rhyme and melody.
Wow they got all the good stuff. I remember there was a 1989 crossfire with frank defending the art institution and a nice debate it was. I last saw it on TH-cam back in 2013. I remember even on the comments section someone had said this will be the last time they post the video up before it is removed permanently. They suggested someone to record or download it before it got pulled down forever. Please tell me someone has this interview!!!!
I think you are looking for this.
CROSSFIRE-THE ART OF CENSORSHIP-CNN 11/16/89
I do have it, but it is probably at least a 3rd gen copy. Not the greatest quality.
@@Lagzatzappateers I'm sure it's that one. Is there a reason it hasn't been uploaded after all these years? Why won't TH-cam allow it? It kept getting pulled down. Is there a way you can upload it? 🙏🙏🙏🙏
@@lizardking598 Give me a few hours and i'll try and post it.
@@Lagzatzappateers wow thx a bunch. I really appreciate your hard work for all these gems of videos . If it wasn't for your private collection we the fans wouldn't know so many other facets of frank.
@@lizardking598 You're welcome.
Go Frank...thanks for keeping it real!!
aaaah the old PMRC thats a publicity you can't buy
That's how you deal wi a p.c vulture.
The Interviewer was impartial. True journalism there.
Frank at the time truly knew the future.....
Did anyone catch this?
First, the pro-PMRC argument is all about "informing the parents."
Then Frank agrees, and NOW it becomes, "So you're putting the burden on the parents?"
Some people just love how it feels to be butthurt.
He mops the floor with John Lofton in the 1986 episode
The moderator is awesome
An equal opportunity shit stirrer.
I never agreed with Frank's politics, but he always spoke intelligently....
Here we go
I thought Frank was having a marvelous hair day, anyways I need to go eat some potato salad.
I am a great fan of the music of Frank Zappa but I'd like to ask him what's his stance about OF
merci beaucoup lagz!
De rien
Dark poetry and music has always been there. They just didn't have a publisher or the internet.
"Are there any lyrics you wouldn't want your children listening to. We are the world' hahaha
He knew back then.
Man said early that 3,000 kids a day get pregnant.
Later on, same guy says 16,000 kids a day get pregnant.
Very bad liar.
It's saddening how many people still believe in big brother. The siren song that the state can force about a better world is one of the most dangerous impulses on earth. Thankfully Frank understood this implicitly.
8:12 what megadeth song is that?
Good Mourning Black Friday
They all bloody talk over each other 😂😂😂😂 Frank Zappa looks perplexed
Always loved FZ as a musician, satirist and independent mind who certainly brooks no nonsense among the Crossfire crowd here. Kinda makes sense that William S. Burroughs called on Frank to pinch hit for Keith Richards at the Nova Convention.
Great point that it happens generation after generation. The childish fears of the parents that there's a set of Boogeyman words that will hurt their children distracts them from any legitimate education and connection.
Of course there are malicious words out there that have no positive use. But I think we're in the first Generations that agree with the parents, that there are these evil words that can hurt you so we must stop the people that say these words. We must shrink the vocabulary of others rather than grow our own inner strengths.
It's just a new set of rules by a different group of people. The same way that Christians were ashamed for saying or even hearing Words in lyrics.. people are told that they are required to be offended by certain things and to demonize anyone who ever says such a thing, exactly how the Christians did before them.
Childish fears instead of mature adult strength.
Let's change them and censor them, whoever's on the opposite side. Let's do that instead of changing ourselves. Let's pretend we can change the world.. when there are things that will never go away.. but what can go away is the power we give to them
so fun - it's the rock lyrics... don't talk about the guns.... don't talk about bad parenting... it's them lyrics! This was almost 40 years ago and still - the lyrics, the music, but we keep the guns.
Sad USA, really sad.
It isn't the guns that have the power to influence and mold. They're an inanimate object. Are we to blame other inanimate objects for the ways that they're abused by some? Do spoons make us fat?
Even in the early 1980's the U.S. had rifle teams in high schools...... something that our current Western society can not fathom. So what changed in less than half a decade? Our culture did, and not for the better. You're correct about bad parenting, and that's where it all starts.
@@Evom777 An unarmed idiot is just a drooling fool. An idiot with a weapon is a clear and present danger. A weapon is an inanimate object designed especially for maximizing harm to the target - so yeah, there should be some regulation to ensure these harm-oriented inanimate objects don't get into the hands of unsuitable people.
I remember when this was the big issue of the day so to speak. Then some of the horrible tragedies over the years people tried to blame music lyrics etc etc.. Fact is putting a rating on an album or movie usually results in more sales for simply curiosity,
Hearing Dead Kennedys next to MTV is funny
I have always felt that if parents can't do their job, then don't have kids.
Correct!
And yet they continue to do so.
With power and freedom comes great responsibility.
where is the PMRC now...
long live Rock !
(and arts...)
8:15 my thoughts exactly, haha
i wish this was the problem we had today…..
God forbid that parents take responsibility for raising their children and to blame music or schools or governments for mistakes THEY made for not raising their children correctly is just ridiculous just push the problems on someone else if you can’t raise children correctly DO NOT HAVE THEM!!!!! But I’ll be danmed if someone is going to tell me what I can watch or listen to because someone can’t take responsibility for things that children shouldn’t be exposed too the nerve 🤬🤬🤬🤬🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻🖕🏻Why should I be punished for someone else’s mistakes or actions because censorship punishes everyone and I’m not gonna take it anymore
I cried at 6:54😂
It's an accurate answer
I think I can see now why Jon Stewart was pissed at Crossfire. Maybe. These people seem to be raising a massive dust for the sake of it, just for the sake of making a fuss and give us a debate that looks genuine, whereas they are only spouting stupid ideas.
1987. Quaint compared to the arguments today.
Plug in their WALK MAAANNN
THANK you.
Remember kids...Now we have Poundtown.
They got rid of him right quick fast acting cancer
I can’t believe I’m watching a conservative complaining that someone wants to put the responsibility for raising kids on parents.
This didn’t age well. Haha. These people, Jeff Lynn, would have a heart attack if they spent 5 minutes on TH-cam. Where is this guy today? I’d love to ask him how this turned out.
Actually, this aged very well. This shows the people who favor censhorship are boobs.
The correct side won.
Create a strawman, gin up fear to legitamize your reason for existance, then sit back and rake in the power you've gainedover a 'Non-issue'.
Your WALK .... MAN
I saw that George Michael video on MTV all the time! What are they talking about! Gee, how would have people reacted if George Michael sang, “I want your gay sex.” George Michael wasn’t getting anyone pregnant.
At the time and I think still now cable was under different parameters as far as what they show.
I have the age to have listened to Frank's music for a long time now. These rating discussions totally surprise me. If you listen to any of Frank's songs which "involve sexually explicit lyrics" they are always in the context of humor (does humor belong in music?). This was an absolute non issue back in the 80ies, and it still is today. Frank's music is about the genius of it. The explicit lyrics are humor.
as usual, frank moped the floor with these ridiculous ideas on censorship........
Mr linn should put his focus on pediffelya in the church's parents should be concerned about that
So funny that they said dead Kennedy gets exposure from mtv even though the band made a song called mtv get off the air
This is great. I love Frank Zappa and mostly agree with him, but this was a great conversation from both ends.
Google Richard Berry . The man who wrote " Louie Louie" . And the original lyrics. Not one " DIRTY" word . That is a great URBAN LEGEND.
The left host is great!
R rated labels increase sales. 🤷🏻♂️
The year of cannibal corpse... lol.
Which of these guys do you think is getting no sex or not enjoying it?
even better is Frank's appearance in front of congress opposing Cow Tipper Gore on this same subject. Whose more about censorship now, the political right or left? Or either depending on which sees self interest served
I will see about getting my recording of the Senate appearance posted sometime in the future. I have 4 hours of hearings.
Thanks for watching!
I've heard some older country music that is way worse than some they're talking about.
They did kind of give up on rock music and made it just about heavy metal, and then they moved on to video games 🙄