Tag: zft

Posted on

Happy Birthday Frank……..Official Frank Zappa day: August 9th

Click HERE  and HERE   to read articles

Baltimore honors native son with 'Frank Zappa Day'

Zappa_Bust

Posted: Dec. 21, 2009

BALTIMORE — Baltimore's mayor has declared a "Frank Zappa Day" on the birthday of the late rocker and native son.

Mayor Sheila Dixon declared the special day Monday. The eccentric musician was born in Baltimore on Dec. 21, 1940. He died in 1993.

Last week, Baltimore's public art commission decided that it will erect a bust of Zappa outside a public library.

The bust was given to Baltimore by fans of Zappa from Lithuania, where his music was popular among the avant-garde in the early 1990s. A similar bust is a tourist attraction in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

 

 

 

Posted on

Letter from reader, regarding Frank Zappa and the whole ZFT fiasco

Dear Dr. Dot

 

You are one of my friends on Myspace.
I am relating the energy you put into the Zappa fiasco.
Right now my name is Blue Sky.

The reason I sent a message through email.
I have free dial up and excellent computer machines.
Can not send you a private message on myspace
Your page takes forever to load in with the graphics. (fine with me)

It would take me a long time to post a comment.
I also don't want the whole world to know.
So forgive me while messaging through this way.

BIG Business:
Mr. Frank Zappa had set up the people to produce the rest of his music  after he 
died. (I know this)
Gail and Family crumbled down the solid business Zappa left behind.
Slowly getting rid of people until they had an idea. Dweezil carries  on the 
music.

The biggest mistake the family made was to have that big auction of  the vaults!
Zappa had set everything up to continue. The ZFT could have made a  museum 
rather than sell.
As far as Gail goes and the kids. They should have been letting  Zappa's system 
work.

Now there is insane challenges and collateral destruction of the  system set up.
They are wasting there own money and not continuing with the wise plan  of Zappa.
What if the government was involved???? Maybe.
(They should be producing more of the vaults now corrupted, What a  shame)

Zappa left a gift when he died. All the people who where selected to  play his 
music should play it.
Like a spiral of endless energy forming a world of truth and mystic  knowledge.
Harmony of the stars, Life and space.
He built this to give back.

To all he cared about.

Thank you Dr.Dot for your strength and promise.

All good medicine.

Matthew
(I have said all I can)
Gail should have done.
1. Keep zappa's plan alive.
2. create a museum.
3. Publish the works left behind.
4. Let everyone play his music.
5. Be friends with a vast community who cares about the message left  behind.

All of us.

Love ya,
Matthew

Posted on

Gail Zappa war continues: Zappa Family Trust trying to stop Napoleon Murphy Brock tour (the torture never stops)

Update on my last blog titled "Gail Zappa loses in court today"

 

Firstly, the ZFT has finally lost its battle to curb Arf-Society
activities in organising the annual Zappa music and more festival in Bad
Doberan. Basically, it could not prove that it owned any rights to the name
‘Zappanale’. Therefore, the 20th festival will go ahead as planned (see
updated details here). This has not deterred the ZFT from issuing another
‘cease and desist’ letter, this time regarding the ‘Napoleon Murphy Brock
performs Zappa with the Paul Green School Of Rock All-Stars’ tour. The letter
states that “none of you possess any license, permission or authority to
publicly perform the songs of Frank Zappa”. Over 3,000 fans have now signed
the petition to try and stop this sort of nonsense – are you one of them?

I thought The Zappa's wanted to reach the younger generation with Frank's music?

 

 

Don Preston , Napoleon Murphy Brock and Dr. Dot   ^

Posted on

Berlin, Monday at sunset

 

Haupt strasse ^ same street David Bowie lived on in the 70's (5 minute walk from my house). On my computer the colors look darker, wilder, but when I upload them onto my blog, they seem to fade. Strange that. 

I have lived in Berlin, on and off since 1989 and I don't ever recall seeing such vibrant colors in the sky in winter. I MUST start bringing my camera out and about with me from now on, ugh! These were taken with my crackberry, which I always have with me. Not great  quality, but you get the idea.

When I first get back to Berlin it takes me a while to get back into the loop. Friends are happy I am back but are weary of giving their hearts over again, somehow, as they know I am leaving again in March, know what I mean? THAT is the part that sucks the most about living two lives on two different continents. Takes WEEKS to warm yourself and others up to the fact you are back, then once things are in full swing, you leave again, leaving sad and leaving people sad. I hate that part. It may not be like that if you are peddling from one small town back to another, but it is REALLY difficult with cities like NYC and Berlin, where the people are hard to win over anyways, super hard to make friends in either city. I would say it takes at least 2 full years to make a friend in Berlin, a good friend, one you can trust and one that trusts you. Maybe even longer. My REAL friends understand my lifestyle and it seems we never miss a beat. The other kind of friends, well, they are hard work. Not that I even have time to see friends often, sometimes I don't see anyone for DAYS as I am in my flat answering over 1,000 emails a day, writing the sex columns, answering love/relationship questions from strangers (or people I know posing as stranges, and that person knows exactly who I am talking about you fucking freak) also answering emails from people all over the world who hope to join my massage team, hoping to meet and massage their rock and roll idols or just make some cash- thing is, I can not and will not hire anyone with out them giving an audition massage, so it's all about planning and logistics, when and where this test massage will take place. This is why I only have like 200 people working for me and not 40,000, because I insist they have to give that audition massage. Some feel they are above doing such a thing, and their emails are then deleted, some take the test and suck ass, and then they are deleted. 

Emails fly back and forth all feckin' day and night- people getting fired (usually every other day someone gets fired) people quitting "I am moving, I am pregnant, I took another job, my boyfriend/husband is too jealous" etc). There is DRAMA every fucking day,. seriously. Dot Bots making critical mistakes, costing me valuable contacts and money, band managers screaming at top of their lungs down at me over the phone because of mistakes made by a Dot Bot or two (Dot Bot is a nick name bassist Bryan Bellar gave to all Dr. Dot massage assistants a few years ago).  He says it is too much work to keep saying "Please send a Dr. Dot massage assistant to the show" so now people just say "send a Dot Bot". And you have to remember, it goes on 24/7. 

When Dot Bots in Melbourne wake up, Dot Bots in NYC are sleeping, etc, there are always folks awake, wanting something from me, calling, texting, emailing, wondering, crying, bitching, lonely and wanting to chat. I LOVE it, so don't get me wrong I am just telling you why I am online so much and why the blog suffers as it is last to get attention. I still have so many blogs in me, Italy, France, Flogging Molly, Project Object, Ac/Dc, Rock am Ring for Christs sake and that was last summer. Omfg. My ass starts to hurt from sitting and after answering like 800 emails in a row, I hit refresh and then there are another 200 in line waiting. You scoff and say "hire a fucking assistant tight ass and stop micro managing, ya dumb cunt!". Well, I do have a few assistants that I trust and they do somethings for me and are a huge help, but no one can sign into my email account, for what seem to me, obvious reasons. They would/could steal all of my contacts, but mainly, no one knows who I know, as in, no one would know that Suzy in LA knows Frank the roadie from Aerosmith and they are both in Dallas as the same time, etc.. Or no one knows that a tour manager that once toured with Depeche Mode is now touring with The Eagles and he can hook us up, etc. So even if my top Dot Bots who I love and trust signed into answer some of the emails, they would still have to call me ask what to do. "who is Stan and why is he asking for Cindy's number? Who is Cindy and what is her number?". I just doesn't work. 

 

But I think, fuck it, I have had so much fun in my life, more than most people for sure, so if I have down time and have to hide at home in front of the computer, it's all good, I don't feel I am missing anything. Been there, done that, shagged that, eaten that, saw it, heard it, experienced so much I am grateful, satisfied, content. Most people freak and feel they have to travel here and there and see this and that, I followed the Grateful Dead on tour for almost 3 years straight, drove a hearse across the usa, been to Guatemala, all over Europe, the USA and Canada, been backstage to over 3,000 concerts, met musician except Rings Star that I really want to meet, so I am just chillin' now. Good times still to be had, but for me, working is FUN. Sound strange? Most people hate work, I live for it. Guess that addictive trait from my family rubbed off on me, but instead of drugs or alcohol, I got the work bug, and bad. 

But if you love your work, it doesn't feel like work. It just pisses everyone around you off that you are always busy and even when you are out, looking on blackberry to avoid missing any work. I REALLY enjoyed myself at Christmas in Florida, I finally relaxed. Still got about 500 emails a day, which I am still paying for, but it as fucking awesome. Just know, I can't write everything I want in my blogs, as certain people get hurt, pissed off and crazy when I do. I am pretty much banned from writing about my daughter (she is very private). I wish I could post TONS of pictures of her and brag about her and her accomplishments, but her friends all read my blog and report back to her and sure enough, Bitchfest. Then the love life, can't write about that either, that is private. (heh, someday I will write a book about it, big fat juicy book). heh heh. I hate being stifled, restrained, censored, controlled in any way. HATE IT. 

But you have to protect and respect the people you love, and so it goes. Friends read my blog and have learned how to read between the lines. They read it, call me and pretty much get 10 pounds of shit from a 5 pound bag. Bravo. Even Dweezil Zappa reads my blog. How do I know? I posted a blog a while back titled "Is Gail Zappa only in it for the money?" and he emailed me 10 minutes later bitching about it. But, I now write what I want about Gail and the ZFT as I have tried to be nice and suggest ideas on how to please all the fans and tribute bands and Zappa festivals etc, but those ideas fall on deaf ears (they refuse to bend at all) and so they go on suing every cunt who plays a Zappa song, even had all of my youtube videos removed that had ZAPPA songs playing IN THE BACKGROUND!!! "The Zappa family trust has written in and claimed copyright infringement on one or more of your videos. You can either replace the sound and have them active again, or they will remain frozen". So all the work I did nararrting my videos was all done in vain because stupid me had some Frank playing on my iPod in the background. Pffft. lol.

Not even sure I am going with all of this rambling. I have to leave now and power walk to the KuDamm (main drag in West Berlin) to a Doctor appointment (still ill from drinking tap water in Key West Florida, so if you go there DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER). I get fit so fast here as I walk everywhere, ride my bike and when it is dry, rollerblade. In the USA I get in the car, drive everywhere and pound the Resee's Peanut Butter cups, tsk tsk tsk!! I get softer, which I guess isn't such a bad thing, but I like to remain firm and fruity, you know? 

Gotta go, ttyl

x

 

 

Posted on

Gail Zappa lost in court today against the Zappanale / Arf Society

 

(basically what this article says is that Gail lost her several year long war against the Zappanale/Arf Society folks. She was trying her best to prevent the annual Frank Zappa tribute festival from taking place and from using the name ZAPPANALE. But she lost because she could not prove that the name ZAPPANALE belonged to her, not enough proof or power in Germany to coin that phrase. So, the 20th annual Zappanale Festival, which hosts MANY MANY Zappa tribute bands and Alumni from around the world over three fun filled days, will go on as planned this coming August. They (Arf Society) have tried MANY MANY times, even had me help, to make peace with the ZFT to join forces and make something that is already great, even better, but they (Zappa Family Trust, aka Gail and Dweezil) don't want any part of it and spend lots of time fighting against it. Pretty silly.

I say: If you can't beat 'em, JOIN 'em! 

 

 

Zappa-Witwe verliert «Zappanale»-Streit am 21. Januar 2009 17:00 Uhr

 

Die Witwe des US-Rockmusikers Frank Zappa hat einen Prozess um das deutsche Musikfestival «Zappanale» und den Bart ihres Mannes verloren. Das Düsseldorfer Landgericht wies die Zivilklage Gail Zappas am Mittwoch ab. Gail Zappa Gail Zappa hat verloren. Die Witwe wollte verhindern, dass das Festival weiter unter dem Namen «Zappanale» ausgerichtet wird. Sie sah darin Markenrechte verletzt. Auch das Logo, das einen stilisierten Bart Zappas (1940-1993, «Bobby Brown») darstellt, verletze Markenrechte, hatten die Zappa-Anwälte behauptet. Beides sah das Gericht anders: Die Klägerin habe nicht nachweisen können, dass sie ihre Wortmarke «Zappa» in Deutschland ernsthaft nutzt. Die Website in englischer Sprache mit Preisen in US-Dollar für Zappa-Devotionalien reiche als Nachweis nicht aus. Bei der Bildmarke, dem stilisierten Bart Zappas, seien die Unterschiede zum Festival- Logo so groß, dass keine Verwechslungsgefahr bestehe. Die 19. «Zappanale» hatte im vergangenen Jahr in Bad Doberan (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) 6800 Besucher angezogen. Der Vorsitzende der Festival-Veranstalterin Arf Society, Thomas Dippel, zeigte sich nach dem Urteilsspruch «sehr zufrieden». Die 20. «Jubiläums-Zappanale» könne wie geplant in diesem Jahr stattfinden. Man werde freiwillig den Zusatz «Zappa Music and more» anfügen, auf den man sich bei den Vergleichsverhandlungen mit den Zappa-Anwälten geeinigt hatte. Die Verhandlungen waren dennoch gescheitert. Die Witwe Zappas hatte in ihrer Zivilklage gegen den einzigen deutschen Zappa-Fanclub erklärt, sie habe in den USA den Eindruck gewonnen, der Name ihres Mannes werde als «Hingucker» für zum Teil völlig andere Musik benutzt. Der Rechtsvertreter des Fan-Clubs, Johannes Vogel, betonte, das Festival sei eindeutig «zappaesk».

 

Comments about this posting, taken from my myspace bulletin, below:

From Comment
donvision Jan 22, 2009 9:24 AM
what did she lose? her looks? MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl01_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
joe Jan 22, 2009 5:11 AM
sometimes the will of the people is actually served, glad to see it in this case. it sucks to see someone who wants to drag everyone down and make her loss everyone's loss. glad this fest isn't in america, judges here are so ugly and hardup they probably woulda gangbanged her and she woulda won the case , and fuck fuckin dweebil too MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl02_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
MO Jan 22, 2009 2:29 AM
i have always disliked gail…shes a money hungry widow living off of a great mans fortune and talent!! i wish i could make it to that festival though R.I.P F.Z. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl03_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Blue sky! Online Now! Jan 22, 2009 2:06 AM
Dweezil is not Mr. Frank Zappa. I am sure they wanted to shut everyone up so Dweezil could dominate. Dweezil Zappa does not conduct the band the way his father did. He was supposed to do a show at the Wakarusa music festival in Kansas last summer. I was in back stage camping for the event and witnessed the sound check. WEIRD. ZPZ was supposed to play at the end of the day when A HUGE rolling cloud of thunder and lightening doused the show with heavy Hail and Rain. Enough said. Thank you Dr. Dot MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl04_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Angelum Jan 22, 2009 1:38 AM
I would really like to hear Gail's "reasons" and give her a chance to speak out about why, we the audience, should be restricted from celebrating her husband's talent and music. I am wondering if she is so adamant about not being able to hear Zappa on the radio for example…? MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl05_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
david Jan 22, 2009 1:38 AM
I played Black Napkins today and i saw The Mothers and FZ live. I hope to god she never finds out or i'm fucked. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl06_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
WPLJ Jan 22, 2009 1:19 AM
Smitten Then Bitten…….Too bad Gail…..Sorry 'bout your luck…(LMFAO)…now get over it!!!!!!! LOL MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl07_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Loki Jan 22, 2009 12:49 AM
Their whole issue seems to be regarding Frank considering himself a composer. Things are much more formal, legally and business wise about performing orchestral works than they are with rock or jazz styled works. Thing is my impression was Frank satirised the rigid formality of the orchestra world as much as he satirised the absurdity of rock n roll. I really hate how Gail thinks she is the only person who "gets" Frank Zappa's music and ideas. My father was an accountant but my mother doesn't know anything about accounting. I'm sure his clients wouldn't want her dealing with their finances. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl08_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Eric Jan 22, 2009 12:40 AM
FRANKly, she seems to have nothing better to do than have/create issues with such events/activities regarding her late husband's great musical legacy. She should lighten up, encourage others to celebrate FZ and not deter these events from occuring. Perhaps if some of the garnered monies from the event went to a Cancer research foundation she might be more inclined to join in. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl09_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
From Comment
Ρ΄Ï€†ØΠ―¡Ã Jan 21, 2009 10:39 PM
My only beef is with the font. Had to right click/highlight to read it. πŸ™ Some ppl like to argue and fight throughout life. Gives them a "cause" to stand up for, right or wrong. (See "Middle East") MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl01_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Mike Jan 21, 2009 9:51 PM
Hey Gail… "Don't make a fuss, just get on the bus, and be a crew slut" MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl02_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Jock Of Rock Jan 21, 2009 9:40 PM
I do not want to disrespect Frank's wife… but it is sooo hard not to! It is hard to imagine FZ being behind all that Gail and Dweezil do to discourage his music being played and heard… isn't that the point of it all anyway?? Play and listen to FZ music people…Everyone!! Miss you FZ and thank you Dr. Dot! MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl03_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Dr. Benway Jan 21, 2009 9:29 PM
I have mad respect for Frank and the rest of the family, but honestly I cant stand Gale. She sues her husbands own fans all the time for wanting to celebrate his life and achievements and keep his memory alive. I think she's ridiculous. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl04_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Greg Rhodes Jan 21, 2009 9:19 PM
A friend of mine was the coordinator for the "Annual Frank Zappa Hoot Nite" in Austin, Texas (the proceeds of said event were always donated to the American Cancer Society) and they were hit with a letter of cease and desist merely because they didn't have permission to use the name Frank Zappa. I don't presume to speak for FZ, but that seems like exactly the sort of thing he would have found both frivolous and absurd. Sad. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl05_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Zoon Noetikon Jan 21, 2009 9:03 PM
Couldn't you find a better pix of Gail? MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl06_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
J.D. Jan 21, 2009 8:42 PM
Paul McCartney doesn't own the rights to the Beatles songs, they were bought by Michael Jackson. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl07_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
MR. JOHN EDGAR Jan 21, 2009 8:42 PM
THAT'S WHY I AM A MAD GYPSY MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl08_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Manchik Engineering & C… Jan 21, 2009 8:25 PM
Y A A A A A A A Y ! Gail Zappa is one greedy bitch! The ZFT should let EVERYONE celebrate the music and life of Frank Zappa. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl09_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
From Comment
Dream Weaver Jan 21, 2009 8:14 PM
This is your side of it; I'd like to hear it all from Gail's p.o.v…….. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl01_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Decay Jan 21, 2009 8:13 PM
WOOOOHOOOO!!! MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl02_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Steve C Jan 21, 2009 8:11 PM
Who owns the rights to all the Zappa songs? MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl03_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Curtis E Johnson Jan 21, 2009 8:08 PM
It is such a shame that Gail is so intent on trying to stop the people That love Frank, and his work, Enjoying his art. When Frank was alive. his work, and the people who bought it, and payed to see him live. Gave her and her family a very safe financial base to allow them all to live a massively more affluent life than most. No one wants to take anything, from Gail we all would like her to enjoy Good health, wealth, & happiness. There are massive vaults of unreleased recorded material at the house, that really should be allowed to be heard, not hidden away and allowed to decompose (magnetic tape that old is gonna start going mushy even in an air conditioned room) People want to buy it So Cmon Gail Zappa, the Kids just wanna rock and we dont mind paying for the privilege, AGAIN! Look at your house, if you don't belive me. Frank is an icon You were lucky enough to have him to yourself in life. .Now in death he belongs to all of us. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl04_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
dwayne jones Jan 21, 2009 8:03 PM
I wonder if she will soon realize how much these efforts hurt FZ's legacy and will ultimately work to not spread his music. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl05_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Tim Jan 21, 2009 7:30 PM
wunderbar! (aber lass mal die farben… da kriegt man ja augenkrebs oder sowas ;)) MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl06_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
GB Jan 21, 2009 7:27 PM
I am happy for that! And reading the German text aloud was a good exercise for my tongue. Thank you! MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl07_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
scott Jan 21, 2009 7:22 PM
And the relevant quoate of the day is…"JAZZ IS NOT DEAD IT JUST SMELLS FUNNY"…boogie on, Igor… MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl08_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-

 

From Comment
BillyAzlin Jan 22, 2009 6:27 PM
When we're all dead, the MUSIC will still BE!!! All these shenanigans will be for nought! Music Is Best! MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl01_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Jestersdomain Jan 22, 2009 6:04 PM
Zappa rules! I have over 60 of the albums he put out. I can't believe anyone would try to stop people from celebrating this great man and his music. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl02_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Two Fist Popping Corn Jan 22, 2009 4:33 PM
Damnit! it's a fucking honor to have people play your husband's music and have large groups of people come check it out. the man's dead and gone already. let the people celebrate his legacy how they want to. and stop putting out frank's music at absurd prices. every time i check out the zappa website or get one of those emails from "the barflys" i think to myself, "WHAT THE FUCK!" i have no idea what these guys are saying. and their pissing all over franks legacy. either they really are bar flys and have drank too and don't need to be marketing fz product, or someone's lost their sense. not too mention that they have lost my cents. thanks to bit-torrent, who needs zft! thanks for the rant doc.

 

From Comment
Jimmyjammz Jan 22, 2009 10:20 PM
why try to take away something that frank himself gave to us,love,what is the problem,do you need to controll everything that has a frank-dollar attached to it,let the fans express theyre love and interest in frank,my god get a cosmic clue gail,we all love the zappas. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl01_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-
Jenn Jan 22, 2009 7:48 PM
It is truly sad when it is for the good of Zappa's name and music, not for slander and other crap….man, like you said, if you can't beat em, join em. MySpace.Util.applyWBRToElement($get('ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_BulletinComments_Repeater_ctl02_Body'), {frequency: 5}); 		-Delete-

 

Posted on

“Hanging out on second avenue eating chicken vindaloo”

Having inner turmoil more than ever lately. For example I went to sleep at 1PM today, as in, instead of going to bed at 6 or 7 am as I usually do, it's now getting to be noon or later. Then I have to sleep until 7 or 8pm to make any sense. It's not a deep sleep either, I can hear myself thinking of things I have to do, emails I have yet to answer, calls I still need to return.

I am pleased my massage team is getting more and more popular amongst touring bands- today we helped out Cold War Kids in Amsterdam, Elbow in Amsterdam and one of the Flogging Molly entourage, also in Amsterdam, as well as Dozens of other touring bands, I am literally drowning in work, but very often, one of my Dot Bots will report back and say she only made 45 euros backstage (1 euro per minute of massage) or some, sadly even say, they went there, set up, and the bands bus broke down and didn't arrive in time to get massages. One cheeky band even had Dot Bot come backstage, do the standard "one free back rub for management at each gig" then left a note on her table when she was washing hands that "no one else will have time for a massage, but you are more than welcome to watch show and hang out and party after". Pffft!!!!! 

Then I have yet another ex Dot Bot (fired for being a traitor) busy trying to build a competitive massage team, naturally using my methods, contacts, even rules (she mistakenly tried to hire some of my current Dot Bots that aren't online yet and naturally they all sent me her emails which had MY contract with her heading on them) my rules, my instructions, everything. This bitch has been so busy recently turning her female production manager friends against me, and when they meet a Dot Bot on tour, like at a recent Danzig show, rips my Dot Bots face off, all out of fear of competition. What a backstabbing business this is. I started massaging rock stars back in 1982, I am pretty sure I am the first one to do so. Naturally, competition is expected, but being lied to and stabbed in the back from what I thought were loyal people, is sickening. UGH!!

 

If I dare leave the house for a while to go eat, work out, jog or god forbid, have some fun at karaoke once a month, I only come home to be punished by the now 800+ emails waiting for me to answer. Emails from people from all over the world wanting to join my massage/chiropractic team, emails from people asking love/sex/relationship advice, emails from the small amount of real friends I still have, emails from band managers, musicians themselves, relatives, omg, it never ends. I used to have hours to blog, write for my books, watch the occasional movie, but not anymore. I wanted to go to Thailand over Christmas, but I doubt that will ever happen. I got so far behind just from being in Boston for those two weeks- I STILL haven't even wrote my Boston blog (or even the full Rock am Ring blog from the summer).  This isn't because I am sitting around on the sofa watching TV. It's because I am so swamped, so overwhelmed I don't even have time to wank anymore. I guess I am a work-o-holic. Better than being into drugs or alcohol, for sure, but it still affects the people around me (when I DO see other people). I keep hoping for the day that my massage team is in place, solid, and stays that way, but it changes every day. Some get pregnant, move to a place that would have no chance for massage work, quit because their man is too jealous of their contact with rock stars, get fierd for being a traitor or just find any old reason to quit ("job at the spa is too much now, I can't take anymore work") so then the task of finding an AMAZING replacement begins; auditions, interviews, loads of emails back and forth, etc. omg. 

 

Ok, now I am done venting for now, the headache one gets for not receiving their daily green tee at the same time every day is pounding away so I have to get this last bit out before I sign off.

 

Thursday night I had dinner with Jasmine on 2nd ave, lower east side, where I have eaten Indian food for years, even as far back as when I was dating Joey Ramone (1983, 84, 85). I am pretty sure it is the same place Joey sings about in the song way below. Anyways, I had tried to invite Arturo to come eat with us, but he never answered his phone (found out later he is in Mexico for a couple weeks). 

 Arturo and I a few years ago ^  at the Niagra bar

Notice Arty left Marky's name out of the symbol ^

 

 

Anyways, Jasmine and I decided to go eat alone anyways, without Arturo. Sitting there starving, I was shocked/happy/surprised to see Marky Ramone and a friend walk in. I said "MARKY! Long time no see!" and he was like "Dr. Dot! What the hell!? ha ha". Anyways, I don't know why, I guess because of the commotion I said "funny you are here now, as I had been trying to reach Arty all night to ask him to come here too" and he snapped "NOT on good terms with Arty right now Dot!" he went on to explain all the gory details, the typical arguing that goes on when certain band members die and they other surviving members and associates feel the need to fight over what belongs to whom, etc. The same exact SHIT is going on with the Zappa family. So fucking sad how everyone can't just get along. sigh. 

Taken Thursday night over Indian Food ^  "on the avenue"

 

Thing is, Arturo invented the Ramones logo years ago, he is their art director, friend, lighting director, etc, since the very beginning, and by the way, Marky is not even their original drummer, Tommy is.  Sigh, I just try to stay neutral, I am extremely close to Arturo, he is like family to Jasmine and I, so naturally I felt uncomfy hearing his rants. I just grinned and bared it and changed the subject. The food, as always, was amazing and I felt Joey's presence that night. Not only was it strange I was wearing a Ramones shirt (just randomly threw it on) but Mark comes in and joins us, then Jasmine and I strolled Greenwich Village together and stopped to read RAMONES in cement, that someone obviously spent a lot of time on when it was wet. It was like every hour the Ramones were in our face, on our tongues, it was eery/fun/sad/strange. I was like, "HI JOEY!!! I can feel you! Miss you!"

 

 "Hanging out on Second Avenue Eating chicken vindaloo
I just want to be with you I just want to have something to do
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight
Wait-Now Wait-Now

Hanging out all by myself Cause I don't want to be with anybody else
I just want to be with you I just want to have something to do Tonight"

The Ramones


One last imagine, totally unrelated, but I had to share it:

x

 

Posted on

“Tribute bands zapped”

I have a monster blog coming up… lots of pics to crop and info to write.. but for now, check out this article in the news:

 

Imagine an Elvis Presley tribute show being shut down by a cease-and-desist order.

Imagine any of the hundreds of Beatles tribute bands being threatened with lawsuits.

That's what's going on in the Frank Zappa fan community now, and it raises the question of when a tribute stops being a tribute and starts being thievery of the artist in question.

The 12th annual Midwest Elvis Presley Impersonators Competition runs tonight and Saturday at the Springfield Hilton. (The event traditionally sells out, but as of Thursday morning a number of tickets were still available for tonight's show only. check out www.pietalent.com if you're interested.)

These shows – similar ones take place all around the country and lead to a national showdown among Elvis impersonators – are enjoyed by thousands. Of course, many more Elvis impersonators perform all around the world.

In the past few months, a Presley tribute act (Al Hull) and a Beatles tribute act (British Export) have played to paying crowds at Decatur's Lincoln Square Theatre. American English played Decatur Celebration's Show Stage in August, and Rain – a Beatles tribute band that aficionado Kevin Breheny says is the best he's ever seen – plays the Rosebud Theatre in Effingham on Feb. 26.

The Presley and Beatles estates are judicious about guarding their copyrights. That's one reason Beatles tribute acts work hard to wiggle their way around using the band's name.

But even those estates realize that the best way to keep the act's name alive is to have the music performed in front of people. As long as the music remains alive, the performers (and the value of their images and music) remain alive.

Frank Zappa died 14 years ago, just short of his 54th birthday. While it might be hard to believe for those who know Zappa for "Valley Girl" and "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow," his 60-plus albums represent a valuable canon to a pocket of fans (certainly considerably smaller than Presley's or The Beatles').

That music has also launched about a dozen tribute bands that play both here and in Europe. In addition, Zappa Plays Zappa, a group headed by Frank's son Dweezil, has conducted a pair of tours of the United States, recently toured Australia and is planning shows in Japan this month.

The problem is, Zappa Plays Zappa is the only group authorized by the Zappa Family Trust, the group that controls Frank Zappa's estate. And the trust spent much of December sending out cease-and-desist letters to blogs, to tribute bands and to a European memorial concert that's been going on since 1990 (one that Frank Zappa endorsed during his life).

The trust's cease-and-desist case – which has altered but not shut down any blogs, and which failed to stop at least two tribute band performances it was designed to halt – seems to rest on the interesting yet dubious assertion that, quoting the letter from trust lawyers posted on the Web site of tribute band Bogus Pomp:

" ¦ (ASCAP) licenses ¦ limit the grant of rights to nondramatic performances ¦ Many works by Frank Zappa are inherently dramatic in nature."

Carried to a logical extreme, any band that performs a tribute to another band in some "dramatic" form is performing against the law. Isn't any performance on a stage "dramatic" by definition?

In the past 10 years in Decatur, we've seen tribute bands perform sets of songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eagles, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Rod Stewart and Faces, The Beach Boys and others. Did anyone seeing them think they were seeing the real thing? Did anyone seeing them feel they reflected negatively on the original performer and have their feelings about the original performers affected as a result?

The law certainly has its place in the entertainment industry. Unreliable acts and unscrupulous promoters and venue owners need to have their feet held to the fire.

But lawyers are out of place when they begin to affect the art, and the audience's enjoyment of same.

Frank Zappa said it best during his lifetime:

"If you're a musician, play my music. If you're not a musician, play my music."

Tim Cain can be reached at timcain@herald-review.com or 421-6908.

 Click HERE to see article online