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How did you discover Frank Zappa?

#82
Almost ten years ago I was browsing the CDs at my local library. I had heard of Zappa, but not his music. I came across Joe's Garage and thought it look interesting and took it home. I got hooked from the first listen. I listen to that album everyday until I had to return it. Since then, I've listened to and enjoyed most of Zappa's album. I only wish I could get my fiance interested. Oh well. :)
 
#87
I first heard The Mothers of Invention and other less conventional and commercial bands during the late 60's, early 70's on what was then called "Underground" radio. FM Radio stations, there were two In Philly at the time that played that kind of music, a lot of really obscure bands and stuff from more successful bands' albums that didn't get played on more commercial radio stations. They pretty much were limited to the overnight hours (say 12:00AM to 5:00AM).
 
#88
A buddy of mine (a terrific singer) turned me on to "Lumpy Gravy" in 1968, in HS. After that I saw "We're Only In It For The Money" at the PX, in the $1.00 bin, and had to buy it. :)

I loved the mix of R&R and "avant-garde classical" music. I have all of his albums (vinyl) & CDs, up until his death. I also have a few of the re-issues, after his death.

I was only able to see him live once, at Duke University in 1976, for the Bicentennial Salute Tour.
 
#89
I'm not exactly sure that I remember. I do recall that it was around the time of Joe's Garage, and I got that album, as well as Acts II & III. I was in Jr. High and I mentioned it to my Social Studies teacher (again can't recall exactly how it came up). He was a fan of the older stuff and not at all familiar with the new stuff, and I quite the opposite. So we orchestrated a temporary trade; I let him borrow the JG stuff and he turned me on to:

We're Only In It For The Money
Hot Rats
Weasels Ripped My Flesh (bkirk kicked that memory bank)

Obviously, I LOVED that stuff, and it just went from there. I have all the commercially released stuff, and plenty of sanctioned and non-sanctioned boots.

I saw Frank several times, the first being in Providence, RI, in May of 1980, and the last being twice on the 1988 tour. Man I miss him!
 
#92
My older sibs always had decent albums coming and going, and one of my brother's friends lent him Apostrophe, then Overnight Sensation. I wasn't a huge fan at first, but certain songs piqued my boyish senses.

Fast forward 30 years, and my son somehow discovers FZ. I'm not sure if I did it or the Internet, but he is a HUGE fan. He frequents FZ online forums and has a ton of live shows, mostly fan recordings.

I am blessed. He went through a punk phase, then straight to FZ and Todd Rundgren/Utopia and the whole rap/hip hop wave blew right past him.
 
#93
In high school on Long Island in the mid 70s many of us were very into Zappa (and the dead, and jazz fusion - that's quite a combination). He used to play Halloween in the city every year and we would all go. We listened to everything from the early stuff (Just another band from LA), the jazz stuff (Waka/Jawaka, Hot Rats, Grand Wazoo), Apostrophe/Overnite Sensation/One Size Fits All/Bongo Fury/ etc. etc. I am still going to the Dweezil shows, and Saturday night I will see the first Grand Mothers show! Timeless.
 
#96
I was about 14 when one of my older brothers brought home the just-released Over Nite Sensation. About six months later, Frank released Apostrophe, the first FZ album I bought. I remember the record store (!) had a poster in the window promoting the album, and I made my mother wait while I went in and bought it. Still have that disc.
 
#99
I was gonna bring that up! :)
My older, cooler cousins in south Philly had a Phi Zappa Krappa in their bedroom!

In that time frame (late '60s/early '70s), I was not ready for Zappa...a bit later, in my Jazz-Nazi daze, stuff like Overnite Sensation was out. My friends were amazed I didn't like that one...at least the musical part of it all (the absurd lyrics, at the time, killed it for me).
Over time, though, I was adding Zappa's albums into my library.

Finally, this year 2013, I made a full-on attempt to get into this guy...bought 2-3 bios...began listening to what I had on the shelf...then started filling in the holes.
Including the Classical-oriented stuff (including the Ensemble Modern discs) and Jean Luc-Ponty's King Kong.

What finally won me over-
A lot of his stuff can border on Free Jazz/Modern Classical.
I still not a huge fan of the vaudeville band (Flo & Eddie)...they have their moments, though.
 
#100
My old man used to play Zappa albums in the late 70's, but being a ten year old, I didn't really get it.

Fast forward to about ten years later, and a friend put on 'Does Humour Belong In Music' on VHS video....and it just plain blew me away.

I used to think that a lot of the thrash metal I listened to was awesome for its time sigs and tempo changes etc, but those guys had nothing on that Zappa line-up.

Bobby Martin just kills it every time, and Scott Thunes revolutionised my attitude to pick playing.

Possibly one of the greatest live video concerts of all time.
 

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