Zappa Plays Zappa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zappa Plays Zappa
Zappa Plays Zappa in Copenhagen, May 2006.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	Rock, jazz, experimental
Years active	2006—present
Labels	Zappa Records
Website	www.Zappa.com/ZPZ http://DweezilZappaWorld.com
Members
Dweezil Zappa Scheila Gonzalez Pete Griffin Billy Hulting Jamie Kime Joe Travers Ben Thomas
Former members
Aaron Arntz

Zappa Plays Zappa is an American tribute act led by Dweezil Zappa, the eldest son of the late American composer and musician Frank Zappa, devoted to performing the music of Frank Zappa.

Contents 1 History 2 Musicians 3 References 4 External links

[edit] History

The band debuted in 2006 with shows in Europe, Canada and the United States during May and June (the tour was also known as Zappa Plays Zappa - Tour de Frank'). The shows presented a collection of Frank Zappa's rock-oriented compositions from 1960s to 1980s. Apart from Dweezil Zappa on lead guitar, the band consisted of a mix of relatively unknown young musicians and older musicians who previously played with Frank Zappa. Among those, Napoleon Murphy Brock (sax, flute and vocals) was an integral part of the band, while drummer (and singer) Terry Bozzio and electric guitarist Steve Vai performed as guests in parts of the shows. At several shows Frank Zappa himself performed songs posthumously via synchronized audio/video technology, notedly portions of "Chunga's Revenge", "Dumb All Over", and "Cosmik Debris".

After a break, the band played again in the US during the Fall of 2006, including a show in New York on October 31. This revived Frank Zappa's tradition of playing Halloween shows in New York. A DVD documenting the 2006 tour was released in early 2008.^[1]

In July and August 2007, the band played a North American tour, with a core line up similar to that of the 2006 band. The band then played in Europe during September and October, before returning to the US, starting with another Halloween show in New York. Special guest on the tour was vocalist and guitarist Ray White.^[2] They ended the 2007 tour in Australia in early December before doing a handful of shows in Japan in January 2008. Steve Vai returned as a guest on those shows. A brief tour of U.S. and Canadian dates was then scheduled for the Summer of 2008 with the same line-up as the 2007 tour.^[3]

At the 51st Grammy Awards in February 2009, Zappa Plays Zappa won best rock instrumental performance for their performance of "Peaches en Regalia".^[4]

Band member Aaron Arntz's final performance with ZPZ was in Santa Rosa, CA on March 7, 2009. Guest performer Ray White unexpectedly left Zappa Plays Zappa April 1st of 2009.^[5] In May 2009, it was announced that Ben Thomas is the new lead singer for the American and European tours after a lengthy audition process for the band.

The band was one of the support acts on Dream Theater's Progressive Nation 09 along with Bigelf and Scale the Summit. Following a Fall 2009 tour in November, the 2010 tour will commence on January 3, 2010. The band will be renamed "Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa 2010." The name change was announced in October 2009.

[edit] Musicians

Group:

• Dweezil Zappa - guitar
• Scheila Gonzalez - saxophone, flute, keyboards and vocals
• Pete Griffin - bass
• Billy Hulting - marimba, mallets and percussions
• Jamie Kime - guitar
• Joe Travers - drums and vocals
• Ben Thomas - lead vocals

Former Members:

• Aaron Arntz - trumpet, keyboards, and vocals

Guests on most 2006 shows:

• Napoleon Murphy Brock - vocals, saxophone and flute
• Terry Bozzio - drums and vocals
• Steve Vai - guitar

Guest on 2007, 2008 and some 2009 shows:

• Ray White - vocals and guitar

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website

v • d • e Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention Main albums Freak Out! • Absolutely Free • We're Only in It for the Money • Lumpy Gravy • Cruising with Ruben & the Jets • Uncle Meat • Hot Rats • Burnt Weeny Sandwich • Weasels Ripped My Flesh • Chunga's Revenge • Fillmore East - June 1971 • 200 Motels • Just Another Band from L.A. • Waka/Jawaka • The Grand Wazoo • Over-Nite Sensation • Apostrophe (') • Roxy & Elsewhere • One Size Fits All • Bongo Fury • Zoot Allures • Zappa in New York • Studio Tan • Sleep Dirt • Sheik Yerbouti • Orchestral Favorites • Joe's Garage • Tinseltown Rebellion • Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar • You Are What You Is • Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch • The Man from Utopia • Baby Snakes • London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1 • Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger • Them or Us • Thing-Fish • Francesco Zappa • Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention • Does Humor Belong in Music? • Jazz from Hell • London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 2 • Guitar • You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 • You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 • Broadway the Hard Way • You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 • The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life • You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 • Make a Jazz Noise Here • You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 • You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 • Playground Psychotics • Ahead of Their Time • The Yellow Shark Posthumous albums Civilization Phaze III • Läther • Everything Is Healing Nicely • FZ:OZ • Halloween • Joe's Domage • Imaginary Diseases • Trance-Fusion • Buffalo • The Dub Room Special • Wazoo • One Shot Deal  • Joe's Menage  • Philly '76 Compilations Mothermania • The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa • Strictly Commercial • The Lost Episodes • Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute • Have I Offended Someone? • Strictly Genteel • Mystery Disc • Son of Cheep Thrills • Joe's Corsage • Quaudiophiliac • Joe's Xmasage • The Frank Zappa AAAFNRAA Birthday Bundle • The Frank Zappa aaafnraaa Birthday Bundle Box sets The Old Masters • Beat the Boots • Beat the Boots II • The MOFO Project/Object • The Lumpy Money Project/Object Films and videos 200 Motels • Baby Snakes • The Dub Room Special • Video from Hell • Does Humor Belong in Music? • The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels • The Amazing Mr. Bickford • Uncle Meat • The Torture Never Stops Related articles Discography • In popular culture • Musicians • The Real Frank Zappa Book • Zappa Plays Zappa • Moon Zappa • Dweezil Zappa • Ahmet Zappa