Dweezil Zappa
Encyclopedia
Dweezil Zappa is an American rock
guitarist
and occasional actor.
, California
, the son of musician Frank Zappa
and Adelaide Gail Sloatman
, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon
, younger sister Diva
and younger brother Ahmet
. He is the cousin of actress Lala Sloatman
. Zappa's father was of Sicilian, Greek, Arab and French descent and his mother was of Danish, French, Irish and Portuguese ancestry.
Dweezil's registered birth name was Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa. The hospital
at which he was born refused to register him under the name Dweezil, so Frank listed the names of several musician friends. "Dweezil" was a nickname coined by Frank for an oddly-curled pinky-toe of Gail's. At five years old, Dweezil learned that his legal name was different, and he insisted on having his nickname become his legal name. Gail and Frank hired an attorney and soon the name Dweezil was official.
VJ and was promptly fired after badmouthing MTV on The Howard Stern Show. He also recorded some solo albums, as well as playing for other artists. Zappa can be heard playing lead guitar on The Fat Boys
' "Wipe Out" (1987) and can be seen in the music video for Don Johnson
's top 40 song, "Heartbeat". He also played co-lead guitar (along with Reb Beach
) on Winger's cover of Jimi Hendrix
's "Purple Haze
". Dweezil has said that Eddie Van Halen
was his favorite guitar player, and he began copying Van Halen's distinctive guitar style. He also had a part in the futuristic Arnold Schwarzenegger
film The Running Man
as Stevie ("Don't touch that dial!"), and gave his most famous cameo role in John Hughes's Brat Pack film, Pretty in Pink
(starring Molly Ringwald
), as Andie's friend, Simon.
Since the early 1990s, Zappa has been working on a piece of music named "What the Hell Was I Thinking?", a 75-minute piece featuring guitar solos by dozens of famous guitar players. The project has suffered from numerous difficulties and has been reworked several times since the '90s. Dweezil said in September 2004: "I started recording it on analog tape almost 13 years ago... There are probably about 35 guest guitar players on it, everybody from Brian May
to Eddie Van Halen
, Eric Johnson
, Angus
and Malcolm Young
— it's quite a crazy project. I'm still waiting and hoping to record Jeff Beck
and Jimmy Page
as some of my final guests on there."
In the mid 1990s, Zappa voiced the character Ajax Duckman on the animated series Duckman
. He also briefly appeared in the television sitcom Normal Life with sister Moon Unit Zappa
and former Laverne & Shirley
star Cindy Williams
. He composed and performed the theme music for The Ben Stiller Show
(the solo from Spinal Tap's "Break Like the Wind"). In 1999, Dweezil, alongside his brother, Ahmet, starred in a television series called Happy Hour which debuted April 3, 1999 on the USA Network. The show lasted for one season.
In "Weird Al" Yankovic
's 2003 eleventh studio album Poodle Hat
, Zappa performs the opening guitar solo and lends his vocal talents to the track, "Genius in France". In 2006, Zappa organized the "Zappa Plays Zappa
" tour. He assembled a band of young musicians with a view to bring the music of Frank Zappa
to a younger audience. The tour also featured guest appearances by Steve Vai
, Napoleon Murphy Brock
and Terry Bozzio
. The tour began in Europe in May with dates in the U.S. from June. After a break it continued in the U.S. on October 18, 2006. The 2007 version of the tour ran from July, finishing in Australia in early December, and featured Ray White
as special guest. The shows ended with the promise: "There are so many songs we want to learn to play ... see y'all next year ...", and further tours have followed each year since 2007.
. Zappa and Loeb wrote and performed music together, and Zappa toured with Loeb's band. The couple co-hosted the cooking show Dweezil & Lisa
on Food Network
in 2004. The couple broke up in the summer of 2004.
Zappa married fashion stylist Lauren Knudsen on September 3, 2005 in Los Angeles. They have two daughters: Zola Frank Zappa (born 2006) and Ceylon Indira Zappa (born 2008). In March 2010 Knudsen filed for divorce in L.A. County Superior Court. According to the documents, she cited irreconcilable differences and applied to share legal custody of the two daughters.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and occasional actor.
Early life
Zappa was born in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, the son of musician Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
and Adelaide Gail Sloatman
Gail Zappa
Gail Zappa was the second wife of the late musician and composer Frank Zappa and is the executrix of the Zappa Family Trust. They met in 1966 when she was working at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, and they were married on September 21, 1967, while she was pregnant with her first child, Moon...
, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon
Moon Unit Zappa
Moon Unit Zappa is an American actress, musician and author. She goes by the name Moon Zappa; "Unit" is her middle name.-Personal life:...
, younger sister Diva
Diva Zappa
Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen Zappa is an American artist, also known for several acting roles in film and television, as well as recording a one-off comedy single. She is the youngest daughter of musician Frank Zappa.-Personal life:...
and younger brother Ahmet
Ahmet Zappa
Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa is an American musician, actor and novelist.-Early life:Ahmet was born in Los Angeles, California, the third of four children born to businesswoman Adelaide Gail Sloatman and musician Frank Zappa. Ahmet's father was of Sicilian, Greek-Arab and French descent and his...
. He is the cousin of actress Lala Sloatman
Lala Sloatman
Lala Cassandra Sloatman is an American model, actress and costumer. Her uncle was musician Frank Zappa; her cousins are Ahmet, Diva, Moon and Dweezil Zappa. She is frequently billed by her first name only, and sometimes as Lala Zappa....
. Zappa's father was of Sicilian, Greek, Arab and French descent and his mother was of Danish, French, Irish and Portuguese ancestry.
Dweezil's registered birth name was Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa. The hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
at which he was born refused to register him under the name Dweezil, so Frank listed the names of several musician friends. "Dweezil" was a nickname coined by Frank for an oddly-curled pinky-toe of Gail's. At five years old, Dweezil learned that his legal name was different, and he insisted on having his nickname become his legal name. Gail and Frank hired an attorney and soon the name Dweezil was official.
Career
In the 1980s, Zappa worked as an MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
VJ and was promptly fired after badmouthing MTV on The Howard Stern Show. He also recorded some solo albums, as well as playing for other artists. Zappa can be heard playing lead guitar on The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys
The Fat Boys are a successful African American hip-hop music trio from Brooklyn, New York City, that emerged in the early 1980s. Briefly, the group was known originally as the Disco 3.-Members:*Mark Morales a.k.a. "Prince Markie Dee"...
' "Wipe Out" (1987) and can be seen in the music video for Don Johnson
Don Johnson
Donnie Wayne "Don" Johnson is an American actor known for his work in television and film. He played the lead role of James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s TV cop series, Miami Vice, which led him to huge success. He also played the lead role in the 1990s cop series, Nash Bridges...
's top 40 song, "Heartbeat". He also played co-lead guitar (along with Reb Beach
Reb Beach
Reb Beach is an American rock guitarist. He is a member of the bands Winger and Whitesnake...
) on Winger's cover of Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
's "Purple Haze
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
". Dweezil has said that Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
was his favorite guitar player, and he began copying Van Halen's distinctive guitar style. He also had a part in the futuristic Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
film The Running Man
The Running Man (film)
The Running Man is a 1987 American action film loosely based on Stephen King's 1982 novel of the same name. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Jesse Ventura, Jim Brown, and Richard Dawson....
as Stevie ("Don't touch that dial!"), and gave his most famous cameo role in John Hughes's Brat Pack film, Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink is a 1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. It is one of a group of John Hughes films starring Molly Ringwald, and is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" film...
(starring Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald
Molly Kathleen Ringwald is an American actress, singer and dancer. Having appeared in the John Hughes movies Sixteen Candles , The Breakfast Club , and Pretty in Pink , Ringwald has been frequently named the greatest teen star of all time...
), as Andie's friend, Simon.
Since the early 1990s, Zappa has been working on a piece of music named "What the Hell Was I Thinking?", a 75-minute piece featuring guitar solos by dozens of famous guitar players. The project has suffered from numerous difficulties and has been reworked several times since the '90s. Dweezil said in September 2004: "I started recording it on analog tape almost 13 years ago... There are probably about 35 guest guitar players on it, everybody from Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
to Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
, Angus
Angus Young
Angus McKinnon Young is a Scottish-born Australian musician, and the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the rock and roll band AC/DC. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of AC/DC in 2003 and is known for his energetic performances,...
and Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young is a Scottish-born Australian guitarist, best known as a founding member, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. Young was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, along with the other members of AC/DC...
— it's quite a crazy project. I'm still waiting and hoping to record Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
and Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
as some of my final guests on there."
In the mid 1990s, Zappa voiced the character Ajax Duckman on the animated series Duckman
Duckman
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man is an American animated sitcom that aired from 1994–1997, created by Everett Peck and developed by Peck. The sitcom is based on characters created by Peck in his Dark Horse comic...
. He also briefly appeared in the television sitcom Normal Life with sister Moon Unit Zappa
Moon Unit Zappa
Moon Unit Zappa is an American actress, musician and author. She goes by the name Moon Zappa; "Unit" is her middle name.-Personal life:...
and former Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from January 26, 1976, to May 10, 1983...
star Cindy Williams
Cindy Williams
Cynthia Jane "Cindy" Williams is an American actress best known for starring in the television situation-comedy series Laverne & Shirley, in the role of "Shirley Feeney", and for her role as Laurie Henderson in the classic film American Graffiti.-Early life:Williams was born in Van Nuys,...
. He composed and performed the theme music for The Ben Stiller Show
The Ben Stiller Show
The Ben Stiller Show was the name of two sketch comedy television shows that aired on MTV from 1990 to 1991, and then on Fox from September 1992 to January 1993. The Fox show starred Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk. Character actor John F. O'Donohue also appeared in every...
(the solo from Spinal Tap's "Break Like the Wind"). In 1999, Dweezil, alongside his brother, Ahmet, starred in a television series called Happy Hour which debuted April 3, 1999 on the USA Network. The show lasted for one season.
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
's 2003 eleventh studio album Poodle Hat
Poodle Hat
Poodle Hat is the Grammy Award-winning 11th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on May 20, 2003 on Volcano Records. The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. The album was released on an Enhanced CD...
, Zappa performs the opening guitar solo and lends his vocal talents to the track, "Genius in France". In 2006, Zappa organized the "Zappa Plays Zappa
Zappa Plays Zappa
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.- History :...
" tour. He assembled a band of young musicians with a view to bring the music of Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
to a younger audience. The tour also featured guest appearances by Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
, Napoleon Murphy Brock
Napoleon Murphy Brock
Napoleon Murphy Brock is an American singer, saxophonist and flute player who is best known for his work with Frank Zappa in the 1970s, including the albums One Size Fits All, Roxy and Elsewhere, and Bongo Fury...
and Terry Bozzio
Terry Bozzio
Terry John Bozzio is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa.-Biography:Terry Bozzio was born December 27, 1950 in San Francisco, California. He started at age 6 playing makeshift drum sets. At the age of 13 he saw The Beatles premier performance on The Ed...
. The tour began in Europe in May with dates in the U.S. from June. After a break it continued in the U.S. on October 18, 2006. The 2007 version of the tour ran from July, finishing in Australia in early December, and featured Ray White
Ray White
Ray White is a soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist, best known as a member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa's band in the fall of 1976, being featured on rhythm guitar and vocals, forming a memorable vocal harmony partnership with Ike Willis on later tours in...
as special guest. The shows ended with the promise: "There are so many songs we want to learn to play ... see y'all next year ...", and further tours have followed each year since 2007.
Personal life
For six years, Zappa dated musician Lisa LoebLisa Loeb
Lisa Anne Loeb is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She launched her career in 1994 with the song, "Stay ". She was the first artist to have a number one single in the United States while not signed to a recording contract.Loeb's efforts now include music, film, television, voice-over...
. Zappa and Loeb wrote and performed music together, and Zappa toured with Loeb's band. The couple co-hosted the cooking show Dweezil & Lisa
Dweezil & Lisa
Dweezil & Lisa was a 2004 Food Network television series presented by rock musicians and erstwhile couple Dweezil Zappa and Lisa Loeb. The duo traveled around America, sampling local music and cuisine....
on Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
in 2004. The couple broke up in the summer of 2004.
Zappa married fashion stylist Lauren Knudsen on September 3, 2005 in Los Angeles. They have two daughters: Zola Frank Zappa (born 2006) and Ceylon Indira Zappa (born 2008). In March 2010 Knudsen filed for divorce in L.A. County Superior Court. According to the documents, she cited irreconcilable differences and applied to share legal custody of the two daughters.
Guitars
- Gibson SGGibson SGAt the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
- Custom built to replicate his father's SG (the replica is so accurate that it is often mistaken for Frank's original guitar by fans). - Hagström VikingHagström Viking-2004 to present:As of 2004 the Hagström brand has been resurrected and is currently marketing models based on the popular Swedish designs including the Viking. The new lineup is being produced in a dedicated plant in China, and includes three Viking models: the Viking, the Viking DeLuxe and the...
- Modified with an extra switch which changes the tone. - Custom PRSPaul Reed SmithPaul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...
- Built with materials chosen by Zappa for their "naturally occurring oddities". - Eric JohnsonEric JohnsonEric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
- Custom fitted with a piezo pickup. - Fender StratocasterFender StratocasterThe Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
- Originally used and burned by Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and given to Dweezil's father. - Babysnake SG - LuthierLuthierA luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
built guitar with onboard effects originally owned by his father. - Gibson Les PaulGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- Late 70's early 80's model with onboard effects and coiltaps. - Gibson ES-5 SwitchmasterGibson ES SeriesThe Gibson ES series of semi-acoustic guitar are manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation. The letters ES stand for Electric Spanish, to distinguish them from Hawaiian-style guitars which were played flat on the lap....
- Originally used during his father's early career. It was heavily modified with various onboard effects, the functions of some being a mystery. - Moser SG - Used as a backup for his Gibson SG.
Effects
Some of the effects were originally in his father's setup and were restored for use in the Zappa plays Zappa project.- DBX 162 Stereo Compressor
- Freekish Blues - Betty Boost (Clean Boost/Overdrive)
- Freekish Blues - Freek Out! (Fuzz)
- Freekish Blues - Coily Fuzz
- Eventide 949 Harmonizer
- Eventide Delay
- MicMix Dynaflanger x2
- Aphex Expressor Compressor
- Axess Electronics MIDI Foot controller
- Mutron Bi-Phase
- Systech Harmonic Energizer
- Chandler Delay
- Afro Fuzz
- Real Octavia
- Janglebox Compressor
- Digitech GSP 1101
- Native InstrumentsNative InstrumentsNative Instruments is a technology company that develops software and hardware for music production and DJing. The company has originally been identified mostly with software instruments, but has also expanded to various other music equipment segments in recent years.Current products of Native...
Guitar RigGuitar RigGuitar Rig is a software effect processor developed by Native Instruments. Primarily designed for electric guitar and bass, the software uses amplifier modeling to allow real-time digital signal processing in both standalone and studio environments.It was originally released in mid-2004... - Sound Sculpture Switchblade system
- Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx
- Performance Guitar - Jumbo Foot - Parametric Eq
Amplifiers
- Acoustic 270 amplifier
- PeaveyPeavey ElectronicsPeavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
Wiggy - Cornford MK 5011
- Cornford MK 50H
- Cornford RK 100
- Cornford 4x12 Cabinet (One regular and one from the RK series.)
- Blankenship Leeds 18w
- Fender Super-Sonic head
- Fender Cyber-Twin SE
- Fender '65 Twin ReverbFender TwinThe Fender Twin is a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1952, two years before Fender began selling Stratocaster electric guitars. The amps are known for their characteristically clean tone....
- Fender G-DEC
- Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx
- Fuchs Tripledrive Supreme
- Red Wirez Guitar Cabinet IR files
Solo
- 1982 - My Mother Is a Space CadetMy Mother is a Space Cadet"My Mother Is a Space Cadet" is the first single by Dweezil Zappa, released in 1982....
- 1986 - Havin' a Bad DayHavin' a Bad Day-Track listing:#"Havin' a Bad Day"#"Blonde Hair, Brown Nose"#"You Can't Ruin Me"#"The Pirate Song"#"You Can't Imagine"#"Let's Talk About It"#"Electric Hoedown"#"I Want a Yacht"#"I Feel Like I Wanna Cry"...
- 1988 - My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
- 1991 - ConfessionsConfessions (Dweezil Zappa album)Confessions is an album by Dweezil Zappa. His third album, it was released in 1991 by Barking Pumpkin Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Dweezil Zappa, except as noted.#"Earth"#"Bad Girl"...
- 2000 - AutomaticAutomatic (Dweezil Zappa album)Automatic is an album by Dweezil Zappa, released in 2000.-Track listing:All songs written by Dweezil Zappa except as noted.# "Fwakstension" performed by Zappa / Terry Bozzio / Scott Thunes – 4:13...
- 2006 - Go with What You KnowGo With What You KnowGo With What You Know is a 2006 album by Dweezil Zappa. Among other tracks, the album features an alternate version of his father Frank Zappa's composition "Peaches en Regalia". The version, culled from a previously unreleased alternate edit of the Hot Rats version, features new overdubs by Dweezil...
With Zappa Plays Zappa
- 2008 - Zappa Plays ZappaZappa Plays ZappaZappa 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.- History :...
- 2010 - Return Of The Son Of...
- 2011 - In The MomentIn the Moment- Personnel :* Bret Garner - Vocals on "Steppin' Out"* Anthony Green - Vocals on "Soundtrack to the Soul " and "Move"* Collette Marino - Vocals on "I Like the Way"* Amy Michelle - Vocals on "Honestly" and "Strum"...
Guest appearances
- 1984 - Guitar solos "Sharleena" and "Stevie's Spanking" on Frank Zappa's Them or UsThem or UsThem or Us is an album by Frank Zappa, released in October 1984. Its opening and closing tracks are covers: "The Closer You Are", which was written by Earl Lewis and Morgan Robinson and originally released by The Channels; and "Whippin' Post", originally recorded by The Allman Brothers Band. ...
- 1984 - Guitar on Frank Zappa's You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 is a double disc collection of live recordings by Frank Zappa, spanning from December 10, 1971 to December 23, 1984. "Sharleena" had been previously issued as a flexidisc in "Guitar Player" magazine. All the songs on disc one are by the 1984 band...
(album) on "Sharleena" - 1985 - Vocals on Frank Zappa's Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of PreventionFrank Zappa Meets the Mothers of PreventionFrank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention is a 1985 album by Frank Zappa. It was originally released in two slightly different versions in the US and Europe. The two versions were later combined and reissued on a compact disc: first in the US on Rykodisc in 1986 Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of...
- 1986 - Guitar solo on "Whipping Post" on Frank Zappa's Does Humor Belong in Music?Does Humor Belong in Music? (album)Does Humor Belong in Music? is a live album by Frank Zappa. It features concert recordings from October–December 1984. It was the first album by Zappa to be released on CD only ....
' - 1988 - WingerWinger (album)Track 11, "Higher and Higher", was a CD bonus track. It wasn't on cassette copies of the album. It was also the B-side of the "Madalaine" single. In this day and age, just as CDs were beginning to become popular, it was not uncommon to include a bonus track like this.-Band:* Kip Winger – bass...
on "Purple HazePurple Haze"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
" - 1989 - With sister Moon UnitMoon Unit ZappaMoon Unit Zappa is an American actress, musician and author. She goes by the name Moon Zappa; "Unit" is her middle name.-Personal life:...
, contributed the track "(In Love) With You Gumby" to the novelty album GumbyGumby (album)Gumby is an album produced by Shepard Stern and released in 1989 as a tribute to Art Clokey's stop-motion animated series Gumby. The cover is reminiscent of The Beatles' White Album.-Track listing:-Additional personnel:... - 1990 - Opening and outro solos on Extreme's PornograffittiPornograffitti-Personnel:* Pat Badger - Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals* Nuno Bettencourt - Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals* Gary Cherone - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals* Paul Geary - Decadent Drums, Percussion* Barbara Glynn - Mutha's Voice, "Decadence Dance"...
on the song "He-Man Woman Hater" - 1992 - Lead guitar on "Diva Fever" on Spinal Tap's Break Like the WindBreak Like the WindBreak Like the Wind is an album by the semi-fictional band Spinal Tap. The title, from the album's title track, is a double entendre that combines and confuses the idiom "make like the wind [and blow]" with "break[ing] wind" , and samples the classical guitar piece Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo...
- 1993 - Lead guitar on "Dirty Love" and "Chunga's Revenge" on Zappa's Universe tribute
- 1994 - Barks on the track "Waffenspiel" on Frank Zappa's Civilization Phaze III
- 1997 - Guitar solo on Pat BoonePat BooneCharles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
's cover of "Smoke on the WaterSmoke on the Water"Smoke on the Water" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It was first released on their 1972 album Machine Head. In 2004, the song was ranked number 426 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed "Smoke on the Water"...
" (the No More Mr. Nice GuyIn a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice GuyIn a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy is a 1997 album by Pat Boone in which Boone, after critisizing groups like Duran Duran for their James Bond theme and number one hit A View To A Kill because of their lyric "Dance Into the Fire" being devil worshipping and unholy, covers hard rock and heavy...
album) - 2000 - Guitar on Dixie DregsDixie DregsThe Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
's California Screamin CD performing "Peaches en RegaliaPeaches en Regalia"Peaches en Regalia" is an instrumental jazz fusion composition by Frank Zappa. It was released on Zappa's album Hot Rats in 1969 and has been recorded many times since. It was also released as a single in 1970, with "Little Umbrellas" as the B-side...
" - 2001 - 9119.11 (album)9.11 is the fourth studio album by recording artist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal released in November 2001. This is his second release under the Bumblefoot name...
, on "Top of the World" - 2003 - "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" YankovicAlfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
's Poodle HatPoodle HatPoodle Hat is the Grammy Award-winning 11th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It was released on May 20, 2003 on Volcano Records. The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. The album was released on an Enhanced CD...
album, on "Genius In France" - 2006 - Lead guitar on "Chunga's Revenge" and "Bavarian Sunset" on Frank Zappa's Trance-FusionTrance-FusionTrance-Fusion is the name of an album of guitar solos completed by Frank Zappa shortly before his death, but not released until 2006. The album had previously been announced for release in 1999, and 2003 and again announced in 2005 in relation to the Zappa Plays Zappa tour...
External links
- Dweezil Zappa's website
- 2008 Dweezil Zappa interview with Jon Niccum
- December 2010 interview with Tom Waring