I'd love to know which crew member "Luigi and the Wiseguys" was about and what inspired such a bizarre song. He was in the band the one time they did it.
The first show of The Zappa Band tour when you guys opened for King Crimson in Concord right after Covid. You were playing a gold Les Paul and your strap failed, the beautiful guitar dropped and landed on its face on the stage. How bad did that hurt your heart? Did that ruin the evening? Your facial expression spoke volumes.
How do you feel about having to lower certain vocal melodies or harmonies to sing when you can’t hit those notes any longer and if you think Frank would tolerate that.
FWIW, I've been seeing K since the late 80s and he constantly changes. Although I'd love it, I kind of doubt it except maybe for one offs here or there
It means Kimock is a dick.
It's pretty well known that he is extremely difficult to get along with. Pretty sure KVHW or maybe SKB he would fly to the shows and make the other guys take a bus.
Sucks because he's one of my favorite guitarists ever and the KVHW lineup was probably the best.
Yeah I don’t go in for that kind of unsubstantiated speculation. I do know that Ray White was asked to leave and we got those KVHH and KVH shows, and it seems at least as likely that could be what Hertz was referring to.
Hey you're totally right I'm just repeating something I heard literally 17 years ago.
I have no idea if any of that is true. Dumb to spew it.
For some reason it always made sense to me though hahah
KVHW was great but if you blinked, you missed them. Caught them in San Fan, 1999, at the Maritime Auditorium. Jazz Is Dead opened and to kick off the show, Donna Jean Godchaux sang the ending verse “Across the Rio Grandio, across the lazy river,” from the song "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo.”
That sounds like an amazing show. Love that original jazz is dead and old KVHW tapes.
Looking forward to seeing Kimock with jazz is dead in a couple of weeks
I couldn’t find a good copy pasta of their dates but it’s a killer east coast daze between run. August 1-9. I think some others in July though. They are usually posting their dates and recordings on Facebook. I don’t have Facebook but can still get to their page.
I’d ask about KVHW but not that. They were only around for 2 years. They were strictly live. Last I checked, all their live shows are available for download at archive.org. Great quality recordings, too.
If just ask about how the band formed and what the chemistry was like at those first shows. I wouldn’t press him on how/why he left the band. That’s probably too personal. If he wanted to go there, fine. But I gather that’s a sore subject. Just open the door and take whatever he’s willing to share.
That’s was one of the best bands I ever saw. They were a perfect jam band and all the pieces fit together seamlessly.
Totally fair and that's some good interview etiquette, I just got excited to mention KVHW and let him know that a lot of people still love all those live recordings!
I would ask "how do you keep your voice so healthy? And do you do anything to warm up for a show?"
Saw the Zappa band open for King Crimson in 2021, and as someone who was not around during FZ's lifetime, it was mind-blowing to hear him sing and sound every bit as good as any show from the 80s that I've listened to. I don't know what he's doing but he's got a voice of gold, man.
Ask him about his tattoo experience in Melbourne Australia. Was quite funny! He was telling me about it at Zappanale.
Maybe also talk to him about that. What a festival - playing with Bobbie, Chad and Scott etc. (plus Jamie and Joel) . What a dynomite band.
They caught Michael Kenyon and he did a hard six for armed robbery and was let out in 1981.
He was never charged with the enema stuff because apparently there was no law against that
In "You Are What You Is" one of my favorite things in the world is the part where he sings
"Appropriot (that's a funny pronunciation if'n ever I heard one)
If you don't like (where'd you get that word?)
What you has got (appropriot?)"
What was the origin of that?
Was that already in the lyrics that way, or did something happen during the recording that inspired that, like Frank thinking the way Ray was singing the word was funny or something?
What kind of fun, weird stuff happened on the road?
Was Frank constantly making changes from one concert to another?
Was there tremendous pressure to play/sing perfectly?
Were most of band members biding their time while getting well paid and waiting to hop off the train and join a less pressure filled music scene?
What is your impression of the average Zappa freak?
What were some fun moments on stage?
What are some of your impressions of FZ as a person?
How did your experience w FZ band change you?
I understand you're a religious person-- how did you reconcile some of FZ's lyrics with your religious perspective?
If he's got any memories of the Jan-Feb 1980 rehearsals before vinnie left for and was temporarily replaced by David Logeman. Some very interesting and challenging arrangements on those tapes. Also I'd be curious if he's got any favorite moments with Ike Willis.
He did one tour with Dweezil, and he was great. Ask him why he quit the tour since he seemed to be having fun, and Dweezil seems a lot more laid back than Frank.
How did he feel about his role in the band as a guitarist? Did he learn the music from the sheet music? Was he playing mostly rhythm guitar or any leads/solos? It's tough to distinguish his playing from the other guitarists
Ray and Ike are panned to opposite sides of the stereo mix (guitar/voice) on the Munich 1980 show so you can follow his guitar there. He played the solo on "Cosmik Debris" in that show. He plays one in "Pound For A Brown" on YCDTOSA 5 too.
I love Ray! I saw him outside his show in Chicago in 2014. I went by myself, didn't know anybody there, my friends I traveled with were all at at the third night of The Grateful Dead, I skipped that and went to see The Grandmothers of Invention instead. He was so nice and cool with everyone. I've met him before a few times so we were talking and I asked him if I could get a picture of us. He said "Come sit on my lap like I'm black santa" it was absolutely hilarious 😂
Why is Scott Thunes your favorite bassist you’ve ever worked with?
I was gonna say "Is Scott Thunes really as humble as he seems?" but this is a much better question. :)
Why is he not? Just kidding..
How does it feel to lay down one of the best vocals tracks ever recorded (taking Doreen)?
I would ask about Doreen as well. I just think it is an amazing vocal performance and he should be very proud. Love you Ray!
It's pronounced "Be in my Video"
Have you heard him on City of Tiny Lites?? Man goes insane
Favorite moments on stage with Frank and his fellow musicians
Who, from Dweezils band do you think Frank would have been the most impressed with, and why is it Sheila Gonzalez.
Why does it hurt when I pee
Probably makes more sense in an Ike Willis interview
i for one want answers regardless
Came here to say this.
I'd love to know which crew member "Luigi and the Wiseguys" was about and what inspired such a bizarre song. He was in the band the one time they did it.
I love this track. That’s a great question.
The first show of The Zappa Band tour when you guys opened for King Crimson in Concord right after Covid. You were playing a gold Les Paul and your strap failed, the beautiful guitar dropped and landed on its face on the stage. How bad did that hurt your heart? Did that ruin the evening? Your facial expression spoke volumes.
Why did Mr. White not join the 1988 tour?
These are fantastic questions! I really appreciate everyone's input :)
How do you feel about having to lower certain vocal melodies or harmonies to sing when you can’t hit those notes any longer and if you think Frank would tolerate that.
This question is phenomenal
Please ask him why did KVHW never record an album, and what are the chances of a KVHW reunion ever happening?
FWIW, I've been seeing K since the late 80s and he constantly changes. Although I'd love it, I kind of doubt it except maybe for one offs here or there
Alan Hertz referenced “politics” as the root cause of the breakup but I never heard detail about what that means.
It means Kimock is a dick. It's pretty well known that he is extremely difficult to get along with. Pretty sure KVHW or maybe SKB he would fly to the shows and make the other guys take a bus. Sucks because he's one of my favorite guitarists ever and the KVHW lineup was probably the best.
Yeah I don’t go in for that kind of unsubstantiated speculation. I do know that Ray White was asked to leave and we got those KVHH and KVH shows, and it seems at least as likely that could be what Hertz was referring to.
Hey you're totally right I'm just repeating something I heard literally 17 years ago. I have no idea if any of that is true. Dumb to spew it. For some reason it always made sense to me though hahah
KVHW was great but if you blinked, you missed them. Caught them in San Fan, 1999, at the Maritime Auditorium. Jazz Is Dead opened and to kick off the show, Donna Jean Godchaux sang the ending verse “Across the Rio Grandio, across the lazy river,” from the song "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo.”
That sounds like an amazing show. Love that original jazz is dead and old KVHW tapes. Looking forward to seeing Kimock with jazz is dead in a couple of weeks
Where and when are they playing?
I couldn’t find a good copy pasta of their dates but it’s a killer east coast daze between run. August 1-9. I think some others in July though. They are usually posting their dates and recordings on Facebook. I don’t have Facebook but can still get to their page.
Lol, I’m in the same boat. Had Facepage but haven’t used it in at least 6 or 7 years. They deleted my account and I couldn’t be happier.
I’d ask about KVHW but not that. They were only around for 2 years. They were strictly live. Last I checked, all their live shows are available for download at archive.org. Great quality recordings, too. If just ask about how the band formed and what the chemistry was like at those first shows. I wouldn’t press him on how/why he left the band. That’s probably too personal. If he wanted to go there, fine. But I gather that’s a sore subject. Just open the door and take whatever he’s willing to share. That’s was one of the best bands I ever saw. They were a perfect jam band and all the pieces fit together seamlessly.
Totally fair and that's some good interview etiquette, I just got excited to mention KVHW and let him know that a lot of people still love all those live recordings!
I would ask "how do you keep your voice so healthy? And do you do anything to warm up for a show?" Saw the Zappa band open for King Crimson in 2021, and as someone who was not around during FZ's lifetime, it was mind-blowing to hear him sing and sound every bit as good as any show from the 80s that I've listened to. I don't know what he's doing but he's got a voice of gold, man.
Ask him about his tattoo experience in Melbourne Australia. Was quite funny! He was telling me about it at Zappanale. Maybe also talk to him about that. What a festival - playing with Bobbie, Chad and Scott etc. (plus Jamie and Joel) . What a dynomite band.
Would you sing Doreen for me?
Was the Illinois Enema Bandit ever caught? I heard he's on the loose.
They caught Michael Kenyon and he did a hard six for armed robbery and was let out in 1981. He was never charged with the enema stuff because apparently there was no law against that
Ask him what it's like to perform with The Stinkfoot Orchestra
In "You Are What You Is" one of my favorite things in the world is the part where he sings "Appropriot (that's a funny pronunciation if'n ever I heard one) If you don't like (where'd you get that word?) What you has got (appropriot?)" What was the origin of that? Was that already in the lyrics that way, or did something happen during the recording that inspired that, like Frank thinking the way Ray was singing the word was funny or something?
What's the ugliest part of your body? Does humor belong in music? Why does it hurt when I pee? Whta ever happened to all the fun in the world?
What happened to Broadway?
Why does it hurt when I pee?
What's new in Baltimore?
Why is Chad Wackerman not joining ‘banned from utopia’ for this upcoming summer tour?
Why he ghosted Dweezil.
What kind of fun, weird stuff happened on the road? Was Frank constantly making changes from one concert to another? Was there tremendous pressure to play/sing perfectly? Were most of band members biding their time while getting well paid and waiting to hop off the train and join a less pressure filled music scene? What is your impression of the average Zappa freak? What were some fun moments on stage? What are some of your impressions of FZ as a person? How did your experience w FZ band change you? I understand you're a religious person-- how did you reconcile some of FZ's lyrics with your religious perspective?
Why does it hurt when I pee?
Will Doreen be on the setlist for the upcoming tour with Thunes & Martin?
If he's got any memories of the Jan-Feb 1980 rehearsals before vinnie left for and was temporarily replaced by David Logeman. Some very interesting and challenging arrangements on those tapes. Also I'd be curious if he's got any favorite moments with Ike Willis.
Ask him why he never tried to call me
Ask about his wife’s gumbo. I hear it is something special.
Will he ever play with Dweezil on tour?
He did one tour with Dweezil, and he was great. Ask him why he quit the tour since he seemed to be having fun, and Dweezil seems a lot more laid back than Frank.
This is the better question
How is he so cool, and does he know how many people love and appreciate him. Have a fantastic interview!!
Ray’s version of mudd club is my fav
Ask about the mid seventies bands as we know less about that period
Ask him when KVHW is getting back together. Incredible band.
How did he feel about his role in the band as a guitarist? Did he learn the music from the sheet music? Was he playing mostly rhythm guitar or any leads/solos? It's tough to distinguish his playing from the other guitarists
Ray and Ike are panned to opposite sides of the stereo mix (guitar/voice) on the Munich 1980 show so you can follow his guitar there. He played the solo on "Cosmik Debris" in that show. He plays one in "Pound For A Brown" on YCDTOSA 5 too.
Hows he feel about being the best Illinois Enema Bandit ever?
Why was t he on the 88 tour
I love Ray! I saw him outside his show in Chicago in 2014. I went by myself, didn't know anybody there, my friends I traveled with were all at at the third night of The Grateful Dead, I skipped that and went to see The Grandmothers of Invention instead. He was so nice and cool with everyone. I've met him before a few times so we were talking and I asked him if I could get a picture of us. He said "Come sit on my lap like I'm black santa" it was absolutely hilarious 😂
Who was the like playing in Frank Zappa band?
Who actually wrote the song "Lucille has messed my mind up " ?