Zappa: Screwed over his band members?

[Ekim]

Interesting article.

http://www.reason.com/0504/cr.ng.rock.shtml

"A demanding bandleader who insisted on a high level of professionalism, he rarely missed an opportunity to screw mates out of touring money or royalties. "

I admittedly don't know much about Frank Zappa, so I was just wondering if this was known to be true. I've never heard anyone who played with Zappa rid on him.

Thoughts? Other sources?

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by Ekim

Interesting article.

http://www.reason.com/0504/cr.ng.rock.shtml

"A demanding bandleader who insisted on a high level of professionalism, he rarely missed an opportunity to screw mates out of touring money or royalties. "

I admittedly don't know much about Frank Zappa, so I was just wondering if this was known to be true. I've never heard anyone who played with Zappa rid on him.

Thoughts? Other sources?

Well...I do know that Steve has nothing but the greatest respect for Mr. Zappa. I NEVER heard him say anything negative about him.

[Bluestreak]

Steve would have been a young man when he worked with Zappa. I can think of one or two people who were very influential to me as a younger man. And those influences continue to this day - but in retrospect, knowing now what I do, I know they weren't the most wholesome of individuals, though I did learn a great deal from them. I wouldn't vocalize my distaste for their perceived indiscretions today. It's in the past. Would that Steve had similar feeling to my own, I'm relatively sure he'd be quiet about them too. There's no point in it.

-R

[Ekim]

Yeah, but I wouldn't exactly consider Vai and unbaised source.

But I've never heard bad things about him and his influence seems all on the positive side for all his former sidemen.

[straymond]

Originally Posted by Ekim

Yeah, but I wouldn't exactly consider Vai and unbaised source..

if you were Vai, would YOU badmouth zappa?

[bpd111]

That's the kind of guy Mr. Vai is. I don't think he would say anything bad about Zappa if he did screw him.

[AirGuitarHero]

Vai is hardly a reliable source. He's far too clever to say anything bad about Zappa. Bashing his dead mentor would backfire badly on that spiritual-cooldude-super-guitar-guru image that he's taken so much work to build.

Let's dig for dirt somewhere else! I love a good gossip...

[Texter]

Knowing Zappa it must have been strictly legal. But I'd like to see proof. This little article comparing him to a friggin' insane writer isn't something I see as a reliable source. You can't even say "there she blows" in public anymore...

[plantboy]

I like that the slander goes unsupported in the article.

Two important stories about Frank Zappa:

Rolling Stone wanted to put him on the cover once. He said "why should i help them sell magazines. Tell them no."

Vai once asked FZ if he wanted a piece transcribed in 2/4 versus 4/4 because 2/4 meant more bar lines and thus more publishing cash. Frank said "do it the way it needs to be done, I don't need to make money that way."

If there are band members concerned about royalties, I don't know of them. But I don't think they would have much claim to royalties since nearly everything on a Frank Zappa record is composed by Zappa himself. Even many solos. It was Zappa's show and he hired musicians to play his music. He made that very clear to his employees. Ask Mike Keneally, Scott Thunes or anybody who has played with Frank.

[jim777]

Originally Posted by AirGuitarHero

Vai is hardly a reliable source. He's far too clever to say anything bad about Zappa. Bashing his dead mentor would backfire badly on that spiritual-cooldude-super-guitar-guru image that he's taken so much work to build.

I don't know if it's as much an image he's worked to build as it is just simply him. Vai doesn't strike me as contrived, but honest. Besides, you can mentor someone musically without paying them well.
I think most members of Zappa's band knew they were going to be ex-Zappa band members down the road, and that that cachet would help their careers. I can't think of anyone it's hurt.

[AirGuitarHero]

Oh, no, I'm not saying he's dishonest. I also think that's the way he is. It's just that Vai's strongest asset is his business acumen, and he exploits his image as part of it. He puts as much effort into his image as Yngwie. It's just that Steve does it much better LOL

Think about Satch, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Holdsworth... not much image consciousness there

Anyway, I agree with you. Even if being in the Zappa band was boot camp, it's a huge boost to one's career. Everybody wins.

[MehYam]

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

Well...I do know that Steve has nothing but the greatest respect for Mr. Zappa. I NEVER heard him say anything negative about him.

Actually, I've heard him say negative things about Frank's political leanings, and how he mixed those with his music. I've also heard Vai vent frustration towards lawyers and other unmusical parts of the music business. I've also heard him hint at frustration at other musicians he'd worked with (i.e. Roth). Based on that, I don't think he'd be so openly admiring of the guy if he felt that FZ had $#@$# him over.

[Ekim]

Well considering the last track of REAL ILLUSIONS, I wouldn't say Vai keeps political stuff out of his tunes.

[fettouhi]

Originally Posted by Ekim

Well considering the last track of REAL ILLUSIONS, I wouldn't say Vai keeps political stuff out of his tunes.

Same goes for religion .

Regards

André

[Ekim]

I find it sort of funny that any discussion of Vai's political or religious views are taboo on his official site, but he puts the stuff into his songs. That seems a little hypocritical to me.