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Mother!: The Frank Zappa Story
When Frank Zappa died of cancer in 1993, the world lost a talent with a memorably irreverent, intelligent personality. Here Michael Gray follows the trajectory of Zappa’s career, documenting his move to California and the formation of The Mothers of Invention. The short but remarkable life of one of rock’s most un-compromising figures is updated here to include a reassessment of Zappa’s continued influence on a new generation of artists and fans. 60 black-and-white photographs are included.
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
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About the author
Michael Gray
133 books28 followersMichael Gray is a critic, writer, public speaker & broadcaster recognised as a world authority on the work of Bob Dylan, and as an expert on rock’n’roll history. He also has a special interest in pre-war blues, and in travel.
His latest book, in 3 volumes, is the 50th Anniversary re-publication of his classic pioneering study of Bob Dylan's work, Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan. Instead of the 900+ page 1-volume whopper that has been out of print for over ten years, the new series is published by The FM Press (NYC). Volume 1: Language & Tradition, is out now either from http://amzn.to/43q3MHn or can be ordered from your favourite bookstore, ISBN 979-8-9-9882887-0-1.
Michael grew up near Liverpool, England, went to the Cavern, and graduated from the University of York with a BA in History & English in 1967, having interviewed (as a student journalist) the distinguished British historian A.J.P. Taylor and the distinguished American guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
His pioneering study Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan, published in the UK in 1972, was the first full-length critical study of Dylan’s work. US and Japanese hardback editions, and a UK paperback, were published in 1973. A second, updated edition was published in 1981 in the UK and 1982 in North America.
The massive third edition Song & Dance Man III - including a 112-page study of Dylan’s use of the blues - was published in December 1999 in the UK and early in 2000 in the US. A seventh reprint was issued in 2008, and the book remained in print until late 2010.
More: see http://www.michaelgray.net/biography....
His latest book, in 3 volumes, is the 50th Anniversary re-publication of his classic pioneering study of Bob Dylan's work, Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan. Instead of the 900+ page 1-volume whopper that has been out of print for over ten years, the new series is published by The FM Press (NYC). Volume 1: Language & Tradition, is out now either from http://amzn.to/43q3MHn or can be ordered from your favourite bookstore, ISBN 979-8-9-9882887-0-1.
Michael grew up near Liverpool, England, went to the Cavern, and graduated from the University of York with a BA in History & English in 1967, having interviewed (as a student journalist) the distinguished British historian A.J.P. Taylor and the distinguished American guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
His pioneering study Song & Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan, published in the UK in 1972, was the first full-length critical study of Dylan’s work. US and Japanese hardback editions, and a UK paperback, were published in 1973. A second, updated edition was published in 1981 in the UK and 1982 in North America.
The massive third edition Song & Dance Man III - including a 112-page study of Dylan’s use of the blues - was published in December 1999 in the UK and early in 2000 in the US. A seventh reprint was issued in 2008, and the book remained in print until late 2010.
More: see http://www.michaelgray.net/biography....
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 13, 2016
This was a very interesting book. Rather than a freak, Frank Zappa seemed to have been a very hard worker and a difficult task master. He required a lot from the musicians that played with him. The author provides great detail about the dates and venues of concerts and recordings and the musicians involved. Rather than dealing so much with these facts I would rather the author talked more about Frank the individual and the music he created.
July 8, 2014
This was one of the better Frank Zappa biographies that I've read, mainly because it doesn't take sides; Mr. Gray gives a good amount of viewpoints on many contentious moments in Zappa's life, and even lays out the known inconsistencies in the stories of various parties involved.
The book covers Zappa's life right up to his death and the establishment of the Zappa Family Trust and his final concerts in conjunction with the Yellow Shark album, the last he produced while he was alive. Zappa's home life at various stages is often the main focus of the narrative, showcases many of the weird relationships that were reflected in his early music with the Mothers. It is also interesting to see a third-party view of many of the more litigious events of Zappa's life, such as his arrest for creating pornography (during a police sting) and his case against the Royal Albert Hall. It also does not hide the fact that as a human being, Zappa could often be a bit of a jerk; To him, musicians were often just faulty instruments, not people (and sometimes not people to be paid properly).
The story is very well-written, given the usual nature of these sorts of things, and there's a decent discography in the back of the book (though it only consists of titles and record numbers). I'd definitely recommend this one to any Frank Zappa/Mothers fan.
The book covers Zappa's life right up to his death and the establishment of the Zappa Family Trust and his final concerts in conjunction with the Yellow Shark album, the last he produced while he was alive. Zappa's home life at various stages is often the main focus of the narrative, showcases many of the weird relationships that were reflected in his early music with the Mothers. It is also interesting to see a third-party view of many of the more litigious events of Zappa's life, such as his arrest for creating pornography (during a police sting) and his case against the Royal Albert Hall. It also does not hide the fact that as a human being, Zappa could often be a bit of a jerk; To him, musicians were often just faulty instruments, not people (and sometimes not people to be paid properly).
The story is very well-written, given the usual nature of these sorts of things, and there's a decent discography in the back of the book (though it only consists of titles and record numbers). I'd definitely recommend this one to any Frank Zappa/Mothers fan.
July 24, 2008
I like this one for its encyclopedic knowledge of day-to-day ZAPPA events as they happened. Like most of his bios, it kind of gets tough to read about his 80's albums and subsequent dying. Still, the BEST ZAPPA BOOK EVER.
August 5, 2016
perfectly enjoyable but very basic with lots and lots of holes - most comprehensive as a studio/live date timeline and personnel roster
August 31, 2015
I wanted to like it. Having read some of the other reviews, I am left to wonder if I read the same book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews