FZ chronology

1976

January 6, 1976

Rehearsal

Kaiser Rolls (Du Jour) [70]

January 11-March 13, 1976
Australia, Japan & Europe Tour

	The Mothers Of Invention: FZ--guitar, vocals André Lewis--keyboards, vocals Napoleon Murphy Brock--sax, vocals Roy Estrada--bass, vocals Terry Bozzio--drums, vocals
January 20, 1976	Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia	FZ:OZ [70] Tryin' To Grow A Chin [AAAFNRAA]
February 3, 1976	Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan	Black Napkins [22] [66] Hands With A Hammer [54] Zoot Allures (first part) [54] Ship Ahoy (Zoot Allures outro) [32] [73] aka A Little Green Rosetta (second part) [65]
February 5, 1976	Nihon Seinenkan, Tokyo, Japan	Zoot Allures [66] How Could I Be Such A Fool? (1st half) [70]
March 3, 1976	Tivolis Koncertsal, Copenhagen, Denmark (early show)	Lonely Person Devices [59]

May, 1976	Herb Cohen fired
May-June?, 1976	Record Plant, LA Engineer: Michael Braunstein and/or Davey Moire FZ--guitar Dave Parlato--bass Terry Bozzio--drums	Filthy Habits [25] [65] Zoot Allures [22] [66] The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution (basic track) [25] [65] Friendly Little Finger (drum track) [22]
May-June?, 1976	Record Plant, LA Engineer: Michael Braunstein and/or Davey Moire FZ--guitar, bass Terry Bozzio--drums	Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station [22] The Torture Never Stops [22] [41] Ms Pinky [22] [41] Find Her Finer [22] Friendly Little Finger (overdubs) [22] Wonderful Wino (overdubs) [22] Disco Boy [22] [67]
May-June?, 1976	Record Plant, LA Engineer: Michael Braunstein and/or Davey Moire FZ--guitar, keyboards, vocals Terry Bozzio--vocals Davey Moire--vocals Don Van Vliet--harmonica Ruth Underwood--marimba, synth Roy Estrada--vocals Ruben Ladron de Guevara--vocals Lou Ann Neill--harp André Lewis--vocals Sparkie Parker--vocals	Zoot Allures (overdubs) [22]
May-June?, 1976	Record Plant, LA Patrick O'Hearn--acoustic & electric bass	The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution (bass overdubs) [25] [65] Flambay aka Flambé (bass overdubs) [25] [65] Spider of Destiny (bass overdubs) [25] [65] Rubber Shirt (bass?) [26] Planet of My Dreams (bass overdubs) [40]
1976	Record Plant, LA Davey Moire--vocals Eddie Jobson--keyboards, yodeling Don Brewer--bongos	Lemme Take You To The Beach (overdubs) [24] [65]
August 9, 1976	Grand Funk Railroad Good Singin' Good Playin' (LP, MCA 2216) produced by FZ

October-November 25, 1976
US & Canada Tour

	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ray White--guitar, vocals Bianca--keyboards, vocals (until November 11) Eddie Jobson--keyboards, violin Patrick O'Hearn--bass Terry Bozzio--drums, vocals
October 28, 1976	The Mike Douglas Show, NBC TV FZ with The Mike Douglas Show Band	Black Napkins
October 29, 1976	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Record Plant Mobile (16-track analog)	Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station [59] Philly '76 [86]
October 29, 1976	Zappa Zoot Allures (LP, Warner Bros. BS 2970)
November 11, 1976	Le Colisée, Quebec, Quebec, Canada Bianca last known gig with the band
November 19, 1976	Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan	BTB II: Conceptual Continuity [B27]

December, 1976
New York City, NY

December 11, 1976	Saturday Night Live, NBC TV Zappa & The SNL Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ray White--guitar, vocals Eddie Jobson--keyboards, violin Don Grolnick--keyboards Alan Rubin--trumpet Tom Malone--trombone Ronnie Cuber--baritone sax Lou Marini--tenor sax Mauricio Smith--alto sax Ruth Underwood--percussion Daoud Shaw--percussion Patrick O'Hearn--bass Terry Bozzio--drums, vocals Don Pardo--sophisticated narration* John Belushi--be-bop samurai**	I'm The Slime* Purple Lagoon** Peaches En Regalia
December 26-29, 1976	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ray White--guitar, vocals Eddie Jobson--keyboards, violin Randy Brecker--trumpet Tom Malone--trombone Michael Brecker--tenor sax Ronnie Cuber--baritone sax Lou Marini--alto sax Ruth Underwood--percussion Dave Samuels--percussion Patrick O'Hearn--bass Terry Bozzio--drums, vocals + Don Pardo--sophisticated narration*
December 26, 1976	The Palladium, NYC, NY Fedco Remote (24-track analog) Engineer: Bob Liftin	Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me [23] [65] (parts) Black Napkins [59] (1976 parts) I'm The Slime [23] (parts) * Pound For A Brown [23]
December 27, 1976	The Palladium, NYC, NY Fedco Remote (24-track analog) Engineer: Bob Liftin	I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth aka Läther [23] [65] (parts) Punky's Whips [23] [65] (parts) Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me [23] [65] (arts) I'm The Slime [23] (parts) * Sofa [23] (probably)
December 28, 1976	The Palladium, NYC, NY Fedco Remote (24-track analog) Engineer: Bob Liftin	Punky's Whips [23] [65] (parts) Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me [23] [65] (parts) The Black Page Drum Solo [23] Black Page #1 [23] [65] Big Leg Emma [23] [65] Black Page #2 [23] The Purple Lagoon [23] [65] (parts)
December 29, 1976	The Palladium, NYC, NY Fedco Remote (24-track analog) Engineer: Bob Liftin	Titties & Beer [23] [65] [67] Cruising For Burgers [23] I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth aka Läther [23] [65] (parts) Punky's Whips [23] [65] (parts) * Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me [23] [65] (parts) The Legend Of The Illinois Enema Bandit [23] [65] * Manx Needs Women [23] The Torture Never Stops [23] The Purple Lagoon [23] [65] (parts)

1977

January 13-February 17, 1977
European Tour

January-February, 1977	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ray White--guitar, vocals Eddie Jobson--keyboards, violin Patrick O'Hearn--bass Terry Bozzio--drums, vocals
February 16, 1977	Hammersmith Odeon, London Manor Mobile Engineer: Alan P.	Broken Hearts Are For Assholes (parts) [65]
February 17, 1977	Hammersmith Odeon, London Manor Mobile Engineer: Alan P.	Pink Napkins (Black Napkins solo) [32] Leather Goods [65] including Duck Duck Goose (part one) [65]
January-February, 1977	Unknown locations (prob. February 9-10 or 16-17, London, UK)	Tryin' To Grow A Chin [65] Broken Hearts Are For Assholes (parts) [65] Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me (parts?) [65]

early 1977	The Record Plant, LA Engineers: Rick Smith & Davey Moire FZ--guitar over-dubs Ruth Underwood--percussion over-dubs John Bergamo--percussion over-dubs Ed Mann--percussion over-dubs Lou Anne Neill--osmotic harp over-dubs	Zappa In New York (overdubs) [23]
June 30, 1977	Zappa In New York announced as "imminent," but delayed.
c. 1977	Patrick O'Hearn--voice Terry Bozzio--voice Davey Moire--voice	What Ever Happened To All The Fun In The World [26] We've Got To Get Into Something Real aka Wait A Minute [26] Sheik Yerbouti (dialog) [26] Easy Meat (dialog) [30] Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar (dialog) [31] Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar Some More (dialog) [32] Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar (dialog) [33] Läther (dialog) [65]
1977	Robert Charlebois Swing Charlebois Swing (LP, Canadian Solution SN 939) including Petroleum (Charlebois) with FZ on guitar
	Peter Wolf audition
	Tommy Mars audition

September 8-December 31, 1977
US (& Canada) Tour

	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Adrian Belew--guitar, vocals Tommy Mars--keyboards, vocals Peter Wolf--keyboards Ed Mann--percussion, vocals Patrick O'Hearn--bass, vocals Terry Bozzio--drums, vocals
October 28, 1977	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (?) Engineer: Kerry McNab	Bowling On Charen (Wild Love solo) [77]
October 29, 1977	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (?) Engineer: Kerry McNab	Jones Crusher [37] (early show)
October 30, 1977	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (?) Engineer: Kerry McNab	Jewish Princess (basic track) [26] [67] The Poodle Lecture [59] Is That Guy Kidding of What? [59]
October 31, 1977	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (?) Engineer: Kerry McNab	Jones Crusher (basic track) [26] The Black Page #2 [37] Tryin' To Grow A Chin [59]
October 28-31, 1977	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (?) Engineer: Kerry McNab	Intro Rap [37] Titties & Beer [37] Disco Boy [37] Dinah-Moe Humm [37] Punky's Whips [37] Dickie's Such An Asshole (final dialog) [54] Baby Snakes (the movie)
October 31, 1977	Läther (4LP, Zappa SRZ-4-1500) (Original release date: cancelled)
December, 1977	FZ plays Läther, the whole 4LP album, on the air at KROQ-FM, LA

1978

Early 1978

Rehearsals at Sheperton Studios, London, UK

January 24-February 28, 1978
European Tour

January 25, 1978	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK	I Have Been In You (basic track) [26] Flakes (basic track) [26] Baby Snakes (basic track) [26] [37] Jones Crusher [89] The Little House I Used To Live In [89] Dong Work For Yuda [89] Black Napkins [89] San Ber'dino [89]
January 26, 1978	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK	I Have Been In You [89] Punky's Whips [89] Titties 'N Beer [89] Audience Participation [89] The Black Page #2 [89] Bobby Brown [89] Envelopes [89] Terry Firma [89] Disco Boy [89] Dinah-Moe Humm [89] Camarillo Brillo [89] Muffin Man [89] City Of Tiny Lites [AAAFNRAAAA]
January 27, 1978	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK	Broken Hearts Are For Assholes (basic track) [26] Bobby Brown (basic track) [26] [67] Tryin' To Grow A Chin (basic track) (prob.) [26] City Of Tiny Lights (basic track) (prob.) [26] Yo' Mama (part of the basic track for the solo) [26] Convocation/The Purple Lagoon [89] Dancin' Fool [89] Watermelon In Easter Hay [89]
February 15, 1978	Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany Scully 4-track analog	Rat Tomago (solo from The Torture Never Stops) [26] The Sheik Yerbouti Tango (solo from The Little House I Used To Live In) [26]
February 24, 1978	Rhein-Neckar Stadion, Eppelheim, Germany	Watermelon In Easter Hay [66] Heidelberg [83] aka A Solo From Heidelberg [The Guitar World According To Frank Zappa]
February 25, 1978	Hemmerleinhalle, Neunkirchen am Brand, Germany Scully 4-track analog Recording engineer: Davey Moire	Yo' Mama (guitar solo) [26] White Person [59]
February 28, 1978	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK	Dancin' Fool (basic track) [26] [AAAFNRAAA] Wild Love (basic track) [26] [73] Yo' Mama (vocal sections basic track) [26] Peaches En Regalia [89] The Torture Never Stops [89] Tryin' To Grow A Chin [89] City Of Tiny Lites [89] Baby Snakes [89] Pound For A Brown [89] Flakes [89] Broken Hearts Are For Assholes [89] King Kong [89]
January 25-27 or February 28, 1978	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK	I'm So Cute (basic track) [26]
c. January-February, 1978	Unknown venue	The Torture Never Stops [51]

March 13, 1978	Zappa Zappa In New York (2LP, DiscReet 2D 2290)
c. 1978	Zappa basement FZ--synthesizers	Basement Music #1 [64] Basement Music #2 [73]
c. March, 1978	Village Recorders, LA Recording engineer: Joe Chiccarelli FZ--lead guitar, vocals Tommy Mars--keyboards, vocals Terry Bozzio--percussion, vocals Ed Mann--percussion, vocals David Ocker--clarinets Napoleon M. Brock--background vocals André Lewis--background vocals Randy Thornton--background vocals Davey Moire--background vocals	Sheik Yerbouti (overdubs) [26] including: Wild Love (over-dubs) [26] [73] The Revenge of The Knick Knack People (parts?) [65] Drooling Midrange Accountants On Easter Hay (prob.) [73]
April 30, 1978	Village Recorders, LA Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli	Venusian Time Bandits (guitar solo from Trouble Every Day) (4-channel mix) [73] Basement Music #2 (4-channel mix) [73]
May 10, 1978	Village Recorders, LA Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli	Drooling Midrange Accountants On Easter Hay (4-channel mix) [73] Wild Love (4-channel mix) [73]
May 15, 1978	Village Recorders, LA Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli	Ship Ahoy (4-channel mix) [73]
May 23, 1978	Village Recorders, LA Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli	Naval Aviation In Art? (4-channel mix) [73] Lumpy Gravy (4-channel mix) [73]
May 24, 1978	Village Recorders, LA Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli	Rollo (4-channel mix) [73]
June 15, 1978	Culver City, LA Arthur Barrow audition
August, 1978	Culver City, LA Rehearsals

August 26-October 31, 1978
Europe, US & Canada Tour

	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ike Willis--guitar, vocals (until October 14) Denny Walley--guitar, vocals Tommy Mars--keyboards Peter Wolf--keyboards Ed Mann--percussion Patrick O'Hearn--bass (since October 13) Arthur Barrow--bass Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
September 3, 1978	Ludwigsparkstadion, Saarbrücken, Germany	BTB I: Saarbrücken 1978 [B17]
September 8, 1978	Circus Krone, Munich, Germany	We Don't Mess Around BTB II: At The Circus [B24]
September 15, 1978	Frank Zappa Studio Tan (LP, DiscReet DSK 2291)
October 13, 1978	Capitol Theatre, Passaic, New Jersey Patrick O'Hearn joins the band	Suicide Chump (video) [71]
October 14, 1978	Cole Fieldhouse, College Park, Maryland Ike Willis last gig of 1978
October 21, 1978	Saturday Night Live, NBC TV FZ--vocals Denny Walley--guitar, vocals Tommy Mars--keyboards, vocals Peter Wolf--keyboards Ed Mann--percussion Patrick O'Hearn--bass Arthur Barrow--bass Vinnie Colaiuta--drums + Alan Rubin--trumpet Tom Malone--trombone Lew Del Gatto--alto sax Lou Marini--tenor & soprano sax Howard Johnson--baritone sax + John Belushi--be-bop samurai*	Dancin' Fool [71] The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing Rollo*
October 23, 1978	Flint Flint (LP, Columbia JC-35574) featuring FZ guitar on "Better You Than Me" and "You'll Never Be The Same"
October 27, 1978	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (24-track analog) Recording engineer: Joe Chiccarelli L. Shankar--guest violin*	Dance Contest [30] Theme From The 3rd Movement of Sinister Footwear (guitar solo) [34] Thirteen (violin solo) [59]* Easy Meat [71] Magic Fingers (parts) [71] Dinah-Moe Humm [71] Camarillo Brillo [71] Muffin Man [71]
October 28, 1978	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (24-track analog) Recording engineer: Joe Chiccarelli L. Shankar--guest violin*	Pound For A Brown - solos [57] Conehead [71]*
October 29, 1978	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (24-track analog) Recording engineer: Joe Chiccarelli	I Have Been In You [59] Lobster Girl [59]
October 31, 1978	The Palladium, NYC Record Plant Mobile (24-track analog) Recording engineer: Joe Chiccarelli L. Shankar--guest violin*	Little Rubber Girl [57] Thirteen (guitar solo) [59]* Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance [59]* NYC Audience [71] Ancient Armaments [71] [AAAFNRAAA] Dancin' Fool [71] Magic Fingers (parts) [71] Don't Eat The Yellow Snow [71] "Zeets" (Colaiuta) [71] Stink-Foot [71] Black Napkins (The Deathless Horsie) [71]*

December 2, 1978

The Nova Convention, NYC

FZ--narrator

The Talking Asshole (Burroughs) [The Nova Convention (Giorno Poetry Systems GPS 014-015)]

1979

January 12, 1979	Frank Zappa Sleep Dirt (LP, DiscReet DSK 2292)
February, 1979	London, UK Rehearsals
c. February, 1979	London, UK	L. Shankar Touch Me There Dead Girls Of London (VM) (FZ/Shankar) [AAAFNRAAAAAM]

February 10-April 1, 1979
European Tour

	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ike Willis--guitar, vocals Denny Walley--guitar, vocals Warren Cuccurullo--guitar Tommy Mars--keyboards Peter Wolf--keyboards Ed Mann--percussion Arthur Barrow--bass Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
February 17, 1979	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK Rolling Stones (or Island) Mobile Recording engineer: Mick Glossop	Treacherous Cretins [31] Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar (Inca Roads solo) [31] Why Johnny Can't Read (Pound For A Brown solo) [33]
February 18, 1979	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK Rolling Stones (or Island) Mobile Recording engineer: Mick Glossop	For The Young Sophisticate [30] Brown Shoes Don't Make It [30] Peaches III [30] Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar Some More (Inca Roads solo) [32] Gee, I Like Your Pants (Inca Roads solo) [32] Tryin' To Grow A Chin [51] Nanook Rubs It [51] Florentine Pogen (parts) [57] Dirty Love [59]
February 19, 1979	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK Rolling Stones (or Island) Mobile Recording engineer: Mick Glossop	Bamboozled By Love [30] five-five-FIVE (after-Conehead solo) [31] Canarsie (basic track) [32] The Deathless Horsie [32] Return Of The Son Of Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar (Inca Roads solo) [33] Diseases Of The Band [51] Don't Eat The Yellow Snow [51] St Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast [51] Father O'Blivion [51] Rollo [51]
February 17-19, 1979	Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK	Dead Girls Of London (FZ/Shankar) [AAAFNRAA] Jumbo Go Away [AAAFNRAAAA]
February 24, 1979	Nouvel Hippodrome, Paris, France	BTB I: Anyway The Wind Blows [B15]
March 3, 1979	Frank Zappa Sheik Yerbouti (2LP, Zappa SRZ-2-1501)
March 16, 1979	Pau, France	Treacherous Cretins [AAAFNRAAAA]
March 21, 1979	Rhein-Neckarhalle, Eppelheim, Germany	Toad-O Line (guitar solo from Inca Roads) [28] aka Occam's Razor [83] Ask Dr. Stupid (Easy Meat solo) [77]
March 23, 1979	Graz, Austria	He Used To Cut The Grass (guitar solo, probably) [29] Gorgeous Inca (Inca Roads solo) [AAAFNRAAA]
March 27, 1979	Rhein-Main-Halle, Wiesbaden, Germany Scully 4-track analog Recording engineer: Klaus Wiedemann	Systems of Edges (Inca Roads solo) [50] Packard Goose (2nd part of the guitar solo, from the late show Opening Solo) [29]
March 31, 1979	Rudi-Sedlmeyer Sporthalle, Munich, Germany (early show) Scully 4-track analog Recording engineer: Klaus Wiedemann	Outside Now (guitar solo) (taken from City Of Tiny Lites) [29]
March 31, 1979	Rudi-Sedlmeyer Sporthalle, Munich, Germany (late show) Scully 4-track analog Recording engineer: Klaus Wiedemann	Keep It Greasey (guitar solo) aka Outside Now (original solo) (taken from City Of Tiny Lites) [29] [50]
April 1, 1979	Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland	Packard Goose (1st part of the guitar solo, from Easy Meat) [29] Outside Now (parts) [29]

April-June, 1979	Village Recorders, LA Recording engineer: Joe Chiccarelli FZ--vocals Ike Willis--vocals Warren Cuccurullo--guitar, electric sitar Denny Walley--guitar, slide guitar Peter Wolf--keyboards Tommy Mars--keyboards* Arthur Barrow--bass, guitar Ed Mann--percussion Vinnie Colaiuta--drums Al Malkin--vocals	The Central Scrutinizer [28] Joe's Garage [28]* Catholic Girls [28] [67] Crew Slut [28]* Wet T-Shirt Nite [28] Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? [28] Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up [28] A Token Of My Extreme [29] Stick It Out [29] Sy Borg [29] Dong Work For Yuda (FZ/Smothers) [29] Keep It Greasey [29]* Outside Now [29] He Used To Cut The Grass [29] Packard Goose [29] Watermelon In Easter Hay [29] [66] A Little Green Rosetta [29] While You Were Out (drum track) [31] Canarsie (overdubs) [32] Stucco Homes (drum track) [33]
	Dale Bozzio--vocals	Catholic Girls [28] [67] Crew Slut [28] Wet T-Shirt Nite [28] Packard Goose [29]
	Terry Bozzio--vocals	Dong Work For Yuda (FZ/Smothers) [29]
	Craig Steward--harmonica	Joe's Garage [28] Crew Slut [28]
	Jeff--tenor sax Marginal Chagrin--baritone sax Stumuk--bass sax	Joe's Garage [28]
	Patrick O'Hearn--bass	Outside Now [29] Canarsie (overdubs) [32]
1979	Ken-Dun Studios, LA	Joe's Garage (mastering)
May 4, 1979	Frank Zappa Orchestral Favorites (LP, DiscReet DSK 2294)
June 13, 1979	Vienna Symphony Orchestra concert at Stadt Halle (cancelled)
June 18, 1979	The Nova Convention (2LP, Giorno Poetry Systems GPS 014-015) including The Talking Asshole (Burroughs) narrated by FZ
July 30, 1979	Diva Zappa is born
1979	UMRK? Recording engineer: Steve Nye Warren Cuccurullo--rhythm guitar	While You Were Out (overdubs) [31] Stucco Homes (overdubs) [33]
1979	UMRK? Recording engineer: Steve Nye FZ--lead guitar	While You Were Out (overdubs) [31] Stucco Homes (overdubs) [33]
September 1, 1979	UMRK studio completed
September 3, 1979	Zappa Joe's Garage Act I (LP, Zappa SRZ-1-1603)
September 24, 1979	L. Shankar Touch Me There (LP, Zappa SRZ-1-1602) produced by FZ
November 19, 1979	Frank Zappa Joe's Garage Acts II & III (2LP, Zappa SRZ-2-1502)
Late 1979	Rehearsals
	FZ--guitar, vocals Ike Willis--guitar, vocals Ray White--guitar, vocals Tommy Mars--keyboards Arthur Barrow--bass Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
December 21, 1979	Victoria Theatre, NYC	Baby Snakes (the movie)

1980

February 1980

Ocean Way Recorders, Hollywood

Recording engineer: Alan Sides (probably)

FZ--guitar, vocals
Tommy Mars--keyboards, vocals
Arthur Barrow--bass
Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
Terry Bozzio--vocals
Dale Bozzio--vocals
Ike Willis--vocals
Ray White--vocals

I Don't Wanna Get Drafted [64]

Early 1980

Vinnie Colaiuta quits; Sinclair Lott and then David Logeman replace him

March 25-May 11, 1980
US Tour

	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ike Willis--guitar, vocals Ray White--guitar, vocals Tommy Mars--keyboards Arthur Barrow--bass David Logeman--drums
April 28, 1980	Frank Zappa I Don't Wanna Get Drafted / Ancient Armaments (7", Zappa ZR 1001)
April 29, 1980	Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA	Easy Meat (1st part, basic track) [30] I'm A Beautiful Guy (basic track) [34] If Only She Woulda (basic track) [34]
May 8, 1980	Mudd Club, NYC Nagra 2-track "near the cash register behind the bar" Recording engineer: Klaus Wiedemann	Love Of My Life (Mudd Club version) [57]

May 23-July 3, 1980
European Tour

July 3, 1980

Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany

PCM 1600 2-track digital
Recording engineer: Mick Glossop

You Didn't Try To Call Me [51]

July-September, 1980

UMRK

Recording engineers: Mark Pinske & Alan Sides

Fine Girl [30]
You Are What You Is [34] including:
Goblin Girl [34] [67]
You Are What You Is [34] [41]
Mudd Club [34] [41]
The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing [34] [41]

September-October, 1980

Rehearsals

October-December, 1980
US & Canada Tour

	Zappa Band: FZ--guitar, vocals Ike Willis--guitar, vocals Ray White--guitar, vocals Steve Vai--guitar Tommy Mars--keyboards Bob Harris--keyboards, trumpet, vocals Arthur Barrow--bass Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
October 16, 1980	Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, Texas UMRK Portable Studio (24-track analog) Recording engineer: George Douglas (the same for the rest of the tour except where indicated)	The Dangerous Kitchen (except last verse) [36]
October 17, 1980	Convention Center, Dallas, Texas	Pick Me, I'm Clean (2nd part) [30]
October 18, 1980	Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma	Hog Heaven (1st part; Easy Meat solo) [31]
October 19, 1980	KPFT Houston FZ plays his next album called Crush All Boxes (re-worked later as parts of You Are What You Is)
October 25, 1980	Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY	Buffalo [80]
October 30, 1980	The Palladium, NYC	Beat It With Your Fist (The Torture Never Stops solo) [33] Another Variation Of the Formerly Secret (City Of Tiny Lights solo) [AAAFNRAAAAAM]
November 15, 1980	Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois	Now You See It--Now You Don't (probably opening solo) [30] The Jazz Discharge Party Hats (basic track) [36]
November 16, 1980	Dane County Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin	The Madison Panty-Sniffing Festival [59]
December 3, 1980	Terrace Ballroom, Salt Lake City, Utah (late show)	Tracy Is A Snob [59] Emperor Of Ohio [59]
December 5, 1980	Berkeley Community Theater Recording engineer: Tommy Fly	Love Of My Life [30] I Ain't Got No Heart [30] Panty Rap [30] Tell Me You Love Me [30] The Blue Light (parts) [30] [41] Tinsel Town Rebellion [30] Pick Me, I'm Clean (1st part) [30] Heavy Duty Judy [31] Pinocchio's Furniture (Chunga's Revenge solo) [33] Magic Fingers [59]
December 11, 1980	Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California Recording engineers: George Douglas with Thom Ehle	Easy Meat (solo and 2nd part) [30] The Blue Light (parts) [30] [41] Soup 'N Old Clothes (Illinois Enema Bandit solo) [31] Variations On The Carlos Santana Secret Chord Progression (City Of Tiny Lites solo) [32] I'm So Cute [59] Ms Pinky [59] You Are What You Is [AAAFNRAA]
October-December, 1980	Unidentified date & venue	Hog Heaven (2nd part; probably Easy Meat solo) [31]

facts are stupid things

live performances

touring bands

studio recordings

album or single release

This project researched & developed by Román García Albertos
http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/
WARNING: This is not a complete list of FZ concerts, as only those of special significance or which are represented in FZ's official output appear in this chronology. If you're looking for an exhaustive list of FZ concerts go to Charles Ulrich's Frank Zappa Gig List, and if you're looking for the complete known setlists go to Oscar Bianco's FZShows, v. 7.1.
Here's a list of main sources & contributions
Release dates taken from Greg Russo's book Cosmik Debris (The Son of Revised Edition)
Concert dates and venues taken from Charles Ulrich's Frank Zappa Gig List
Corrections & additions welcome
This page updated: 2012-02-04

FZ chronology

1976

January 11-March 13, 1976 Australia, Japan & Europe Tour

October-November 25, 1976 US & Canada Tour

December, 1976 New York City, NY

1977

January 13-February 17, 1977 European Tour

September 8-December 31, 1977 US (& Canada) Tour