January, 1976
ABC TV, Australia
4 min.
Frank plays acoustic guitar while Norman plays harmonica.
NG was a character, running a tv talk show that was broadcast nationally in Aus, famous for his irreverent humour and satirising the lounge-act talk shows then fashionable. NG was noted for asking guests, including visiting performers, hard questions probing trendy gossip.
FZ accepted the invitation to appear on NG's show in 76. At the end of the interview, NG pulled out his harmonica and offered to jam with FZ. FZ, seemingly thinking that NG was a lightweight, obliged and was then taken aback when the two of them pulled off a respectable musical moment or two.
You obviously know more about this subject than I do, but I do have to take issue with this comment. I have a video snippet of this performance, and NG comes across as a fool. FZ comes across as thinking he's a fool, and the musical performance is rather lame. Still an amusing bit of history though...
That, ie coming across as a fool, was NG's act. The NG character was based on being the antithesis of a suave, sophisticated, all-knowing, well-briefed tv-show host. Hence the pieces of toilet paper, permanently applied to NG's face to staunch the blood from his razor cuts. Hence the ill-fitting and unsightly jacket etc.
As for the musical performance being lame, you could be right. I do remember, at the time of the original broadcast, thinking that NG had surprised FZ with NG's musical ability and that both of them had acquitted themselves reasonably well for something that was unscripted, unrehearsed and, at least for FZ, unexpected.
I'd like to know what the small musical joke was that Gunston threw in at the end of the that little jelly (oh sorry you guys call it a jam over there don't you?). I think it was some very official trumpet playing which is or was used in full military ceremonies in Australia. Probably such as when the queen comes to town. As the interview seemed to have been prerecorded Zappa wasn't aware of the laughter. Gunston was "taking the piss" out of Zappa by making a reference he was oblivious to. Your own medicine tastes wierd.
re:cool zeek in the corner's question about the meaning of the last bit of the harmonica/guitar duet between Norman Gunston & FZ, Gunston threw in the the theme from the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ie public TV/radio)'s nightly TV news. I remember rolling around on the floor. Why is such incongruity so funny? Probably something to do with lifting the ordinary into the realms of the banal being one of the cores of comic effectiveness.
The musical reference that Gunston (aka Garry MacDonald) uses to close his harmonica jelly with FZ is 'Majestic Fanfare' written in 1935 by the British composer Charles Williams (1893 - 1978).
CW is perhaps better remembered for his 'Dream of Owen', but 20th century Australians knew 'Majestic Fanfare' as the theme music for radio and television news programs on the government funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC, formerly the Australian Broadcasting Commission).
The ABC paid Richard Mills to 're-orchestrate' its news theme and started using the new theme (which still refers to 'Majestic Fanfare' in 2000.
Norman Gunston was a satirical character created by the Australian comic actor Garry McDonald.
Dubbed "the little Aussie bleeder" he first appeared on the TV comedy The Aunty Jack Show in 1973 as a gormless TV reporter from Woolongong. He later satirised parochial Australian culture, media "personalities", egocentric talk show hosts and sycophantic "all-round entertainers" in Woolongong The Brave (1974) and the award-winning Norman Gunston Show (first broadcast in 1975).
Norman Gunston later appeared on stage with the Mothers, as heard on FZ:OZ.
YouTube: Norman Gunston Show (04:16 min.)
January 30, 1976
NBC TV
11 min.
Hosted by Helen Reddy
Frank describes his life and career.
March 8, 1976
According to the correspondants of the Spanish mag Popular 1 (see issue #34 April 1976) at Palais des Sports concert who estimated an audience about 4000, a half entry to show. "It's 10 o'clock at night (...), at hall sport gate there is no crowd this time, perhaps because Zappa will make an appearance on T.V."
March 18, 1976
WDR, Germany
1 min.
Short interview wherein FZ talks about the biggest problem in the world: bad mental health.
October 28, 1976 (aired November 11, 1976)
NBC TV
15 min.
October-November, 1976
Unidentified date & venue
December 6, 1976
The Bottom Line, NYC, NY
5 min.
FZ--guest guitar & vocals
Howard Kaylan--vocals, tambourine
Mark Volman--vocals, tambourine
+
Flo & Eddie Band
I think I recognize Craig Krampf [drums], Erik Scott [bass], and Bruce Fowler [trombone] in the video, all of whom were in the Flo & Eddie band in 1976. (An off-camera saxophone is also audible. That would be Albert Wing. Walt Fowler played trumpet.)
From Russo (p131, Son of Revised):
"Zappa also appeared at a Flo & Eddie show at The Bottom Line in New York in December [1976]."
He doesn't give the exact date, but I should be able to find it in the Village Voice.
So I think it's highly likely that the "What Kind Of Girl?" video comes from The Bottom Line, New York, December 1976.
It was a two-night engagement, so I don't know the exact date that FZ sat in. But it was either Sunday, December 5, 1976, or Monday, December 6, 1976.
The Bottom Line's (official?) website has the performance history of the venue: http://www.bottomlinecabaret.com/tline_76.html And it includes this entry:
DEC 5-6, 1976
FLO AND EDDIE
JIMMIE SPHEERIS
* FRANK ZAPPA romps with FLO AND EDDIE on the night of Dec 6
December 11, 1976
Saturday Night Live, NBC TV
90 min. (full show)
December 22, 1976
WNEW 5, NYC
10 min.
Hosted by Bill Boggs (interview)
December 26-29, 1976
The Palladium, NYC, NY
I will also mention that the Palladium show in '76 with the Brecker Bros.
was filmed - I saw the camera right near the soundboard. Don't remember
it it was 16mm or what....
May 21, 1977
ITV, UK
52 min.
Directed by Tony Palmer
October 28-31, 1977
The Palladium, NYC, NY
February 19, 1978
Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
21 min.
An interview between the two shows in which FZ talks about the slime on your TV set, politics, the audience, Baby Snakes, synthesizers, the origin of "Dinah-Moe Humm," and his vocals on Over-Nite Sensation. Also there are some short interviews to concert attendants.
Interview before a concert in Sweden, with some music and footage in between.
YouTube: Cadillac Extravaganza, Part 1 (Swedish broadcast) (04:45 min.) · Part 2 (05:33 min.) · Part 3 (00:59 min.)
March 30, 1978
ORF TV, Austria
34 min.
Directed by
Rudolf Dolezal
and
Klaus Hundsbichler
Then, the interview with Rudi, excerpts from 200 Motels ("Mystery Roach"), the performance of "Bobby Brown" with Tommy Mars with another interview about modern music and Mozart, and finally of course the Cadillac extravaganza.
Interviews and tour report. Frank and the interviewer (Rudi Dolezal) have a disagreement about Cadillacs, which results in a small movie under FZ's direction - funny. Also a rare performance of Bobby Brown, with just FZ and Tommy Mars on the piano.
The "Rudi's Cadillac Extravaganza" should be called "Ohne Maulkorb", which is the name of this first great DoRo (Rudi Dolezal, Hannes Rossacher) film. I'm pretty sure there are no 55 min versions. FZ is at his sneering, cynical "best". The comment "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a classic example of a jerk for an interviewer" is a classic.
Actually "Ohne Maulkorb" (translated "Without Muzzle") is not a film, but a youth orientated Austrian bi-weekly TV show, which was aired IIRC from the end of the 60's to the second half of the 80's. Each episode lasted 45-60 minutes and comprised documentaries about socio-political and musical issues. Regarding the length of the Zappa feature I cannot make a definitive statement, because I've only seen the parts which Rudi Dolezal used in his "Das Leben als Extravaganza" (1993).
In the "Ohne Maulkorb" docu Dolezal asks Zappa, if driving to concerts in a Cadillac is appropriate for an Underground icon. With his indignant counterquestions FZ pretty quickly disconcerts the rookie interviewer. Later that night... under Zappa's direction Dolezal stars as Cadillac maniac who has to be spanked to exorcize his demons.
Amusing sidenote: In the above mentioned "Das Leben als Extravaganza" FZ's "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a classic example of a jerk for an interviewer" had rather euphemistic German subtitles: "Meine Damen und Herren das ist eine sinnlose Frage." ("Ladies and Gentlemen this is a meaningless question").
Additional informant: Brian Lagerman
YouTube: Cadillac Extravaganza, Part 3 (Swedish broadcast) (06:26 min.) · Part 4 (05:28 min.) · Part 5 (06:12 min.) · Part 6 (06:01 min.)
Spring 1978
Village Recorders, LA
August 26, 1978
Open Air Festival, Friedrichsau Festplatz, Ulm, Germany
FZ--lead guitar/vocals
Ike Willis--guitar/vocals
Denny Walley--slide guitar/vocals
Tommy Mars--keyboards/vocals
Peter Wolf--keyboards
Ed Mann--percussion/vocals
Arthur Barrow--bass/vocals
Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
September 8, 1978
Circus Krone, Munich, Germany
60 min.
October 13, 1978
Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
FZ--lead guitar/vocals
Ike Willis--guitar/vocals
Denny Walley--slide guitar/vocals
Tommy Mars--keyboards/vocals
Peter Wolf--keyboards
Ed Mann--percussion/vocals
Patrick O'Hearn--bass
Arthur
Barrow--bass/vocals
Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
Suicide Chump (from the late show) has been released as a bonus video track on Halloween.
historicfilms.com lists black and white footage of both shows:
ME-108 * ROCK MUSIC * 1978 * B&W * 2 HOURS PART 1 OF 2
FRANK ZAPPA PERFORMS LIVE AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE IN PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY. 10/13/78. FIRST SHOW.ME-109 * ROCK MUSIC * 1978 * B&W * PART 2 OF 2
FRANK ZAPPA PERFORMS LIVE AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE IN PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY. 10/13/78. SECOND SHOW.
October 21, 1978
Saturday Night Live, NBC TV
1979
110 min.
Directed by Bill L. Norton
In the beginning of "More American Graffiti" where they play a bit of "Lumpy Gravy". The part that says "There it goes again... a little pig with wings."
March 2, 1979
Ekeberghallen, Oslo, Norway
7 min.
FZ--lead guitar/vocals
Ike Willis--guitar/vocals
Denny Walley--slide guitar/vocals
Warren Cuccurullo--guitar
Tommy Mars--keyboards/vocals
Peter Wolf--keyboards
Ed Mann--percussion/vocals
Arthur Barrow--bass/vocals
Vinnie Colaiuta--drums
7 minutes, black and white, lots of edits.
Audience shot. My copy is in color and both picture and sound are far better than you'd expect. Unfortunately, it's cut to smithereens, and there are only snippets of each song.
Band Intros, Dead Girls Of London, Brown Shows Don't Make It, City Of Tiny Lights, Easy Meat, Jumbo Go Away, Andy, Inca Roads, Florentine Pogen, Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me
Nice to see my old Super 8 film being listed on this fantastic web site. Since I was the one who actually shot the film with my film camera I thought I'd tell you how it came about.
When I went to the concert with my friends here in Norway, I smuggeled a Super 8 movie camera into the concert hall. As you know the guards in those days didn't like anything resembling a tape recorder so a movie camera with possibilities to record sound would not be very popular among them.
This was in march so it's usually quite cold and snowy in Norway. I had a big jacket on and a big scarf. My movie camera was a Canon 814XLS (I think it was called) and it folded neatly into a small bag that I hung around my neck underneath the scarft. It was impossible to see. I just looked a tiny bit fatter, that's all.
When we got through the checkup, the guards always checked for bottles etc, they only ranscaked you on the sides though, never on the front. So I got in, no problem.
In those days I didn't have much money so I could only aford two cassettes of film. The Super 8 Sound film came on cassettes that lasted about 3 minutes if you filmed at 18 frames per second. Even though I usually filmed at 24 frames per second it made sense to film at 18 because then each frame would get more light. It is kinda dark in concert halls even with lots of lights on the stage, at least when you're using cinefilm.
The film I used was Kodak Ektachrome 160. That was most light sensitive film you could get in those casettes that were commonly used in sound Super 8 Sound cameras. The film had a megnetic tape attatched to the film opposite the perforation side. So you just recorded the sound like a tape recorder and the soundtrack went with the film in the development process and the film came back ready to watch with sound!
When filming I had to be careful when I pulled up the camera. If a guard or a rodie saw me they would probably take the film away from me. That's why it's filmed in just snippests and not a whole songs. Plus I kinda wanted to have a bit of music from several different songs anyway.
When you use a camera like this you need to attach a boom microphone on top of the camera. In usual conditions you need to pull this out quite a bit. There's a telescopic function on it. This is so you won't hear the mechanical sound of the camera on the sound recording. However in a concert hall the music is so loud so I didn't have to pull it out at all. I probably would have been seen if I needed to have the microphone extended all the way.
So that's how the footage came about. Still got the film. Fun to have as this was way before people had video cameras. A small testament of what happened that day in march in Ekeberghallen, Oslo, Norway!
All the best, Super 8 Dude!
March 27, 1979
BBC TV
7 min.
"City Of Tiny Lites" from Sheik, set to the animation that was used in the Baby Snakes movie for "I'm So Cute".
c. April, 1979
Village Recorders, LA
May 18, 1979
CBS TV
13 min.
FZ talks about his lyrics, the 60s, the American public, politics, the inalianable right to not have a good time, disco, music industry
Hosted by Dinah Shore
FZ is guest in the show, along with Jan & Dean and Peaches & Herb.
ALSO the dinah shore show with co gusts peaches and herb I don't think peaches and frank hit itoff so well.
You were on the TV talk show, Dinah!, recently. What was that like?
It was really amusing. There was no communication whatsoever. I was on the same show with Peaches & Herb, the Bee Gees' mother and father, this girl named Ren something-or-other who sings in the movie, Hair [Ren Woods], and Jan & Dean. They called me up and said they'd read about this "Jewish Princess" bullshit and they wanted to get me down there and talk about it. I said, "Okay." So I went down there, and apparently Dinah [Shore] got ahold of the lyrics to "Jewish Princess" just before we went on the air, and it offended her so much that they never discussed it once all the time I was on the show. And then after the show was over, she came up to me and said, "Why did you write that? It's so totally dehumanizing." And I thought, "There's no way to talk to this woman. She's got a concrete block for a mind." What's so dehumanizing about "Jewish Princess"? It's just a nice song to rollerskate to.
YouTube: Dinah! (10:11 min.)
December, 1979
7 min.
Hosted by Bobby Van
FZ was on a Make Me Laugh & Dance Fever in Dec, 1979. Did they have a celebrity guest thing on MML? I had assumed FZ was trying to get a contestant to laugh.
Frank was actually a contestant! FZ won - no one made him laugh.
He seemed to have more trouble staying awake than keeping from laughing.
I did have the amazing luck to be watching Make Me Laugh in 1979. My roommate and I nearly lost it when they said "Guest contestant: Frank Zappa!" He only said three words. The host held up Sheik Yerbouti and asked if this was his latest album. Frank, deadpan: "One of 'em."
A master was recorded in EP mode, 1984 USA rebroadcast.
FZ: I was on Make Me Laugh one time.
Bill Forman: I don't remember that.
FZ: You ever see that show before? Where comedians come up to you and they try to make you laugh. And if you don't laugh, a person in the audience wins money.
Bill Forman: You must have earned a lot of money that day for people.
FZ: Yeah, I did, I cleaned up. Or they cleaned up.
YouTube: Make Me Laugh (06:05 min.)
Premiered December 21, 1979
165 min.
December, 1979 or January, 1980
5 min.
Hosted by Deney Terrio
Celebrity Judges: Doris Roberts, Jon Wamsley & Frank Zappa
Musical Guest: Destination
As someone has previously wrote, Frank did an episode of dance fever as a talent judge. He came out on stage doing a goofy shuffle so to speak. I took it as he was sort of mocking the disco thing. All the other judges seemed to take it to serious.
I remember this show very well. He did a "goofy shuffle" at the very end of the show when all of the judges were invited to dance on the stage with Denny Terio and the contestants during the closing credits. I don't recall anything about that being taken badly by anyone. He seemed to take the judging seriously, giving some pretty high scores. One thing I remember wast that every time he spoke he leaned way down toward the microphone so you could barely see his face. I figured this was because as concert performer, he was accustomed to speaking directly into microphones. On TV, you just tend to speak naturally and let the mic pick your voice up from wherever it is. I think one of the other judges was the den mother from the TV show Facts of Life. I found it really amusing seeing him up there next to her.
I would only like to add to the Dance Fever thing is that the cornball host of the show tries to get Frank to join the rest of the gang in a little disco dancing whilst the final credits are rolling. Frank kept waving his arms and saying "No, no, no". He gives in a little by tapping his foot and clicking his fingers while the rest of the gang gyrate around him.
Fz as a guest judge on Dance contest show dance fever with host DennyTerio.
Fz- " I thought they were very sincere" rating of contestants. The whole show had a John Waters 'straight outta baltimore' vibe.
either very late 70's or early 80's
December 1979 or January 1980. IINK lists this appearance before Make Me Laugh, but he still has long hair in MML.
YouTube: Dance Fever, January, 1979, or January, 1980 (6:07 min.)
January 8, 1980
BBC TV
B&W, 8 min. Interview
Informant: Brian Lagerman
March 16, 1980
KNBC LA
10 min.
Interview by Kelly Lange
Informants: Brian Lagerman, Jon Naurin
YouTube: Frank Zappa West Coast Interview (06:56 min.)
April 6, 1980
Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Appears on NewsCenter 4
FZ--lead guitar, vocals
Ike Willis--guitar, vocals
Ray White--guitar, vocals
Tommy Mars--keyboards
Arthur Barrow--bass, keyboards
David Logeman--drums
c. April 6, 1980
KNBC, Los Angeles, CA
7 min.
Interview by Kelly Lange. FZ talks about politics, bombs, draft, churches, drugs, America and entertainment.
YouTube: NewsCenter 4 (06:24 min.)
c. 1980
Unidentified TV and date
B&W, 1 min.
FZ talks about classical music, from the editing room, with Dutch subtitles.
YouTube: UK TV (01:57 min.) (only last minute)
May 8, 1980
Mudd Club, NYC, NY
FZ--lead guitar, vocals
Ike Willis--guitar, vocals
Ray White--guitar, vocals
Tommy Mars--keyboards
Arthur Barrow--bass
David Logeman--drums
Can anyone tell me how Frank ended up playing at the Mudd Club? A small night club gig at that point in his career just doesn't seem to fit.
I think this was the point. FZ had written the song "Mudd Club," so playing there was a logical next step. There were impromptu club stops on a couple of the other tours - apparently, the '88 band hit one after their concert in Hamburg. A few other bands have adopted this tactic - I know some people who know the band who got bumped at the Double Door here in Chicago in fall '97 in favor of the Rolling Stones.
May 10, 1980 (early show)
Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA
FZ--lead guitar, vocals
Ike Willis--guitar, vocals
Ray White--guitar, vocals
Tommy Mars--keyboards
Arthur Barrow--bass
David Logeman--drums
c. 1980
45 min.
Directed by Rudolf Dolezal & Hannes Rossacher
Tower Theatre, May 10, 1980 (except *Mudd Club, May 8, 1980)
An interview with FZ is interspersed with the concert footage. There's also an interview of sorts with half a dozen hardcore fans (including Al Malkin) backstage. Unfortunately, it's hard to hear what anyone is saying because of the German translator.
Informants: Robbert Heederik, Brian Lagerman, Jon Naurin, Chris Rigas, Peter de B. Harrington, Charles Ulrich
YouTube: Mudd Club (German TV 1980) - Part 1 (09:59 min.) · Part 2 (09:58 min.)
May 24, 1980
The Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Polygoon Journaal
5 min.
Dutch TV report on Ahoy Rotterdam, snippet from concert.
Informants: Brian Lagerman, Jon Naurin
June 11, 1980
Palais des Sports, Paris, France
140 min.
June 12, 1980
28 min.
FZ talks about Baby Snakes, the origin of punk rock, the new wave acts he likes, disco, the "Jewish Princess" controversy, the names of the kids, weirdness, Elvis Presley, his first appearance in the Dick Cavett Show, the death of rock, his lyrics and drugs.
Informants: Brian Lagerman, Jon Naurin
YouTube: Dick Cavett Show (June 12, 1980) - Part 1 (09:54 min.) · Part 2 (09:56 min.) · Part 3 (07:56 min.)
June 12, 1980
PBS TV
5 min.
FZ welcomed at airport by U.S. Marine Band playing Joe's Garage, and interview.
October 12, 1980
Johnson Gymnasium, Albuquerque, NM
8 min.
Perhaps some background is in order... Jimmy Carl Black was living in Albuquerque at the time and was a friend of mine, he was going to perform "Harder Than Your Husband" with Frank at the October 12, 1980 show. We asked Frank if Jimmy's performance could be videotaped and he said, "yes." He also authorized an audio feed from the front of house mixer. The video was shot on 3/4" videotape using a progessional "portable" three-tube RCA camera. These two songs are the only video that exists of this show. Frank had his own cameras there and the entire show may exist in his archives, but has never been released in any form.
Formerly available at John Cline Productions website.
YouTube: Frank Zappa in Albuquerque - October 12, 1980 (07:53 min.)
c. October 12, 1980
3 min.
TV News story on Jimmy Carl Black on his reunion performance with Frank Zappa in Albuquerque on October 12, 1980.
Includes interviews with Jimmy Carl Black and FZ, and footage from Albuquerque, October 12, 1980.
YouTube: · Jimmy Carl Black News Story (With Frank Zappa) (2:43 min.)