ZAPPA explores the private life of the musical icon with appearances by Frank’s widow Gail Zappa and several of Frank’s musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others.
Additionally, the documentary explores Frank Zappa’s footprint on Los Angeles. After moving to LA at 18 years old, Zappa began to build a name for himself and his band, the Mothers, in Los Angeles’ underground music scene while playing at classic landmarks such as the Cheetah Club and The Whiskey.
From alternative rock to the classics, LA played a major role in Zappa’s career: the KROQ radio station helped to bring the song “Valley Girl” to popularity and, in later years, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra worked with Zappa to perform his classical music of 200 Motels. Beyond his own career, Zappa was influential throughout LA’s culture with his house in Laurel Canyon functioning as the central meeting place for many LA musicians including Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix and Rod Stewart.
The film also looks at the many other areas where Zappa left a lasting mark, including his political involvement as an advocate against music censorship that even led him to the halls in congress.
Frank Zappa Documentary Opens In Theaters and On Demand Nov. 27
