Zappacast - The Frank Zappa Podcast

"Happy Halloween, everybody!" -- FZ And yes indeed, it is our 30TH EPISODE, and it's HALLOWEEN, and it's SPECIAL...why? Because we are celebrating with the VAULTMEISTER himself, Mr. JOE TRAVERS!!! Joe answers questions galore (some from you, loyal ZappaCast listeners) and generally proves himself to be the truly wonderful human that he is!! Add in THREE exclusive preview tracks ("Sy Borg", "Rollo" and "Uncle Meat (live at Columbia University)") from the forthcoming Zappa albums CHICAGO '78, LITTLE DOTS and MEAT LIGHT (all released on November 4th) and you've got...Festoonery! Hotcha and more hotcha! HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the ZAPPACAST!!!

Guess who's back? Back again?... OK, enough of all this break nonsense...the ZappaCast RETURNETH! After a summer spent deep in research and book writing, we are back (baby) with THE LOST EPISODE...taped several months ago, and chock full of OLD NEWS! Well, maybe just a little... This episode we meet the one and only MATTHEW GALAHER, Zappa fan extraordinaire, high-class musician, wit, racounteur and bon vivant. Matthew tells us his stories of years of alumni interaction and more... NOTE: one of the reasons why this is THE LOST EPISODE is that the quality of the interview is less than wonderful, due to some issues with Skype. We've thrown everything we've had at the problem, but this is the best we've got. Enjoy it anyway! And STAY SHARP for the BONUS TRACKS at the end...featuring three versions a tribute to Captain Beefheart's compositional method (2 played on vibraphone, one on piano) by the wonderful and irrepressible MALCOLM TENT!! We shall return VERY SOON with something VERY SPECIAL!!! Until then...DIG IT!!

Fancy a Zappa chat? Well ZappaCasters, do we ever have a chat for you! We were very fortunate to have the great Alex Winter -- director of the very exciting fan-funded soon-to-be-greatest Frank Zappa documentary ever -- pop 'round for a chat about Zappa, movies and even the obligatory Bill & Ted reference! A very good time was had by all! If you're looking for a good time, go to http://whoisfrankzappa.com and contribute to this most exciting project TODAY! Wonderment awaits! In addition, ROXY: THE MOVIE will be on a theatrical tour for the first time ever to benefit the campaign -- theaters from LA to London and many places in between have stepped up to host screenings in the next three weeks. Go to www.zappamovie.com/roxyscreenings for more details!

A dense ecumenical bandana at the right hand of God's big rhumba? Nah...it's the ZappaCast! In this episode, we say farewell to the legendary Mrs. Gail Zappa with the full ZappaCast panel of Scott Parker, Andrew Greenaway, Scott Fischer and --returning after a fairly lengthy absence -- The Professor, Mick Ekers! Join us as we give GZ a (hopefully) suitable sendoff, right here on the ZappaCast.

Greetings, ZappaCasters! In this episode we are talking ZaFTIG! What is ZaFTIG? Why, it's the Zappa Family Trust Issues Guide -- the new book covering the music of Frank Zappa on compact disc. Talking ZaFTIG will be author Ed Komara and co-author Scott Parker. Plus music, thrills, spills, traffic noises and other oddments! A plump and succulent ZappaCast for sure!

Hiya, ZappaCasters!! It's Episode 25, the second half of our two-part chat with Bob Zappa, brother of Frank and author of FRANKIE AND BOBBY: GROWING UP ZAPPA!!! Go to www.bobzappa.com and get yours! Don't delay!

Are you looking for specialness, kids? Look no further than this episode of the ZappaCast! This time around we are chatting with Mr. Bob Zappa, brother of FZ and author of the new book FRANKIE & BOBBY - GROWING UP ZAPPA! Go to www.bobzappa.com and get your pre-order in now! Then come back and give this fun/fab episode a listen :-)

Suddenly it strikes! It's time for ZappaCast Episode 23! This is our special memorial tribute to Scott's mentor, first-generation Zappa fan and collector Walt Quadrato. Features a Walt mastering (from an unknown generation cassette source) of the FZ/Grand Wazoo Orchestra (or the "Hot Rats Orchestra", as emcee Rikki Farr puts it) show at the Oval in London, 1972!! Long live Walt!!!!!

Greetings and salutations, loyal ZappaCasters! In this episode we are serving up for you (hot and fresh) a fascinating conversation with that amazing bass playing Fowler, Tom Fowler! Tom talks about his days working with FZ, and working with other FZ alumni. Throw in Tom's thoughts about the almighty Zappa goddess-type person Grace Quinn and you've got yourself one splendid show! Be sure to listen until the very end for some bonus, Grace-oriented merriment!

HAPPY ZAPPADAN FROM THE ZAPPACAST TEAM! In this episode, we turn the fab ZappaCast microphone over to FZ himself, who will share some of his fave rave records with you, the Zappacast faithful. And he may answer a few questions from the ZappaCast team as well. It's our gift to you! From us to you, happy Zappadan, happy holidays and we wish you a healthy and prosperous 2015! See you then!

Suddenly available! ZappaCast episode 20! Featuring a spotlight on the one and only Ray Collins, the Reverend Andrew Greenaway with all the news that's fit to listen to, and Tim Op Het Broek talks to Don Preston, Bunk Gardner and David Parlato! Come on in the ZappaCast kitchen! Yowza!

From the heart of the black country, it's time to swing with the ZappaCast! This episode features part two of our chat with the highly wonderful Pauline Butcher Bird, as we chat about her time with Maestro Zappa and more besides! And lots of great music from the 1960s and beyond. Come on in, the water's fine!

Howdy once again folks! April 2014 rolls on with another bright and vibrant ZappaCast episode! This time we are catching up with the lovely PAULINE BUTCHER BIRD, FZ's secretary from 1967 through 1971. Pauline will be talking Frank with Andrew and Scott, and points the way toward the broadcast of her radio play FRANK ZAPPA AND ME, which will be aired by BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday, May 6th at 14:15 GMT. Freak out with Pauline and the ZappaCasters!

ZappaCast listeners repent and rejoice! Scott Carter Thunes reveals the true meaning of life in part two of our conversation! Plus lots of groovy Thunes tuneage. Two hours of untamed bliss!

Howdy folks! It's the first ZappaCast of the new year, and what better way to start than with a discussion of the BIG EVENT of 2013...the performance of FZ's 200 MOTELS suites in Los Angeles and London! And who better to discuss these events with than bass player, wit and bon vivant extraordinaire Scott Thunes! We have lots of roundtable discussion and music on tap for you, and another installment of Mick's always-essential ZAPPA'S GEAR series! The ZappaCast...a real nice podcast to raise your kids up!

Happy Zappadan everyone! The ZappaCast team presents out Zappadan 2013 special, celebrating the 73rd birthday of Frank Zappa, and paying tribute to the Composer on the 20th anniversary of his departure for his final tour. In this four-hour marathon blockbuster, many musical delights await you...and your fave rave ZappaCasters link the music together via some VERY SPECIAL spoken material. Trudge across the tundra to the sweet sounds of Frank Zappa and the ZappaCast!

Another VERY SPECIAL ZappaCast...we salute the late, great George Duke!! The crux of the biscuit here is Professor Ekers' 2012 conversation with George (conducted for Mick's forthcoming book ZAPPA'S GEAR) in which George goes all over fond for his days with Mr. Zappa. Throw in a tribute from Reverend Greenaway, lotsa great music and even some words from the lovely Ruth Underwood and you have yourself a VERY SPECIAL show indeed! Thanks for everything, George...

ZappaCast becomes NigeyCast! In this episode, Reverend Greenaway and the one they call Parker chat with the redoubtable Nigey Lennon and her co-conspirator John Tabacco about the reissue of Nigey's 2001 opus REINVENTING THE WHEEL. Music and various shenanigans are the order of the day! For more Wheel Reinvention, check out the following links: https://www.facebook.com/MuffinRecordsProductionsUSA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wspUC5BF4ms

It's the peoples' ZappaCast! In this episode, we play your requests...and there's some good ones! Also, the ZappaCast brain trust wraps up our roundtable chat by answering your questions. It's ZappaCast to the twelfth power! Also, it's worth mentioning that the author of ZAPPA THE HARD WAY does in fact know that "Bolero" is on THE BEST BAND YOU'VE NEVER HEARD IN YOUR LIFE album :-) Thank you ZappaCast listeners; this one's for you!

It's Bongo-tastic, I tell ya! In this double-hour serving of the ZappaCast, Professor Ekers, Reverend Idiot Bastard Greenaway and Young Master Fischer, along with the good ol' Parker guy, talk Bongo Fury. We illustrate the greatness of the album with a huge slab of live performances, and Andrew graces us with the latest and greatest in Zappa news. Learn the Pachuco Hop and let the ZappaCast twirl ya!