Tag Archives: frank zappa

The Zappa Band Announces First-Ever Headlining Tour

band logos, the zappa band, the zappa band logo

The Press Release:
One of the most ground-breaking, original, and fearless figures of popular music was undoubtedly the legendary Frank Zappa. And paying tribute to his late icon is The Zappa Band – a group largely comprised of former members of Frank’s bands. And for the first time ever, the group (who had previously opened a string of shows for prog greats King Crimson) will be headlining their own tour for much of June – beginning in New York on the 12th, and then wrapping up in New Hampshire on the 26th.

A “teaser” video for the upcoming tour can be viewed below.


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Details Revealed for “The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa” Hologram Tour

Just when you thought that the live music experience couldn’t get any stranger, I give you the scoop for the upcoming “The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa Hologram Tour. Let’s take a look at the full press release down below.

tour posters, frank zappa hologram, frank zappa hologram posters

The Press Release:
“We’re excited to world premiere a handful of Frank Zappa compositions; these mind-melting concerts we’re putting together celebrate the music, often surreal imagery and humour synonymous with Frank.” –Ahmet Zappa

Live music’s premier hologram production company Eyellusion has announced that a who’s who of ZAPPA fan favorite musicians will support “The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa” hologram tour which will make its debut this April in the U.S. The nine U.S. shows kick off Friday, April 19, with seven European shows in May to follow. Additional dates will be announced in the coming months. Tickets for the U.S. shows go on sale Friday, February 15at 10:00 AM (ET) at all major ticketing outlets, with a special VIP pre-sale (details here) launching on Wednesday, February 13.
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UMe Celebrates Record Store Day Black Friday 2018 With Exclusives

Fans of the vinyl medium are already in countdown mode as at 12:01AM, “Black Friday” begins and this year the annual Record Store Day happening is expanding its reach once more with a boatload of exciting limited edition releases. I’ve just received the lowdown from the fine folks over at Universal Music and while NOT everything on this list is Metal and Hard Rock, I am posting it here just the same. Take a look and start mapping out your battle plan for you to secure the ones you want the most.

record store day black friday logo

The Press Release:
UMe is celebrating 2018’s Black Friday Record Store Day (November 23) with 10 must-have, limited edition vinyl releases from some of the biggest artists spanning the worlds of rock, reggae, jazz and beyond. This year’s bounty of releases ranges from several vinyl debuts, unique color vinyl pressings, one-of-a-kind picture discs, and specially designed packaging, which in the case of the 45th anniversary edition of Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Catch A Fire resembles a flip-top lighter while Sublime’s Greatest Hits is presented as an oversized matchbook.

Fans of both U2 and Arcade Fire will want to snatch up the double A-side of U2’s classic “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” from the Batman Forever soundtrack. The 12-inch LP features a new remaster of the original song on one side, and a remix by St Francis Hotel featuring vocalists Gavin Friday and Arcade Fire’s Régine Chassagne on the other. Chris Cornell’s incredible legacy is honored with a 7-inch of the recently unearthed track “When Bad Does Good” found in Cornell’s archive of recordings, pressed on black and white marble vinyl and backed with a live version of Temple of the Dog’s “Stargazer.” Following on the heels of Record Store Day’s wildly popular colored vinyl edition of Ella Fitzgerald’s Ella At Zardi’s, a completely unreleased live performance captured just 10 days before, will be released as Ella At The Shrine: Prelude To Zardi’s on translucent yellow vinyl.
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Ume Announces Exclusive Limted Edition Vinyl Releases For Record Store Day 2018

If you are one of those vinyl diehards who hunt and forage the bins at garage sales and travel miles just for the chance of snagging an old 45 that you used to own as a youth, then you very likely consider Record Store Day to be your National Holiday. Yesterday, the fine folks at Universal Music unveiled a laundry list of musical coolness that will be exclusives for this year’s event. Though many of these are NOT Rock and Metal, I’ve just shared the entire list and the album artwork so you can share with friends who are planning on joining you on your LP Adventures on April 18th. Let’s take a look.

The Press Release:
Los Angeles – March 7, 2018 – UMe is pleased to announce details for several exclusive, limited edition vinyl releases confirmed for Record Store Day 2018. With special releases from Bobbie Gentry, Chet Faker, David Bowie, Def Leppard, Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, Frank Zappa, Gloria Gaynor, Marvin Gaye, Soundgarden, Sublime, The Police, The Who and more, UMe’s slate for April’s hotly-anticipated music shopping bonanza is filled with an eclectic and exciting mix that includes re-pressings of classic albums and singles, as well as several U.S. vinyl release debuts. All the special releases will be available at Record Store Day-participating record stores on Saturday, April 21. Visit RecordStoreDay.com for more details and to find your local shops.

BOBBIE GENTRY – LIVE AT THE BBC (1 LP)
QUANTITY: 1200

This LP is sure to be highly collectable for fans. No BBC material featuring Bobbie Gentry has ever been released so these recordings are completely unfamiliar to fans.

Side 1: (1) “Mississippi Delta” (2) “Papa Won’t Let Me Go To Town With You” (3) “I saw An Angle Die” (4) “Ode To Billie Joe” (5) “Mornin Glory” (6) “Ace Insurance Man”
Side 2: (1) “Niki Hokey/ Barefootin” (2) “Penduli Pendulum” (3) “Recollection” (4) “Sweet Peony” (5) “Greyhound Going Somewhere”

CHET FAKER – THINKING IN TEXTURES (1 LP SMOKE SWIRLED CLEAR VINYL)
QUANTITY: 2000

The award winning 2012 debut release from Australian singer-songwriter Nick Murphy, issued under his stage name Chet Faker. Featuring the ethereal downtempo take of “No Diggity,” this special edition of Thinking in Textures is pressed on smoke swirled clear vinyl housed in an embossed ‘texturized’ jacket.

Side A: (1) “I’m Into You” (2) “Terms And Conditions” (3) “No Diggity”
Side B: (1) “Love And Feeling” (2) “Cigarettes And Chocolate” (3) “Solo Sunrise” (4) “Everything I Wanted”

DAVID BOWIE – DAVID BOWIE (2 LP RED & BLUE VINYL)
QUANTITY: 3000

David Bowie’s debut album available for first time on heavyweight red and blue colored vinyl. This 2 LP set features the Mono version of the album on disc one and the Stereo version on disc two.

Side 1: (1) “Uncle Arthur” (2) “Sell Me A Coat” (3) “Rubber Band” (4) “Love You Till Tuesday” (5) “There Is A Happy Land” (6) “We Are Hungry Men” (7)” When I Live My Dream”
Side 2: (1) “Little Bombardier” (2) “Silly Boy Blue” (3)Come And Buy My Toys” (4) “Join The Gang” (5) “She’s Got Medals” (6) “Maid Of Bond Street” (7) “Please Mr. Gravedigger”
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Frank Zappa’s Legendary 1973 “The Roxy” Performances Captured On Definitive 7 CD Boxed Set

It was a few months ago that I shared some press about the issuing of Frank Zappa’s legendary “Halloween ’77” performances and if you missed that notice somehow please click HERE to be up to speed on it. This is especially important if you consider yourself any kind of study in Frank’s contributions to music. Yesterday, the world learned that a brand new release was coming care of “The Roxy Performances” which is a series of gigs delivered back to back over a couple of nights. It is the first time ever that they have been presented in the fashion in which they happened. Take a look at the lengthy press release and song listing down below. I’ll close out with some thoughts at the end.

The Press Release:
43 years ago in December 1973, Frank Zappa played a series of legendary concerts at the famed Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Considered a high-water mark of his career, owing to the incredible, virtuosic performances of himself and his stellar band The Mothers, the five shows – across three nights – included a private invite-only performance/soundcheck/film shoot followed by back-to-back doubleheaders. A few days later, continuing this incredibly prolific week, Zappa brought his band and camera crew to Ike Turner’s Bolic Sound in Inglewood for a filmed recording session. In typical Zappa fashion, he recorded it all.

On February 2, 2018, Zappa Records/UMe will release The Roxy Performances, a definitive seven-CD box set that collects all four public shows from December 9-10, 1973, and the December 8th film shoot/soundcheck, each presented in their entirety for the first time, along with bonus content featuring rarities from a rehearsal, unreleased tracks and highlights from the Bolic Studios recording session. This complete collection, totaling nearly eight hours, documents the Roxy shows as they happened and presents brand new 2016 mixes by Craig Parker Adams from new 96K 24 Bit transfers of the multi-track masters. The set is rounded out with a 48-page booklet that includes photos from the performances, extensive liner notes by Vaultmeister Joe Travers, essays from Zappa family friend, Australian writer Jen Jewel Brown, and American singer/songwriter Dave Alvin, who give their firsthand recollections about the shows, and a selection of archival press reviews. Those who digitally pre-order the box set will receive an instant grat download of “RDNZL.” Culled from the very first show on December 9, the track is a live version of the classic song featuring the never-before-heard 2016 mix that exemplifies the sonics of the new box set. Pre-order The Roxy Performances now: http://ume.lnk.to/FrankZappaRoxy

“This is one of my favorite FZ line-ups ever. This box contains some of the best nights of music Los Angeles has ever seen with their ears at an historic venue,” says Ahmet Zappa, who co-produced the collection along with Travers, “Hold on to your hotdogs people. This box is the be-all-end-all. This is it. This is all of it. It’s time to get your rocks off for the Roxy.”
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