Your Host in 1973
Lately I’ve been digging through my old Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention CDs, ripping them to my iPod — while it’s still not a crime in Canada — and rediscovering the musical brilliance and cheeky, peurile polemics of this towering figure of American 20th century music. He was a fierce, unyielding advocate for free speech, butting heads with Tipper Gore (!) in Congress concerning lyrical content in popular music. (Later, as he was dying, Tipper sent him a sincere get-well message).
During the search to complete my Zappa collection, I ran into this video from 1986′s CNN Crossfire, featuring the inimitable Robert “Asshole” Novak bloviating about morality and the power of words. Zappa not only holds his own against the censorial blowhards, but his words are as powerful and relevant today as they were 23 years ago.
In about a month I’ll be as old as Frank Zappa was when he died from prostate cancer.
Video: Frank Zappa on CNN: Crossfire (1986)
5 comments
Damn, that was beautiful. And brilliant. One of the many, many reasons I miss that guy. “Fascist theocracy?” Quite prescient, that FZ.
…But what’s with their obsession with incest? Lofton, especially.
Happy early 53rd Birthday! Get a prostate exam. I was never a die hard fan of his music, though I found it interesting to listen to, and there are many moments of brilliance there. I was more taken with his personality and carriage, how he spoke his mind and those critical be damned.
I was a huge Mother’s fan back in the day. (1973, by the way was the year I graduated from high school) And not to contradict Tater, but after a recent exam with my MD, he has said that unless there is a history of prostate cancer in the family, he is NOT recommending PSA testing since there is still too little hard science out there on the disease and that there are too many risks and quality of life issues involved in the biopsy procedure as well as any surgical intervention.
Back on topic, Zappa was a genius.
A contemporary and Mother’s fan! I love that “Brown Shoes Don’t Make It” (something that never got airplay even in a more irreverent era) was what he wanted to represent himself at the Rock Hall of fame.
I LOVE Zappa! Was introduced to him in college. Joes Garage = awesome!
Oh, and you were so damn cute in 1973!! I totally would have done you!! Of course I was four at the time….