He had suffered serious fractures, head trauma and injuries to his back, leg, and neck, as well as a crushed larynx (which caused his voice to drop a third after healing). This left him wheelchair bound. Upon his return in September 1972, he was still wearing a leg brace, had a noticeable limp and could not stand for very long. One leg healed “shorter than the other,” resulting in chronic back pain.
Just a musician with a bicycle and a dream, giving off a Crispin Glover on Letterman vibe, circa 1963. At 22, who knew. His phenomenal guitar playing and the amazing musicians who’d later play in his bands, proof enough.
He’d then speak out against censorship during the Crockett and Tubbs ’80s. The ‘PARENTAL ADVISORY’ sticker on CDs or the ‘CLEAN’ on an iTunes’ song? Direct result of those hearings.
PRMC organizers said that it was to help parents make informed choices about music their kids listened to, even though the Elvis Presley they’d listened to never had a sticker. Censorship? Them? The original Flower Power generation? Not them. They would never think of doing that.
They did, and he called them on it. A musician’s lucid arguments destroying rock star stereotypes—without catering to someone else’s agenda.
That’s what mavericks do.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
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3 comments:
One of my favorite Zappa stories, from another maverick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6cplMM3d_Q
(beware of cheesy LiveType at the end)
Fortunately, the story has a happy ending. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybG_mXqTp7E
That was amazing. I thought I was a fan, but the story of the injury was news to me.
The Steve Allen clip was very cool as well. Thanks for this.
As the youngest of seven boys spanning, my next-to-oldest brother and my uncle turned me onto Frank. I grew up on Zappa in the 80s and 90s. While my friends were rocking out to Top 40 of the day, I was enjoying Zappa and the Mothers.
And though only 13 at the time, I distinctly recall following the whole PMRC debacle and throwing a fist in the air when Zappa testified.
It was sad, dark day for music and American culture when Frank "left on his final tour."
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