Frank Zappa
In the former East Germany, Frank Zappa lives on as a beacon of freedom
Who was Frank Zappa? Virtuoso guitarist? Modernist composer? Smutty lyricist? Anti-censorship activist? All of the above … and much more in the former East Germany. There, his banned records fetched small fortunes among rebellious young men who dreamed of freedom. This episode of The World in Words podcast spends 30 minutes in the company of one such man who now runs a Zappa-themed festival. We also hear from an American translator who explains Zappa’s obscure lyrics to German fans, line by line.
70th Birthday of Icon Frank Zappa
A challenging musician who fought for music’s freedom and started his own record label rather than bend to the will of others, Frank Zappa would have turned 70 today. He was one of the most technically versatile players in rock music, gaining the respect and sometimes the contribution of monster jazz players even as he […]
Tuli Kupferberg, world’s oldest rockstar, dies at age 86
American Beat poet, author, cartoonist and musician Tuli Kupferberg died this week at the age of 86. New York Times staff reporter Ben Sisario, discusses Kupferberg’s uncompromising, and idiosyncratic vision, and the legacy his work leaves behind.