Gail Zappa: Only in it for the money?
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It will be 15 years this December since we lost one of the mostprolific song writers the world of popular (and unpopular) music has
ever known: Frank Zappa. One of the bands continuing his live music legacy
is Project/Object, which has several members of Frank's live
band, The Mothers.
Frank's wife, Gail Zappa, in what she claims is an effort to protect his
legacy, only allows sanctioned CD releases and live performances.
Anything she doesn't personally approve, is threatened in the media and/or sued. This time, she apparently threatened a lawsuit against a live music venue for allowing Project/Object to perform a show. [photo credit: ink19.com]
legacy, only allows sanctioned CD releases and live performances.
Anything she doesn't personally approve, is threatened in the media and/or sued. This time, she apparently threatened a lawsuit against a live music venue for allowing Project/Object to perform a show. [photo credit: ink19.com]
Last Friday's Project/Object show in Boston was the most recent
evidence of the decade-and-a-half pissing match between the Zappa
Family Trust and Project/Object.
evidence of the decade-and-a-half pissing match between the Zappa
Family Trust and Project/Object.
Maybe I'm biased and think she's a bitch with a capital C. While the Zappa Family Trust absolutely deserves whatever royalities they are due under United States copyright law, her tact certainly seems heavy handed, and doesn't jive with Frank's own attitude towards the industry, and his own musical legacy.
Music is best.
Andre Cholmondeley's post to myspace.com after the break.
This, from
Andre Cholmondeley with Project/Object:
Andre Cholmondeley with Project/Object:
Hello Folks
sorry to announce this -- you may have seen it on various websites by now.
Adelaide Gail Zappa is at it again - her usual‚ yearly waste of legal
fees‚ to scare clubs into backing out of shows with many groups‚
including ours. I am proud to say -- that in 12 years or more - she has
ONLY succeeded in getting THREE gigs cancelled‚ out of 100s‚ maybe over
1000 shows.....
So-- TONIGHT‚ is CANCELLED!!
BILL's BAR‚ Boston MA
21 Nov 2008
Sorry about the inconvenience........
"Due to Adelaide Gail Zappa and her incessant‚ worldwide legal
attacks on fans honoring Frank Zappa's music‚ and attempts to negate
his request (according to the Zappa hotline‚ Dec 1993) to "Play My
Music"‚ the Project/Object show for Fri 21 Nov 2008‚ at Bill's Bar in
Boston‚ has been cancelled.
Stand
by for further details on the threatening letters. All other shows‚
have proceeded fantastically or are proceeding as planned‚ since what
we do is 100% legal under US law. It's sad that lawyers are being
enriched every year by this useless letter-writing campaign (all clubs
also get threat letters).
by for further details on the threatening letters. All other shows‚
have proceeded fantastically or are proceeding as planned‚ since what
we do is 100% legal under US law. It's sad that lawyers are being
enriched every year by this useless letter-writing campaign (all clubs
also get threat letters).
FYI -
The band Ugly Radio Rebellion‚ who you'll remember was under attack for
Dec. 2007 shows‚ just had to cancel all their Nov 2008 shows due to a
couple of clubs' unfounded fears of Adelaide Gail Zappa suing them.
Bogus Pomp in Florida also recently was attacked for celebrating this
music. Artists in Germany also continue to be attacked. Other artists
worldwide performing shows‚ or legally releasing recordings of Zappa
music are regularly attacked.
The band Ugly Radio Rebellion‚ who you'll remember was under attack for
Dec. 2007 shows‚ just had to cancel all their Nov 2008 shows due to a
couple of clubs' unfounded fears of Adelaide Gail Zappa suing them.
Bogus Pomp in Florida also recently was attacked for celebrating this
music. Artists in Germany also continue to be attacked. Other artists
worldwide performing shows‚ or legally releasing recordings of Zappa
music are regularly attacked.
What a waste of good money that could be used to release more Zappa music......
We are not breaking any laws and we will continue to perform Frank
Zappa music for you. And maybe even a little of the music of Mozart‚
Stravinsky‚ Gustav Holst‚ The Seeds ('Pushing Too Hard' used in 'Sy
Borg')‚ Yes (1984 'Bamboozled' solo section)‚ The Beatles (medley
played on 1988 Zappa tour)‚ Richard Berry (Frank quoted "Louie Louie"
DOZENS of times)‚ Herbie Hancock (riffs quoted in 'Greggery Peccary')‚
Culture Club ('I'll tumble for ya')‚ The Doors ('The End'‚ 'Light My
Fire')..and on and on and on....
I am
conducting research into where and when Frank Zappa got permission to
perform‚ record or parodize ALL of these and many‚ many other various
artists' music. Of course sometimes he sought permission‚ and when
RECORDED and RELEASED‚ he certainly paid mechanical royalties. But
certainly many times he didn't.
conducting research into where and when Frank Zappa got permission to
perform‚ record or parodize ALL of these and many‚ many other various
artists' music. Of course sometimes he sought permission‚ and when
RECORDED and RELEASED‚ he certainly paid mechanical royalties. But
certainly many times he didn't.
For a guy who has a LARGE part of his art based on USING THE
MATERIAL OF OTHERS‚ his estate is strangely‚ hypocritically opposed to
any one else doing the same!
MATERIAL OF OTHERS‚ his estate is strangely‚ hypocritically opposed to
any one else doing the same!
We strongly support you adding comments to our myspace www.myspace.com/projectobject
We strongly support you adding comments to the forum at www.zappa.com
We strongly support you adding comments to the forum at www.killuglyradio.com
Thank you
Andre Cholmondeley
Project/Object"
Andre Cholmondeley
Project/Object"
Comments
good post Music is always
good post
Music is always meant to be shared.
tiffany jewelry
For dweezil, and zappa family
For dweezil, and zappa family trust,
I have 228 cds and lps of frank zappa.
Now I will not buy anymore any zappa family trust product except the real roxy dvd.
for dweezil :
It's a shame to present your "roxy" dvd. You have no humor and no talent for composition. Music on roxy and elsewhere was played by a great composer and so please in memory of your father give fans the real music and not your "copy/paste" shit.
Please dweezil return to your little heavy metal shit, you are great in it !
Thanks a lot
In Frank's world, every sound
In Frank's world, every sound had a value, and every action was part of the universal diapason, a colossal vibration that made energy rather than reflecting it.
Music is always meant to be
Music is always meant to be shared. I hope our message can get to her. Thanks for the heads-up, Mike!
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