Frank Zappa widow speaks out
September 22nd, 2008 by Wade Tatangelo in News, Self-indulgent musings
Anyone seriously interested in the music of the late Frank Zappa is aware of his widow, Gail Zappa.
With unprecedented tenacity, she guards the rights to her husband’s official recordings.
Gail also lords over his meticulously recorded and videotaped live shows, plus the sheet music that would allow internationally respected Zappa tribute bands like Tampa Bay’s Bogus Pomp to better honor the great guitarist/composer’s work. In a rare interview, Gail discussed the rationale behind her rigid ways with the Los Angeles Times:
Her position hasn’t always made her popular — she’s butted heads at times with everyone from record execs and label lawyers to fan boards and tribute bands. “I can’t go out and be the rebuttal witness every minute because I just end up looking like the screaming shrew that I’m getting the reputation for being.”
But she has her reasons, and they’re rooted in a promise: “My job is to make sure that everything is as clean as you can get it. . . . I don’t want anybody standing between the audience and what Frank’s intention as a composer was and still is. [W]hat I’ve discovered in the process . . . comes down to one simple thing. Because everybody wants to remake his image. And they can . . . Well, they can all pound salt!”
Frank Zappa on David Letterman 10-31-1983
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