Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Acting
Born 1940-12-21 - Died 1993-12-04Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Biography

Frank Vincent Zappa  (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varèse and 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands; he later switched to electric guitar. He was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often impossible to categorize. His 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was one of rock, jazz or classical. He wrote the lyrics to all his songs, which—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship. Zappa was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. Many of his albums are considered essential in rock and jazz history. He is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time. He also remains a major influence on musicians and composers. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and for most of his career was able to work as an independent artist. Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Zappa was married to Kathryn J. "Kay" Sherman from 1960 to 1964. In 1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, with whom he remained until his death from prostate cancer in 1993. They had four children: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. Gail Zappa manages the businesses of her late husband under the name the Zappa Family Trust. Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Zappa, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.  

Movies (98)

Fuck
6.4

Fuck

2006Movie6.4
Head
6.2

Head

1968Movie6.2
Nova '78

Nova '78

2026Movie
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
7.7

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025Movie7.7
Zappa
7.3

Zappa

2020Movie7.3
Mondo Hollywood
6.7

Mondo Hollywood

1967Movie6.7
Super Duper Alice Cooper
7.1

Super Duper Alice Cooper

2014Movie7.1
The Wrecking Crew
7.3

The Wrecking Crew

2008Movie7.3
Led Zeppelin Played Here
8.0

Led Zeppelin Played Here

2014Movie8.0
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
6.5

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

1984Movie6.5
EAV Rarities

EAV Rarities

2006Movie
Cover Your Ears
6.0

Cover Your Ears

2023Movie6.0
200 Motels
5.1

200 Motels

1971Movie5.1
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note
7.0

Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note

2002Movie7.0
The Velvet Underground
6.8

The Velvet Underground

2021Movie6.8
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
7.4

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

2016Movie7.4
Echo in the Canyon
6.8

Echo in the Canyon

2019Movie6.8
Cosmic Debris

Cosmic Debris

2018Movie
Decade
8.5

Decade

1989Movie8.5
Take Your Pills
6.5

Take Your Pills

2018Movie6.5
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
7.6

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

2019Movie7.6
Deep Purple: Made In Japan
10.0

Deep Purple: Made In Japan

1972Movie10.0
Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology
8.0

Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology

2010Movie8.0
Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter

Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter

2019Movie
Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980
8.0

Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980

2008Movie8.0
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
6.0

Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here

1972Movie6.0
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth
4.5

Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth

1991Movie4.5
The Yellow Shark
8.0

The Yellow Shark

1992Movie8.0
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary
8.5

Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary

2022Movie8.5
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape

Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape

2016Movie
An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa

An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa

1994Movie
The Big T.N.T. Show
8.5

The Big T.N.T. Show

1965Movie8.5
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
9.0

A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa

1993Movie9.0
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere

Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere

1980Movie
Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees
8.4

Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees

1997Movie8.4
Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East

Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East

1971Movie
Larry Flynt for President
5.2

Larry Flynt for President

2021Movie5.2
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
7.4

Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II

2014Movie7.4
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
10.0

Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s

2002Movie10.0
Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily
7.7

Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily

2014Movie7.7
The Male Swagger
7.0

The Male Swagger

Movie7.0
Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival

Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival

1970Movie
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation
6.5

Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation

2007Movie6.5
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart

The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart

1997Movie
Derailroaded
7.5

Derailroaded

2005Movie7.5
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff

Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff

2021Movie
An Evening with Frank Zappa During Which... The Torture Never Stops
5.8

An Evening with Frank Zappa During Which... The Torture Never Stops

2008Movie5.8
Funny
8.0

Funny

1988Movie8.0
You Are What You Eat
4.4

You Are What You Eat

1968Movie4.4
The Revenge of the Dead Indians
7.0

The Revenge of the Dead Indians

1993Movie7.0
Rock this Town

Rock this Town

2022Movie
Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne

Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne

2016Movie
Your vote

Your vote

1991Movie
Uncle Meat
6.3

Uncle Meat

1987Movie6.3
The Art of Dissent

The Art of Dissent

2021Movie
All My Loving
6.5

All My Loving

1968Movie6.5
Cocaine Blues
7.0

Cocaine Blues

1983Movie7.0
Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden

Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden

1973Movie
Porridge and kerosene

Porridge and kerosene

1997Movie
Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around
4.5

Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around

1978Movie4.5
Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind
6.8

Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind

2019Movie6.8
Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)
7.0

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

1970Movie7.0
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?
8.1

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

1985Movie8.1
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!
8.6

Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!

2021Movie8.6
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie
6.8

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

2015Movie6.8
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko
8.0

Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko

1991Movie8.0
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

2025Movie
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years

The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years

1982Movie
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List

Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List

2010Movie
Pražákům, těm je hej
7.5

Pražákům, těm je hej

1991Movie7.5
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives

Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives

2008Movie
Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

1971Movie
The Amazing Mr. Bickford
5.8

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

1987Movie5.8
From Straight to Bizarre
3.8

From Straight to Bizarre

2012Movie3.8
Video from Hell
7.3

Video from Hell

1987Movie7.3
Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music

Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music

2007Movie
Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George
8.0

Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George

2015Movie8.0
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973

Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973

2007Movie
Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die

Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die

2000Movie
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

1967Movie
The Making of 200 Motels

The Making of 200 Motels

1971Movie
Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka
6.0

Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka

1989Movie6.0
Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme
7.7

Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme

2005Movie7.7
Baby Snakes
6.6

Baby Snakes

1979Movie6.6
Frank Zappa: Music In Review

Frank Zappa: Music In Review

2008Movie
Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme
6.1

Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme

2013Movie6.1
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
7.3

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

1988Movie7.3
Sex in Today's World
9.0

Sex in Today's World

1967Movie9.0
Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona
8.0

Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona

1988Movie8.0
Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa
9.5

Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa

2016Movie9.5
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's

2009Movie
Burnt Weeny Sandwich

Burnt Weeny Sandwich

1969Movie
Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars

Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars

1985Movie
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968

2024Movie
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68

Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68

2016Movie
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!
6.4

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

1982Movie6.4
Cheepnis

Cheepnis

2014Movie
Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me
6.0

Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me

2004Movie6.0

TV Shows (13)

Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Miami Vice
7.5

Miami Vice

1984Series7.5
Omnibus
7.2

Omnibus

1967Series7.2
The Ren & Stimpy Show
7.6

The Ren & Stimpy Show

1991Series7.6
The Monkees
6.5

The Monkees

1966Series6.5
Faerie Tale Theatre
8.1

Faerie Tale Theatre

1982Series8.1
Classic Albums
7.7

Classic Albums

1997Series7.7
Beat-Club
8.8

Beat-Club

1965Series8.8
Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop

Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop

2005Series
Laurel Canyon
8.2

Laurel Canyon

2020Series8.2
Late Night Line-Up
6.7

Late Night Line-Up

1964Series6.7
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

1967Series
Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King

Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King

1967Series