- Jazzmosis recorded Frank Zappa's 'Blessed Relief' on their selftitled album
- SAF Publishing has another Zappa-related book coming out in June: "Academy Zappa" by Ben Watson and Esther Leslie
-
 

NORMAN GUNSTON

THE EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND

- info: Danny Mathys
 

CHRIS OPPERMAN - 2005/02/19

Episode #32: Of Guitar Heroes & Singer/Songwriters

•  Steve Vai's "Real Illusions: Reflections" OUT TODAY!!!
   

• Album #4: "Beyond the Foggy Highway" to be Limited Edition ONLY
   

• *** SPECIAL OPPS Studio Sessions Begin April, 2005 ***

Steve Vai's "Real Illusions: Reflections" OUT TODAY!!!

Steve Vai's first studio album of all-new material in over 5 years, "Real Illusions: Reflections" hits stores today!  The album also features one live track, "Lotus Feet" which was composed by Vai, orchestrated by David Kole, and performed by The Metropole Orkest with special guests Bryan Beller on bass and myself on piano.  I honestly believe that it's Steve's most solid album yet, even better than 1990's groundbreaking Passion & Warfare album and even better than 1996's "Fire Garden."  For more information check out www.vai.com, and for more information specifically about "Lotus Feet" and about the Metropole concerts last year, check out this link:
http://www.vai.com/realillusions/07lotusfeet.html

Album #4: "Beyond the Foggy Highway" to be Limited Edition ONLY

That's right, you heard right, my fourth album and first live album will be a limited edition only available to those who pre-order the album.  All proceeds from your pre-order will be going to fund the SPECIAL OPPS studio sessions happening this Spring/Summer.  Scott Chatfield and I will be making the final edits to the live album in the next couple weeks and they will all be shipped in early March!  If you would like to pre-order the album, simply visit www.oppymusic.com and go for it!  Also, I've decided to continue the 3 for $30 deal for those of you who would like to purchase my prior works. 

* *** SPECIAL OPPS Studio Sessions Begin April, 2005 ***

I've been waiting over 2 years to bring SPECIAL OPPS into the studio to make an album and FINALLY everything seems to be falling into place for it to happen.  It will be my first ROCK album in 7 years and I can't wait to get going on it already.  I want it to show off everything that I've learned about making albums, about arranging and orchestration, and about playing the piano since I debuted in 1998.

I want it to have the raw, angry, muscular energy of a REAL punk rock band, the spontaneity and wisdom of a small jazz ensemble, and the finesse and beauty of a well-trained classical ensemble.  Most of all, I want it to be a classic album, one that will still sound fresh, vibrant, and essential twenty years from now and I will settle for nothing less than complete achievement of my goal.  I have to make this album and I want it to be one of the greatest things I ever do.  Period.

The time is now.  Let's rock.

-- Chris Opperman
 

FAVORED NATIONS

• neal schon: i on u
      (2005, cd, usa, favored nations)
   

• billy sheehan: cosmic troubadour
      (2005, cd, usa, favored nations)

ANDRE LEWIS - continued

Just read the post from Michael Ford saying that he had sent money to Andre Lewis to get hold of the Mandre albums on CD. I'm afraid that these albums have not been released on CD ... I sent Andre a speculative mail some years ago saying that I really liked his keyboard work ... Andre gave me a phone call to say 'Hi' and we talked about his friendships with Buddy
Miles and Jimi Hendrix and his recollections of The Band of Gypsys. Andre had recently been unwell and he seemed rather confused. He seemed a genuinely nice guy but perhaps something of a lost soul.
(...)

As I said, Andre didn't sound in particularly good health and I just hope that he made a recovery from his illness. It also seemed like he was struggling to find work and that times were hard.
(...)

Michael's obviously had a bad experience with Andre although there might be some explanation for it.
(...)

Thanks

-- DRJAZZ
 

WOODY HERMAN

- info: Charles Ulrich
 

JOE DENINZON

Joe Deninzon has performed and recorded with Project/Object, playing the music of Frank Zappa. He also recorded Frank Zappa's 'Magic Fingers' on his brand-new "Live Wires" album.
 

DARRYL DYBKA

- info: Charles Ulrich
 

KLIMPEREI

At least I added samples of LAPIN GRIS tracks (thanx to fred).
Just follow : HISTORY/LAPIN GRIS from http://klimperei.free.fr

-> Klimperei
 

JOHN TRUBEE'S "ANTIPOETRY FOR THE DAY"

If you kill off
All the tigers on earth
I swear
I'll turn into a tiger myself
And devour you all.

OSSI DURI

- info: Luc Reniers
 

MUSIC MAKER

• music maker
      (1979/09, magazine, the netherlands)
  
  • the september 1979 edition of dutch music maker magazine had a 3-page article on frank zappa.

• music maker
      (1984/11, magazine, the netherlands)
  
  • the november 1984 edition of dutch music maker magazine had a 5-page article on frank zappa.

TRUBEE SPEAKS

--John Trubee
 

FRANK ZAPPA: HIS-STORY

Various tracks from various locations... More info soon.
 

REMKO SERBAN

Check it out.
 

STEVE VAI

STEVE FEATURED IN GUITAR WORLD MAGAZINE

Steve appears on the cover of the latest Guitar World magazine (along with Alexi Laiho and Zakk Wylde). If you pick the magazine up from the newsstands you'll also get a bonus CD-ROM with an exclusive video of Steve talking about the recording of “Freak Show Excess” from his new album. The video will be continued in next month's edition.

For fans in Japan, Steve is on the cover of both Sound Designer magazine and Player magazine. The article in Sound Designer details Steve’s Mothership Studio set-up, as well as details on the new album, while the Player article features an interview with both Steve and Billy Sheehan.
 

WEIRDO NAFFN

On occasion, Weirdo Naffn has recorded and performed a couple of Frank Zappa compositions: 'Chunga's Revenge', 'Watermelon In Easter Hay', 'Outside Now', 'Bamboozled By Love', ...

The band is scheduled to play at the 2005 edition of the Zappanale festival.

As Michael Krampe says: 'In 2005, we look forward to play the Zappanale festival and to record 2 more CDs. By the way, we are not a Zappa cover band, but we do play some Zappa coverversions."

→ Michael Krampe also writes for the famous Arf Dossier !!
 

• weirdo naffn: shut up 'n groove dr. zeuch
      (2001, cdr, ger, private release)
   
  • "Shut up 'n Groove Dr.Zeuch" was my first encounter with Weirdo Naffn and I liked it. The album displays some heavy guitar work by Michael Krampe (a bit of flanger mixed with a fine dose of overdrive), who also takes care of the vocals.
    "Shut Up..." has Zappa influences all over and includes fine versions of Zappa's 'Chunga's Revenge' and 'Watermelon In Easter Hay'.
    
    Yes, I'll be at Zappanale.

• weirdo naffn: hoppla !
      (2004, cdr, ger, private release)
   
  • True, Weirdo Naffn's playing isn't perfect. But when you forget about the metronome, you're in for a lot of fun. "Hoppla !" is a bit softer, a bit less aggressive compared to "Shut Up...", but it's still a great album.
    If these guys can pull this off at Zappanale, we'll all be in for a treat. Oh yeah, the album includes a fine version of Zappa's 'Outside Now'.
    
    Recommended.
     
  • For those who won't be able to make it to Zappanale, visit
    www.weirdonaffn.de
    and check them out.

SHORT BITS

• chain: chain.exe
      (2004, cd, usa, ??) - feat. mike keneally
   
• steve lukather: santa mental
      (2004, cd, usa, ulftone tm 080) - feat. steve vai
   

WM RECORDINGS

Datapanik - Unknown questions [WM010]

"Datapanik is a music project of 3 people living in a shared student house in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
All songs are recorded with the use of inexpensive homerecording equipment.
Most of the songs are live recordings and are written 'on-the-fly' without any rehearsals or preparations.
The essence of Datapanik was having fun in making music in general. Enjoy listening to Unknown Questions."

http://www.wmrecordings.com/releases/wm010.htm

JIMMY WEBB

<http://www.rhinohandmade.com/browse/ProductLink.lasso?Number=7820>

--Charles Ulrich
 

SANDRO OLIVA

• sandro oliva: heavy lightning
      (2004, cdr, i, private release)
   
  • Sandro Oliva, who you should know as the former guitar player of the Grandmothers and of his fabulous "Who The Fuck Is Sandro Oliva" album, has a new title out.
    "Heavy Lightning" is a private release on Sandro's Obvious Music label. The album is not the easiest to obtain, but it is worth your time and effort. "Heavy Lighting" is a Motheresque as you can imagine. This is one superb album, including lots of musical Zappa clues and references. It features Jimmy Carl Black on vocals on a couple of tracks, plus Don Preston and Bunk Gardner as special guests.
    
    Essential !!
     
  • www.sandroliva.com

NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW - NEW
 

JOHN TRUBEE'S INSANE QUOTE FOR THE DAY

--John Trubee
 

JOHN MARSHALL GIBBS

John Marshall Gibbs (aka 'Gibbsy', 'Shiva', 'Gibbsius', John Marshall' etc) is a lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

As the lead vocalist with Hans Annéllsson's FZ tribute One More Time For The World, he recorded versions of Zappa's 'Brown Shoes Don't Make It', 'Dancin' Fool' and more FZ compositions.

"Return Of The Son Of One More Time For The World Some More" is expected for future release.
 

ANDRE LEWIS

As a long-time fan of Lewis's solo albums from the mid- to late 70's, I contacted him to see if I could procure some of his music on CDs.  He responded back that he did sell the CDs with his solo albums on it and provided some original cover art as well.  Funds were sent to him and no product ever was delivered.  Further, no messages or explanations were ever given.  Not cool at all to treat fans like this and unless he has "left the building", others beware, and be forewarned of this unfortunate incident involving this artist.
 

JON NAURIN'S FZSHOWS

== RDNZL #9 (Feb. 2005) ==

Hey there-
It's been over a year since the last issue of RDNZL. This is all due to personal reasons - my life has changed in oh so many ways, all of them nice, but they don't give me much time for FZ activities. If I'd had the time, there would have been many RDNZLs in 2004, because it's been quite an interesting year on  the Zappa show front.  I'm only mentioning the brand new shows here, plus some very significant upgrades, but in addition to these, many new sources for circulating shows have appeared.

The first three shows surfaced shortly after RDNZL #8, and came from the same taper as the three 68-69 NYC shows I reported about then:

Fillmore East, Feb. 21, 1969, early show.
It seems the show we used to have from this date is the late show, as this one came labelled "early". Another fine show, in rather poor sound, and with the same speed problems as the other shows from this source.

• 1969/02/21-E- Fillmore East, NYC, NY
  • Early show: 60 min, Aud, B-/C+
  • Charles Ives, Lonely Lonely Nights, Bacon Fat, Uncle Meat, drum duet, Right There, Begin The Beguine, improvisations with Bunk's Tape (incl. Are You Upset? [YCDTOSA 4]), Run Home Slow, Little March, Right There, King Kong, Octandre

Fillmore East, Jun. 13 & 14 1969, early shows.
This show and the following one both include "The MOI Electric Bassoon Concerto", but the performances are different from each other. They both include sections from Low Budget Orchestra, as well as unidentified composed material and improvisations. Very interesting, too bad they both have those speed problems

• 1969/06/13-E- Fillmore East, NYC, NY
  • Early show: 45 min, Aud, B
  • MOI Electric Bassoon Concerto, Valarie, King Kong, Uncle Meat, drum
    duet, Some Ballet Music
     
• 1969/06/14-E-, Fillmore East, NYC, NY
  • Early show: 45 min, Aud, B
  • Bacon Fat, MOI Electric Bassoon Concerto, King Kong, Uncle Meat

Santa Monica, Aug. 21 1970
Almost twice as long, and better sounding than the commonly circulating version. I think this has been in limited circulation
before, but this the first time I've ran across it. Seems the bootlegger (or whoever created the short version) preferred the
lyrical songs to the instrumentals.

• 21-Aug 1970, Santa Monica Civic Center, Santa Monica, CA
  • 100 min, Aud, A-
  • An abridged version (54 min) is commonly circulating as "Jul 1971, El Monte Legion Stadium".
  • Agon, Call Any Vegetable, Pound For A Brown, Sleeping In A Jar, Sharleena, The Air, Dog Breath, Mother People, You Didn't Try To Call Me, King Kong, Road Ladies, What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening?, What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are?, Bwana Dik, Latex Solar Beef, Daddy Daddy Daddy, Do You Like My New Car?, Happy Together, What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning?, Would You Go All The Way?, Rudy Wants To Buy Yez A Drink, Wonderful Wino, Concentration Moon, Mom And Dad

Annapolis, May 19 1973

• 1973/05/19 Great McGonigle's Seaside Park, Annapolis, MD
  • 94 min, Aud, B
  • RDNZL, Dog/Meat, Fifty-Fifty, Montana, Dupree's Paradise (q: Tiny Bubbles), Eat That Question, Yellow Snow Suite, Farther Oblivion

Landover, Nov. 1 1974

• 1974/11/01 Capital Centre, Landover, MD
  • 75 min, Aud, B+
  • Dog Meat, Building A Girl, Montana, improvisations (q: Mozart Piano Sonata), Yellow Snow Suite, Cosmik Debris, Camarillo Brillo, Pygmy Twylyte (q: Mozart Piano Sonata), Room Service, Tush Tush Tush

Baton Rouge, Sep. 17 1977

• 1977/09/17, Assembly Center, Lousiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
  • 59 min, Aud, A-
  • Intro, Peaches En Regalia, The Torture Never Stops, Tryin' To Grow A Chin, City Of Tiny Lights, Pound For A Brown, Flakes, Big Leg Emma, Envelopes, Disco Boy

Manchester, Feb. 12 1979
Nearly complete and nearly perfect-sounding, this version almost make the circulating FM and audience versions obsolete. Only problem is, it's missing the essential last 15 min of the show. Still, very well worth having.

• 1979/02/12 Apollo Theater, Manchester, England
  • 133 min, SBD, A+
  • Persona Non Grata, Dead Girls Of London, I Ain't Got No Heart, Brown Shoes Don't Make It, Cosmik Debris, Tryin' To Grow A Chin, City Of Tiny Lights, Dancin' Fool, Easy Meat, Jumbo Go Away, Andy, Inca Roads, Florentine Pogen, Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?, Keep It Greasey, The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing, For The Young Sophisticate, Wet T-shirt Nite, Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?, Peaches En Regalia, Yellow Snow Suite, Strictly Genteel, Montana, Pound For A Brown

Portland, Mar. 29 1980

• 1980/03/29-L- Paramount Theater, Portland, OR
  • Late show: 111 min, Aud, B
  • Treacherous Cretins, Teenage Wind, Harder Than Your Husband, Bamboozled By Love, Pick Me I'm Clean, Society Pages, I'm A Beautiful Guy, Beauty Knows No Pain, Charlie's Enormous Mouth, Any Downers?, Conehead, Easy Meat, Mudd Club, The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing, Heavenly Bank Account, Suicide Chump, Jumbo Go Away, If Only She Woulda, I Don't Wanna Get Drafted, Joe's Garage, Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?, Dinah Moe Humm, Dancin' Fool, Bobby Brown, Pound For A Brown

Portland, Oct. 1 1981

• 1981/10/01-E- Paramount Theatre, Portland, OR
  • Early show: 88 min, Aud, B-
  • Chunga's Revenge, You Are What You Is, Mudd Club, The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing, Dumb All Over, Heavenly Bank Account, Suicide Chump, Jumbo Go Away, Envelopes, We're Turning Again, Alien Orifice, Teenage Prostitute, Flakes, Broken Hearts Are For Assholes, Tinseltown Rebellion, Yo Mama, Joe's Garage, Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?, Strictly Genteel

Cincinatti., Nov. 20 1981

• 1981/11/20 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH
  • 114 min, Aud, C
  • Treacherous Cretins, Cosmik Debris, Sharleena, Montana, Easy Meat, YAWYI, Mudd Club, The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing, Dumb All Over, Heavenly Bank Account, Suicide Chump, Jumbo Go Away, Envelopes, Drowning Witch, What's New In Baltimore?, Moggio, Broken Hearts Are For Assholes, Blue Light, Tinseltown Rebellion, Yo Mama, Strictly Genteel

Rehearsals, Dec. 23 1987
No FZ present on this recording, but still a very nice insight into how the '88 band worked.

• 1987/12/23 UMRK, Los Angeles, CA
  • 89 min, SBD, A
  • Jezebel Boy, When The Lie's So Big, Planet Of The Baritone Women, What's New In Baltimore?, Moggio, I Ain't Got No Heart, Heavy Duty Judy, Filthy Habits, Pound For A Brown, Disco Boy, Pound For A Brown,
    Big Swifty, Who Needs The Peace Corps?, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Let's Move To Cleveland, Dancin' Fool, RDNZL, Strictly Genteel, Andy, Inca Roads, Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel, Stick
    Together, My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama, Willie The Pimp, Montana, Easy Meat, Peaches En Regalia, Sofa, Black Napkins, Black Page

I *think* that's all of the new shows, but I may very well have forgotten something, in which case I'm sure someone will remind me, and I'll send out an appendix. Or include it in RDNZL #10, which I hopefully will have reason and time to send out in a not-too-distant future.

- Jon Naurin
 

JEFF SIMMONS

"Blue Universe", the latest Jeff Simmons album will be released in Canada and Europe !!

-- info: Bobby Chandu
 

JOHN TRUBEE: MONEY IS ALL THAT MATTERS

You mean the eternal cycle that finally ends in death has meaning because you put a few numbers in your bank account for a little while? You mean that makes it all worthwhile? That makes your life meaningful?

My loyalty to employers that dumped me with no notice was well-placed because, hey, I got a few bucks out of it so it was all worth my time, thought, energy, and effort?
Cleaning the toilets at Roscoe Hardware was great for me because I got $9 an hour (MONEY IS ALL THAT MATTERS!) and I exemplified the work ethic as Readers Digest says I ought to to be a good citizen? Collective, social imperatives and values trump individual, subjective ones? I'm so glad that cleaning Roscoe's toilets is so much higher than my music.
Glenn laid me off the day before Thanksgiving, 1991 with no warning. But by God, I made $9 an hour! What a good boy was I! MONEY IS ALL THAT MATTERS! This made it all so wonderful and meaningful. I had multiple orgasms whenever I saw my paycheck on Friday!

I am not indicting the need to make money in order to live in physical bodies. I am pointing out the meaninglessness of the activities we perform for fickle, indifferent employers for green pieces of paper that ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, all blow away in the wind.

It's utterly pathetic meaninglessness. Some people look to God for meaning. I don't. I look to beauty and art and music for meaningful aesthetic experiences.

Many folks posit money as their meaning.This is empty and pointless.

My point is this: is this ALL that life is all about?
Is this pathetic trudgery for money the joyless end-all and be-all of everything in life?

I humbly submit that you have not thought this all through yet. I HAVE chewed on this shit for YEARS.

I get really happy when writing and playing my music. My bank statements look like meaningless shit next to it.

Money is merely the means, not an end.
Those to whom it is an end have empty souls.
Look at Kenny Boy Lay and Andrew Fastow and all those other Enron assholes.
Look at Healthsouth & Tyco & WorldCom and Arthur Anderson.

What a buck of fucking creeps.
Their God was money.
THEY are examples of that to which we all ought to aspire?

Money is merely a tool for storing value to do certain things. Woe be to the myriad desiccated souls whose orgasm and obsession is money. Pathetic jerks.

--John Trubee

"Money is freedom--but the activities we do to get money are slavery. The most joyous and worthwhile things I accomplish in my life are motivated by love, not money. If you have to be paid to engage in an activity to which you would not otherwise devote your time, then that right there indicates its dysfunctional, questionable, corrupt quality."

--John Trubee
 

UGLY RADIO REBELLION

• 2005/02/13 Ugly Radio Rebellion - concert 'club bart', ferndale, usa
   

VOICE OF CHEEZ

• 2005/03/12 The Voice of Cheez - concert 'Nietzsche's', buffalo, ny, usa

THE TERRY BOZZIO PICTURE SHOW

TERRY BOZZIO IN CONCERT

picture by Ive Hapers

picture by Ive Hapers

STEALING ORCHESTRA

Take a look at the site and check out the music:

http://www.stealingorchestra.com

• stealing orchestra: the haunted and almost lost songs 97-98
      (2004, cd ep, portugal, yanstr)

• stealing orchestra: the incredible shrinking band
      (2003, cd, portugal, yanstr)

• stealing orchestra: bu!
      (2004, cd ep, portugal, yanstr)

• stealing orchestra: stereogamy
      (2000, cd, portugal, yanstr)

• stealing orchestra: é português? não gosto!
      (2001, cd ep, portugal, yanstr)

CUCAMONGA

Belgian radio. Cucamonga.

http://radio1.be
 

THE RESIDENTS

Even though the release date has been pushed back, you can come take a listen to Animal Lover on Feb. 18th (friday) in Oakland, at the French Fry Factory (home of the swingin CA DVD premier.) 278 4th St (near Jack London Sq.) doors open at 6, and FREE admission before 8pm. After 8pm it's a $7 suggested donation, but it's sliding scale and NO ONE will be turned away for lack of funds. Come early for a concurrent art opening (downstairs) of local bay area artists, and record/CD sale. Drinks and preshow Residents and Rez related DJ'd tunes go on until 9pm when we make everyone sit and
listen to the new record.

After the listening, we'll put on the Commercial Album DVD again, for a little viewing, and then some Icky Flix in celebration of it's reissue. All ages. So far we do not know if we'll have copies of Animal Lover for sale, but it's doubtful. PRESALE for Animal Lover will begin soon, once we get a better idea of what the actual release date will be, so that you don't have to wait to long. HOWEVER, take note that the Ralph America Animal Lover presale will include a deal which will feature a limited Animal Lover teeshirt (newly designed by PorNeauxGrphx), and a new Babyfingers Hoodie! Stay tuned...
 

JOHN TRUBEE

Obnoxious Quotes For The Now Generation?

ELIO E LE STORIE TESE

video

• elio e le storie tese: the lugano tapes
      (2001, video, italy, ??) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. ike willis

concerts

• 1997/10/19 concert 'Salone della Musica', Torino, Italia: "Frank Zappa Memorial Afternoon"
  • the poodle lecture * broken hearts are for assholes * why does it hurt when i pee? * sofa
     
• 1998/07/25 concert 'Allo Stadio di Sarteano', Siena, Italia: "Zappa Day"
  • the poodle lecture * tell me you love me why does it hurt when i pee? * sofa (in german) * you are what you is * broken hearts are for assholes

-- info: Mauro Porzi
 

LE PINGOUIN LIGOTÉ

As of today, 6 issues have been published, but they are only available for members.
The good news, however, is that the first five issues of Le Pingouin Ligoté will be made available on the internet soon, as printable .pdf files.
 

ANTON CORBIJN

MICK ZEUNER

Mick, as you should know, is the mind behind the Zappanale albums.

ALLAN ZAVOD

• allan zavod: ballade for ania
      (1994, cd, australia, move digital)
   
  • A benefit for the ILAN (Israel Foundation for Handicapped Children), composed and performed by Allan Zavod.
    It's a nice piece. About 15 minutes

NEW ZAPPA BOOTLEG DVD

• frank zappa: john, dan and me
      (2004, dvd-bootleg, ??, apocalypse sounds as 29)
   
  • As you probably could have guessed, "John, Dan and me" presents Zappa's performance at the Saturday Night Live television shows. The first one from 1976, the second one from 1978.
    As a bonus, the disc has four tracks from the Opopoppa Special, from 1973.
    Very nice material, although it has to be noted that it has been around on DVDR in the trade circuit for quite a while. Nice package, though.

ARFARF

www.arfarf.de

 

HERMETO PASCOAL

Kerry McNabb engineered and co-produced Hermeto Pascoal's album with Airto Moreira & Flora Purim.

CHRIS OPPERMAN 2004/01/25

[Chris Opperman Mailing List - Tuesday, January 25th, 2004]
Episode #31: Goodbye, Wes

* SPECIAL OPPS Tomorrow (Tuesday) Night @ Level One

* Pre-order Steve Vai's "Real Illusions: Reflections" - Due Out 2/22

* R.I.P. Wes Wehmiller (1971 - 2005)

* SPECIAL OPPS Tomorrow (Tuesday) Night @ Level One

As a reminder, SPECIAL OPPS will be performing tomorrow night in our first full band show in months!  We'll be playing almost all of the songs that will eventually be on the SPECIAL OPPS studio album starting at 8:30, followed by the Andre Comeau Band (from the original "Real World"), and a solo performance by Andre LaFosse at 10:30.  There will also be drink specials!   

$5/21+.  Level One is located at 6311 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. 

* Pre-order Steve Vai's "Real Illusions: Reflections" - Due Out 2/22

On February 22, 2005 Epic Records/RED INK will release Steve Vai’s first new solo album in nearly five years, Real Illusions: Reflections, which features eleven highly anticipated tracks by Vai. The first volume of a three part “concept trilogy” features the legendary guitar virtuoso in fine form.

As Steve himself describes it, “Real Illusions: Reflections is the first part of a multi-layered menagerie of vignettes based on the amplified mental exaggerations of a truth-seeking madman who sees the world... oh never mind.”

Following an incredible year in 2004 — one that saw his latest DVD Live at the Astoria in London certified platinum in the U.S.; receiving his eighth Grammy nomination; playing guitar on the monumentally successful Halo 2 game soundtrack launched by Microsoft; performing with Dave Matthews at the Grammy event honoring Carlos Santana; and playing a very well received set at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas — 2005 looks to be equally as highlight filled.

Pre-orders now available at www.vai.com and www.SteveVaiMusic.com.  I appear playing piano on track 7, the new Vai gutiar ballad "Lotus Feet."

* R.I.P. Wes Wehmiller (1971 - 2005)

Yesterday morning my friend, bassist Wes Wehmiller, passed away.  He was one of those people that you never saw quite often enough but whenever you did you were always happy that they were around.  He went to Berklee at the same time as Joe Travers and Bryan Beller and I met him through Joe on the '99 Duran Duran tour.  In 2002, himself and Joe played on some demo recordings that I produced for Katrina Parker that were really fun.  We had an especially good time putting together the bass part on her jazzy 5/4 song.  After that we lost touch for awhile until we both wound up playing in different bands on the night of T.J. Moore's art gallery opening.  I was blown away by how great he played in his hard rock ensemble that night.  Most recently, I watched him perform with Mike Keneally at the Belly-Up Tavern in San Diego where I watched him and Travers push Mike's guitar playing almost over the edge with excitement.  He was so happy to have finally gotten the chance to play with Keneally.  That was a really wonderful night and now I'm extra-glad that I made the ardous rush-hour drive down to San Diego that night for that concert.

My heart especially goes out to his family, to Joe, and to Bryan for their irreplaceable loss.  I'm sad that he's gone and that we didn't get more chances to play music together.  However, I consider myself very fortunate to have gotten to know such a fantastically musical man.  He will be missed. 

-- Chris Opperman
 

FRANK ZAPPA: LEATHERETTE

• frank zappa: leatherette
      (????, cd-bootleg, ??, four aces records)
   
  • Here's another version of the famous "Leatherette" bootleg album. This time, it's a single CD. Superb cover and great music: 'Dead Girls Of London', and some great Läther stuff...

DTS MUSIC SAMPLER

There's a new sampler out, called "dvd-audio music sampler - volume 2"
It's a promo sampler that features dts 5.1 surround sound technology 

1. insane clown posse - ain't yo bidness (radio edit)
2. queen - dragon attack
3. shedaisy - a night to remember
4. crosby-nash - wooden ships
5. frank zappa - dancin' fool
6. sheila nicholls - faith
7. graham nash - the chelsea hotel
8. les brown - that old black magic
9. brazilian romance - lua by dudu salinas

FROM THE ARCHIVES

• frank zappa ke ta traboudia tou
  ("frank zappa and his songs")
  
      (1980, book, greece, katsanos)
   
  • This 196-page songbook was released in Greece in the early eighties.
    It has a bunch of Zappa songs in English and in its Greek translation.

from the archives * from the archives * from the archives *

STEVE VAI

On February 22, 2005 Epic Records/RED INK will release Steve Vai’s first new solo album in nearly five years, Real Illusions: Reflections, which features eleven highly anticipated tracks by Vai. The first volume of a three part “concept trilogy” features the legendary guitar virtuoso in fine form.
 

WM RECORDINGS

Howdy, dear fans of Weirdomusic.com,

Have you been wondering why there where so few updates of the site in the past few months?
The reason is that I have been working on a new look for the site, got rid of the broken links, changed the news page into a weblog, and added some new content as well.

Don't hesitate to contact me if something isn't working right or, even better, if you have something to contribute.

Please check out the all new www.weirdomusic.com and let me know what you think!
 

thebignotefiles - 2005/01
 

the concert calendar * the concert calendar

• 2005/01/07 Terry Bozzio - concert ‘concertzaal’, tilburg, NL (with afternoon rehearsal), concert at 20:30 h
   

• 2005/01/09 Terry Bozzio + the Metropole Orkest- concert  ‘013 popcentrum’, tilburg, NL with metropole orchestra - seated, at 15.00 h
   

• 2005/01/10 Terry Bozzio - masterclass '013 popcentrum', tilburg, NL – small set, at 20:00 h

• 2005/01/10 cucamonga radio show, belgian radio 1: wrong object feat. ed mann
   

• 2005/01/11 Terry Bozzio - lecture/dialogue 'fontys conservatoire', tilburg, NL – with students, informal, at 15:00 h
   

• 2005/01/12 Terry Bozzio - masterclass 'hedon', zwolle, NL – small set, at 15.30 h

• 2005/01/12 Terry Bozzio - concert 'hedon', zwolle, NL - standing audience, at 20.45 h
   

• 2005/01/13 Terry Bozzio - concert 'boerderij', zoetermeer, NL - standing audience, at 20.30 h
   

• 2005/01/15 Terry Bozzio - concert 'jazzclub paradox', tilburg, NL – small venue, informal, small set, at 21.30 h
   

• 2005/01/16 Terry Bozzio - project "railway location project", tilburg, NL – with advanced amateurs, at 19.30 h

• 2005/01/16 Corrie van Binsbergen - concert 'rasa', utrecht, the netherlands
   

• 2005/01/19 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'rock café', catania, italy
   

• 2005/01/20 - 1:20 PM - Mike Keneally & Rick Musallam - Taylor Guitars performance room,
  at NAMM, Anaheim, CA
   

• 2005/01/21 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'marabu club', napoli, italy

• 2005/01/21 - 12:45 PM - Mike Keneally & Bryan Beller - Taylor Guitars performance room,
  at NAMM, Anaheim, CA
   

• 2005/01/22 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'flog', firenze, italy

• 2005/01/22 LeBocal - concert 'le Sc'Art à B', Bonneville (74), France
   

• 2005/01/23 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'jailbreak', roma, italy

• 2005/01/23 - 1:20 PM - Mike Keneally & Bryan Beller - Taylor Guitars performance room,
  at NAMM, Anaheim, CA
   

• 2005/01/24 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert "jazz festival", 'citta' di castello (pg), italy
   

• 2005/01/25 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'alcatraz', milano, italy  - with special guest
   

• 2005/01/26 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert savona, italy
   

• 2005/01/27 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'america', torino, italy

• 2005/01/27 the central scrutinizer band - concert 'cafe piupiu', são paulo, brasil
   

• 2005/01/28 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'naima', forli, italy
   

• 2005/01/29 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'magic bus', venezia (marcon), italy
   

• 2005/01/30 The Grandmothers Re:Invented - concert 'teatro rossetti', trieste, italy
   (with seminary of pfm drummer franz di cioccio and music critic riccardo bertoncelli)
   

• 2005/01/31 dutch national radio 4 will broadcast (part of) the Terry Bozzio concert with the  metropole orchestra (2005/01/09 concert  ‘013 popcentrum’, tilburg, NL)
   

• 2005/02/01 Special Opps - concert 'level one', los angeles, ca, usa
   

• 2005/02/04 The Foolz - concert 'de boerderij', zoetermeer, the netherlands
   

• 2005/02/05 Steve Vai - concert paris, france

• 2005/02/05 The Troupe - concert 'de naald', naaldwijk, the netherlands
   

• 2005/02/13 Ugly Radio Rebellion - concert 'club bart', ferndale, usa
   

• 2005/02/14 Gary Lucas and Phillip Johnston / PJ Harvey, cucamonga radio show, belgium
   

•  2005/02/15 Special Opps - concert 'level one', los angeles, ca, usa
   

• 2005/02/16 The Troupe - concert 'kennemer theater', beverwijk, the netherlands
   

• 2005/02/22 The Troupe - concert 'koningstheater', den bosch, the netherlands
   

• 2005/02/23 The Troupe - concert 'koningstheater', den bosch, the netherlands
   

• 2005/02/24 The Troupe - concert 'de meerse', hoofddorp, the netherlands
   

• 2005/03/01 Steve Vai - concert Phoenix, AZ, usa
   

• 2005/03/02 Steve Vai - concert Albuquerque, NM, usa (Note: 21+ Venue)
   

• 2005/03/04 The Muffin Men - concert 'Cwmaman Public Halls', Abardare, UK
• 2005/03/04 Steve Vai -concert Houston, TX, usa
• 2005/03/04 The Paul Green School Of Rock & Ike Willis - concert (more info soon)
   
• 2005/03/05  Steve Vai - Granada Theatre,  Dallas, TX, usa
• 2005/03/05 The Muffin Men - concert 'Queens Hall', Narberth, UK
• 2005/03/05 The Paul Green School Of Rock & Ike Willis - concert (more info soon)
   
• 2005/03/06  Steve Vai - Antone's,  Austin, TX, usa
• 2005/03/06 The Paul Green School Of Rock & Ike Willis - concert 'bb kings', nyc, ny, usa
   
• 2005/03/07 The Muffin Men - STOCKPORT to be confirmed
   
• 2005/03/08 The Muffin Men - concert 'Rosehill Theatre', Whitehaven, UK
• 2005/03/08 Steve Vai - concert Memphis, TN, usa
   
• 2005/03/09  Steve Vai - The Cannery,  Nashville, TN , usa
• 2005/03/09 The Muffin Men - concert 'Renfrew Ferry', Glasgow, UK
   
• 2005/03/10 The Muffin Men - concert 'Springhead, Hull, UK
• 2005/03/10 Steve Vai -concert Birmingham, AL, usa
   
• 2005/03/11 The Muffin Men - concert 'LA3', Liverpool, UK
• 2005/03/11 Steve Vai -concert New Orleans, LA, usa
   
• 2005/03/12 The Voice of Cheez - concert 'Nietzsche's', buffalo, ny, usa
   
• 2005/03/13 The Muffin Men - concert 'Limelight', Crewe, UK
   
• 2005/03/14 Steve Vai -concert Tampa, FL, usa
   

• 2005/03/15  Steve Vai - Julius Littman PAC,  Miami, FL, usa

• 2005/03/15 The Muffin Men - concert 'Komedia', Brighton, UK
   
• 2005/03/16  Steve Vai - House of Blues,  Orlando, FL, usa
• 2005/03/16 The Muffin Men - concert 'South Parade Pier', Southsea, UK
   
• 2005/03/17  Steve Vai - Freebird Live,  Jacksonville, FL, usa
• 2005/03/17 The Muffin Men - concert 'Mr Kyps, Poole, UK
   
• 2005/03/18  Steve Vai - House of Blues,  Myrtle Beach, SC, usa
• 2005/03/18 The Muffin Men - concert 'The Acorn', Penzance, UK
   
• 2005/03/19 The Muffin Men - concert 'The Wharf', Tavistock, UK
• 2005/03/19 Steve Vai -concert Atlanta, GA, usa
   
• 2005/03/20  Steve Vai - The Orange Peel ,  Asheville, NC , usa
   
• 2005/03/21 The Muffin Men - concert 'Alexanders', Chester, UK
   
• 2005/03/22 The Muffin Men - concert 'Met Arts Centre', Bury, UK
• 2005/03/22 Steve Vai -concert Winston Salem, NC, usa
   
• 2005/03/23  Steve Vai - Birchmere,  Alexandria, VA, usa
• 2005/03/23 The Muffin Men - concert 'New Roscoe', Leeds, UK
   
• 2005/03/24  Steve Vai - Rams Head Live,  Baltimore, MD, usa
• 2005/03/24 The Muffin Men - concert 'Boardwalk', Sheffield, UK
   
• 2005/03/25 Steve Vai - concert Hartford, CT, usa
   
• 2005/03/26 The Muffin Men - concert 'Flowerpot', Derby, UK
  2005/03/26  Steve Vai - concert 'Town Hall', NYC, NY, usa
   
• 2005/03/27 The Muffin Men - concert 'Robin', Wolverhampton, UK
   
• 2005/03/28  Steve Vai - The Trocadero Theatre,  Philadelphia, PA, usa
   

• 2005/03/29  Steve Vai - Westbury Music Fair,  Westbury, NY, usa
   

• 2005/03/30 The Muffin Men - concert 'Huntingdon Hall', Worcester, UK
• 2005/03/30 Steve Vai - concert Sayreville, NJ, usa
   
• 2005/03/31 The Muffin Men - concert 'Borderline', London, UK
• 2005/03/31 Steve Vai - concert Boston, MA, usa
   
• 2005/04/01 The Muffin Men - concert 'Mill', Banbury, UK
• 2005/04/01 Steve Vai -concert Montreal, QUE, can
   

• 2005/04/02  Steve Vai - Massey Hall,  Toronto, ONT, usa

• 2005/04/02 The Muffin Men - concert 'Leisure Centre', Market Harborough, UK
   
• 2005/04/04  Steve Vai - Univ. Buffalo Center for Arts,  Buffalo, NY, usa
   
• 2005/04/05 Steve Vai -concert Pittsburgh, PA, usa
   
• 2005/04/06  Steve Vai - House of Blues,  Cleveland, OH, usa
   

• 2005/04/07 Steve Vai - concert Columbus, OH, usa
   

• 2005/04/08  Steve Vai - State Theatre,  Detroit, MI, usa
   

• 2005/04/09  Steve Vai - Bogart's,  Cincinnati, OH, usa
   

• 2005/04/10  Steve Vai - The Pageant,  St. Louis, MO, usa
   

• 2005/04/11 dutch radio station "concertzender" will broadcast part of the 2005/01/07 opening concert of the "traces of rhythm" festival, featuring Terry Bozzio, Arnold Marinissen, Arno van Nieuwenhuize en Lê Quan Ninh.
   

• 2005/04/12 Steve Vai -concert Milwaukee, WI, usa

• 2005/04/12 The Troupe - concert 'goudse schouwburg', gouda, the netherlands
   

• 2005/04/13 Steve Vai -concert Chicago, IL, usa
   

• 2005/04/15 Steve Vai -concert St. Paul, MN, usa
   

• 2005/04/16 The Troupe - concert 'schouwburg', amstelveen, the netherlands

• 2005/04/16 Steve Vai -concert Fargo, ND, usa
   

• 2005/04/17  Steve Vai concert Lincoln, NE, usa
   

• 2005/04/19  Steve Vai - Fox Theatre,  Boulder, CO, usa
   

• 2005/04/20  Steve Vai - The Venue (formerly Brick's Club),  Salt Lake City, UT , usa
   

• 2005/04/21  Steve Vai - The Big Easy,  Boise, ID, usa
   

• 2005/04/22 Steve Vai -concert Seattle, WA, usa
   

• 2005/04/23  Steve Vai - Commodore Ballroom,  Vancouver, BC, usa
   

• 2005/04/24 Steve Vai -concert Portland, OR, usa
   

• 2005/04/26 Steve Vai -concert San Francisco, CA, usa
   

• 2005/04/27  Steve Vai - The Grove,  Anaheim, CA, usa
   

• 2005/04/28  Steve Vai - House of Blues,  Las Vegas, NV, usa
   

• 2005/04/29  Steve Vai - 4th and B,  San Diego, CA, usa
   

• 2005/04/30  Steve Vai - Wiltern Theatre,  Los Angeles, CA, usa