the mothers
playing zappa's compositions, the soul giants started thinking of a more appropriate name. for a short while they became the blackouts and later captain glasspack & the magic mufflers, eventually changing it to (on may, 10, mothers day 1964) the mothers.
the mothers #1
jimmy carl black:
drums
ray collins: vocals
roy
estrada: bass
frank zappa: guitar
on one of his excursions to hollywood, zappa met herb cohen, who offered his services as a manager. cohen introduced zappa to the l.a. freaks, including vito paulekas and carl franzoni. the latter was involved in a movie called "mondo hollywood" and was interested to have the mothers performing in the film.
towards the end of 1965, the band wanted to go to los angeles (about 30 miles away) and they added a female guitar player and singer, alice stuart, to the group.
the mothers #2
jimmy carl black:
drums
ray collins: vocals
roy
estrada: bass
alice stuart: guitar, vocals
frank zappa: guitar
when stuart had left the band, henry vestine took over her position. he even signed a contract dated november 15, 1965.
the mothers #3
jimmy carl black:
drums
ray collins: vocals
roy
estrada: bass
henry vestine: guitar
frank zappa: guitar
at this moment, the band was getting record company attention. vestine did not feel too comfortable with the musical direction the band was taking and quit.
the mothers #4
jimmy carl black:
drums
jim guercio: guitar, vocals
roy
estrada: bass
steve mann: guitar
frank zappa: guitar
early 1966, the band was playing gigs in different l.a. clubs. collins had left the band and was replaced by jim guercio. when guercio went on as a manager for other bands collins was convinced into returning. in the meantime, steve mann had replaced vestine and played guitar in the band for a short while. this constant change in guitar players finally stopped when mann quit and elliott ingber was brought into the group.
the mothers #5
jimmy carl black:
drums
ray collins: vocals
roy
estrada: bass
elliott ingber: guitar
frank zappa: guitar
wanting more backbeat, zappa hired denny bruce.
the mothers #6
jimmy carl black:
drums, percussion
denny bruce: drums
ray collins: vocals
roy
estrada: bass
elliott ingber: guitar
frank zappa: guitar
bruce was in the band for about six months but was forced to quit because of mononucleosis.
the mothers #7
jimmy carl black:
drums
ray collins: vocals
roy
estrada: bass
elliott ingber: guitar
frank zappa: guitar
march 1, 1966 the mothers signed a two-year, five-album record deal with verve/mgm. mgm had the band change their name to the mothers of invention and they started recording their first album.