"Frank Zappa and I attended high school at the same time, at Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, CA. My high school boyfriend and Frank were good friends. My boyfriend told me that Frank had a huge, wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling collection of albums in his room. Plus, he had a large dresser filled with 45’s. Frank could pick up any instrument, and within a few minutes could play it! He was gifted.

Frank was also the school rebel. Once, in a mandatory all-school assembly in the gym, the head cheerleader went to the mike and said, “Everyone please stand and face the flag.” We all lumbered to our feet and waited. And waited some more. Then the cheerleader said loudly, “And you too, Frank Zappa.” We all turned and watched Frank - way up in the top corner of the bleachers - slowly get to his feet. We all applauded him loudly, while the cheerleaders frowned.

Frank Zappa’s band during high school was called The Blackouts, and they played fabulous down and dirty rhythm & blues. We loved it when they were allowed to play at assemblies. They didn’t play too often because we students would go crazy with joy, and the faculty thought we were having way too much fun. We loved that band!

Frank Zappa’s Blackouts were never allowed to play at night-time high school dances because some of their music was just too suggestive for the faculty. So Frank organized his OWN dances at the town fairgrounds! Many of us girls were forbidden by our parents to attend the “wild” Blackouts dances, but of course we went anyway. The dances were great fun - the lights were low, the r&b music loud, rhythmic, & wonderful, the dancing nonstop, and no chaperones! The local police always cruised by Frank Zappa’s dances. After all, he was the town Bad Boy. Our own James Dean.

The 1957 high school yearbook has 210 pages and measures 9”x12”.  In this yearbook, Frank Zappa, in his Junior year, appears in two photos with his FIRST band, The Blackouts. In one photo he's playing drums. In the other photo he's on the piano.

The 1958 high school yearbook has 194 pages and measures 9”x12”.  Frank Zappa, a Senior, appears in two photos in this yearbook. One is his graduation picture in cap and gown! The other is of him with his guitar. "