bunk gardner

Born John Leon Guarnera on May 2, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Bunk Gardner joined the Mothers Of Invention in early 1967. He recorded and toured with Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention until late 1969.

Shortly after he had left The Mothers, Bunk performed with Menage A Trois, with his brother Buzz and with John Balkin.

Bunk Gardner also toured and recorded with Geronimo Black and with The Grandmothers.

Early 2000, a couple of albums of The Don And Bunk Show got released, the duo that Bunk had formed with Don Preston.

In 2003 he took part in a concert (and recording) of The Grande Mothers Re:Invented. Besides Bunk Gardner, the Grande Mothers Re:Invented also feature Don Preston, Napoleon Murphy Brock and Roy Estrada.

In 2007, the Crossfire Publications record label released Bunk's first solo album, "It's All Bunk!", collecting material from Bunk's entire career.

In 2010, the Don & Bunk Show went on the road again for a number of gigs.

February 2011, the Don & Bunk Show did another series of concerts.

 

discography

  bud wattles & his orchestra: themes from the hip
    (1959, lp, usa, roulette r-25073) - feat.bunk gardner

  joanna & the playboys: ??
    (1962, lp, usa, ??) - feat.bunk gardner
 
2 the mothers of invention: absolutely free
    (1967, lp,usa, verve)
3 the mothers of invention: we're only in it for the money
   (1967, lp, usa, verve)

4 frank zappa: lumpy gravy
   (1967, lp, usa, verve)

5 the mothers of invention: cruising with ruben & the jets
   (1968, lp, usa, verve)

6 the mothers of invention: mothermania
   (1969, lp, usa, verve)

zappa_06.jpg (26926 bytes)

7 the mothers of invention: uncle meat
   (1969, 2lp, usa, bizarre)

9

the mothers of invention: burnt weeny sandwich
   (1970, lp, usa, bizarre)

10

the mothers of invention: weasels ripped my flesh
   (1970, lp, usa, bizarre)

  tim buckley: starsailor (6)
    (1970, lp, usa, straight) - feat.bunk gardner, buzz gardner, john balkin
  domenic troiano: the writings on the wall / the wear and the tear on my mind
    (1972, 7", usa, mercury records) - feat. bunk gardner, buzz gardner

  domenic troiano domenic troiano
    (1972, lp, usa, mercury records) - feat. bunk gardner, buzz gardner

  nicholas greenwood: cold cuts
    (1972, lp, uk, kingdom) - feat. bunk gardner

  geronimo black: geronimo black  (1)
    (1972, lp, universal city recs) - feat. various ex-mothers of invention

  geronimo black: let us live / '59 chevy
    (
1972, 7"-pro, usa, uni 55339)

  geronimo black: '59 chevy / let us live
    (1972, 7", new zealand, mca records mc/s 6145)

  geronimo black: welcome back (2)
    (1980, lp, usa, helios recs) - feat. various ex-mothers of invention

  elmer & fred: elmer & fred
    (unreleased, lp, usa, rhino) - the album was announced by rhino in 1981
 
  the grandmothers: grandmothers (1)
    (1981, lp, ger, line records 6.24636 ap) - feat. various ex-moi

grandmothers_st_lp.jpg (28012 bytes)

  the grandmothers: fan club talk lp (2)
    (1981, lp, us, panda 001)

gm_fct_pdvinyl.jpg (25941 bytes)

  the grandmothers: lookin' up granny's dress  (3)
    (1982, lp, us, rhino records  rnlp 804) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions

gm_lookinup.jpg (23374 bytes)

51 frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.1
   (1988, 2cd, usa, ryko)

57

frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.4
   (1991, 2cd, usa, ryko)  
  the mothers of invention: the ark
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70538)
  the mothers of invention: 'tis the season to be jelly
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70542)
  zappa / mothers: electric aunt jemima
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71019)

58

frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.5
   (1992, 2cd, usa, ryko)
  zappa / mothers: our man in nirvana
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71022)
  bunk gardner: bunk speaks - 1992 interview
    (1992, k7, usa, electrik yak 005) = interview for "ptolemaic terrascope"
 
  ant-bee: with my favourite "mothers" and other bizarre muzik
    (1992, k7, usa, electrik yak 003) - cover drawing by cal schenkel / feat. gardner, preston, black, snyder

  bunk gardner: speaks ! - 1992 interview
    (1993, k7, usa, electrik yak letc 2)
  = a reissue  + some additional music
 

61

zappa / mothers: ahead of their time (61)
   (1993, cd, usa, ryko)
  the grandmothers: a mother of an anthology
    (1993, cd, us, one way records ow 28880)  = compilation + extra tracks  

  ant-bee: snorks and wheezes
    (1993, k7, usa, electrik yak) - feat.bunk gardner, don preston, jc black, motorhead sherwood

  ant-bee: the *#!%%? of ant-bee - rarities vol.3
    (1993, k7, usa, electrik yak records 009) - feat.bunk gardner, don preston, jc black, motorhead sherwood

  don preston: vile foamy ectoplasm (1)
    (1993, cd, ger, muffin records muffin cdmr 003) - feat. ex-moi and ex-zappa bandmembers 
 
  the grandmothers: who could imagine (5)
    (1994, cd, nl, munich records netcd 53) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa & beefheart compositions

  ant-bee: the bizarre german e.p.
    (1994, 7", ger, lollipop shop bouncing splash 8) - feat.bunk gardner, don preston, jc black

  ant-bee: with my favorite "vegetables" and other bizarre music
    (1994, cd, uk, divine records divine 3) - feat.motorhead, black, gardner, estrada, preston, snyder

  snarfel: thirty years of andy cahan
    (1995, cd, usa, hamana records) - feat. various ex-moi

  sandro oliva: who the fuck is sandro oliva ?!?
    (1995, cd, usa, muffin records mrp015)
- feat. various ex-moi; incl.'mr.green genes' (frank zappa)

  ant-bee: lunar muzik
    (1995, cd, uk, divine records divine 20) - feat. gardner, preston, black, estrada, sherwood, bob harris

  original soundtrack: caged heat 3000
    (1996, cd, usa, cinemadisc records 602688 3003-2) - feat.bunk gardner

caged3000.jpg (45427 bytes)

68

frank zappa: mystery disc
   (1998, cd, usa, ryko)

the muffin men: god shave the queen (8)
    (1999, cd, eec, efa 03447-2) – incl.compositions by don van vliet and by frank zappa, feat. zappa alumni

  bruce cameron: midnight daydream
    (1999, cd, usa, brain cell records) - feat ant-bee, bunk gardner

cameron_midnightdaydream.jpg (43416 bytes)

  the don and bunk show: necessity is...
    (2000, cdr, usa, brain records) – incl. ‘eric dolphey memorial barbecue’ (frank zappa) / re-released in 2011 as "the don & bunk show"

the grandmothers: eating the astoria (6)
    (2000, cd, i, obvious music om gm0100) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions
  the grandmothers: 20 year anthology of the grandmothers
    (2001, cdr, ger, private release) - anthology

  the grandmothers: the eternal question
    (2001, cdr, ger, private release)
- feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions

  don preston: io landscapes
    (2001, cdr, usa, brain records) - feat. frank zappa, bunk gardner
 
  various artists: eyeinhand sampler volume 1
    (2001, cd, spain, vaso music vm 032) - all zappa related artists

  the don and bunk show: joined at the hip
    (2002, cdr, usa, brain records) - incl. 'little house' (frank zappa)

db_joine.jpg (64155 bytes)

  project/object: the dream of the dog
    (2002, cd, usa, private release) - improvised music, using familiar zappa chords & vamps
  various artists: zappanale 13
    (2003, 3cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  various artists: zappanale 13 - the lewinskys - grandmothers west
    (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  various artists: zappanale 13 - retrospective
    (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  various artists: zappanale # 13
    (2003, cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  the grandmothers: a grandmothers night at the gewandhaus
    (2003, cd, ger, warner classic 2564600682) - incl.various frank zappa compositions

  domenic troiano: the best of
    (2003, cd , canada, universal) - feat. bunk gardner, buzz gardner

  sandro oliva: heavy lightning
    (2004, cdr, i, private release) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions

  the grandmothers: boulder theatre – us tour, 2000
    (200?, 2cdr, italy, obvious music) - feat.j.c.black, don preston, bunk gardner
 
  the muffin men: muffinz moovies vol.one (1990-1997)
    (2005, dvd, uk, private release)
- incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. zappa alumni

  don preston: vile foamy ectoplasm
    (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications) - feat. frank zappa, ex-moi and ex-zappa bandmembers
  bunk gardner: it's all bunk!
    (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications) - feat. various ex-moi

  don preston: works
    (2007, usa, cd, crossfire publications) - feat.bunk gardner

  jimmy carl black: where’s the $%&§#@’ beer?
    (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications 9508-2) - feat.various mothers of invention

  geronimo black: welcome back
    (2008, download, -, crossfire publications) - feat. various ex-mothers of invention / downloadable version of the 1979 album, with six bonus tracks
  the grandmothers: it happened here
    (2008, 2cdr, ger, arf society) = the grandmothers (with special guests) concert at zappanale in 2002

grandm_ithappenedhere.jpg (26054 bytes)

  jimmy carl black: "where's my waitress?" (revised)
    (2010, download, -, crossfire publications) = revised edition - download only

jcblack_wheresmywaitress2010.jpg (10002 bytes)

  bunk gardner: it's all bunk! (reloaded)
    (2010, download, -, crossfire publications)
= revised edition - download only

bunk_itsallbunk2010.jpg (13823 bytes)

  geronimo black: welcome back geronimo black (revised)
    (2010, download, -, crossfire publications) = revised edition - download only

wbgb_2010.jpg (18948 bytes)

  ant-bee: electronic church muzik
    (2011, cd, usa, barking moondog records bmr1) - feat. various zappa & beefheart alumni

ant_bee_electronicchurchmusic.jpg (29175 bytes)

sandro oliva: who the fuck is sandro oliva ?!?
    (2011, cdr, italy, private release / obvious music omso 0013) - feat. various ex-moi / incl.'mr.green genes' (frank zappa) / re-release with bonus

so_wtfi_2011.jpg (78137 bytes)

  bunk gardner: the bunk gardner story
    (2011, download, norway, zonic entertainment) - feat. don preston, arthur barrow

zen2008_bunkgardnerstory_f.jpg (14025 bytes)

  bunk gardner: the bunk gardner story - part 2
    (2011, download, norway, zonic entertainment) - feat. don preston, arthur barrow / artwork by ed seeman

bunkgardner_story2.jpg (31339 bytes)

  don preston: the don preston story
    (2012, download, norway, zonic entertainment) - feat. bunk gardner, arthur barrow / artwork by ed seeman

thedonprestonstory_cd.jpg (136920 bytes)

92

frank zappa: road tapes - kerrisdale arena, vancouver bc, 25 august 1968
    (2012, cd, usa, vaulternative records )
zappa_roadtapes19680825.jpg (31025 bytes)

94

frank zappa: finer moments
    (2012, cd, usa, zappa records)

zappa_finermoments.jpg (47358 bytes)

 

don preston: out of the vault
    (2014, cd, usa, brain records) - feat. bunk gardner, dave parlato, arthur barrow, bruce fowler, walt fowler, tom fowler  //  incl. 'eric dolphy' (frank zappa)

donpreston_outofthevault.jpg (30269 bytes)

  the don and bunk show: s/t
    (2014, cdr, usa, brain records)

donbunk_st_2014.jpg (34834 bytes)

  movie: where's the beer and when do we get paid?
    (2014, dvd, ger, edition kassenknüller strassenfeger) - feat. jimmy carl black, eugene chadbourne, don preston, bunk gardner, roy estrada, andy cahan, denny walley

bolletbrot_jcblack2012.jpg (37149 bytes)

  the grandmothers of invention: duke of prunes - live at the fabrik, hamburg, germany
    (2014, dvd, ger, pinguin) - all compositions by frank zappa

grandmothers_dukeofprunes_dvd2014.jpg (40722 bytes)

  the grandmothers of invention: zappanale 25
    (2014, dvdr, ger, arf society) - (almost) all compositions by frank zappa, also incl. 'debra kadabra' (don van vliet)

z25_grandmothers_dvdr.jpg (15783 bytes)

  don preston & bunk gardner: zappanale exhibition, july 18, 2014
    (2015, dvdr, ger, rr production zapp-e-dvd014) - incl. various frank zappa compositions

donbunk_dvdr_zappanale2014.jpg (30813 bytes)

105

frank zappa: frank zappa for president
    (2016, cd, usa, zappa records zr 20021)
fz_fzforpresident.jpg (31217 bytes)

107

zappa / mothers: meat light
    (2016, 3cd, usa, zappa records zr20024)
fz_meatlight.jpg (46821 bytes)
  the grandmothers of invention: live in bremen
    (2018, 2cd, ger, sireena) - feat. don preston, bunk gardner

grandmothers_liveinbremen2cd.jpg (29166 bytes)

  the grandmothers of invention: free energy
    (2018, cd, usa, private release) - feat. don preston, bunk gardner and ed mann
  bunk gardner: bunkmania
    (2018, cd, usa, private release) - incl. 'the little house i used to live in' (frank zappa), feat. don preston, buzz gardner, jimmy carl black
  geronimo black: freak out phantasia
    (2019, lp+cd, ger, munster records) - quotes 'help, i'm a rock' during 'ooh poo pah doo'
     

menage a trois

 

semi-official releases

  the mothers of invention: wollman rink, central park, ny, august 3rd 1968
    (2014, cd, uk, keyhole records)
moi_wollmanrinkcd.jpg (27731 bytes)

 

 

 

dvd

  the muffin men: muffinz moovies vol.one (1990-1997)
    (2005, dvd, uk, private release)
- incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. zappa alumni

 

 

filmography

random notes

Birth name: John Leon Guarnera
Birthday: May 2, 1933 (Cleveland, OH)

     From: "Freak Out With The Grandmothers" tour booklet
A Cleveland Ohio native, born to Thelma and Charles Guanerra (why dad changed
it to Gardner I'll never understand.)  Started musically at age 7 with piano lessons from Elmira Snodgrass for 50 cents a lesson.  Until the age of 12 I sucked my thumb and then replaced it with a clarinet, tenor sax, bassoon and finally flute.  In 1954 my professional career started by being featured on sax and flute on Roulette Records Western T.V. themes.  I then recorded and toured with Eartha Kitt, Tim Buckley, Frank Zappa, Little Richard, Van Morrison and the 4 Winds Ensemble.  From Bassoonist with the Cleveland Philharmonic in 1950 to all the woodwinds with the Grandmothers in 1994 with a few stops inbetween like playing experimental music in 1962 with Don Preston, Frank Zappa and my brother Buzz in Don's studio to Geronimo Black with Jim in 1970.  Also the Montage Trio & Quartet and one year of cullinary cooking at L.A. Trade Tech.  I delved into many musical forms starting with boogie woogie and dixieland to classical and jazz to latin and fusion and finally avant-guarde.  But I still love spontaneous improv and I'm secretly joined at the hip with roomate Don Preston!  
(vegetarians to the end!)

     From: Patrick Neve
Apparantly that silver-haired fox Bunk Gardner joined Jack Bruce to do a
Band Of Gypsies tribute album.  I got a flyer in the mail today, advertising this recording session which should have happened last September ('98).
The project is led by a guy named Bruce Cameron who is putting out an album
called Midnight Daydream.  Also on the bill are Buddy Miles, Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell, A couple of Alice Cooper members, someone from Uriah Heep, and the ANT-BEE.  

     From: Howard Greene
I have met and spoken to Bunk Gardner on a couple occasions. I found him to be
a very friendly chap who's quite willing to talk about his days with FZ. He lives in Southern California. He and Don Preston used to perform regularly as a duo at a Zappa-themed restaurant in Los Angeles called Lumpy Gravy. They did mostly jazz standards, Don Preston compostions and some Zappa. They both sounded great.

Newsbulletin from Zonic Entertainment - 2010 02 08

 Last week we had some fantastic studiosessions in LA with original Mothers DON PRESTON (78) and BUNK GARDNER (77). We recorded "The Don Preston Story" as well as "The Bunk Gardner Story" - if you are familiar with the previous release "The Jimmy Carl Black Story" you know the concept.

The sessions went on very well, and both Bunk and Don were so full of interesting stories (5-6 hours each, about Zappa, the Mothers, early recordings and concerts, etc) that this is far too long to release on CD. Consequently their stories will be put directly to iTunes and other digital distributors, but with proper booklet, etc (free for album downloads). Arthur Barrow - yes, the clonemeister himself! - is editing the recordings as we speak, and they will be published asap, hopefully before June.

Don and Bunk also recorded a marvelous music session together, showing clearly that these pioneers in avant garde music, as well as audio surrealism, electronica and humour, actually play better than ever before! And their DON AND BUNK SHOW is available for booking this spring (US East coast), and summer (Europe) - highly recommendable, I can forward contact.

BUNK GARDNER and DON PRESTON - in an echo from the classical Mothers of Invention 
recording under the piano: freaks anno 2010 talking in the sax and guitar - a must for MOI fans!

Today on MySpace www.myspace.com/jonlarsenguitar I have published new 19 photos from the studio sessions, including some of Don Preston's Mothers Of Invention Memorabilia - photos, postcards, posters, and even info on an unpublished audio tape of the Mothers' - in a phtoto session for LIFE magazine (the one with the babies!) app. 1967! In the blog there are also more info about the studio sessions with Don Preston and Bunk Gardner - all for your FREE Zonic Entertainment!

From these historical recording sessions, we went directly into another unforgettable recording session: new music composed and performed by TOMMY MARS - in my view the most brilliant keyboard player today, he is pure genius! This time Mars recorded new, almost orchestral music to the surrealistic story "WILLIE NICKERSON'S EGG", by yours truly. From before Tommy had already read the story, so now I only have to mix and edit the project before release. More info about this project later, but if you like "Strange News From Mars" you'll love this!

Being in LA in Arthur Barrow's lotek studio, we also made agreements about re-releases of some of Don Prestons old recordings, some of Bunk Gardner's, as well as Arthur Barrow's own - all on Zonic Entertainment. You will be kept informed.

Music Is The Best!

Sincerely yours,

ZONIC ENTERTAINMENT 
Jon Larsen
guitar/composer/producer

 

Reminder - previous releases on Zonic Entertainment:

  • THE MAR VISTA PHILHARMONIC - No Forest Fire (ZEN 2005)

  • JIMMY CARL BLACK/JON LARSEN - The Jimmy Carl Black Story (ZEN 2003/2004)

  • JON LARSEN - Strange News From Mars (ZEN 2001)

Available now on iTunes and CD.

 

Bunk Gardner (left) and Don Preston (right).
at Zappanale 2016.

picture taken by Bonnie Benefield.

   

 


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