Insights on the genius of Frank Zappa you won’t find anywhere else.
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Frank Zappa often complained by the Eighties that he found it difficult to find musicians who were familiar with the Doo-Wop and R&B records of the Fifties. So his love of that music could not be featured in his later…
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Tommy Mars on why Zappa was the greatest composer of the 20th century
Bob Dobbs and Tommy Mars discuss life as a member of Frank Zappa’s band, as well as the big picture of Zappa’s work. They delve into Zappa’s influence on 20th-century music, his use of humor and satire in music, and…
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Zappa Hour 13 – Musical Revolutionary
Bob Dobbs and guests explore the powerful influences that shaped Frank Zappa’s music, and how Zappa turned those influences into a force that changed the trajectory of music in the Twentieth Century. Bob Dobbs is a Zappa researcher and McLuhan…
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Zappa Hour 12 – Zappa and The Matrix
Bob Dobbs and guests examine the work of Frank Zappa through the lens of The Matrix and what the film said about reality and creativity. Bob Dobbs is a Zappa researcher and McLuhan scholar. He is joined by regular contributors…
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Zappa Hour 11 – Music Education
Bob Dobbs and guests explore topics related to Frank Zappa and the work of John Amos Comenius, a notable figure in education. The discussion touches upon various themes, including educational methods in music, collaborative composition, avant-garde music techniques, the societal…
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Zappa Hour 10 – How Rock Changed Culture
Bob Dobbs and guests explore the changes that rock music caused across culture and society through the perspectives of Frank Zappa and media scientist Marshall McLuhan. Bob Dobbs is a Zappa researcher and McLuhan scholar. He is joined by regular…
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Zappa Hour 9 – The Kofsky interview
Bob Dobbs and guests break down the 1967 Zappa / Kofsky interview that appeared in Jazz & Pop. Plus, Bob and iON (the non-physical) analyze the lyrics to “Stairway to Heaven”, line-by-line. Bob Dobbs is a Zappa researcher and McLuhan…
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This book shaped Zappa’s view of art
Zappa researcher Bob Dobbs reports from Zappa and Beefheart’s teenage hometown of Lancaster, CA after meeting with Captain Beefheart’s mother Sue Vliet. He describes the significance of the book The Hidden Persuaders by Vance Packard, Paul C. Buff, and Pal…
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Zappa Hour 8 – Art as Survival
Bob Dobbs and guests explore modern music and technology through the lens of Frank Zappa, with a focus on Marshall McLuhan’s essay “Art as Survival in the Electric Age”. Bob Dobbs is a Zappa researcher and McLuhan scholar. He is…
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Frank Zappa & the Astral Plane
Did Frank Zappa consult mediums? What does a medium say about Zappa’s music, life and the Big Note. Is it possible to speak to Zappa beyond the grave? Bob Dobbs, Ben Watson and special guest iON “the Non-Physical” debate the…