Opening Solos

FZ album(s) in which song has appeared:

Tour(s) on which song is known to have been performed (main source: FZShows, v. 7.1):

Comments:

Steve Vai on The Frank Zappa Guitar Book intro:

The "Theme from the Third Movement of Sinister Footwear" (formerly titled "Persona Non Grata") appears on the album You Are What You Is. On that track Frank's guitar line was doubled by electric guitar, percussion, and bass clarinet.

Touring versions from Foggy G's We're Only In It For The Touring:

1978
OPENING SOLO: For several shows, instead of playing an actual tune, Frank would instruct the band to play a beat, and FZ would just solo over it. No monkey business, just Frank playing his heart out and the band trying to support him. Despite being the first thing he played each night, these excursions were typically one of the highlights of each show.
ANCIENT ARMAMENTS: The opening solo from 10/31. One of the instances where the band simply begins playing a beat, and Frank simply begins playing a solo. It is a rather restrained solo, nowhere near the craziness the rest of the night would bring, but somehow perfect nonetheless. Named by FZ himself, when he released this as the B-side of "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted".

1979
OPENING SOLO- For lack of a better name, the guitar solo that Frank would play to open the show. As on the previous tour, Frank would frequently start the show by simply picking up his guitar and playing. The band, led by Vinnie and Artie, would fall in behind him (never failing to inspire the master, may I add). I've yet to hear an opening solo that left me cold. At least for this tour, Frank at his best. This opening slot also saw performances of "Watermelon in Easter Hay," "The Deathless Horsie," and "Treacherous Cretins."

 

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