c. May, 1970
Zappa House, Woodrow Wilson Dr., LA, CA
Hollywood Ranch Market, LA, CA
Wadleigh Maurice edit room, LA, CA
Directed by FZ
Photography by Haskell Wexler
June 18, 1970
VPRO TV
Uddel, Netherlands
June 19, 1970
Radio Bremen TV, Bremen, Germany
4 min.
Horst Königstein interviews FZ
This is a brief German TV interview with Frank, the talking head, circa June 19, 1970. They discuss new members Flo & Eddie, Jeff Simmons, George Duke, Ian, etc.
June, 1970
UK
c. 1970?
Radio Bremen TV, Bremen, Germany
39 min.
"Happening Im Studio mit Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention"
Directed by Michael Leckebusch
"Liederliches", MOI concert at The Beat Club. Appears to be a rebroadcast, since it has some interview stuff from 1970 too.
Last week I came into possession of an FZ videotape. It contains two very different items. FZ + the Mothers of Invention, 06.10.68 (Oct.) German TV: "Happening in Studio" Like the title says... it was a "happening" in the studio. The set opens with a loosely-coordinated rock & roll jam, interrupted by a commercial or whatever they had instead of commercials in 1968 Germany, a brief interview with FZ from 1970 or so, and then back to 1968 for the happening. This consisted of a performance with all songs segue and partial improvisation.
Broadcasted the weekend after FZ's death in german television. At this
time the regional *third tv programm* of the northern area of germany, the
"Norddeutscher Rundfunk (N3)" with Radio Bremen have given parts of the
Beat-Club series from 1963 to 1972 in a series of ca. 40 sendings. Because
of this actual event they changed their program and decided to broadcast
the Mothers of Invention in Beat-Club way back in 1968. They recorded this
in their tv-studio with no audience.
Additional informants:
JWB, Jon Naurin, Charles Ulrich
1970
Zappa Home, Woodrow Wilson Dr
Directed by Roelof Kiers
Fall 1970
CBC, Canada
10 min
Frank appeared in an interview on Canadian television (CBC) in an interview with Kay Sjarnson in the fall of 1970. It was on the Sunday night magazine show. The interview ran for about 10 minutes. It was the first time that I ever saw him on television.
November 6, 1970
Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA
15 min
FZ--guitar, vocals
Howard Kaylan--vocals
Mark Volman--vocals
George Duke--keyboards, trombone
Ian Underwood--keyboards, alto
sax
Jeff Simmons--bass, vocals
Aynsley Dunbar--drums
Informants: Jillis Stada
November 13-14, 1970
NYC, NY
Directed by Roelof Kiers for VPRO
December 15, 1970
Palais Gaumont, Paris, France
20 min. B&W, color
FZ--guitar, vocals
Howard Kaylan--vocals
Mark Volman--vocals
Jean-Luc Ponty--violin
George Duke--keyboards, trombone
Ian Underwood--keyboards, alto
sax
Jeff Simmons--bass, vocals
Aynsley Dunbar--drums
An exciting and dynamic performance. One of the last shows with Jeff Simmons. Portions of this concert appear on the officially-released title from Beat The Boots volume II, Disconnected Synapses.
Informants: Jillis Stada
January 9, 1971
ORTF, France
40 min.
Extrait du concert de Frank ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS. L'intégralité sera diffusée à la prochaine émission.
Extract in the concert of Frank ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS. Integrality will be diffused with the next emission.
YouTube: Pop 2 -- January 9, 1971 -- "Call Any Vegetable" (02:51 min.)
January 16, 1971
ORTF, France
40 min.
Retransmission d'une partie du concert donné par Frank ZAPPA and The MOTHERS OF INVENTION au Gaumont Palace le 15/12/1970.
Retransmission of a part of the concert given by Frank ZAPPA and The MOTHERS OF INVENTION to Gaumont De luxe hotel 15/12/1970.
YouTube: Pop 2 -- January 16, 1971 -- Part 1: "The Air"/"Dog Breath"/"Mother People" (09:09 min.) · Part 2: "You Didn't Try To Call Me"/"King Kong, Part 1" (09:45 min.) · Part 3: "King Kong, Part 2"/"Who Are The Brain Police?, Part 1" (09:46 min.) · Part 4: "Who Are The Brain Police?" (06:02 min.)
January-February, 1971
Pinewood Studios, UK
February 11, 1971
VPRO TV
60 min.
February, 1971
TVR, Windmill St, London, UK
unknown date
B&W, 2 min.
YouTube: Albert Hall Banning (02:04 min.)
May 8, 1971
ORTF, France
40 min.
Interview de Jean-Luc PONTY : décrit son cheminement musical. 16 Février 1971 BT déroulant avec noms de musiciens. Interview de Ponty , BT Ponty et George Duke, Frank ZAPPA. Musique avec ZAPPA et PONTY. Suite de l'Interview sur l'engagement politique et la musique. Retour sur scène.
Interview of Jean-Luc PONTY: described its musical advance. 16 February 1971 BT unrolling with names of musicians. Interview of Ponty, BT Ponty and George Duke, Frank ZAPPA. Music with ZAPPA and PONTY. Continuation of the Interview on political engagement and the music. Return on scene.
June 5, 1971
Fillmore East, NYC, NY
24 min.
September 23, 1971
I remember Frank's appearance on "What's My Line?" Frank was the mystery guest. Soupy Sales disqualifed himself cause he knew it was Frank...I believe. I think the show was circa 1972 or something.
According to the What's My Line? episode guide at http://www.matchgame.org/episodeguides/wml/wml4.html, this show was broadcast on September 23, 1971.
On the 10/10/71 Howard Smith show, a caller asks FZ, "Why would you condescend to appear on such a program?" FZ tells him:
"I thought it was the most absurd thing that anybody ever asked me to do. How could I pass it up?"
"Soupy Sales guessed me . . . Well, I know him. He used to come to our concerts in Los Angeles in 1967. He was one of our first show-business-type fans, when we started off in Los Angeles in those days. The other thing is that Miss Pamela from the GTOs used to go out with his son. He's named Tony; he's a bass player. I think he was working with Todd Rundgren in that Runt group."
I would classify that [producing Grand Funk Railroad] in the same way that I felt when the phone call came in to be on What's My Line. It's so absurd that you have to do it. (...) You know, I've been invited to do Hollywood Squares. I didn't do that. I was invited to do The Dating Game. I turned that one down. But I thought What's My Line would be pretty funny.
1971
3 min.
October 27, 1971
98 min.
November, 1971
ABC
I don't know why Zappa did not release Sofa until One Size Fits All, but I do remember seeing the '71 band perform Sofa on TV. It was the Dick Cavett Show, which used to be on opposite Johnny Carson in the early 70's. No one had VCR's in those days, so I suppose there is on point in asking if anyone has a tape of it. Does anyone else even remember that performance?
Yeah, I remember it. They also did "Who are the Brain Police". But I thought it was on a show in the middle of the afternoon (in L.A.).
Included a 3 minute performance of Divan, 11 minute interview with 200 motels excerpts and a 4 minute performance of Brain Police.
Is that the interview with Phyllis Newman and the guy who played "Link"(?) from Mod Squad? That was an hysterical interview. After Brain Police (I think in German), Phyllis Newman said to Frank, "I've heard of you, but have never heard your music, and I really liked it." Frank responded with, "That's okay because I never heard of you."
They played the version of "Sofa" from that era - most if not all of which was German - and the version of "Who Are the Brain Police?" from that era, sort of a snappy, upbeat tune...nothing at all like the original. I recall Dick Cavett asking Frank to translate the words to "Sofa." Frank somehow managed to plead ignorance without losing any of his cool Frankness.
Somewhere I think I have an audio tape made from this show. The Mothers also did "Who are the Brain Police". I believe FZ is interviewed and he comments that he is amazed that he was asked to be on the show. 200 Motels was also discussed during the interview.
I remember the show well, and at one time I had an audio recording of the two songs. I still vividly remember Frank's guitar solo on "Who Are The Brain Police" and the harmony as Flo and Eddie sang.
The Mothers of Invention with Flo and Eddie were on The Dick Cavett Show, and that was the first time I heard their music. It was in 1971 and Frank was promoting the 200 Motels movie. They played "Sofa No. 1," which is a waltz, and though they all looked so weird and scary, they played this song that was so beautiful. At the grand old age of nine, I was really struck by the dichotomy of these freaks playing this really gorgeous music.
Hustler: What about the interview done by Dick Cavett?
FZ: It was pretty crummy, actually. He didn't have any good questions. He was afraid to talk to me. He was just nothing. Nothing! He didn't know anything. He had never heard me before. There was just nothing to talk about. That's the trouble with the talk shows you go on. Most of the hosts don't know anything about rock 'n roll. They have research departments and secretaries that go out and hand the host a sheet of paper that says he does this or that. But they still don't know anything. So it's never an in-depth interview.
November 16, 1971
BBC2
40 min. (audio tape only)
Hosted by Bob Harris
Informant: Charles Ulrich
c. November 27, 1971
Amsterdam?, Netherlands
5 min. B&W (no sound)
A video from 1971 concert in Amsterdam. The song as presented in the video is incomplete. And the quality isn't very good either.
There is no known concert in Amsterdam, 1971, only one in Rotterdam, November 27, but it is the 1971 band, as Jim Pons and Don Preston are seen on the video.
YouTube: Frank Zappa & The Mothers - Call Any Vegetable (04: 36 min.)
c. December 2, 1971
B&W, 1 min.
Mothers arriving in Vienna with "She Painted Up Her Face" playing on the background and a short interview with FZ.
Informants: Brian Lagerman, Noah McKelvie
YouTube: Mothers at Vienna Airport (00:39 min.)
December 4, 1971
Swedish TV
34 min.
"Spotlight". The last 6 songs of the Paris concert 15-Dec 1970, and some interview.
Shows FZ at home intercut w/ concert footage.
There's no clue to say where is FZ, being he always is shown in a close up. From the interview is clear that when speaking he's on tour in Europe (a seven weeks tour...).
Additional informant: Oscar Bianco
December 11, 1971
ORTF, France
48 min.
FRANK ZAPPA : Reportage sur le leader des MOTHERS OF INVENTION de passage à PARIS. Frank ZAPPA arrive à Orly puis accorde une courte interview dans un couloir de l'aéroport à Patrice BLANC FRANCARD à propos de l'incendie survenu lors de son dernier concert londonien.
Entretien de Philippe PARINGAUX avec Frank ZAPPA (trad. off) entrecoupé par des extraits de son dernier film "Two hundred motels". Il raconte le concept de ce film à sortir prochainement, "une représentation symbolique de ce qui peut vous arriver quand vous êtes en tournée", ne s'explique pas le succès du groupe "MOTHERS OF INVENTION" en Europe. Frank ZAPPA souhaite ajouter à nouveau une section de cuivres aux MOTHERS OF INVENTION afin d'effectuer des compositions "plus intéressantes". Il se dit peu préoccupé de l'interprétation faite par le public de ses shows, révèle qu'il écoute plus de musique classique, de rythm'n blues que de musique "pop" et parle plus généralement de la musique qu'il apprécie en dénigrant la mode des productions américaines qui consiste à ajouter des violons sur tous les types de musique.
FRANK ZAPPA: Report on the leader of MOTHERS OF INVENTION of passage in PARIS. Frank ZAPPA arrives at Orly then grants a short interview in a corridor of the airport to WHITE Patrice FRANCARD in connection with the fire which has occurred at the time of its last London concert.
Maintenance with Philippe PARINGAUX with Frank ZAPPA (transl. off) intersected by extracts with its last film "Two hundred motels". It tells the concept of this film to be left soon, "a notation symbolic of what can arrive to you when you are in round", is not explained the success of group "MOTHERS OF INVENTION" in Europe. Frank ZAPPA wishes to again add a copper section to MOTHERS OF INVENTION in order to carry out "more interesting" compositions. It is said little concerned about the interpretation made by the public of its shows, reveals that it listens to more classical music, of rythm' N blues that of "pop" music and more generally speaks about the music than it appreciates by disparaging the fashion of the American productions which consists in adding violins on all the types of music.
December 23, 1971
VPRO TV
35 min. color
Directed by Roelof Kiers
Photography by Peter Bos
Rebroadcast:
August 18, 2000
Weerzien op 3, Netherlands 3
This is a program that shows "the making of 200 motels" for some 35 minutes as filmed by Roelof Kiers, without the vacuumcleaner scene in Frank's house and Dweezil in the kitchen sink. Roelof interviews the maincharacters and you witness the shooting in the Pinewood studios.
"The Making Of 200 Motels" by Rudolf Kiers, VPRO. Originally aired december 23rd, 1971.
Here's another one... Frank was a guest on The Merv Griffin Show.(?) One of the other guests was Dennis Hopper. Hopper was being really obnoxious interrupting Frank when he spoke. Frank was visibly getting very irritated with him, and put him down quickly with a few choice remarks. I wish I could remember what Frank said!
[Merv Griffin] hosted the Merv Griffin Show for Westinghouse, 1965-69, CBS, 1969-72, and syndication, 1972-86.
1973
May 9, 1973
Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
A guy named Billy Karl had 3 minutes of silent film of the 73 band
at Passaic, NJ. It looked fairly good, and showed the band rubbing the
yellow snow...
May 18, 1973
Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
I have seen in Melody Maker 5/1973 an interview and feature on John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the interview took place before a concert at NASAU COLISEUM Long Island 5/1973 (I think it's the 19th i need to check) and there are 2 passing mentions to things of great interest.
1# the concert was a double bill with FRANK ZAPPA
2# During the interview the he mentions a CBS film crew filming.
June, 1973
Australia
17 min. B&W
A 2 part interview with a time-bar running along the bottom of the picture. Frank talks about St Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast (the story), censorship of his LPs, Holiday Inns, a weird science fiction movie that he wanted to film, all the little in-jokes used in the cover to Overnite Sensation, & some other things. Frank has a good time throughout the interview & has a laugh often.
Images supplied by Craig Jones
June, 1973
Australia
6 min. B&W
Pro-shot footage with a time-bar along the bottom of the picture. The band runs through two verses of a instrumental version of 50-50, so that the cameras & sound can get a balance. Then the band plays what sounds like Be-Bop Tango from the Roxy & Elsewhere LP, followed by an instrumental piece. The footage is synced up with the sound up until the instrumental piece, then the familiar Australian 1970's musioc show tradition of superimposing film over an unrelated soundtrack occurs. There are points where the sound matches up with the picture, though. It looks like the film is from the stage at the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney, to me.
Images supplied by Craig Jones
June 29, 1973
Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia
5 min. B&W
FZ
George Duke
Jean-Luc Ponty
Sal Marquez
Ian Underwood
Bruce Fowler
Ruth Underwood
Tom Fowler
Ralph Humphrey
RDNZL rehearsal in Melbourne, June 29th 1973 5 min. TV, B&W, A
Used in: 2 Jul 73 Monday Conference, ABC Australian TV
Additional informant: Chris West
July 2, 1973
ABC TV, Australia
48 min.
"Monday conference", nice interviews & discussions with FZ, plus a proshot RDNZL from one of the Melbourne shows.
I would like to add that the entire pro-shot RDNZL segment is painfully out of sync the entire time and therefore only truly enjoyable if you either close your eyes or shut off the sound. They show it in the middle of the interview, and much to my delight, FZ comments on the poor sync job after they return! He says something to the effect of "That wasn't very professional....."
Pat, I sourced this tape for trading & I have 1st gen off the station master. The date is definitely 2 July 1973. What circulates out there is a pre-broadcast version, before the usual credit talkovers were added at the end. Also, the footage is synced correctly in places, notably part of the guitar solo (this is a problem with a lot of Australian 70's 'live' footage shot by the ABC).
Images supplied by Craig Jones
c. July 4, 1973
NWS Channel Nine, Australia
Hosted by Ernie Sigley
I'd love to get my hands on that 1973 TV talk show appearance Frank did in Australia, the one that appears briefly in Video From Hell.
You can't get that particular show, which was from a program I believe was called 'In Adelaide Tonight with Ernie Sigley', the name of the guy seen with FZ. The only 1973 Australian TV circulating is 'Monday Conference', of which I have the 1st gen dub from the station master. I have some other (uncirculated) stuff from 1973 Australian TV, but it's on audio tape :(
Also, about the 'conducting the audience' segment from Video From Hell, the name of the source show was (I believe) Sigley In Adelaide, a live night-time format show hosted by Ernie Sigley, broadcast in early July 1973 (between the 4-6).
July, 1973
Australian TV
40 min. B&W
Investigates payola & kickbacks in the music industry, at the time when Clive Davis of CBS was sacked for supposedly embezzling money. Frank appears for about 4 minutes, first seen rehearsing St Alphonsos Pancake Breakfast on stage, then in 2 short interviews where he talks about drugs being used as payment in the industry, and then gives his theory that Clive Davis was fired because of the heat that CBS was putting on Watergate.
Images supplied by Craig Jones
August 21, 1973
Soliden, Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden
75 min.
August 28, 1973
TV2, Finland
5 min.
Interview with Time column.
One of the worst interviews I've seen.
September 11, 1973
TV2, Finland
7 min.
From a press conference and interview.
"The Silliest Thing I Ever Heard Of". Interview with Time column.
Available at Elävä arkisto (6:49 min.)
c. August-September, 1973
Unknown place, Europe
2 min.
FZ--guitar
Jean-Luc Ponty--violin
George Duke--keyboards
Bruce Fowler--trombone
Ian Underwood--bass clarinet
Ruth Underwood--percussion
Tom Fowler--bass
Ralph Humphrey--drums
December 8-10, 1973
The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA
4 hours
Assorted MOI on tour footage
c. 1973-74
c. 1973
ABC-TV, Chicago
Hosted by Bob Kennedy
Hustler: What were your impressions of the interview that you did on Kennedy and Company? It seemed like Kennedy was bringing out the commercial end of things, rather than talking about your music.
FZ: Well, you know, he chose the questions that he thought would be interesting to the audience he felt he had. It was just a punky TV show.
Early 1974
1974
TV Promo
43 s.
Design: Cal Schenkel
Animation: C. Schenkel & M. Kausler
Animation promo reel for the album, from Cal Schenkel's Reel.
Has anyone seen Cal Schenkel's TV commercial for Apostrophe? Can you describe it? Is it 30 seconds or 60 seconds? Was there one or more than one commercial?
Yow, it moves fast. Hosted by a mod 1974 dog/DJ type screaming F Z's Apostrophe & naming Nanook Rubs it, Dont Eat the Yellow Snow, Cosmik Debris all with appropriate music & cartoons depicting the songs. "That's right you heard right" is utilized & a quick FZ saying great googly moogly. It ends with "and many more" with 3 musicians jammin on a rolling wagon to the instr part of St Alfonzo. Finally, a gym sock still damp pobably is shown to the sound of STINKFOOT! The last few secs are a still Please don't ask me to describe the Ludens ad! :^) Glenn
Is it animated?
Yes, some of Cal's best stuff..if you've seen the Ryko promo Snow Globe, you've seen the Eskimo that's in it.
Black and white line drawings? Colored? Collage cut-outs?
Colored, moving animation. It was also part of a three piece animation film Cal put together called "Reel". I don't think it was ever released. Another piece was Dental Hygiene Dilemma from 200 Motels. The last piece was an excerpt from The Naked Ape.
Does the announcer appear in live-action footage?
Only in the guise of a talking dog.
1971-74
11 min.
Informant: Jon Naurin
May-October, 1974
NBC TV
There is also a 13 part music/interview series shown on NBC TV in New York between may > october 1974 (it was shown 2 times during the 6 months).
May, 1974
WIZZ TV, Chicago
15 min.
An audio tape is in circulation that is 15 min in length.
August 27, 1974
KCET Sound Stage B, Los Angeles, CA
September 6, 1974
Rome, Italy
According to Angel Casas (Spanish journalist of Vibraciones magazine) two film cameras took same shots of the rehearsal at this first gig in Rome before to have an exclusive interview with FZ at the beginning of the European tour. (I suppose those could be RAI tv).
September 7, 1974
WNBC-4, NYC
Hosted by Chip Monck
I definitely saw FZ on a late night rock talk show in the NYC area called "Speakeasy" that was on briefly circa 1974. The host was a guy named Chip Monck (also emcee at Woodstock) and he'd have various guests. Frank was on with Tom Waits (whom he introduced), perhaps Bill Wyman, and definitely Clive Davis.
At one point I recall Clive Davis asking the other guests who were the most important or influential musicians in rock. Frank said something like, "The Beatles, the Stones, Lightning Slim, Johnny Guitar Watson, and Willie Mae Thornton." I think old Clive was pretty surprised by the answer.
US television talk show (WNBC-4, New York). September 7, 1974 (show nr. 3). Hosted by Chip Monck. Interview with Frank Zappa, with Waits performing "Ol' '55" and "Ghosts Of Saturday Night" (on tape?). Guests: Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Clive Davis and Richard Perry
October 3, 1974
TV2, Finland
9 min, NTSC, B+/B
"Why did the Mothers get fired?", interview. But doesn't it look like 1980 rather than 1974?
Interview with Time column.
Available at Elävä arkisto (8:52 min.)
October 4, 1974
Spanish TV, Barcelona Airport
B&W
October 4, 1974
Nuevo Pabellón del Club Juventud de Badalona
FZ let Spanish TV show Mundo Pop film the first song of the concert.
Informant: Javier Fernández-Marcote
1974 or 1975
70 min.