Ted Scourtis Interviews Frank Zappa, 1967
| Ted Scourtis was editor of Fusion magazine. He also worked at E.U. Wurlitzer.. He's a musician, writer and frequent witness to Boston rock history. AN EARLY INTERVIEW WITH FRANK ZAPPA In 1967-70 I co-edited a Rock magazine in Boston named Fusion . My absolute first and completely exclusive interview was with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention at the Brown Theater in Fall River in 1967 . I was 22 and VERY ,VERY nervous and intimidated by the whole experience. There was a Three foot shelf ringing the backstage room and , as I Described it in the article , it was lined with "wall to wall Mothers" . The interview got off on a tenuous note because although I had a primordial Grasp of the Individual Musical components of his compositions (I came from a Very Musical Family and knew basic theory) , The complexity of the music with it's brilliant segues was quite cutting edge for it's time . This and the combination of my journalistic inexperience , youthful awe at his genius , and being conscience that every word was being monitored by all those lounging Mothers was downright scary to a twenty two year old . Add to all this his general disdain for the youth culture of the time , and the fact that he didn't suffer fools gladly , and you had a recipe for quite a few Awkward moments and embarrassing silences . In desperation I went for the only weapon left in my arsenal : The Truth !!! I admitted that this was my first interview of all time , that I also was a musician and appreciated how he tied so many varied musical forms together , and had come eager to know about his background and musical influences , but was tongue tied . At that point he did a complete about face and spoke graciously of his influences ; Johnny Guitar Watson , Sonny Stit , Richard Strauss, 50s Doo Wop , Coltrane , Cecil Taylor , etc. . He kindly offered the Mother's upcoming itinerary and said they were going to play the Isle of Wight , and that Donovan was also appearing . To This Day , I am so grateful that instead of exclaiming "Oh Wow , Donovan , you must be looking forward to that" like the Folkie I was at the time , what came out of my mouth was "Oh, so what do think of Donovan" ? "Donovan?" He Repied in a Breathy Whisper , "Why I think He's --- ssssswonderful" . I dodged a Zappa bullet on that one . He also told me that he considered each musician in the Mothers , World Class (and they certainly were that) , and that there was a lengthy audition Process , no matter what their skill level and/or resume. They had to fit . They rehearsed upwards of twelve hours a Day when not on tour , which is why they were one of the tightest bands ever . There was also a Zero tolerance policy on ANY and ALL Drugs , unless prescribed . Cigarettes were excluded from this policy , however , probably because Frank himself smoked . Also , at the time of the Mothers , the freak costumes and affectations were strictly a Business decision . Frank was well aware that image sold a lot of records and tickets . It was his enterprise , from start to finish . I saw Zappa live Nine times before he died , with most of his varied musical incarnations ; with Flo and Eddie , Big Band , Symphonic Ensembles , Etc. . He always recognized me and was accessible if it was possible . He seemed to many , a cynic , but was actually a Patriotic Skeptic . He Really believed and supported the right to vote , and set up voter registration booths at many of his concerts and testified before congress in support of voter rights and stricter copy write enforcement . Oh , and of course , he was one of the world's master guitarists . Frank Zappa - R.I.P. |
Follow us: