Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist.
While in his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varèse and 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands; he later switched to electric guitar. He was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often impossible to categorize. His 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was one of rock, jazz or classical. He wrote the lyrics to all his songs, which—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship.
Zappa was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. Many of his albums are considered essential in rock and jazz history. He is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time. He also remains a major influence on musicians and composers. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and for most of his career was able to work as an independent artist. Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
Zappa was married to Kathryn J. "Kay" Sherman from 1960 to 1964. In 1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, with whom he remained until his death from prostate cancer in 1993. They had four children: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. Gail Zappa manages the businesses of her late husband under the name the Zappa Family Trust.
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Fotos
Filmes (108)
Nova '78
2026 · Self (archive footage)
Marc-André Hamelin @ Ruhr Piano Festival 2025
2025 · Music
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep
2025 · Self (guitar, vocals), Songs, Producer
Senhoras e Senhores... 50 anos de música do SNL
2025 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968
2024 · Music
The Residents - A Documentary
2024 · Compositor
Cover Your Ears
2023 · Self - Musician (archive footage)
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary
2022 · Self (archive footage)
Rock this Town
2022 · Self (archive footage)
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff
2021 · Self (archive footage)
The Velvet Underground
2021 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!
2021 · Self
The Art of Dissent
2021 · Self - Subject (archive footage)
Larry Flynt for President
2021 · Self (archive footage)
Zappa
2020 · Self (archive footage), Music
Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter
2019 · Self (archive footage)
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
2019 · Self (archive footage)
Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind
2019 · Self (archive footage)
Echo in the Canyon
2019 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Cosmic Debris
2018 · Himself (archive footage)
Take Your Pills
2018 · Self (archive footage)
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
2016 · Self (archive footage)
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
2016 · Self (archive footage), Music
Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne
2016 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68
2016 · Self
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie
2015 · Himself, Director, Writer, Music, Producer
Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Led Zeppelin Played Here
2014 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily
2014 · Himself (archive Footage), Music
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
2014 · Self (archive footage)
Cheepnis
2014 · Himself, Director, Producer, Editor, Music
Super Duper Alice Cooper
2014 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme
2013 · Himself, Editor, Music
From Straight to Bizarre
2012 · Self
1982. L'estate di Frank
2012 · Music
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List
2010 · Himself
Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology
2010 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's
2009 · Himself
Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980
2008 · Self
An Evening with Frank Zappa During Which... The Torture Never Stops
2008 · Self, Music
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives
2008 · Self
The Wrecking Crew
2008 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: Music In Review
2008 · Self (archive footage)
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation
2007 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music
2007
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973
2007 · Director
Fuck
2006 · Self (archive footage)
EAV Rarities
2006 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme
2005 · Himself
Derailroaded
2005 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me
2004 · Himself
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
2002 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note
2002 · Self (archive footage)
Band from Utopia: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa
2002 · Music
Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die
2000 · Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday to John
1997 · Songs
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
1997 · Himself (archive footage)
Porridge and kerosene
1997 · Self (archive footage)
Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees
1997 · Mike Nesmith (archive footage)
An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa
1994 · Self (archive footage)
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
1993 · Self
The Revenge of the Dead Indians
1993 · Himself
Beasts
1993 · Music
The Yellow Shark
1992 · Self, Music, Conductor
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth
1991 · Self
Pražákům, těm je hej
1991 · Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko
1991 · Self, Producer, Music
Your vote
1991 · Self
Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez
1990 · Music
Decade
1989 · Self
Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka
1989 · Self (archive footage)
Funny
1988 · Self
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
1988 · Self, Director, Writer, Producer, Music
Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona
1988
Video from Hell
1987 · Self, Director, Writer, Producer, Music, Camera Operator
The Amazing Mr. Bickford
1987 · Self, Director, Writer, Music, Producer
Uncle Meat
1987 · Self / The Imaginary Director, Director, Writer, Producer
Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars
1985 · Self, Director, Writer
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?
1985 · Self, Director, Writer, Producer, Music
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
1984 · Attila
Cocaine Blues
1983 · Himself
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!
1982 · Self, Music, Director, Writer
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years
1982 · Self
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere
1980 · Self
Baby Snakes
1979 · Self, Director, Producer, Music, Writer, Editor
Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around
1978 · Self
Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden
1973
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
1972 · Self
Deep Purple: Made In Japan
1972 · Self (archive footage)
The Making of 200 Motels
1971 · Self
The Manipulator
1971 · Props
200 Motels
1971 · Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Music Arranger, Original Music Composer
Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East
1971
Frank Zappa
1971 · Self, Music
Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)
1970 · Self
Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival
1970 · Self
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
1969 · Self, Music, Director
Head
1968 · The Critic
All My Loving
1968 · Self
You Are What You Eat
1968
Mondo Hollywood
1967
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution
1967 · Self
Sex in Today's World
1967 · Self
Luden’s Cough Drops
1967 · Music
The Big T.N.T. Show
1965 · Self (uncredited)
Run Home Slow
1965 · Original Music Composer
The World's Greatest Sinner
1962 · Original Music Composer
The Male Swagger
· Guitarist (archive footage)
Séries (14)
Laurel Canyon
2020 · Self (archive footage)
Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop
2005 · Self (archive footage)
Classic Albums
1997 · Self (archive footage)
Duckman
1994 · In Memory Of, Music
The Ren & Stimpy Show
1991 · The Pope (voice)
Miami Vice
1984 · Mario Fuente
Faerie Tale Theatre
1982 · Attilla
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Musical Guest, Self - Host & Musical Guest
Omnibus
1967 · Self
Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King
1967 · Himself
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution
1967 · Self
The Monkees
1966 · Self (uncredited)
Beat-Club
1965 · Self
Late Night Line-Up
1964 · Himself