"People will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds. "
-Frank Zappa 1940-1993
"Frank Zappa was one of the gods of the Czech underground, I thought of him as a friend. Whenever I feel like escaping from the world of the Presidency, I think of him."
-Václav Havel, playwright and President, Czechoslovakia
Havel became president after the 1989 'Velvet Revolution' which saw the end of communism in Czechoslovakia.
Before the revolution Zappa's music, along with that of the Velvet Underground, was blacklisted. Seen to represent freedom and independent thinking, Zappa became a hero for many in Czechoslovakia.
After meeting with him, Havel appointed Zappa "Special Ambassador to the West on Trade, Culture and Tourism".
"Czechoslovakia can either do business with the United States or it could do business with Frank Zappa."
-James Baker, US Secretary of State, 1990
At a time when Czechoslovakia was applying for aid from the US government, James Baker served his revenge cold.
Back in 1985 Zappa had called Susan Baker; Tipper Gore and others "a group of bored Washington housewives" during a Senate Committee hearing in Washington DC regarding censorship of rock music.
"Whom the gods notice they destroy"
Philip K. Dick 1928-1982
7 comments:
I have Weasels Ripped My Flesh. Favorite quote: "A drug is neither moral or immoral-it's a chemical compound. The compund itself is not a menace to society until a human being treats it as if consumption bestowed a temporary licence to act like an asshole." Zappa had the right idea with his music.
I prefer his instrumental stuff (I'm not a big fan of all that scatology) but yes, a very sensible man.
My favourite quote: "A mind is like a parachute - in order to work properly it has to be open"
I remember Zappa saying, Politics is the Showbiz of Industry. So much truth to that.
I don't know much about Zappa quite honestly but I do remember thinking that when the news reports talked about the Zapatista rebels in southern Mexico I thought them to be a rogue band of avant-garde Mexicans who liked to listen to "Valley Girl", and give their offspring really crappy names.
elastic: Despite their weird names, all of his kids are talented and successful (in a non-Paris-Hilton way)in their own right. And notwithstanding the fact that he was despised by the conservative establishment, there is a statue of him in the centre of Vilnius - so he must have done something right
Zatikia: given your feelings about television you will probably enjoy his song 'The Slime'
I am gross and perverted
I’m obsessed ’n deranged
I have existed for years
But very little had changed
I am the tool of the government
And industry too
For I am destined to rule
And regulate you
I may be vile and pernicious
But you can’t look away
I make you think I’m delicious
With the stuff that I say
I am the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I am the slime oozin’ out
From your tv set
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don’t need you
Don’t got for help...no one will heed you
Your mind is totally controlled
It has been stuffed into my mold
And you will do as you are told
Until the rights to you are sold
That’s right, folks..
Don’t touch that dial
Well, I am the slime from your video
Oozin’ along on your livin’room floor
I am the slime from your video
Can’t stop the slime, people, lookit me go
Do they offer a degree in Zappaism at the University, Pisces? If they do, you could be a Zappaism Scholar or Professor fer sure, fer sure.
By the way, I like that term, "famous in a non-Paris Hilton kind of way".
You do know that by referencing that hootchie your blog will be at the top of all searches for her. The only thing missing is the word, "NAKED". Oops, there it is. Prepare to generate some big time blog traffic now Pisces.
A genius - and I'm a huge fan of all that scatology. I didn't know about the Czech connection though, interesting, thanks.
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