To play the music of Frank Zappa, one must be as proficient and technically sound as he is wildly imaginative and experimental. Add to that the emotional connection of having that music be the life work of your deceased father, and you can see the challenges Dweezil Zappa, Frank’s eldest son, faces.
Mr. Zappa has been touring the world with his “Zappa Plays Zappa” live shows, which see him — and a band of former Frank Zappa players — lovingly recreating the music of his father, playing it live for old fans and a new generation of concertgoers who were too young to have witness Frank’s genius live.
However, Mr. Zappa is no longer legally allowed to use his dad’s name and image when touring due to a decision by the Zappa Family Trust run by his siblings. Luckily, Mr. Zappa has long created his own music away from the tribute to his dad.
In advance of his tour stop at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, Thursday, Mr. Zappa discussed being Frank’s son and his vibrant new solo CD, “Via Zammata’.”
Question: What was life like growing up in the Zappa house?
Answer: I think a lot of people have ideas that is must have been totally insane and unstructured. We were always taught that you need to be responsible for your own actions so you can survive out in the “real world.” [laughs]
Q: Was there always music?
A: Frank was always working on his music. I didn’t know anything about other music until I was probably 12, when I heard the radio. At that point, because I had heard so much of my dad’s music, the radio seemed like it was broken. I thought, “Where’s the rest of it? There is stuff missing here.”
Q: Did you ever consider doing anything but music?
A: At first I wanted be like Jacques Cousteau. I was really into all the stuff that was happening underwater. Then I saw the movie “Jaws.”
When I was 12 I got into Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Then Edward Van Halen actually came to the house. I had only been playing guitar for a few months. That really kicked my interest in the guitar into overdrive.
Q: What is the best advice your dad ever gave about music?
A: He said, “The music business was a terrible business” [and] I should never get into the music business. The thing about it is, if you are somebody that wants to make music, he said to, “Find what you like about it and do that. And don’t worry about what other people say.”
Frank’s music to many people is an acquired taste. He was making music he wanted to hear, and if other people liked it, that was just a bonus.
Q: How did the “Zappa Plays Zappa” show come about a decade ago?
A: After Frank passed there was a lot of stuff that was being written about him that relegated him to someplace within the music industry that was inappropriate in my estimation for his accomplishments. I didn’t want somebody else to rewrite history and make him into a novelty figure. I decided I wanted to go out and try to present his music to a new generation to allow them to have the experience that would give them a broader perspective of his work.
A lot of people were only familiar with the songs that got on the radio. That would be “Valley Girl” or “Yellow Snow” or “Dancin’ Fool.” If you have only heard those songs, you could get the wrong idea as to what his music is.
Q: It had to be deeply emotional at the start.
A: It still can be with certain songs. Music is the one thing that exists in the world that has this magical ability to attach itself to your life. Nothing else can automatically bring memories to the forefront and play with your emotions like music.
Q: The catalog is so vast. How do you decide what material to play?
A: It’s mostly based on what my own excitement is for certain eras. I tried to mix and match certain eras and certain songs that made huge impressions on me. I sort of anchor the shows around a few very impressive pieces of music, add some guitar stuff in there. [And] some other songs that are fun, upbeat and uptempo.
It’s always a balancing act, but it is based on showcasing Frank as a composer.
Q: Was there anything that was too complex to tackle?
A: There has never been a song that I set out to do that we couldn’t play. There have been times when I haven’t had enough time to learn a part that I wanted to learn.
Q: Does playing Frank’s music make you a better guitar player?
A: Yes, it does make you a better player for sure. Because there are technical requirements. It’s like being a Navy SEAL or something. It’s very specialized training. It would take a lifetime’s worth of work to catch up to what he could do.
Q: Tell us a bit about the new CD, “Via Zammata’.”
A: After a while of doing “Zappa Plays Zappa,” people asked, “When are you gonna make a record of your own music again?” I just didn’t have any time. One day I woke up and thought, “It’s been 10 years. I probably should at least set aside some time to make a record.” So I did.
Q: It’s very different for you.
A: It’s a pop singer-songwriter record with twisted instrumentation. This is one that throws a curveball to what people expect my records to be. The guitar is sort of more downplayed, more fitting into an ensemble experience. I have a string quartet and brass.
Q: What material will you play on your upcoming tour?
A: All solo material. We’re also gonna make some sort of ridiculous medley, an ’80s” medley. That should be a lot of fun.
Dweezil Zappa plays The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, Thursday. Tickets are $35 by going to Birchmere.com.
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