In which Frank Vincent Zappa dispels the myriad ugly rumors that have sprouted around his legend in the years since he first appeared on the mid-1960s California music scene, in addition to expounding on a variety of subjects, including the personal habits of members of his band, his Baltimore childhood, and the eccentricities of British justice. The latter takes the form of a series of increasingly surreal exchanges with the judge and various lawyers in an obscenity trial at London's Old Bailey that Zappa underwent in the mid-1970s. These are notable for the legal profession's bafflement at the bawdy lyrical content of songs like LIVE AT THE FILLMORE EAST's "Bwana Dik," and "Lonesome Cowboy Burt," from 200 MOTELS. Elsewhere he predicts the advent of the digital downloading of music (the book was published in early 1990), while his observations on the vagaries of the music business still hold true today. Zappa is an entertaining raconteur, whether discussing legendary groupies the Plaster-Casters of Chicago or his disconcertingly sensible methods of child-rearing (if nothing else, THE REAL FRANK ZAPPA BOOK proves that Zappa must have been an entertaining father), and his acerbic wit and penetrating intelligence are constantly in evidence.

The brash and outrageously funny autobiography of music legend Frank Zappa--now in trade paperback. Here is the real story of how he became the state of the art in weirdness, as only he can tell it: wild rock 'n' roll road stories, confrontations with bureaucratic idiocy, and more. Black-and-white photographs and line drawings throughout.

The brash and outrageously funny autobiography of music legend Frank Zappa--now in trade paperback. Here is the real story of how he became the state of the art in weirdness, as only he can tell it: wild rock 'n' roll road stories, confrontations with bureaucratic idiocy, and more. Black-and-white photographs and line drawings throughout.