Frank Zappa
Latest about Frank Zappa

“Steve Vai tried to school me on string bending, but you just don't do that on bass!” Pete Griffin reflects on his time with Steve Vai, and his latest solo EP
By Nick Wells published
The seasoned sideman compares notes on Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde and Dweezil Zappa

How to solo using compound time – the secret behind some of Frank Zappa and Robben Ford's most out-there leads
By Andy G Jones published
Open up some all-new possibilities for your lead strategies with these fresh rhythmic soloing approaches

Two previously unreleased Frank Zappa concerts from 1980 set for release later this year
By Sam Roche published
Shows recorded at New York's Mudd Club and Munich's Olympiahalle will feature on the sprawling new release, which includes an essay by Steve Vai

Steve Vai on how Frank Zappa inspired him to design the Ibanez JEM – and why the Japanese guitar builder succeeded where others failed
By Robin Davey published
“Ibanez said, ‘We want to make these for other people, too.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Who’s going to want this? It’s so weirdly idiosyncratic to me!’”

When Frank Zappa shut up ’n’ stopped playing guitar
By Noë Gold published
Tracking the great Frank Zappa’s on-again, off-again love affair with his guitar with Ahmet Zappa, photographer John Livzey, Steve Vai and Zappa biographer and filmmaker Alex Winter

Frank Zappa and The Mothers' legendary 1971 Fillmore East shows to be released in their entirety in mammoth new eight-disc box set
By Jackson Maxwell published
The Mothers 1971 includes Zappa and co's legendary encore jam with John Lennon and Yoko Ono

10 essential Gibson SG albums
By Glenn Kimpton published
The solidbody double-cut with the instantly recognizable silhoeutte has graced some of the greatest recordings of all time

Frank Zappa: ”I think my playing is probably more derived from folk music – Middle Eastern music, Indian music, stuff like that”
By Guitarist editors published
The guitarist, composer and trailblazer opens up on first guitars, primary influences and the search for better gear

Steve Vai reflects on working with Frank Zappa: "If you didn’t have the goods, you didn’t last. Frank expected everybody to rise to the occasion"
By Guitarist editors published
The virtuoso details his 'stunt guitar' days spent playing, transcribing and recording the most difficult compositions in Frank Zappa's oeuvre
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