David:

The thing that I could never reconcile in my own mind was the press remaining adament that ZAPPA was nothing but a scatalogical potty-mouth --- while what remains pouring out of my loudspeakers 30+ years later is what I would say was a HIGH LEVEL OF MUSICAL GENIUS.

I mean --- THIS should not even be an issue for debate --- just a marathon listen to his five guitar oriented CD's (Shut Up And Play Yer Guitar and Guitar = 5 discs worth of guitar solo heaven) should more than put that matter to bed permanently.

ZAPPA holds a place very near and dear to my heart --- being a non-conformist myself.

I can fondly remember the days of my teen years --- when my father (and wife # 5) would bitch about my playing songs of ZAPPA with lyrics such as:

"Ram it, ram it, ram it, ram it up yer poop chute" --- Frank Zappa, Broken Hearts Are For Assholes (1979)

Although this was enough to terrorize the parental unit --- what really continues to astound me is the sheer musical genius --- whether it came in the form of progressive rock, jazz, orchestral pomp and circumstance, or those heavenly guitar solos.

The other thing that I loved about ZAPPA was his ability to put those scumbag politicians in their place with nary a sweat broken out on his formidable browline.

FZ = Rock In Peace!

KDB = Buffalo, NY USA