April 12th – There’s several things you probably wouldn't do.
You wouldn't invite Ian MacGregor to give the podium speech at a miner’s
conference, you wouldn't invite Daffy Duck to give the keynote speech at a
conference for geese destined for the foie gras trade, you wouldn't invite
Michael Gove to speak. And my guess is that, at a conference of the National
Academy of Recording Arts (those folks who hand out
the Grammys) you wouldn't ask Frank Zappa to give the keynote speech…
Our boy Frank has made this column before (Jan 10th) and you all know that I hold him high esteem; let’s face it, anyone who can make an album called, Have I Offended Anyone? or Joe’s Garage and include a song on each, respectively, called, He’s So Gay and Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? gets my vote.
Our boy Frank has made this column before (Jan 10th) and you all know that I hold him high esteem; let’s face it, anyone who can make an album called, Have I Offended Anyone? or Joe’s Garage and include a song on each, respectively, called, He’s So Gay and Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? gets my vote.
My blether in this daily, pompous
strut I write tries to encapsulate my love (and sometime hate) of the music
industry. Music has been my constant companion since as far back as I can
remember; it’s been the soundtrack to many of my most treasured moments and caused some of
my most embarrassing tirades and, contrary to popular belief, I really do try
to keep this stuff as short as I can. With that as the backdrop, I read Mr. Zappa’s address to the top-table of
musical movers and shakers on this day in 1968 and I just shake my head at my
own inadequacies.
Here, for your enjoyment, is Zappa’s full speech to the National Academy of Recording Arts (the Grammys):
Here, for your enjoyment, is Zappa’s full speech to the National Academy of Recording Arts (the Grammys):
“All year long you people have
manufactured this crap, now for one night you're gonna have to listen to it!”
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