A composer's life
I recall wanting this book by Frank Zappa when it first appeared. What prompted me to buy it was my experience in listening to The Yellow Shark, a set of live performances of Zappa's music by the Ensemble Modern.
Besides being an interesting trip through the 50s, 60s, etc.by someone who was not drugged to the gills, this book discusses Zappa's lifelong difficulties in being treated as a serious composer. It includes rants about professional musicians who, of course, like minimalist music because of its simplicity and rants about the ongoing desire some people have to censor our lives. I appreciate his dedication to free speech and his take on those who want to limit what we can speak about.
While I think Zappa either pretends to be naive about politics or simply uses that stand to make fun of some of these folks like the PMRC which wanted to label recordings. It is certainly great fun to read!
In the long run, Frank and Tipper Gore became friends. That is the main thing that I get out of this-- an artist who really worked at his craft, in his own way. Still a guy with whom you might have a great time sitting and listening to some music
We don''t really appreciate the artists in our midst. Frank may be gone, but it is worth reading this to hear him out. And don't forget his music, it repays the listener many times over.