Been jonesing for live Zappa action since Frank's departure? Here is your chance to at least partially relive the madness:
- PROJECT/OBJECT REUNITES FRANK ZAPPA's TOP VOCALISTS ON ENCORE COAST-TO-COAST TOUR
Ike Willis, Napoleon Murphy Brock return to help band faithfully recreate the live Zappa experience
Zappa percussionist Ed Mann added to first four dates; Entire "One Size Fits All" LP to be performed in NYC and Philly only.
NEW YORK — PROJECT/OBJECT, the Mother of Frank Zappa reinvention, is answering frenzied fan demand by reuniting the maestro's two most beloved vocalists for a fall encore — their second major tour this year with the dueling frontmen.
Ike Willis and Napoleon Murphy Brock will do it again this fall with an equally extensive coast-to-coast trek, furthering PROJECT/OBJECT's ongoing mission to perpetuate the music of one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. On their first national tour together in 18 years, the two ex-Zappa vocalists helped PROJECT/OBJECT draw rabid audiences and numerous sell-out events this spring.
Special guest percussionist Ed Mann, the longest-running Zappa band member, has been a last-minute addition to join PROJECT/OBJECT for the first four dates of the six-week tour, which kicks off Sept. 17 in Northampton, MA. Altogether, PROJECT/OBJECT will hit some three dozen cities and re-conjure a rarely seen collaboration by the men whose vocals helped define the bulk of Zappa's incredibly prolific career. Napoleon Murphy Brock is best known for his contributions to three of Zappa's most notorious albums, the 1974 double LP "Roxy and Elsewhere" and its follow-up, "One Size Fits All," plus "Bongo Fury" with Captain Beefheart. Other guest Zappa band alumni are expected to sit in with PROJECT/OBJECT along the way. Look for Zappa big band leader Ed Palermo to join Willis, Brock, Mann and the band in New York City.
Ike Willis (1978-88) is one of Zappa's most durable and beloved sidemen, whose soulful vocal hysterics are best remembered as the voice of Joe on the "Joe's Garage" rock opera trilogy. He toured the world six times with the
maestro and was the voice of his music for 14 years on countless recordings, many still unreleased. Napoleon (1974-84) preceded Ike as Zappa's first front man vocalist-musician. Napoleon's unmistakable voice and stage presence brought an energetic new theatricality to the band, helping to define the Zappa stage show. And both musicians played integral roles in Zappa's "Thingfish" rock opera.
PROJECT/OBJECT will be playing many authentic renditions from "Roxy and Elsewhere," "One Size Fits All" and "Joe's Garage" at every stop, plus plenty of other classic Zappa material Ike and Napoleon made famous, specially rearranged to accommodate both of their vocals.
Article comments
1 - Dave
I saw these guys for the first time in Cambridge a few weeks ago. It was almost as good as seeing one of the real Zappa tours back in the 70's and 80's.