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We are not done with Zappa's yet.

     After releasing few solo CD's (you had a chance to sample them) Dweezil teamed up with his younger brother Ahmet and formed a band simply known as Z, even though their logo suggest a much funnier name. Well, at least a more creative name if nothing else. Rounding up the line-up the band also included few Zappa musicians. This was before their Father died. I'm sure he was very proud of them coming together as they seemed to have great time doing what Zappa's do: weird and funny stuff on a CD titled, Shampoohorn. However, the release didn't go down smoothly. A conflict with bassist Scott Thunes caused the CD to come out with few months of delay in the States, as opposed to it's earlier version distributed throughout Europe, with two songs changed in the playlist to introduce the new bassist Bryan Beller.

     Few years later, they came out with another release, Music For Pets, that spoofed the cover of the first album (back and front, mind you), but the music itself seemed to lose it's focus. Individually the songs were still strong, but the never ending recording sessions took a toll on the project as a whole. Meaning the CD was released in a French, US and Bone-Us Version separately over the span of a year, with five re-mixes and three different sequencing. Pretty much every release is unique in it's own way. Was this a deliberate ploy or things started to unravel in team Zappa, I'm not sure, but something was definitely brewing.

     Their collaboration continued for a Soundtrack music Ready To Rumble, where they covered a little known Britney Spears song, as well as the Grinch cover appeared later on Dweezil's solo album (as Jon, was kind to remind us). However, there wasn't any new Z album on the horizon. I found it interesting that even the Ready To Rumble cover resembles their Z album covers... to some degree.

     The memory of the Z's slowly faded away until Mother Gail passed away in 2015, leaving the major part of the trust's control to the two younger siblings, while shorting out Dweezil and Moon. I'm sure she had good reasons for that, but as it usually happens, money is thicker than blood and problems started to pile. At the time, Dweezil was using the moniker Zappa Plays Zappa to keep his Father's legacy going. The two younger siblings were collecting the revenues from the merchandise sold at these events, but didn't share the profit with the other two. To my understanding, this is what caused the split and finally Ahmet sent an open letter to Dweezil titled Cease-And-Desist, demanding from him to stop using the name Zappa Plays Zappa.

     In response, Dweezil changed the name to Dweezil Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa, but that wasn't enough. Another letter, in a same fashion, followed from team Ahmet and Dweezil wasn't able to use their Father's name any longer without his brother's consent, so he changed the name once again to Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever The F@%k He Wants - The Cease-And-Desist Tour, occasionally spelling out the Frank part.

     The newest development is that, Ahmet is trying to prevent Dweezil from using his own last name. Well, it ain't pretty folks and I wish they go back to writing and performing songs together, rather than dragging their names through the mud and here's something to remind us what we're missing...

click on the album cover to listen
1. Z - Did I Mention It Was Huge
2. Z - Kidz Cereal
from "Shampoohorn" Digipak-CD ℗ 1993

3. Z - Boodledang
4. Z - With You
from "Music For Pets" Digipak-CD ℗ 1996

5. Ahmet And Dweezil Zappa - ...Baby One More Time
from "Soundtrack - Ready To Rumble" CD ℗ 2000

Finally getting around to listen to, (for the first time) some music I've been putting aside (for years). Including, things from the past I recently discovered, projects I previously had, but replaced with a newly remastered version, or those simple cases, were my last years order didn't arrive on time.

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That's a Britney Spears song? I had no idea.

That looks like Jim Brewer.

This is pretty good stuff, but it's a shame that money is screwing everything up. I don't know the really backstory and really don't care much, but I don't know what Ahmet has been doing recently compared to Dweezil. Seems that D is out touring, but don't know if he's making money off of Frank's name. Ir if AHmet is just sitting at home wanting the money. 

Again, I don't know. Or care.

It's the music that matters.

Was there a video of that Britney song? Probably not since it's a minor song but you never know.  

I can't remember seeing any music video for that Britney song and I'm surprised no one made one with the footage used from the movie.

Maybe the time when people don't have so much free time on their hands, is here.

Dweezil had a pretty big Mtv video at one time, I know its been discussed on here before.  Moon Unit was pretty cute back then, especially in that video. I like the music here though admittedly, the song titles threw me off because it seems more parody than serious. 

The guitar work sounds more unique than Dweezils other works as well.  I always thought of his style as an EVH rip-off and not much more.  But this is surprising good. except for...

The Britney cover.  Who thought that was a good idea?

If only Britney did a video for that song.

Having lots of Dweezil releases helped me notice his transitions and growth as a guitar player.

As for choosing the Britney song to cover, I'd say it was probably the producer of the the soundtrack who thought of it. The lyrics fit wrestling which is the theme of the movie, but they probably wanted a Rock version. The song is not the only cover version on the CD either. If I remember correctly, Bif Naked covered Twisted Sisters as well.

Personally, I do like when the artists go out of their comfort zone covering other tunes. Much more than when they do a note-by-note copy. It's probably the reason why I like the Abba tribute album Nuclear Blast released in 2001, the most.

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