<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar Player in Frank-zappa ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/tag/frank-zappa Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:19:11 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “It’s blasphemous to put a whammy bar on a Les Paul? Screw you! I’ll do what I want.” Steve Vai on the radical guitar mods he learned from Frank Zappa —from a torched Jimi Hendrix Strat to the birth of the JEM ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/steve-vai-on-frank-zappas-guitar-mods mCwEH2ijV8cYoj4y3Fvff7 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:19:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ “There's only one time Frank commented on my future — and I'm reluctant to mention it.” Steve Vai on Frank Zappa's prophetic words about his career ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/the-words-frank-zappa-uttered-to-steve-vai-which-he-will-never-forget FanBrSgjE9KdvfoGnk6mbk Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:27:40 +0000 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:27:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Jimi was buying his grass from him. He said, ‘I know a band that needs a manager!’” Alice Cooper on how Jimi Hendrix helped his group land a record deal with Frank Zappa and forged a partnership that lasts to this day ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/how-jimi-hendrix-helped-alice-cooper-score-a-record-deal QFmgtzWCACCnATYy5L2VG3 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:01:04 +0000 Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:28:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A holy grail for Zappa fanatics and guitar nerds.” Frank Zappa’s famous Baby Snakes SG is heading to auction. Here’s why it matters ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitars/electric-guitars/frank-zappas-baby-snakes-sg-auction U6qSZE5D368fVA67P79Qof Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:28:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He gets to the Zs and says, ‘I have Frank Zappa’s phone number.’ And I went, ‘You have what!?’” Steve Vai on the theft that got him Frank Zappa’s number — and the job that changed his life ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/steve-vai-on-the-theft-that-got-him-frank-zappa-s-number ByLYvSvHhAfEfLiA6nAeib Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:15:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “They gave themselves credit, stuck it on an album and never paid me. It was a little bit disappointing.” John Lennon looked to Frank Zappa for career guidance. Zappa said the former Beatles guitarist got considerably more ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/john-lennon-frank-zappa-and-the-king-kong-controversy qPrdueTL3jXGib2WXf7XN5 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:35:25 +0000 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:36:53 +0000 <![CDATA[ “F****d me up completely. I couldn’t make head or tail of it.” Eric Clapton on the one guitarist who blew him away onstage ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/when-eric-clapton-jammed-with-frank-zappa dJHAU5ssK3tGrLbNbWL3G9 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:17:51 +0000 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:24:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ "It’s on a lot of records, and it only cost me 285 bucks!" It's ugly and beat to hell, but Adrian Belew's Stratocaster is behind landmark albums by Frank Zappa, David Bowie, King Crimson and Talking Heads ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitars/electric-guitars/adrian-belews-ugly-strat-is-on-famous-albums dVCrHZTtjaucs6WDxq9sn4 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:28:07 +0000 Wed, 08 Jan 2025 13:07:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He goes, ‘I don't even understand how you're playing that. I could never play that’”: Dweezil Zappa on the time he taught Eddie Van Halen how to play one of his dad’s most difficult riffs ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/dweezil-zappa-frank-zappa-hardest-riff-van-halen cqT9NoLMN7h5yYestZBY3c Wed, 31 Jul 2024 21:14:35 +0000 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 08:19:24 +0000 <![CDATA[ “From the mid ’70s through the early ’80s Frank used a rig that allowed for amp and effects switching and presets. He said he spent close to $30,000 dollars to develop it. That would be like $300,000 now!” Dweezil Zappa on Frank Zappa's futuristic setup ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/dweezil-zappa-frank-zappa-rig NgbhicZtjHooTgHGHVGubD Tue, 07 May 2024 15:46:04 +0000 Tue, 07 May 2024 15:46:08 +0000 <![CDATA[ "I showed Eddie Van Halen some of what I had to learn in order to pull off Frank’s music... Eddie said, 'Who would've thought that you'd be giving me a guitar lesson!': How Dweezil Zappa took EVH inside his father's playing, and left him in awe ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/dweezil-zappa-frank-zappa-eddie-van-halen dkRf8ppN8giGo4E8vRMwv9 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 19:31:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ Adrian Belew recounts his audition with Frank Zappa: "We sat on his purple couch. I placed my Pignose amplifier face down on it so I could get a little bit of sustain... At the end of it, he reached out his hand and said, ‘You got the job’" ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/adrian-belew-frank-zappa-audition 6hHApmG5RR9PUSQRvGCtGj Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:11:54 +0000 Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:12:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “My Goal Was Simply Longevity – to Have a Long Career – Not to Become Famous”: Steve Lukather Looks Back on His Extraordinary Life as a Guitarist ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/my-goal-was-simply-longevity-to-have-a-long-career-not-to-become-famous-steve-lukather-looks-back-on-his-extraordinary-life-as-a-guitarist YugpqLeVvsHCLdD8yswAzX Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:08:46 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He Just Wanted Me to Go Wild on the Guitar”: Adrian Belew Reveals How David Bowie Helped Him Become a More Creative Player ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/adrian-belew-david-bowie BC9LqwwBtLZEUCBLgBx9kZ Wed, 12 Apr 2023 18:24:11 +0000 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 18:25:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ Sick of Playing the Same Old Lead Lines? Here’s How Guitar Players Like Robert Fripp, Bill Frisell and Frank Zappa Broke the Mold ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/lessons/sick-of-playing-the-same-old-lead-lines-heres-how-guitar-players-like-robert-fripp-bill-frisell-and-frank-zappa-broke-the-mold T7FsoHDM4CzYBjZSjvXKGj Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:32:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ Favored by Frank Zappa and Jerry Garcia, the Musitronics Mu-Tron III Combined Wild Sonics and Creative Usability ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/favored-by-frank-zappa-and-jerry-garcia-the-musitronics-mu-tron-iii-combined-wild-sonics-and-creative-usability H8XRBohtVWceS5HBXFv598 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 15:21:07 +0000 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:09:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ Watch a “17-Year-Old” John Frusciante Shredding Like Steve Vai in the ‘80s ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/watch-a-17-year-old-john-frusciante-shredding-like-steve-vai-in-the-80s vUgfGCzi6A9dLDnzTxV8J4 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 14:59:26 +0000 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 16:32:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ Heard on Classic Records by the Cult, the Smiths, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Metallica, Talking Heads, King Crimson and More, the Boss and Roland Chorus Sounds Are a Mainstay of Rock ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/heard-on-classic-records-by-the-cult-the-smiths-frank-zappa-david-bowie-metallica-talking-heads-king-crimson-and-more-the-boss-and-roland-chorus-sounds-are-a-mainstay-of-rock PWFvfbSJ3igpFSb7QQTLHi Tue, 07 Feb 2023 16:55:13 +0000 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:09:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He Will Eventually Be Remembered as One of the Great Composers of Our Time”: Adrian Belew, Don Preston, Mike Keneally and Jon Anderson Remember Frank Zappa ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/he-will-eventually-be-remembered-as-one-of-the-great-composers-of-our-time-adrian-belew-don-preston-mike-keneally-and-jon-anderson-remember-frank-zappa wFNQdr67s7bFA8UkBL5QCa Thu, 26 Jan 2023 16:17:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He Picked Me up off the Floor and Said, ‘Honey, You Play Good Guitar!’”: Alice Stuart Talks Playing With Albert King and Frank Zappa ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/he-picked-me-up-off-the-floor-and-said-honey-you-play-good-guitar-alice-stuart-talks-playing-with-albert-king-and-frank-zappa T78G9hqb8sdGvP5izfiYJh Tue, 24 Jan 2023 19:18:51 +0000 <![CDATA[ Frank Zappa's Favorite Guitars and Amps ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/frank-zappa-inside-the-guitars-and-amps-behind-his-greatest-recordings nyduitTpnV9owH5jFnPsRh Thu, 22 Dec 2022 18:01:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ Watch Captain Beefheart Guitarist Jeff Cotton’s New “Does It Work for You?” Music Video ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/watch-captain-beefheart-guitarist-jeff-cottons-new-does-it-work-for-you-music-video j5UkV4DHtEYZR7zmpSBCd8 Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:48:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ Captain Beefheart Guitarist Jeff Cotton Shares 5 Insightful Tips for Guitar Players ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/captain-beefheart-guitarist-jeff-cotton-shares-5-insightful-tips-for-guitar-players 64f7ugGcaYZetUU76JR557 Wed, 13 Jul 2022 17:18:27 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It All Starts In the Mind”: Steve Vai Shares Some Words of Wisdom for Guitarists ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/it-all-starts-in-the-mind-steve-vai-shares-some-words-of-wisdom-for-guitarists PBiVsizRDPKYMktYmfuHdS Wed, 18 May 2022 17:19:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ Three of Frank Zappa's Timeless Guitar Playing Tips ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/three-of-frank-zappas-timeless-guitar-playing-tips mHfbCS3zaL8DdNXrAZ65G8 Wed, 11 May 2022 17:11:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ The Mysterious History of George Harrison’s “Mad” Bartell Fretless ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/gear/the-mysterious-history-of-george-harrisons-mad-bartell-fretless u7pTq6D9D6HCsBTj5vuj6a Thu, 05 May 2022 16:47:45 +0000 <![CDATA[ TWA Mk. III Triskelion Harmonic Energizer Review ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/reviews/twa-mk-iii-triskelion-harmonic-energizer-review zvZ3bNMKB6ntMTg7R92PjQ Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:18:18 +0000 Tue, 17 May 2022 10:01:46 +0000 <![CDATA[ GP Presents Oz Noy this Thursday, March 24, in Oakland – Win Tickets! ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/gp-presents-oz-noy-this-thursday-march-24-in-oakland-win-tickets uUwbgEVgx36A7pS6VpDTZm Mon, 21 Mar 2022 14:42:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ Steel Panther’s Satchel Names His Top Five Guitar Solos ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/steel-panthers-satchel-names-his-top-five-guitar-solos AYktczs5RMoorNUHRVFuD5 Tue, 04 Jan 2022 17:05:27 +0000 <![CDATA[ Watch Frank Zappa Play One of His Greatest Solos On His Final Tour ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/lessons/watch-frank-zappa-play-one-of-his-greatest-solos-on-his-final-tour MeYeUATnkV6XUMiPMhPnu3 Fri, 03 Dec 2021 18:07:38 +0000 Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:53:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ Zappa Talks Zappa: Inside the Mind of Guitar Genius ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/zappa-talks-zappa-inside-the-mind-of-guitar-genius axjyXXnRKrfCW9W5FZdjQK Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:52:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ Watch Frank Zappa at his Fingerboard Shredding Finest ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/watch-frank-zappa-at-his-fingerboard-shredding-finest yKqzYzS9SYfofyTeKAXYHo Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:54:50 +0000 Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:58:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ A Beginner’s Guide to Frank Zappa ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/a-beginners-guide-to-frank-zappa rSFdbY6KW6WSEXaa6GHLuE Wed, 28 Jul 2021 14:41:08 +0000 <![CDATA[ Dweezil Zappa on Frank Zappa‘s Guitar Legacy and Why He Sees His Father as More Classical Than Prog ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/dweezil-zappa-on-frank-zappas-guitar-legacy-and-why-he-sees-his-father-as-more-classical-than-prog rweeFmSvNnv72dqVFrABNK Mon, 17 May 2021 18:19:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ Progressive Rock's Most Pioneering Guitarists – In Their Own Words ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/progressive-rocks-most-pioneering-guitarists-in-their-own-words 432M4CFXwq2Lyx8UQGxhon Wed, 28 Apr 2021 20:09:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Hear Frank Zappa Play "I Ain't Got No Heart" at His Final US Show ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/hear-frank-zappa-play-i-aint-got-no-heart-at-his-final-us-show EAekVhnDsX9HiP2B8i9MfH Mon, 26 Apr 2021 16:26:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ Steve Vai: Frank Zappa Once Told Me My Tone Sounded "Like An Electric Ham Sandwich" ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/steve-vai-frank-zappa-once-told-me-my-tone-sounded-like-an-electric-ham-sandwich qpW32dJNLNqxfrFuMvmw3S Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:47:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ Watch the Trailer for 'Zappa,' the First Official Frank Zappa Documentary ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/watch-the-trailer-for-zappa-the-first-official-frank-zappa-documentary D8nQD99885bC8XZj52hyCf Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:33:32 +0000