Watch the Trailer for 'Zappa,' the First Official Frank Zappa Documentary
Directed by 'Bill & Ted' star Alex Winter, the film features Steve Vai, Ian Underwood and more.
The trailer for Zappa, the years-in-the-making documentary on the life and career of Frank Zappa, has finally been unveiled. You can watch it above.
The first official Zappa documentary, the two-hour film was directed by Bill & Ted star Alex Winter, who was given full access to all archival footage and the Zappa family trust. It will be released in the US on November 27.
In addition to Zappa’s widow, Gail Zappa, Zappa features interviews with many of his musical collaborators, including Steve Vai, Ian Underwood, Pamela Des Barres, Mike Keneally, David Harrington, Bunk Gardner, Ruth Underwood, Scott Thunes, Ray White and many more.
"Frank Zappa was not only a creative genius, but also a great and eloquent thinker who articulated the madness of his times with extraordinary clarity and wit," Winter said.
"A legitimate maverick who lived and worked amongst other extraordinary people in historic times. Ultimately, Zappa is not a retro trip into the past, but a thoroughly modern exploration of a man whose worldview, art and politics were far ahead of their time, and profoundly relevant in our challenging times."
“I'm thrilled Magnolia is bringing the Zappa movie to the world," Ahmet Zappa, one of the film's producers, added. "This emotional journey began with my mother’s belief in Alex Winter and he’s made an extraordinary film.
“I’m so grateful to the fans who contributed to the Kickstarter campaign. Their support was invaluable as is our partnership with UMG. I feel in my heart Frank and Gail would be so proud of the documentary and I can’t wait for everyone to see it!”
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
For more info on the film, head on over to zappamovie.com.
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
“I had just put together a beautiful white Stratocaster. So I said, 'Okay, I'll trade you.' ” Jeff “Skunk” Baxter recalls the questionable deal he made with Jimi Hendrix in the mid 1960s
"There are a lot of guys that play much more like Eddie than Joe." Sammy Hagar says Joe Satriani was “not a perfect match” for his Van Halen Best of All Words tour. But one factor set him apart