A couple years before his passing I saw george in a duet show with Stanley Clarke at the carefree theatre in West Palm Beach Florida. I screamed out “Inca Roads”. He stopped and said “you all don’t remember that”. I screamed “yes we do”. He played about ten minutes of Zappa and directed Clarke on the structure cuz Stanley said he didn’t know any of it. Thanks George. True story. Good times.
I had the good fortune of filling in for Tom Fowler in 74 on bass when he broke his finger on tour. Even got to record some with him. I was still in the secular world at that time though that would change and my music would change. But Duke was the keyboardist, Chester Thompson was the drummer, Both just monsters. Duke by far the best keyboardist I ever got to "swap licks" with. But then there was Ruth Underwood. From another planet. You're not supposed to be able to do things with mallets that she could do. Duke is right. It was a monster band. And there was Frank in the middle of all the monsterness directing traffic. It was beautifully orchestrated chaos. I still think about it.
@@ForMindlessConsumption It was indeed fun, and, though not the highlight of my career (that came when my heart and life changed and I started doing old Gospel Classics. Joy unbounded if that's a word!), it was certainly up there!
I don't think Frank 'really' auditioned anybody. More like a last test with the rest of the guys. I'm sure he made his mind for most of his band members before they even played a single note with him.
@@billypapa6761 Have you heard "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life"? Double live LP. The band broke up after a few months on tour because the band members had some kind of problem with Scott Tunes the Bass player. Over his chops. Seems they thought his playing wasn't up to snuff. Frank Zappa didn't understand it, was quite pissed. It was too late to get another Bass player up to speed for the rest of the tour, so he gave them a choice. Play with Scott, or the tour, and your paychecks, are over. They voted to stop the tour. Later heard a few of them say they made a big mistake, just like Frank told them. I saw the band in Syracuse , NY, (snippets are on the LP) and it was the Best Band most of you Never Heard live in your life.
@@ursafan40 Didn't knew that! In the cd booklet FZ insinuates this story by writing " The 1988 road band self-destructed" In the book "Mother! The Frank Zappa Story" Michael Gray presents a different story that didn't have to do with Thunes virtuosity. I quote : " The tour collapsed in mid-schedule after the last European gig, which was in Genoa on 9 June, and before the scheduled American West Coast leg. They had already played 81 shows on the tour, and now it was costing Zappa lots of money in cancellation fees. It fell apart because on this tour bassist Scot Thunes had the additional duty of being the sort of tour-foreman, and wasn't able to handle this without creating a build-up of resentment and hostility from the other musicians. Eventually they took a vote that they wouldn't tolerate working with Thunes any longer, and asked Frank to drop him. He sacked the rest of them instead, retaining on the payroll only Thunes and Mike Kenneally (who hadn't voted against Thunes). " "Ed Mann says that these rehearsals for what would be the 1988 tour lasted ten hours a day, five days a week for four-and a half months". It seems to me that any problem with Thunes playing would arise during this period... Anyways, always nice to share stories about Frank. And you sir, you are very lucky watching FZ. It was the last time he went on the road. As for me, I first learned about him the day he died from some friends who were devastated. One of them wrote me a cassette, and from this day I knew what was my priority every time I visited a record shop. ;)
@@billypapa6761 Thanks for the more complete story. Can you believe those guys? I certainly was lucky. That was my first and only Frank show. 10th row, right center stage. I understand your friends emotions. We knew he was sick though, so it wasn't as big a surprise as Stevie Ray, just the same sense of loss that we knew was coming for years. If you get a chance to see Dweezil ..... DO IT! I caught his "Hot Rats" tour. He and the band would truly make his father proud.
Frank and George were just a match made in heaven. The perfect compliment to one another. There was a musical bond there that can’t be matched, and as evident by this video, it transcended the music. "I miss him a lot. I just wanted to say that." It brings a tear to my eye
To be honest George I don't think most of us know how you guys did it.. That Roxy and Elsewhere record is one of the greatest. Such a shame you and Frank aren't with us anymore.. What a legacy though. Legends!
I got sent to the Sheriff's Boys Ranch in Morgan Hill, CA in 1973. His mom ran the Kitchen.I know because she had a Christmas card that said "Happy Holidays from the Frank Zappa Band: drawn by the guy from Mad magazine" She was a very sweet lady... I saw him years later with Billy Cobham, Alphonso Johnson and John Scofield at the Keystone in SF. I went up and told how I met his mom, he laughed. . RIP George
I agree with George, that the One Size Fits All era band were the best - and George was a big part of that. He was great on synth because he approached it as a highly skilled musician with musical ideas to express.
Dean Hallett, yeah, I would tend to agree with you but not being a musician I can only imagine the technical genius of someone like a Chad Wackerman. All I know is the guy was a genius, but yes, that era of late sixties to mid-70s was my favorite
Dam after so many years you can see how excited he is about working with Zappa. I could see the eagerness in his eye like a kid on in the candy store. Zappa seemed like a special kind of lead.
I think Frank Zappa would love the DAW's and Plugins on the computers these days, his love for the Synclavier. he would arrange and make music unheard of in variety and expression. A true virtuous in every sense.
WOW! he saw the genius in George. Thats deep. He didnt hire a synthesist, he saw hidden potential, an instrument ( no pun) he could use to reach a new goal. Brilliant.
I saw Mr. Duke perform with a quartet with Zappa in 73 or so. Jezzuz,what a keyboard player. The building felt like it was in an orbit of it´s own, and yes Frank played guhtar like a monster. Both gone now. Treasures.
what a beautiful eulogy about frank. thank you mr. duke. saw you once in Atlanta years ago w some jazz folks. thank you SOOOOO much for the memories. especially overnight sensation and apostrophe.
DoomKid, you said it man, I spent countless hours listening to, and listening to again, that beautiful unique music, what an amazing and creative person Frank was and all the musicians he gathered around him.
The coupling of George Duke with Frank Zappa is a collaboration I never would've thought practical, and it speaks volumes to the inspired interpretation of Frank Zappa's compositions and the challenges he presented to others that pushed the preconceived boundaries of each individual's musical training.
Sure, but when Frank goes into the "Tax the FUCK out of the churches" rant, a bolt of lightning might shut the show down. Then again, the goodly zealot preacher types probably all go to Hell anyway.
At the end, where George says people didn't know how great a guitar player Frank was. Gotta disagree. One example, back in the very early '70s, on WBCN in Boston, BB King was asked to give his thoughts on some guitar solos without being told who was playing. Don't remember anything but the DJ playing something by Frank & The Mothers, and about 5 notes in, BB goes, "ah, that's my boy, Frank what's his name." BB didn't know his name, knew his playing. But Frank was awesome on guitar.
yeah ,first time i hear of him, someone told me he might be the 2nd best guitarist after Hendrix.but since I would say the 3rd after Hendrix and McLaughlin.
Thanks - I hadn't considered McLaughlin because these "best" lists are usually pretty narrow, rockers only. But yeah, considering what Frank did in terms of crossing a lot of genres, that's a good comparison. I'm generally pretty partial towards Duane Allman and Ry Cooder, but I listen to a lot of stuff.
Aha, listen to what Frank had to say about the hobby of rating guitarists, interesting insight. But this BB King bit, I'm going to have to look for that. I wonder if it is on CZcams.
Thank you George for giving us what I consider the funkiest electric piano solo in history ("Don't you ever wash that thing?" off of the Roxy album). Rest in peace.
How many people are just totally not only unaware of Zappa, his music, and his band, but the genius that he was? In today's world, people will only listen if they can catch onto a song immediately, like a lady Ga Ga or Katy Perry ditty. But Zappa was just SO complex. As Duke said, he'd play anything. It takes some time to understand Zappa, as Duke stated. Yes, and I miss him too George. The whole music scene suffers for his absence.
I wonder why... Sometimes I would say that music is somehow bordered to intellectuality but on the other hand there are a lot of people (who normally dont here this music) which here this music and like it. So the other reason might be the industrial work. I mean, people tend to simplify music in the mass production. But why should they? Is there a hint. Did something went "wrong" in the 90's or were thos songs/tunes the most popular, which were simple (an better to understand).?
+Frankincensed yea all the good groups of that era like genesis,yes, w.report,crimson,had to be heard afew times to understand or get,and zappa was so trusted,when you went to play with these other bands and you were x zappa you got the job ,no audition needed
+Emil Brandwyne intellect is nothing to do with likeing good music,its all to do with hearing it a few times,but there is no good bands on mainstream labels, so great bands like the cardiacs, who many of todays musicians like steven wilson,blur,radiohead,tool,mike patton,are all influenced by, self release there music over the last 3 decades and never get heard ,also it has been scientifically proven that the music buying public is being brainwashed into likeing blander and homogenized pop music nowadays which is a good money maker for mi
Personally, I have a very wide taste in music. I grew up on three chord rock: Bad Co, Foreigner, Deep Purple, Zep, Van Halen. But I also loved ELP, Yes, Genesis, among others. Sometimes I'll sit and listen to some Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Hayden. But when I want to really be challenged intellectually and not just rock out to a riff, I always go to Frank. But Frank didn't care either. The guy would do the three chord rock, doo whop, blues. But at the same time, he'd put out Yellow Shark, London Symphony Orchestra, Thing Fish, End of Civ III. The guy was a machine and could do anything he wanted to musically. Personally, I don't know of anyone of his ilk. Simply singular.
Ryan Eriksson, of course he doesn't mean that, silly! Didn't you ever hear Franks album, "We're only in it for the money"? He was obviously a frustrated, money-grubbing, Teen Idol that just never made it in Showbiz..
George Duke, not to say he doesn't have a following amongst musicians, but he is very underrated in the "pop culture" of keyboard players. You don't hear his name enough as far as keyboard players. He just fucking awesome. 🤯
Frank in my opinion was brilliant and fits well in my collection along side musical geniuses Miles Davis , Jimi Hendrix , CAN ,David Bowie and Wagner .
Yeah, it's like another commenter above who said There ought to be at George Duke Channel, cuz I could just listen to that guy talk all day.. Too bad he left this world..
This one really blows my mind! He learned to use the synth and to sing because Frank asked him to?!?! And then he sounded like THAT? Whenever you need a textbook example for the phrase "bringing out the best in someone", show them this video.
i notice that no one has given the thumbs-down to this video. ya know why...? 'cause it's frickin' great!! r.i.p., frank. r.i.p., george. we seriously do love the shit outa you!!
I'm so glad I got to see that line-up a couple times! I just love George Dukes music and attitude. Frank somehow found the most incredible musicians on the planet and/or they were drawn his way like Ian Underwood etc. And YES Chris Kallaher - I could also listen to him for hours as well!
Don’t forget Ruth Underwood - incredible playing! But you could name anyone with the band and hate to leave anyone out. Start with great musicians and then practice, practice, practice.
I saw Zappa and the band George Duke was talking about at the circle Star theater in San Mateo 1974. Then I saw George Duke band at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco like 1979. They put on a good show every time they played I miss Frank Zappa too
George Duke is so humble . Frank Zappa was a genius in many ways, but especially recognizing great talent that hadn't been fully developed. It was already there George. Frank did it with everyone..Bozzio's Black Page
Maybe Frank was underrated back then as a guitarist, but not today. Frank is considered one of the most influential guitarist of all time. Many people today can trace their love and passion for the guitar back to Frank Zappa
Yes, totally underrated as a guitarist. Watch the whole documentary "Frank Zappa - A Pioneer of Future Music" for more interviews from the people who played in his band.
Funny that George initially thought that Frank's music was beneath him..and then Frank BLEW his mind. George was a wonderful addition and very impactful to the Zappa sound. The 70s lineup featuring George, Chester, Ruth, Nappy, Jeff, Don, Ralph, the Fowler Bros, and Ian was pure magic on vinyl. I'm sharing the info below cuz I know fellow FZ fans share my passion for this one-of-a-kind musician and composer. "One SIze Fits All" is definitely one of my 10 Desert Island discs. The other 9? Also Zappa creations (in no specific order): "Over-nite Sensation", "Apostrophe", "Lather", "Joe's Garage", "200 Motels", "We're Only In It...", "Roxy and Elsewhere", "Tinseltown Rebellion", "You Are What You Is", "Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar", "LSO I", "Them or Us", "Thing-Fish", "LSO II", "Guitar", "Jazz From Hell", "Civilization III", "YCDTOSA"(1-6)..but WAIT, that's MORE than 10 right? In that case, FUCK IT! I'm NOT moving to a Desert Island anytime soon. Desert Islands are WAAAAY overrated despite their Airbnb ratings. Long story short? George was an AMAZING talent and ZAPPA FANS miss him greatly. Love you George.
Thank you George Duke. Great interview ..my friend and I were just reminiscing about the Frank Zappa concert we attended and we both said the same thing. Frank was underrated as a guitar player!!!..🎸.. a tree musical genius
Hope these two are jamming together again! Hard to put into words the feelings you get when you listen to something like Roxy and Elsewhere. Long live FZ, long live George Duke!
That band is the best. The new Roxy box is amazing. I hope they do a box of the European part of that tour. I would love to hear more shows like YCDTOSA Vol 2.
I have a brother and a cousin Oh Lord how many conservatories they have passed.Heared of No I wont tell Duke opened his mind.takes a lot I was not a good student But hell Si can play.Cheerz mr uploader Zappa we met now and then I did not fit in ❤
I'm not sure what year George is talking about when he was all like "you can bend notes!" and "I can't sing" - but how long did it take him to become a great singer and a legendary note-bender...2, 3, maybe 4 years?? What an admirable musician George was.
It's just absolutely impossible not to love Geroge Duke.
That's so true.
There should be a "George Duke just sitting around talking" channel. I could listen to him all day. Thanks for posting.
czcams.com/video/hEBpg5B03fE/video.html and czcams.com/video/dIh0cgDr-W4/video.html More George Duke....
Exactly, Sir!
10/10 Would watch (and then again)
Yep what you said. Rip George. Put it so well . Best band best time. Yes FZ underrated. X
Yes my favourite Zappa band too. George Duke was amazing.
Frank didn't have a lot of time, but he had a lot to say. You nailed it George.
Unfortunetly for frank, if he had a lot to say, he never had no idea how to say it.
George Duke, like Frank Zappa, was a legend. one of the most accomplished pianists in the world.....and one of the nicest guys. RIP George.
I think he is still amongst the living dude.
@@harpoon_bakery162 - George Duke died in 2013. Frank Zappa died in 1993.
A couple years before his passing I saw george in a duet show with Stanley Clarke at the carefree theatre in West Palm Beach Florida. I screamed out “Inca Roads”. He stopped and said “you all don’t remember that”. I screamed “yes we do”. He played about ten minutes of Zappa and directed Clarke on the structure cuz Stanley said he didn’t know any of it. Thanks George. True story. Good times.
Evan Rice, wow, that's amazing, I wish I could have seen that! Maybe there's a bootleg somewhere? lol
MARK DUCHARME I wish there was but a small show at that time I doubt it. I have to look because I have the autographed ticker stub.
Love it.
That's brill, Evan.
Wonderful!
I had the good fortune of filling in for Tom Fowler in 74 on bass when he broke his finger on tour. Even got to record some with him. I was still in the secular world at that time though that would change and my music would change. But Duke was the keyboardist, Chester Thompson was the drummer, Both just monsters. Duke by far the best keyboardist I ever got to "swap licks" with. But then there was Ruth Underwood. From another planet. You're not supposed to be able to do things with mallets that she could do. Duke is right. It was a monster band. And there was Frank in the middle of all the monsterness directing traffic. It was beautifully orchestrated chaos. I still think about it.
wow what a unique experience... I can only imagine the feeling one would get from being a piece of such a tight and complexly wound machine
@@ForMindlessConsumption It was indeed fun, and, though not the highlight of my career (that came when my heart and life changed and I started doing old Gospel Classics. Joy unbounded if that's a word!), it was certainly up there!
@@BirdYoumans sometimes the greatest hikes have the plainest views and the plainest hikes have the greatest views
You are playing with Frank on Sleep Dirt! It’s one of the most beautiful pieces of music.
Beautiful work on Sleep Dirt, man!
What tells me a lot about Frank, is George saying "No, I can't do that", and instead of just firing the guy, Frank makes him realize he CAN do that.
If George Duke agrees to be your keyboard player, you can't then fire him. Anyone else would be a step down.
I don't think Frank 'really' auditioned anybody. More like a last test with the rest of the guys. I'm sure he made his mind for most of his band members before they even played a single note with him.
@@billypapa6761 Have you heard "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life"? Double live LP.
The band broke up after a few months on tour because the band members had some kind of problem with Scott Tunes the Bass player. Over his chops. Seems they thought his playing wasn't up to snuff.
Frank Zappa didn't understand it, was quite pissed. It was too late to get another Bass player up to speed for the rest of the tour, so he gave them a choice. Play with Scott, or the tour, and your paychecks, are over.
They voted to stop the tour.
Later heard a few of them say they made a big mistake, just like Frank told them.
I saw the band in Syracuse , NY, (snippets are on the LP) and it was the Best Band most of you Never Heard live in your life.
@@ursafan40 Didn't knew that! In the cd booklet FZ insinuates this story by writing " The 1988 road band self-destructed" In the book "Mother! The Frank Zappa Story" Michael Gray presents a different story that didn't have to do with Thunes virtuosity. I quote : " The tour collapsed in mid-schedule after the last European gig, which was in Genoa on 9 June, and before the scheduled American West Coast leg. They had already played 81 shows on the tour, and now it was costing Zappa lots of money in cancellation fees. It fell apart because on this tour bassist Scot Thunes had the additional duty of being the sort of tour-foreman, and wasn't able to handle this without creating a build-up of resentment and hostility from the other musicians. Eventually they took a vote that they wouldn't tolerate working with Thunes any longer, and asked Frank to drop him. He sacked the rest of them instead, retaining on the payroll only Thunes and Mike Kenneally (who hadn't voted against Thunes). "
"Ed Mann says that these rehearsals for what would be the 1988 tour lasted ten hours a day, five days a week for four-and a half months". It seems to me that any problem with Thunes playing would arise during this period... Anyways, always nice to share stories about Frank.
And you sir, you are very lucky watching FZ. It was the last time he went on the road. As for me, I first learned about him the day he died from some friends who were devastated. One of them wrote me a cassette, and from this day I knew what was my priority every time I visited a record shop. ;)
@@billypapa6761 Thanks for the more complete story.
Can you believe those guys?
I certainly was lucky. That was my first and only Frank show. 10th row, right center stage.
I understand your friends emotions. We knew he was sick though, so it wasn't as big a surprise as Stevie Ray, just the same sense of loss that we knew was coming for years.
If you get a chance to see Dweezil ..... DO IT!
I caught his "Hot Rats" tour. He and the band would truly make his father proud.
"Eat that question"- most beautiful electric piano solo ever. No synthesizing. Just soul.
Uncle Remus Eat That Question followed by the sublime Blessed Relief...15 minutes of sheer delight.
Yes ! And the goddamed drums !
george duke was the perfect foil for zappa. musical chemistry worthy of a nobel prize.
Frank and George were just a match made in heaven. The perfect compliment to one another. There was a musical bond there that can’t be matched, and as evident by this video, it transcended the music. "I miss him a lot. I just wanted to say that." It brings a tear to my eye
What a wonderful person and musician. RIP George Duke - and Frank Zappa. We miss you guys!!!!
Agreed. Brings a smile to my face just listening to George talk.
R.I.P. Frank and R.I.P. George
brotherbosco .
If there is any justice, we'd all be dead and they'd still be groovin' together..
@@markducharme9518 perhaps they are.
Their grammar goes the way of a rubber butt.
Just a great chemistry
To be honest George I don't think most of us know how you guys did it.. That Roxy and Elsewhere record is one of the greatest. Such a shame you and Frank aren't with us anymore.. What a legacy though. Legends!
That's it
One Size Fits All is one of the highlights of the 20th century. This album is magical. What a great band it was too.
Pour moi aussi surement mon préféré, surtout le morceau Inca Road, qui est le morceau symbole de l'esprit Zappiste.
I got sent to the Sheriff's Boys Ranch in Morgan Hill, CA in 1973. His mom ran the Kitchen.I know because she had a Christmas card that said "Happy Holidays from the Frank Zappa Band: drawn by the guy from Mad magazine" She was a very sweet lady... I saw him years later with Billy Cobham, Alphonso Johnson and John Scofield at the Keystone in SF. I went up and told how I met his mom, he laughed. . RIP George
Great story.
I agree with George, that the One Size Fits All era band were the best - and George was a big part of that. He was great on synth because he approached it as a highly skilled musician with musical ideas to express.
Dean Hallett, yeah, I would tend to agree with you but not being a musician I can only imagine the technical genius of someone like a Chad Wackerman. All I know is the guy was a genius, but yes, that era of late sixties to mid-70s was my favorite
I don't know, but I sure love that record. Probably my favorite.
Dean Hallett One Size is my absolute favourite album of all time, hands down. Of course, George was the jewel of that UNBELIEVABLE band...
Dam after so many years you can see how excited he is about working with Zappa. I could see the eagerness in his eye like a kid on in the candy store. Zappa seemed like a special kind of lead.
I think Frank Zappa would love the DAW's and Plugins on the computers these days, his love for the Synclavier. he would arrange and make music unheard of in variety and expression. A true virtuous in every sense.
"frank, i can't do this."
"so it's beneath you?"
haha
" Why is something wrong with your hand?" lol
exactly ... that is the bulls eye of where frank was at ... his transcendence
i think at that moment George learned that it is ALL music.
This conversation is essential for all jazzers.
I can definitely hear the “so it’s beneath you” in Franks voice
WOW! he saw the genius in George. Thats deep. He didnt hire a synthesist, he saw hidden potential, an instrument ( no pun) he could use to reach a new goal. Brilliant.
I keep coming back to this clip and watching it again.
George Duke is a national treasure.
I saw Mr. Duke perform with a quartet with Zappa in 73 or so. Jezzuz,what a keyboard player. The building felt like it was in an orbit of it´s own, and yes Frank played guhtar like a monster. Both gone now. Treasures.
Zappa and Duke: two genius!
what a beautiful eulogy about frank. thank you mr. duke. saw you once in Atlanta years ago w some jazz folks. thank you SOOOOO much for the memories. especially overnight sensation and apostrophe.
Those albums are pure art!
DoomKid, you said it man, I spent countless hours listening to, and listening to again, that beautiful unique music, what an amazing and creative person Frank was and all the musicians he gathered around him.
The coupling of George Duke with Frank Zappa is a collaboration I never would've thought practical, and it speaks volumes to the inspired interpretation of Frank Zappa's compositions and the challenges he presented to others that pushed the preconceived boundaries of each individual's musical training.
George Duke is right up there next to Frank where he belongs. What a band is right! Tighter than a crabs ass.
Caught them in '72.
and had the sense to pay attention...
When I arrive in heaven, I'd like St. Peter say. Welcome and please take place. 8pm Frank Zappa and the mothers will have a gig.
Sure, but when Frank goes into the "Tax the FUCK out of the churches" rant, a bolt of lightning might shut the show down.
Then again, the goodly zealot preacher types probably all go to Hell anyway.
@@exentr St. Peter will be burning in hell, inshallah, for Islam is the true religion.
@@Kitties_are_pretty How come islam is the true religion?
"He was totally underated as a guitarist"
Frank: Starts playing a solo and the clip cuts-off.
You're annoyed, too? I'm glad that the full performance is on YT.
Was a very Frank Zappa way to end the video.
And the part when he sang.
he was not a good guitarist, overrated is understating it.
HAHAHA
2 of the greatest Musicians of all time.
love and miss you george.
your life was truly 'a comitment to excellence'
so great to hear the great George Duke having so many wonderful things to say about Frank.
George Duke didn't want to sing?? I'm happy Frank sorted that out! :)
I find it sadly interesting that some reviewers actually downplay George's singing ability.
What do critics know???
Damn right. George's singing was the soul of so many tracks.
I miss George Duke too...one of my favorite composers.
Thank's for your service George!
At the end, where George says people didn't know how great a guitar player Frank was. Gotta disagree. One example, back in the very early '70s, on WBCN in Boston, BB King was asked to give his thoughts on some guitar solos without being told who was playing. Don't remember anything but the DJ playing something by Frank & The Mothers, and about 5 notes in, BB goes, "ah, that's my boy, Frank what's his name." BB didn't know his name, knew his playing. But Frank was awesome on guitar.
agree; all l can think of in someone saying he was 'underrated' was per one of those damn lists they have of the '100 greatest' or what have you..
haha nice, awesome story thanks for sharing!
yeah ,first time i hear of him, someone told me he might be the 2nd best guitarist after Hendrix.but since I would say the 3rd after Hendrix and McLaughlin.
Thanks - I hadn't considered McLaughlin because these "best" lists are usually pretty narrow, rockers only. But yeah, considering what Frank did in terms of crossing a lot of genres, that's a good comparison. I'm generally pretty partial towards Duane Allman and Ry Cooder, but I listen to a lot of stuff.
Aha, listen to what Frank had to say about the hobby of rating guitarists, interesting insight. But this BB King bit, I'm going to have to look for that. I wonder if it is on CZcams.
Thank you George for giving us what I consider the funkiest electric piano solo in history ("Don't you ever wash that thing?" off of the Roxy album). Rest in peace.
I'll have to go back and re-listen to it over. Thanks.
@@neverhit17 You're welcome, thanks for this nice footage.
I miss Frank so much Frank was a true original, I consider myself very lucky to have actually seen Frank live many times throughout the 70s and 80s.
How many people are just totally not only unaware of Zappa, his music, and his band, but the genius that he was? In today's world, people will only listen if they can catch onto a song immediately, like a lady Ga Ga or Katy Perry ditty. But Zappa was just SO complex. As Duke said, he'd play anything. It takes some time to understand Zappa, as Duke stated. Yes, and I miss him too George. The whole music scene suffers for his absence.
I wonder why...
Sometimes I would say that music is somehow bordered to intellectuality but on the other hand there are a lot of people (who normally dont here this music) which here this music and like it. So the other reason might be the industrial work. I mean, people tend to simplify music in the mass production. But why should they? Is there a hint. Did something went "wrong" in the 90's or were thos songs/tunes the most popular, which were simple (an better to understand).?
+Frankincensed yea all the good groups of that era like genesis,yes, w.report,crimson,had to be heard afew times to understand or get,and zappa was so trusted,when you went to play with these other bands and you were x zappa you got the job ,no audition needed
+Emil Brandwyne intellect is nothing to do with likeing good music,its all to do with hearing it a few times,but there is no good bands on mainstream labels, so great bands like the cardiacs, who many of todays musicians like steven wilson,blur,radiohead,tool,mike patton,are all influenced by, self release there music over the last 3 decades and never get heard ,also it has been scientifically proven that the music buying public is being brainwashed into likeing blander and homogenized pop music nowadays which is a good money maker for mi
Personally, I have a very wide taste in music. I grew up on three chord rock: Bad Co, Foreigner, Deep Purple, Zep, Van Halen. But I also loved ELP, Yes, Genesis, among others. Sometimes I'll sit and listen to some Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Hayden. But when I want to really be challenged intellectually and not just rock out to a riff, I always go to Frank. But Frank didn't care either. The guy would do the three chord rock, doo whop, blues. But at the same time, he'd put out Yellow Shark, London Symphony Orchestra, Thing Fish, End of Civ III. The guy was a machine and could do anything he wanted to musically. Personally, I don't know of anyone of his ilk. Simply singular.
What a great story from a really talented dude!! And RIP Zappa!! Veritable GENIUS!
That is so classic. Zappa/George Duke - what priceless treasure. Thanks for the up.
frank was the most innovative, most underrated guitarist of all time...because u couldn't buy him
elaborate sir? as in would never sell out for the money?
Just watched Montana, I think youre right.
Ryan Eriksson, of course he doesn't mean that, silly! Didn't you ever hear Franks album, "We're only in it for the money"? He was obviously a frustrated, money-grubbing, Teen Idol that just never made it in Showbiz..
Zactly!!!
Dude, I spent a life time with Zappa...He was NOT underrated at all...He was one of the most respected axemen in the business...
" It needs to be messed up."
Jane Doe i
I know right? That is so Frank..
BECAUSE FRANK WAS A INOVATER JUST HENDRIX, KURK ECT TO NAME A FEW!!!
I met George at Midem in France a complete gentleman .. Patiently answered all my questions.. Great man
"and he was totally underrated as a guitarist." Not by anyone who knows guitar. Frank was a superb, lyrical and inventive soloist.
George Duke, not to say he doesn't have a following amongst musicians, but he is very underrated in the "pop culture" of keyboard players. You don't hear his name enough as far as keyboard players. He just fucking awesome. 🤯
Some of the best musicians in the world played with FZ. Literally there are dozens. And they've ended up in some great bands.
Miss them both.
me too.
i love george. amongst the very best musicians fz played with. the roxy band was brilliant.
Frank in my opinion was brilliant and fits well in my collection along side musical geniuses Miles Davis , Jimi Hendrix , CAN ,David Bowie and Wagner .
I could listen to 5 hours of George go on(RIP)! Maybe 6...thank you for sharing!
Matt Ly, I know man, that's the only problem with this video, it was way too short..
George Duke seems like a good dude 8-)
I agree
Yeah, it's like another commenter above who said There ought to be at George Duke Channel, cuz I could just listen to that guy talk all day.. Too bad he left this world..
Jim Bob , only because he was...
This one really blows my mind! He learned to use the synth and to sing because Frank asked him to?!?! And then he sounded like THAT? Whenever you need a textbook example for the phrase "bringing out the best in someone", show them this video.
i notice that no one has given the thumbs-down
to this video. ya know why...? 'cause it's frickin' great!!
r.i.p., frank. r.i.p., george. we seriously do love the shit outa you!!
"Why, is there something wrong with your hand?" is such a classic Zappa comeback. After first seeing this 10 years ago it still make me lol.
One of my favorite musicians reminiscing about another one of my favorite musicians.
I'm so glad I got to see that line-up a couple times! I just love George Dukes music and attitude. Frank somehow found the most incredible musicians on the planet and/or they were drawn his way like Ian Underwood etc. And YES Chris Kallaher - I could also listen to him for hours as well!
Don’t forget Ruth Underwood - incredible playing!
But you could name anyone with the band and hate to leave anyone out.
Start with great musicians and then practice, practice, practice.
george you and frank made wonderful memories for MILLIONS of us.....Dont worry i refuse to let franks memory die! I mis him as well!
Frank was the man! I aspire to have his work ethic
I agree,The "One size fits all"band was my favorite.They all were great though
+soylent for you yea every note on that album good
The Best Zappa band..George Duke!!!
I saw Zappa and the band George Duke was talking about at the circle Star theater in San Mateo 1974.
Then I saw George Duke band at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco like 1979.
They put on a good show every time they played
I miss Frank Zappa too
George Duke is, because he was great. Thanks for publicating
George is a badass. And he is right. That group was amazing. Frank was a musical freak.
Yea, y'all kicked it G. That was great band.
I miss you too George. You were also underrated. You two were the best. It says so on my 1981 t shirt from Boulder. The best!
George Duke is so humble . Frank Zappa was a genius in many ways, but especially recognizing great talent that hadn't been fully developed. It was already there George. Frank did it with everyone..Bozzio's Black Page
A nice segment; one genius talking about another genius.
Great interview. Frank pushed the envelope - and that's why I loved him. The dude played a bicycle on TV. A fricken BICYCLE!
george duke was so cool
I'm lucky to have seen him perform on 5 different occasions,all back in the 70's, and I miss him too.....
Some of those songs are so insane no wonder he was shocked re-listening to them.
George duke the way she do me boy
Hes amazing player shame he passed and zappa 2 miss both of them ! And he can sing his ass off!!
For sure. Truth.
♥️UncleFrankGeniusLives In the words of this precious bandmate. Great George, Miss you two! True, that band could play everything ✨
Maybe Frank was underrated back then as a guitarist, but not today. Frank is considered one of the most influential guitarist of all time. Many people today can trace their love and passion for the guitar back to Frank Zappa
Love George Duke
I miss both you and Frank. Neither of you were here long enough.
It's possible he was underrated in his time as a guitarist, but not now. Not by people in the know.
can you expand? you mean technically?
Yes, totally underrated as a guitarist. Watch the whole documentary "Frank Zappa - A Pioneer of Future Music" for more interviews from the people who played in his band.
panther105, is that what this clip is from?
I gave you the title. You just had to search for it..... czcams.com/video/hEBpg5B03fE/video.html
And part 2 : czcams.com/video/dIh0cgDr-W4/video.html
@4:04 … YES! One of the all time greats as a Rock guitarist! Rest In Peace Frank.
Funny that George initially thought that Frank's music was beneath him..and then Frank BLEW his mind. George was a wonderful addition and very impactful to the Zappa sound. The 70s lineup featuring George, Chester, Ruth, Nappy, Jeff, Don, Ralph, the Fowler Bros, and Ian was pure magic on vinyl. I'm sharing the info below cuz I know fellow FZ fans share my passion for this one-of-a-kind musician and composer. "One SIze Fits All" is definitely one of my 10 Desert Island discs. The other 9? Also Zappa creations (in no specific order): "Over-nite Sensation", "Apostrophe", "Lather", "Joe's Garage", "200 Motels", "We're Only In It...", "Roxy and Elsewhere", "Tinseltown Rebellion", "You Are What You Is", "Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar", "LSO I", "Them or Us", "Thing-Fish", "LSO II", "Guitar", "Jazz From Hell", "Civilization III", "YCDTOSA"(1-6)..but WAIT, that's MORE than 10 right? In that case, FUCK IT! I'm NOT moving to a Desert Island anytime soon. Desert Islands are WAAAAY overrated despite their Airbnb ratings. Long story short? George was an AMAZING talent and ZAPPA FANS miss him greatly. Love you George.
RIP George! Missing you already.
One of the greatest musicians talking about one of the greatest musicians
Thank you George Duke. Great interview ..my friend and I were just reminiscing about the Frank Zappa concert we attended and we both said the same thing. Frank was underrated as a guitar player!!!..🎸.. a tree musical genius
my favorite guitarist of all time. RIP brother.
I could listen to another hour of George talking about Frank. Two gargantuan talents as musicians and people.
Hope these two are jamming together again! Hard to put into words the feelings you get when you listen to something like Roxy and Elsewhere. Long live FZ, long live George Duke!
That band is the best. The new Roxy box is amazing. I hope they do a box of the European part of that tour. I would love to hear more shows like YCDTOSA Vol 2.
Thank you. Frank is missed. So many are......
What a wonderful man and incredible musician George was.
great guy great musician
I watch this clip a lot. You can tell it's from the heart
Huge influence on me as a guitarist, tonally and melodically in particular.
I have a brother and a cousin
Oh Lord how many conservatories they have passed.Heared of
No I wont tell
Duke opened his mind.takes a lot
I was not a good student But hell Si can play.Cheerz mr uploader Zappa we met now and then I did not fit in ❤
I'm not sure what year George is talking about when he was all like "you can bend notes!" and "I can't sing" - but how long did it take him to become a great singer and a legendary note-bender...2, 3, maybe 4 years?? What an admirable musician George was.
1970 - Chungas Revenge
(1st album of the New Mothers)
Amazing people / music and we were blessed to have them
So true. I miss Frank deeply too. I wish we had the chance to see what he'd do and say about the crap going on nowadays.
No kidding huh? And also George Carlin I'd like to hear him about now. Somebody needs to pick up the Baton
You were far too humble George. We miss you and Frank dearly.
FZ had many great bands, but the early-70s Mothers with George, Napoleon, Ruth, and Chester was my favorite.
Without a doubt
One Size Fits All is my favorite Zappa album that I can listen to anytime.