Country Guitarist Reacts to. Frank Zappa versus Steve Vai Guitar Battle | Epic!
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- čas přidán 2. 03. 2022
- This is a reaction video used to educated and give my feedback on the song and Artists
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Congratulations you have just stepped into the greatest and deepest rabbit hole in music, not only is Frank an awesome guitar player he's an incredible composer, you're in for many treats and surprises. You should react to Frank's country song "Harder Than Your Husband" no one else has. It's one of my favorite country songs of all time. Thanks for the reaction !
I’d say the Tom waits rabbit hole is up there but yeah it’s hard to beat Zappa in depth when he has like 24,000 albums lmao
Buckethead is the deepest music rabbit hole
"Lonesome Cowboy Burt" is way better. As far as I know, those are the only two country songs Frank did.
As for the video: Steve is doing all the technical stuff, Frank is doing all the interesting stuff.
@@outernothingness1177 All of my family way down in Texas make their livin diggin dirt! "While we're at it, we have a sort of a cowboy song we'd like to do for you, it's called, pardon me, Poofters Froth Wyoming Plan's Ahead"
@@timfeeley714-25 Oh, of course! How could I forget about that one?
Steve is a guitarist, Frank was a composer who played a helluva guitar on the side. In the pantheon of guitarists Frank stands out because he showcased his guitar talent without devoting all his energy to it. His ability to create guitar jams out of thin air has never been replicated, and there are literally thousands of them, all of them unique. Freak of nature doesn't come close to explaining Frank, there is no way to explain him, you just have to experience it. And with all that said, his guitar exploits are only a part of his work.
Well said, I totally agree!
Indeed. Frank was a great guitarist without trying to be. But his compositions elevated him to legendary. One symphony conductor said, “Frank Zappa is the most important composer of the second half of the 20th century.”
Zappa was garbage
"Freak out"!🤪
Away with the pathetic shit zappa He was a disgusting asshole
Zappa was playing since the '50s, forming the Mothers of Invention in '64. So Frank was using his guitar as an ashtray long before Van Halen.
And yes, Frank's band, the musicians were either challenged to keep up, or often Frank had them orchestrated to the detail, while he would run on with his solos. Frank's solos were difficult to transcribe, so he rarely could recreate the same performance. Steve got the job by transcribing Franks solos and delivering them to him. He once told a story on Midday Live that Steve jumped his fence, knocked on the door and handed them over - adding that he'd since gotten a dog.
When sheet music is extremely dense, it's called a Black Page. Frank actually uses this as one of his song titles.
Every one of those musicians were students of Zappa, but they were already world class players or they couldn't be in the band. Zappa was a world class composer that could write music with a pen and paper.
You could plunge into the Zappa world and be there for a couple of years easy....a dedicated Zappa reaction channel would do very well...
Great reaction. Frank hired Steve Vai when Steve was 18 because he could transcribe Frank's guitar solos which are improvised, the rest of the music is written by frank. Steve formally joined the band and started touring when he was 20. The song they were playing is called "Stevie's Spanking" which is a true story about Steve and a groupie (the original version has lyrics) Another fantastic guitar player discovered by Frank in a bar in Nashville is Adrian Belew, his songs Big Electric Cat or I Am What I am would be a great introduction to him. Viking Fan is correct it was a duet not a duel, it was Frank Zappa "And" Steve Vai. Thanx !
YES!!! Great Song!!! The Lyrics are Quite Graphic!!
Zappa was garbage
@@kosta60 What is up, "little" marlon?
Without shit ugly zappa, the music World would be much better 🤣 🤣 🤣
You troll
You know shit ugly zappa was filth
Frank, what can you say? One of the most eclectic, diverse, important musician/composers of all time. And any musician who was anyone back in the day passed through Frank Zappa Universe. If you've got a thousand hours to dedicate to the deep and diverse world of Frank, prepare to have your mind blown.
I know I have, and that for over 50 years, and yet: "But wait! There's more!🤯
I remember Steve Vai being billed as "Stunt Guitar" on one of Zappa's albums.
On one album the credits read Frank Zappa guitar solos, Steve Vai impossible guitar solos. Frank used to write ever more complex compositions for Vai to contend with
Frank Zappa music is like a movie for your ears.
Well put
When Steve was auditioning, Frank asked Steve to play something very intricate, near impossible. Steve said, "I don't think I can't play that." To which Frank responded, "I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a new guitar player."
here is what I believe to be the back story to that comment.
I met Bunk Gardner at a show in Melbourne Australia.
He was touring with The Grand Mothers and Beefheart
I asked him how he was enjoying Melbourne.
He told me had had been here before.
I said oh wow.
he then went on and told me he toured with Linda R.
True story.
And shit ugly zappa changed the World of boring assholes, thats true 🤣🤣🤣
I missed that concert. I graduated in January, after years of passionate study in engineering while earing loud Frank (mainly The Grand Wazoo, Weasels ripped my flesh, Waka Jawaka Hot rats, Apostrophe . ...), so that unfortunately on July I was serving military, 700 km away far from Rome. Thank you.
I saw this tour. Got Zappa's autograph during the show
the whole cigarette thing is something I've seen photos of young Clapton doing that, but I remember other guys from the 50's and early 60's guys doing that.
every guitarist that smokes does that
Zappa was garbage
Peter Townsend
Frank’s ‘80 band line-up was one of my fav’s , great stage antics yet all still playing technically
Forgot about Vai at 12:35 & blowing out Frank’s cigarette 🚬 😂
Great reaction video too!
Frank had a smoke in his head stock before Eddie was born. As far as this “guitar battle” goes, it’s two completely different styles of play playing. Many might say Vai is the superior guitarist and I’d disagree. One video doesn’t tell the story. But the good news here is you’ve glanced at greatness. It deserves more than a glance or even a stare.
Yeah, Frank was chain smoking cigarettes before Eddie was born. Jerry Garcia also used to tuck a cigarette into the headstock while playing.
Every guitarist who smokes on stage does the same thing.
Zappa was garbage
@@kosta60 takes one to know one dipshit.
You need to see some more Zappa to understand what they are doing. The concerts were conducted by Frank. That's why Steve look at him now and then to get instructions. Steve is making the solo as instructed, while Frank improvise. There are similar duet videos of Steve and Dweezil Zappa! And you can see their hands!. Dweezil is also very skilful making covers of his fathers music. But he just does it. No pain in the face. Dweezil had Steve Vai and Eddie van Halen as guitarr teachers when he was a kid.
To point out how difficult it is to make comparisions: check Jon Gomm making Passionflower...
Steve is Zappa's disciple and has been his beloved disciple since childhood.Zappa's talent was so excellent that Steve thought of committing suicide because he could not keep up with Zappa. He revered Frank as his mentor all his life and still does
I’ve seen Steve Vai a number of times met the guy real humble and kind
There was a much cleaner version of this song on his CD You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Volume 4. It is from two shows from his 1982 tour. It includes the lyrics to the song as well. Give a listen to Harder Than Your Husband by Frank for a truly enjoyable country song. Frank does give a tip of the hat to the garage band days in his song Joe's Garage. If you are looking for a great guitar solo give a listen to Watermelon In Easter Hay. The Zappa Universe is a very large and wonderous one. Have fun!
Regarding the camera work, I guess for the sake of the audience, he couldn’t just be in front of Frank, blocking their view, but true, with Steve, he found a way around it. I like your reaction and agree w all the comments I’ve read so far. Welcome to the rabbit hole!
Zappa truly was incredible. You really need to check out "Black Napkins", "Zomby Woof", "Peaches En Regalia", and "Cosmic Debris".
As far as 'jamming' goes, Frank didn't practice playing. He only enjoyed playing guitar in a concert setting. All solos 'composed' on the spot. 'Air sculptures' he called them.
If you want to know about Frank & EVH, dig out the video where Frank's son Dweezil tells of how Eddie came to his school, for a school concert where he was playing a Van Halen song, lent him a guitar, & basically walked him through how to play it.
czcams.com/video/FzWi3dKis2c/video.html
Presente a quel grande concerto...!!!
This was a live telecast from 1982 Italian television with the live production mix on old school TV... No one beats Frank as far as his rhythmic sensibilities, it sets him apart from any guitarist for solo imagination... You think that was long? He released a 3 RECORD set of ONLY guitar solos... "We've been out here a long time, man, I wonder if he's really . . . entertained by this" (a recorded quote by the drummer Terry Bozzio included on the Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar recording)...
I think you're right, they enjoyed it. FZ wrote it for Vai who played "Stunt Guitarist".
Ah, Stevie... Frank's "little Italian virtuoso".
Steve Vai was listed on some of Zappa's albums with "Strat abuse" as his instrument. Zappa had many people over the years who went on to become famous in their own right... Steve Vai and Adrian Belew as mentioned in the comments. In his 1971 era group he had a dual drumset lineup with Ralph Humphrey who came from Don Ellis' Jazz Orchestra and Chester Thompson who went on to play for Genesis when Phil Collins became the singer. He also had George Duke on keyboards in that group as well. Jazz violinist Jean Luc Ponty played in the group at one point, as did many drummers including Terry Bozio.
Frank Zappa had several record labels and recorded Alice Cooper's first album. He's also the first artist I'm aware of that sued the label he recorded for in the 60s (Warner Bros) and won the rights for his entire music catalog back, which is still controlled by the Zappa Family Trust.
When not listed as "Strat Abuse" he was listed as "Stunt Guitarist".
The Zappa Family Trust sold everything to Universal Music Group. Back catalog, the vault, everything.
Zappa was before Eddie Van Halen - of course
I believe old blues guitarists used to put the cigarette on the head of the guitar to signal when the solo ends, I may be wrong about that, but I have a faint memory of either Buddy Guy or Robert Cray telling a story about it.
You can’t compare these two. This is a kid, albeit a kid taught by Joe Satriani, a couple years out of Berkeley Music school and a seasoned professional. Zappa was writing classical music in high school, his first album was out in 1966 and has put out over a 100 albums since. I do believe these two things should be taken into consideration when comparing the two.
BTW Keith Richards had a cigarette in his headstock in 1968...
Frank was a visceral player. Steve is a freak of nature.
Freak of nature 2.0
czcams.com/video/awFeDMNiKX4/video.html
Have a listen to "Watermelon In Easter Hay" from "Joe's Garage Vol3" or "Black Napkins (Delux Bonus Version)" from "Zappa In New York". Zappa tended to change his band every couple of years as well as the type of stuff he played.
In my world:
1- Jeff Beck
2- Zappa
That’s the oddest thing I’ve seen in a while Steve playing a Strat .
I like Zappa's tone in this video.
As guitarist go there is no comparison. This is apples and oranges here as playing styles are concerned
Yeah, I kinda get the feeling Zappa was holding back, maybe as a chance to let Steve Vai shine. It's something he would do for individual members of his band (the movie Baby Snakes has a full-length Terry Bozzio drum solo, for example). Zappa had earned a reputation as a curmudgeon, but he wasn't afraid to give his band some of the spotlights regardless.
I honestly don’t know how you can pick up a guitar and not know Frank Zappa.
If you want to see Franks talent try The Black Page and read the story behind.
epic
Steve Vai is a master of his instrument. Zappa was a master of music. The guitar was just one of several tools to him. That's no discredit to either of them. Since Frank's death, Vai has offered nothing but respect and support for Zappa and his music. Even playing with Dweezle on his `Zappa plays Zappa` project and doing it very well. I think Steve's contribution has been in the experimental stuff he's been doing with the guitar for the last couple of decades. I think Zappa would be proud, though probably would never admit it. LOL
Frank was undoubtedly the band leader. The other members would watch him CONSTANTLY as if a conductor [ he was not above actually standing & beating time like a conductor, if he was doing nothing else ], because he could change a song's arrangement around on a whim, in mid song, with nothing more than a small sign. He might just slip into a reggae, or jazz groove, and the band had to be aware, & ready for it. It also goes without saying that they had to be musicians of such calibre that they were even capable of performing that. He was first & foremost a composer, so every part for every piece was meticulously scored, even the drums & percussion, so it's a given that everybody could sight read sheet music.
That solo / duet might have an indeterminate length, depending upon how it went on the night. The rest of the band would have some sort of 'vamp', 4 or 8 bars that they would play over & over during the solos. Notice that there's a guitar slide towards the end of Frank's piece, & the band instantly change. That will be his cue that the solo is ending.
Frank was very much the lead guitar, but there was no 'rhythm' guitar. Instead, players like Steve were hired as 'stunt guitar'. Adrian Belew also filled the same role, and added vocals, but only lasted less than a year, because he was 'poached' by David Bowie in the middle of a European tour, to join his band.
"Frank is the leader of his group"
Oooh, yeah.
For a tiny insight into that world, check:
czcams.com/video/Xx1RguHA4XE/video.html
First guitarist who's put cigaret on head(tuner)of guitar was Eric Clapton back in sixties.
Frank's was sticking his cig there since late 60's
Frank is hands down the greatest guitar player of all time, many misinterpret Frank because he did not wannabe the king of any genre so he took it to another level for a few minutes and moved on to the next genre. Stevie mentioned many times that Frank was his mentor
Why does everyone think that the guy filming a show is doing it for guitarists? Believe me I hate it too! Playing guitar myself that’s what I’m looking at. I get it!BUT The guy filming it either is being told what to do or has his own concept of how to film it unless it’s supposed to be some sort of guitar tutorial. Those two things are rarely gonna line up with what you and I want.
Dweezil continues touring with his father’s exceptional music. After Frank went to meet the Big Note Dweezil just could not do some of Frank’s pieces cause of the strong emotions. Do check this one out. He does one of Frank’s most beautiful songs. This is just so great in so many levels. -> czcams.com/video/g2NCiNKdCYU/video.html
Dweezil does such a great job playing his dad’s music, but he writes his own too. He probably knows he can never compete with Frank as a composer, but he certainly can wail on guitar. Here’s Dweezil soloing on a Frank classic:
czcams.com/video/y-mxI-zREdk/video.html
Once upon a time Was an ugly boring asshole named shitty zappa
I've seen Frank a thousand times (well, maybe not a thousand, but alot of times) he is a bad ass on guitar. Always has the best of the best with him
Hi,
Let me put it in a short perspective for you.
1 - Steve Vai = Greatest all around pop/ stunt guitarist/shredder/musician, in music history.
2 - Zappa = Greatest controlled chaotic pop guitar style in history.
3 - Greatest composers in history = 1 - Beethoven. 2 - Stravinsky. 3 - Zappa.
Regarding the comment on the shorts:
Perhaps Steve came from the beach, before the show, in those swim shorts. Rome mid July sucks! Most Romans live off coastline beaches in summers..
For summer, my cousin lives in Civitavecchia port city, till Sept. Rome gets to a humid 98, not many have A/C.
I don't know if Frank did the cigarette thing first, but he did it before Eddie.......
Optimal entertainment
Zappa is definitely a deep rabbit hole to dive into.... He never really made into the mainstream, except for a few hits in the late 70's and early 80's..... His lyrics were, for the most part, not suitable for commercial radio, even for today's standards, tho Dr Demento played him on his show.... Many of his songs have comedic lyrics, albeit "dirty" lyrics, but his shtick was to satirize the mainstream music industry, "The Man" and society in general.... That said, he can be an acquired taste for many.... I was told by a guy who claims to have worked as a sound guy when he came to Chicago that he had a 160 IQ and was very difficult to work with....a perfectionist. A smart dude and very well spoken.... In fact, if he didn't die of cancer, he was threatening to run for POTUS against Bush Sr.
I liked Franks solo better on this one. Cool phrasing at times.
Please react to this New Zealand band L.A.B - Personify live at roundhead studios 🙏🏽
Probably Keith Richards, with the cigarette😂
Think I'll play some Guitar Hero on God mode.
Stevie Vai actually trained under Joe Satriani which is the true master of all.
It's really hard to to know how a good zap it is without seeing some of the finger work plus he Tunes his guitar very strangely because he likes those strange sounds and it sounds pretty sloppy but it might be on purpose
This is 1982, man. Video was NOT as pronounced, as it is today. Steve Vai's attire shouldn't be a focus. Maybe you would have preferred Bell Bottoms, those were worn around this time. You are distracted by the wrong things here. 70's and 80's (especially 70's) was more about the MUSIC and actually going to the concert, to experience shows, LIVE. Zappa's Bands never specialized in Video Art. Cameras were a bit crude. If this channel is all about technique and having a camera mounted at the end, of a guitar, then you would have this opinion. If listen with your EARS, you may have learned something. Most subsequent new bands learned from these two in one way or another. Thanks, for the post! Brings back some good memories. Riding my ten speed completely nude, girlfriend wrapped around my back, holding my cigarette.
Duet not duel
There is “No” greatest guitar player. Period.
Lots of great guitarists out there, but yeah, Frank is one of my top favorites. I also really like Dweezil.
Hendrix
Allen Holdsworth: Honorable Mention
@@warrengreene6143 , he changed it all. Really good. Greatest? Not in this lifetime. You would have to put him before Segovia and the likes. Oh he had a certain feel that changed the guitar world but so did John McLaughlin with Miles Davis. Yngwie Malmsteene did it again and very few can match his technique. Then there was the gipsy… Django Reinhardt. Listen to him! With all the fast lead runs and only using one finger. I could go on and on. Hendrix?
@@mrtyreus0 , he was special God rest his soul. I couldn’t follow him. He was waaaaaY OUT There. Could be in later years. Now his work with The Yellow Jackets? Yep
Obviously this isn’t the best video. That’s because there is so much Zappa footage and bootlegs. I always advise against a newbie wandering into Zappa territory without a reliable guide, someone who knows your preferences. Frank has so many different styles, and a lot of it takes working up to. It’s complicated and requires virtuoso players, and patient ears.
Colleges teach Zappa, and do well presenting his composing style. Here are Berklee students playing a Zappa medley - a short sampler. Also look for Hilo University’s Zappa concert, esp. with guest Dweezil Zappa.
czcams.com/video/244i-MKFP40/video.html
Frank doesn't counter. These are his compositions, every last note and beat. This is not some "head chopping" frivolous effort, it was a piece called 'Stevie's Spanking' created to showcase and feature Vai's role (only Adrian Belew shared this same role), which was total freedom to solo within the designated bars.
Hm… well I gues the Zappa albums, Shut up and play yer guitar, Guitar and Trance Fusion, with a total of 72 (yes seventytwo!) guitar solos on them is not really your cup of tea… or… ?! 🤔
Vai`s guitar sounds so skinny.
Something I don’t do: look at a guy see what he’s wearing and give a f**k. To each his own.
Eddie was too young to smoke when Frank was smoking and jamming the headstock .....
Steve Vai is technically much better than Zappa. Musically speaking, Zappa was truly unique. You heard one version of Zappa. Listen, as someone suggested, to Harder than your Husband. But for the lyrics it could be a country hit!
Frank did everything first.
Der müll ist da bring es weg ,so wie zappa, hahahaha
There were better guitarists than zappa
Fake reactors 🤣 🤣 🤣
No contest. Stevie is much better than zappa. I mean. How can you even compare
50% of zappas Songs were nonsense, thats fact