the great frank zappa

i felt a terrible loss when frank zappa died. he died of prostate cancer in 93. he was about to turn 53. it's not much of a consolation, but lucky for us humans, he was an incredibly prolific and perceptive artist and person. i entertained the idea that the government knocked him off because he was just too smart and subversive and proactive, or that he knew too much. i'd read an interview where he discussed the power of sonic waves, that sound could actually be used to control people or even kill people. for a while there was a movement going to get him to run for president. he was very politically aware and had lots of good ideas. i'd like to live in that world, where zappa could actually get nominated... that would be a better world.

his music is a balm to my soul. it feels healing and dynamic, like something's happening inside me when i listen to it, like wounds are being tended. it's not a cerebral appreciation. it's very visceral. and i just discovered a great album of arrangements by the ensemble ambrosius. re-workings of some of zappa's classics like "RDNZL" and "inca roads." sweet arrangements.

i once had a dream i was taking a shower with frank. it wasn't sexual, but it was very intimate. i woke up feeling so close to him, it was excellent. yeah i know it's ridiculous, put it on the same list with my dream that i was hanging out in an apartment with andy and colin from XTC, or when i had become the 4th beastie boy (AdRoc mentored me). 

but you know, thank God for dreams because otherwise i never would have had these amazing opportunities.