Murray Acton by Allan MacInnis, live at the Rickshaw, 2022
True fact: Murray Acton of the Dayglo Abortions is into Frank Zappa, at least musically. He got turned onto Zappa when he was a kid, he told me in a past interview (some of you will have read this before but it's still a fun story):
The first one I heard was We’re Only In It For the Money/ Phase II of Lumpy Gravy, with “The Idiot Bastard Son” on it. Before I even put it on, I’m like, “’The Idiot Bastard Son?’ What, he wrote a song about me, for Chrissake!” And I’m listening to this shit, and it threw me off at first, because I had heard about Frank Zappa, and that’s kind of a doo-woppy album, not weird heavy shit. But then I noticed that the lyrics had this major league sarcasm going on. That’s one of my biggest inspirations, really, the sarcasm. He wasn’t a big fan of punk rock or anything like that, but he had a way of looking at the world. In many ways he was not a particularly nice person, he had some issues, but he was fucking smart. He saw through everything: he was, like, “If you guys don’t smarten the fuck up, you’re going to end up in a world like…” Like we have now! He didn’t miss a fuckin’ beat, either. Amazing guy.
I remarked that the snideness of some of Zappa's lyrics put me off at first, and Murray ran with that ball to a very interesting place, talking about an encounter with a notable Zappa bandmate: Ike Willis told him that Zappa piss-tested his band! (I actually tried to contact Ike in this regard, but he was not responsive to my request...). For those who don't know, Zappa was outspokenly anti-drug -- there's footage of him (in the concert film Baby Snakes, if I recall) even calling out members of the audience that he could see smoking joints: "That stuff you are smoking is very bad for you." Which is strange, given how well Zappa's music tends to go with drugs (particularly those early 70's records... I spent tons of time on Zappa when recovering from my major cancer surgery a couple of years ago, and the window between 1969 and 1974, say, include some of the most enjoyable musical experiences I've ever had, especially when I was self-medicating). But the anti-drug stance never actually bothered me about Zappa; it's a weird contradiction, but so what? No, the thing that bothers me is songs like, say, "Suicide Chump," which mocks people who try to kill themselves as a bid for attention. There are whole albums of Zappa's that have NONE of that kind of noise on them, but there are a few songs, on a few albums, that just kinda hit you WRONG, that veer into misogyny, homophobia, or just general snarky insensitivity. It's offputting!
Acton agreed:
The one that really bugged me was “He’s So Gay.” I thought it was funny at first when I was younger, until I got enough of a world view to start thinking things through really clearly, and realized, “That’s just fuckin’ mean, is what it is, really.” It’s sort of funny, and if you look at the cliché’d thing in the gay community in San Francisco, It was out of hand, it was very gay, eh, but you don’t have to be mean about it! And… one of his old bandmates, that old doo-wop guy that was his favourite fuckin’ guitar player and shit [I am thinking Murray here means Johnny Guitar Watson], this old black dude, I saw an interview with him, and he goes, “I was Frank Zappa’s friend. Well, actually I was Frank Zappa’s only friend, because Frank was not a real nice person. He had a lot of shit to say, and he said a lot of shit about a lot of people.” He sorta summed it up. But when I first started listening to him was in the ‘70’s, when I was a kid, I was just an innocent child in the 70’s, doing way too many high-end drugs and having a good time: LSD, woo!
But Zappa’s badass and had some amazing musicians who played with him. I ran into the guitar player who played with him, the big black dude who sang “Why Does It Hurt When I Pee” [Ike Willis] at a coffee shop in town, after seeing them play. I had seen them in the arena, when Joe’s Garage came out, in the old Coliseum there. And just the next day, we ran into the guitar player; we were smoking a joint and he came out of this coffee shop: “Hey, you’re the guitar player from Frank Zappa’s band, wow, awesome show last night!” [Murray no doubt gestured the universal gesture signifying do-you-want-a-hit-off-this-joint” at this point, but the recorder didn’t pick it up]. And he goes, “Frank piss tests us randomly throughout the trips. Fail it for anything and you never work with Frank again.” And I’m like, “Ohh, I am so not working with Frank!” Scratch that one off the old list, there.
And I’ve heard of other people who approached him for autographs, and he’s like, “Pfft, out of my way, waif, you’re not here to suck my dick, are you? Begone!” There was a real nasty side of him. But a genius at the same time.
Whatever he might think of Zappa as a person, there is definitely some of Zappa both in Murray's irreverent humour and his guitar solos, which can actually be very, very funny: check out the solo for "White People," for example -- it becomes much richer when you realize that, apropos of making the song as "white" as possible, Murray is riffing on "Free Bird." Ha!
But re: drugs. fans of the Dayglos who have not visited Murray's bandcamp in awhile, and who are familiar with Hank Snow's "I've Been Everywhere," need to check out the first track off one of two solo side-projects of Murray's, Hearts of Stone. There is an even newer album, since, Moments of Clarity. Some pretty dark stuff on these albums; and since we've touched on the topic, there is a song about suicide on that second release, as well, which apparently drew the ire of Youtube's censors. Take a minute on Murray's "liner notes" [are they still called liner notes when they're online?]).
As a fan of both the Dayglos and Frank Zappa, I faced an unusual conflict this Saturday. The Dayglos are playing their first local show of 2025 at the Waldorf, and Zappostrophe', a whip-smart, extraordinarily accomplished Zappa cover band, previously interviewed by me here, will be doing a set at the VIFF Centre prior to a screening of Frank Zappa's film 200 Motels. I have wanted to see Zappostrophe' again for some time, but I figured that I would miss them again, since I already had a Dayglo's ticket... when I realized: I could skip 200 Motels, see the whole Zappostrophe' set, and make it to the Waldorf long before the Dayglo Abortions hit the stage. I might even get to see The Devil's Punchbowl, the opening act, from PEI. And hell, I could just watch 200 Motels at home, if I was so inclined!
This is now the plan. But I also wanted to check in with Zappostrophe' leader Blair Fisher about 200 Motels, piss tests, and drugs -- among other things. He assented to an email interview, and provided a photo of the band at the Fox in 2022. I am not sure he realized you can see my bald head at the bottom?
Commence Q&A with Zappostrophe' bandleader Blair Fisher!
AM: What do you make of 200 Motels? I found it "challenging" the one time I tried it, to put it mildly. I'll try it again, but... do you have favourite bits in the film? Advice for people who are scared of it?
AM: What do you make of 200 Motels? I found it "challenging" the one time I tried it, to put it mildly. I'll try it again, but... do you have favourite bits in the film? Advice for people who are scared of it?
BF: I do own a copy of 200 Motels - I agree it is ‘challenging’. It was produced on a budget and really has no cohesive plot - I think it needs to be seen as a series of vignettes, and musical interludes that gives some insight into Zappa’s mind and the reality of life on the road. Don’t expect Gone With the Wind… Much of the ‘acting’ is done by the musicians [Ringo Starr, Keith Moon], so definitely not polished performances. However, many people feel that the music is exceptional, some interesting special effects and some ‘in-jokes” for Zappa fans. Some people love it, some hate it…but it’s definitely worth a look if you are into Zappa.
A few interesting items:
There is a scene where the band talks about Zappa: “He listens to everything, he records us and puts it in his music, etc.” This is apparently very true - many of Zappa’s songs, secret words, stage patter etc. are derived from actual events that happened to band members.
“Where’s the beer and when do we get paid” is stressed a lot during the show - typical musician concerns, and I think probably Zappa included this as a a bit of mockery of the attitude of sidemen everywhere.
The Jeff Simmons angle is worth considering. Jeff left the band just before the movie started filming. Zappa hired a replacement to play Jeff’s part who also quit. Zappa then stated he would hire the next person to walk into the room - which turned out to be Ringo’s chauffeur. So he got the part. Although Zappa dd work with Jeff later on some projects, I think Zappa really skewered him in the movie. including some long animated segments.
“Where’s the beer and when do we get paid” is stressed a lot during the show - typical musician concerns, and I think probably Zappa included this as a a bit of mockery of the attitude of sidemen everywhere.
The Jeff Simmons angle is worth considering. Jeff left the band just before the movie started filming. Zappa hired a replacement to play Jeff’s part who also quit. Zappa then stated he would hire the next person to walk into the room - which turned out to be Ringo’s chauffeur. So he got the part. Although Zappa dd work with Jeff later on some projects, I think Zappa really skewered him in the movie. including some long animated segments.
AM: Do you or the band have other favourite Zappa-related films? (The World's Greatest Sinner? I actually haven't seen that one, either!). Have you ever played before a Zappa film before?
BF: We have never played before a Zappa film and are really looking forward to the experience. We really like Roxy: the Movie, which is a concert performance with the 1973 band. If fact, I know VIFF was considering showing that film for this event, but there were difficulties with licensing.
AM: Will you be curating a special set for the 200 Motels pairing? Are there new Zappa tunes you're taking on special to the event?
AM: Will you be curating a special set for the 200 Motels pairing? Are there new Zappa tunes you're taking on special to the event?
BF: Yes, we have some ’new’ material for this show. Actually, changing from Roxy: the Movie to 200 Motels changed out decisions on the setlist quite a bit. We didn’t plan to play anything that would be shown on the Roxy concert footage, so we had planned to eliminate a lot of our favourite Zappa tunes.
Since the 200 Motels soundtrack is much more eclectic and experimental, we are now able to present a representative sampling of some of Zappa’s best. Some that we have added recently include "Inca Roads," "Watermelon in Easter Hay," and "Andy." So, people who attend can hear some of Zappa’s best before the movie and then move on to more experimental/orchestral music in the film. I think it will be a good combination.
AM: Murray Acton once told me a story about running into a member of Zappa's band after a concert in Vancouver, offering him weed, and being told that Zappa would piss-test the band. I have always wondered at that, since piss testing was NOT common when this happened. You ever hear a story about that? (BTW, does the band ever try playing Zappa's music stoned? Do drugs help or hinder playing it? They certainly seem to help LISTENING to it -- weed, anyhow).
BF: Well, I know some members of the band do like to participate in some ’trendy chemical amusement aid’ from time to time. Personally, the music is much too difficult to not have 100% concentration throughout the entire show - so for me it would be a hindrance for sure. For listening - well, that’s another matter.
Zappa did discourage drug use (probably for the same reason) but I have not heard about doing any actual testing…maybe. I have also heard stories that the band members were pretty adept at hiding any drug use.
AM: The thing that's weirdest about 200 Motels is there are DEFINITELY scenes that seem designed with drug users in mind. How do you reconcile that with Zappa's hostility to drugs?
I think a lot of Zappa’s graphics - especially the claymation stuff - have a kind of psychedelic quality. I think that even though Zappa didn’t use drugs himself, he definitely had a ‘bizarre’ aesthetic. So, anything out of the normal attracted him, and was part of his ‘brand’.
UPCOMING ZAPPOSTROPHE' SHOWS:
Z' at the VIFF Centre, April 19, 8:00PM: https://viff.org/whats-on/zappostrophe-live/
See above!
Z’ at the Robert’s Creek Legion (Sunshine Coast), Saturday June 7, Music 6-9pm
We are excited to be playing at the Roberts Creek Legion for the first time and hope to share our fresh take on Zappa’s incredible repertoire with Zappa fans on the Sunshine Coast.
Tickets:Members $25 / Guests $30 | Members $30 / Guests $35 at the door.
Ticket link: https://robertscreeklegion.com/zappostrophe-june-7
Ticket link: https://robertscreeklegion.com/zappostrophe-june-7
Z’ at the Fox - be in our video!
Thursday May 29, Doors 7:00pm / Show 8:00pm
Thursday May 29, Doors 7:00pm / Show 8:00pm
We are making a video and want you to join us! Fun and games! Prizes! Secret Words! We chose a Thursday to have more time to get it right…and to hang out with our fellow Zappa freaks after the show. Come and join the fun…
Tickets: 28 advance / $30 door
Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/zappostrophe-at-the-fox-frank-zappas-music-re-imagined-tickets-1255151896109
Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/zappostrophe-at-the-fox-frank-zappas-music-re-imagined-tickets-1255151896109
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