KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Ode To Gravity: Frank Zappa: World Affairs Commentator, Part I

Analog Audio

Event Type

Interview and Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

OTG.1991.04.15.c1

Program Series

Ode To Gravity

Program Length

58 min

Dates

1991-04-15 | broadcast
| 1991-04-15 | created

Description

Host Charles Amirkhanian talks with musician and world affairs commentator Frank Zappa live by telephone. Discussion includes the state of world politics and culture from the viewpoint of one of the United States most provocative and original speakers. At the time this recording was made in April 1991, Zappa was exploring the possibility of running for president of the United States, and he discusses his views on the first Persian Gulf War, the legacy of George H. W. Bush, and the possibility of having John Cage or Noam Chomsky in his cabinet. A phone-in segment enabled callers to speak with Zappa directly to pose questions on topics of significant interest. Also, the intergalactic premiere of Zappa’s arrangement of Ravel’s “Bolero”, performed by the 12-piece 1988 Zappa Band and found on the CD, “The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life”. (from KPFA Folio)

Genres

Popular music
Current Events

Musical Selections

Bolero (5:15) / Maurice Ravel [arr. by Frank Zappa]

Subjects

Politics and culture
Art -- Political aspects
Persian Gulf War, 1991
Censorship
Presidential candidates
Rock music

Acknowledgment

Funding for the preservation of this program made possible through a grant by Save America’s Treasures, a program of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Related places

Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

Amirkhanian, Charles
Zappa, Frank
Ravel, Maurice, 1875-1937