FZ chronology

1965

c. 1964-1965 The Sinners And Saints Tavern, Ontario, CA
The Muthers:
FZ—guitar, vocals
Paul Woods—bass
Les Papp—drums
Early 1965 Village Inn & Barbecue, Sun Village, CA
FZ—guitar
Jim Sherwood—sax
Johnny Franklin—bass
Toby Tobias—drums
Cora Stacker—guest vocalist
March 25, 1965 Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA
FZ—acoustic guitar
Bobby Saldana—bass
Les Papp—drums
March 26, 1965 FZ and Lorraine Belcher arrested in Cucamonga  
spring 1965 County Jail, San Bernardino
FZ spends 10 days in Tank C
 
c. April 1965 The Broadside, Pomona
The Soul Giants:
Ray Collins—vocals
Davy Coronado—sax
FZ—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
 
c. April 1965 Rehearsals at Studio Z  
c. April-May 1965 The Blackouts / Captain Glasspack & His Magic Mufflers:
Ray Collins—vocals
FZ—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
 
May 9, 1965 The name of the band is officially changed to The Mothers  
Spring-Summer, 1965 The Mothers:
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine
FZ—guitar, vocals
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums, vocals
 
c. May 1965 The Broadside, Pomona, CA
Recorded by Motorhead
c. May 1965 unknown venue (prob. The Broadside, Pomona, CA)
FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine, harmonica
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jim Black—drums
c. May 1965 FZ moves to 1819 Bellevue Ave, in the Echo Park section of Los Angeles  
  Steve Mann (guitar, harmonica) joins and leaves  
c. 1965 FZ buys a Gibson E5 Switchmaster  
1965 Mondo Hollywood Party
Hollywood, CA
(with Herb Cohen attending)
1965 Alice Stuart (guitar) joins The Mothers and then quits  
October 1, 1965 Herb Cohen hired officially as Personal Manager  
October 20, 1965 The Mothers
Original Sound, Los Angeles, CA
FZ—guitar(s), lead vocals
Ray Collins—lead vocals
Roy Estrada—bass
Jim Black—drums
October 31, 1965 The Action, Los Angeles, CA
John Wayne—guest
 
November 15, 1965 The Mothers associate officially as musical group with FZ as leader. Henry Vestine (guitar) officially joins The Mothers.  
  The Mothers:
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine
FZ—guitar, vocals
Henry Vestine—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums, vocals
The Mothers '65
November 1965 Whisky à Go-Go
Los Angeles, CA

(with Tom Wilson attending)
December 15, 1965 Run Home, Slow premiere  
December 31, 1965 The Mothers Of Invention sign with Verve/MGM  
c. 1965-1966 unknown studio
FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine
Henry Vestine—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jimmy Black—drums

1966

January 31-February 2, 1966 The Trip
Los Angeles, CA

Henry Vestine quits and Jim Guercio (guitar & vocals) joins the band to quit soon
 
early 1966 Seward St. Studio
Los Angeles, CA

FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—lead vocals
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jim Black—drums, vocals
early 1966 In no particular order, Ray Collins quits; Elliot Ingber (guitar) joins and Ray Collins returns
 
Spring-Summer 1966 The Mothers Of Invention:
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine
FZ—guitar, vocals
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums, vocals
The Mothers '66
March 1, 1966 The Mothers sign with Verve/MGM [?]  
March 9, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineers: Ami Hadani & Tom Hidley

FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jim Black—drums
+
Eugene DiNovi—piano
Gene Estes—percussion
Neil LeVang—guitar
March 10, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineers: Ami Hadani & Tom Hidley

FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jim Black—drums
+
John Rotella—clarinet, sax
Kurt Reher—cello
Raymond Kelley—cello
Paul Bergstrom—cello
Emmet Sargeant—cello
Joseph Saxon—cello
Edwin V. Beach—cello
Arthur Maebe—French horn, tuba
George Price—French horn
John Johnson—tuba
Carol Kaye—12-string guitar
Virgil Evans—trumpet
David Wells—trombone
Kenneth Watson—percussion
Gene Estes—percussion
Eugene DiNovi—piano
Plas Johnson—flute
Roy Caton—copyist, trumpet?
March 11, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineers: Ami Hadani & Tom Hidley

FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jim Black—drums
+
Gene Estes—percussion
March 12, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineers: Ami Hadani & Tom Hidley

FZ—guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jim Black—drums
+
Gene Estes—percussion
+
Carl Franzoni—voice
Vito—voice, percussion?
Kim Fowley—vocals
David Anderle
+
Motorhead Sherwood—noises
Mac Rebennack (aka Dr. John)—piano
Paul Butterfield
Les McCann—piano
Jean Vassar—voice
etc.
c. March 9-12, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitar
Ray Collins—vocals
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Roy Estrada—bass
Jim Black—drums
April 1, 1966 Tommy Flanders
T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ
Armand Kaproff—cello
Harold Schneier—cello
Gerald Wiggins—piano
James Gordon—drums
Lou Morell—guitar
David Wells—trumpet, trombone
Johnny Rotella—c. bass flute, sax
April 7-16, 1966 Da Swamp, Waikiki, Hawaii  
June 9, 1966 Burt Ward
T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Arranged by FZ

Dennis Budimir—guitar
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Gene DiNovi—piano
James Zito—French horn, trumpet
George Callender—tuba
Plas Johnson—sax
Justin Gordon—b. clarinet, clarinet
Benjamin Barrett—cello
Roy Estrada—bass
Jimmy Black—drums
June 10, 1966 Burt Ward
T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Arranged by FZ

Dennis Budimir—guitar
Elliot Ingber—guitar
Lou Morell—guitar
William Pitman—guitar
Gene DiNovi—piano
Anthony Terran—trumpet
John T. Johnson—tuba
Plas Johnson—sax
Jack Nimitz—b. clarinet, clarinet
Frederick Dutton—contra bassoon, bassoon
Benjamin Barrett—cello
Kenneth Watson—timpani, traps, mallets
John Guerin—drums
  • Orange Colored Sky (DeLugg/Stein)
  • Teenage Bill Of Rights (John/Regan)
  • Variant I (The Comedian)
  • Tears Come From Loving You
June 21, 1966 Bobby Jameson
H & R Studios, LA
Produced by Norm Ratner
Arranged by FZ

Bobby Jameson—vocals
Louis Morell—guitar
Robert West—guitar, bass
Carol Kaye—guitar
FZ—lead guitar
Larry Knechtel—piano
Gene Estes—drums, timpani
John Guerin—drums
June 25, 1966 Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
(opening for Lenny Bruce)
Recording engineer: John Judnich
June 27, 1966 The Mothers Of Invention Freak Out! (2 LPs, Verve/MGM V/V6-5005-2)
June 29, 1966 The Mothers Of Invention How Could I Be Such A Fool? / Help, I'm A Rock, 3rd Movement: It Can't Happen Here (7", Verve/MGM VK-10418)
July 4, 1966 The Animals
T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Arranged by FZ

FZ—guitar, bass
William Roberts—guitar, harmonica
Larry Knechtel and/or Don Randi—organ
Carol Kaye—guitar, bass
John Guerin—drums
  • The Other Side Of This Life (Fred Neil; arr. by FZ)
  • All Night Long (FZ)
July 1966 FZ—guitar, bass
John Guerin—drums
  • Rawgah [TZMLESEP—EBRE] including parts on Are You Hung Up? [03] and Very Distraughtening [04]
July 1966 FZ meets Gail Sloatman  
August 8, 1966 Bobby Jameson Gotta Find My Roogalator (R. P. Jameson) (7", Penthouse 503)
August 18, 1966 The Factory
Studio Audition (T.T.G.?)
Engineer: Ami Hadani
  • Hey Girl (George)
  • Changes (George/Klein)
  • Candy Cane Madness (George/Klein)
  Denny Bruce (drums) joins The Mothers and quits some time later
 
August 25, 1966 Billy Mundi (drums) officially joins The Mothers
 
  Elliot Ingber is fired in San Francisco  
  Van Dyke Parks (electric harpsichord) plays in and out  
c. September 1966 Del Kacher's Studio, LA
Produced by Del Kacher & FZ

Florence Marly—vocals
Del Kacher—guitar, bass
FZ—drums, orchestration
  Del Kacher (guitar) joins the Mothers for some gigs  
c. September 1966 The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ—lead guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine
Del Kacher—guitar
Van Dyke Parks—keyboards
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums, vocals
Billy Mundi—drums
 
  Don Preston (keyboards) joins The Mothers  
c. September 1966 unknown venue
FZ—guitar
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine
Del Kacher—guitar
Don Preston—keyboards
Roy Estrada—bass
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
Billy Mundi—drums
  Jim Fielder (guitar) joins The Mothers  
  Bunk Gardner (woodwinds) joins The Mothers  
Fall 1966-Winter 1967 The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ—lead guitar, vocals
Ray Collins—vocals, tambourine
Jim Fielder—guitar
Don Preston—keyboards
Bunk Gardner—woodwinds
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums, vocals
Billy Mundi—drums
 
Fall 1966 Interview with Mike Cole
  • "I Was Gonna Make A Movie One Time . . . " [#120]
Fall 1966 The Factory
Original Sound, LA
Produced by FZ

Lowell George—lead vocals, rhythm guitar, dulcimer & percussion
Warren Klein—lead guitar & guitars
Martin F. Kibbee—bass
Richie Hayward—drums, percussion & bg vocals
+
FZ—piano, prepared piano & bg vocals
  • Lightning-Rod Man (George/Kibbee)
  • The Loved One (George/Kibbee)
November 14, 1966 The Mothers Of Invention Trouble Comin' Every Day / Who Are The Brain Police? (7", Verve/MGM VK-10458)
November 14, 1966 Burt Ward Boy Wonder I Love You / Orange Colored Sky (DeLugg/Stein) (7", MGM K 13632)
November 15, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineer: Ami Hadani
November 16, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineer: Ami Hadani
November 17, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineer: Ami Hadani
November 18, 1966 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced by Tom Wilson
Engineer: Ami Hadani

Jim Getzoff—violin
Marshall Sosson—violin
Alvin Dinkin—viola
Armand Kaproff—cello
Don Ellis—trumpet
John Rotella—contra-bass clarinet
November 21, 1966 The Animals Animalism (LP, MGM E/SE-4414)
including: The Other Side Of This Life (Fred Neil) & All Night Long (FZ) arranged by FZ
c. November 21-25, 1966 MGM Studios, NYC
Engineer: David Greene
November 23-December 3, 1966 Balloon Farm, NYC (and other places)  
December 1966 Barry Goldberg
NYC, NY
Produced by Tom Wilson
Barry Goldberg—vocals, keyboards, guitar
Mike Bloomfield—guitar
FZ—guitar
  • Carry On (Goldberg)
December 16-17, 1966 Balloon Farm, NYC  
December 23-31, 1966 Balloon Farm, NYC  

1967

January 7-21, 1967 The New Penelope, Montreal, Canada  
c. January 7-21, 1967 National Film Board Of Canada, Montreal, Canada
FZ—lead guitar
Ray Collins—?
Jim Fielder—guitar?
Don Preston—keyboards
Bunk Gardner—woodwinds
Roy Estrada—bass
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
Billy Mundi—drums, percussion
c. 1967 Canadians (radio interview)
  • "Pretty Pat" [72]
c. 1967 Canadians (radio interview)
  • "The Phone Call" [72]
  • "We Made Our Reputation Doing It That Way . . . " [72]
February 13, 1967 Capitol Studios, LA, CA
Produced by Nick Venet
4-track
Engineers: Joe, Rex, Pete, Jim, Bob, and/or Gary

Jim Helms—guitar
Paul Smith—piano
Bob West—bass
Jimmy Bond—bass
Kenneth Watson—timpani, mallets
Thomas Poole—percussion
Johnny Guerin—drums
February 17-19, 1967 Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
Jim Fielder's last known gig with The Mothers
 
March-August 1967 The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ—guitar and vocals
Ray Collins—vocals and tambourine
Don Preston—keyboards
Bunk Gardner—woodwinds
Roy Estrada—bass and vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
Billy Mundi—drums
The Mothers Of Invention '66
March 6, 1967 T.T.G. Studios, LA, CA
March 14, 1967 Capitol Studios, LA, CA
March 14-16, 1967 Capitol Studios, LA, CA
Produced by Nick Venet
4-track
Engineers: Joe, Rex, Pete, Jim, Bob, and/or Gary

Sid Sharp—contractor, conductor, violin (15-16)
Tommy Tedesco—guitar, percussion
Al Viola—guitar (14-15)
Dennis Budimir—guitar (14, 16)
Tony Rizzi—guitar (15-16)
John Balkin—bass
Bob West—bass
Lyle Ritz—bass (14)
Chuck Berghofer—bass (15)
Jimmy Bond—bass (16)
Mike Lang—piano (14)
Lincoln Mayorga—piano (15-16)
Jimmy Zito—trumpet
Arthur E. Briegleb—French horn (14)
George F. Price—French horn (14-15)
David A. Duke—French horn (15)
Arthur Maebe—French horn (16)
Vincent De Rosa—French horn (16)
Kenneth Shroyer—trombone (14-15)
Lew McCreary—trombone (16)
Ted Nash—woodwinds
John Rotella—woodwinds
Bunk Gardner—woodwinds
Jules Jacob—woodwinds (14)
Gene Cipriano—woodwinds (15-16)
Don Christlieb—bassoon
Tibor Zelig—violin (15-16)
Ralph Schaeffer—violin (15-16)
William Kurasch—violin (15-16)
Phillip Goldberg—viola (15-16)
Leonard Selic—viola (15-16)
Arnold Belnick—violin (15-16)
Harry Hyams—viola (15-16)
Joseph DiFiore—viola (15-16)
Jerome A. Kessler—cello (15-16)
Joseph Saxon—cello (15-16)
Jesse Ehrlich—cello (15-16)
Leonard Malarsky—violin (15)
Harold Ayres—violin (15)
Jerome J. Reisler—violin (15)
Raymond J. Kelley—cello (15)
Alexander Koltun—violin (16)
Bernard Kundell—violin (16)
James Getzoff—violin (16)
Harold G. Bemko—cello (16)
Emil Richards—percussion (14)
Gene Estes—percussion (14-15)
Victor Feldman—percussion (15-16)
Alan Estes—percussion (16)
Frankie Capp—drums (14)
Shelly Manne—drums (15-16)

March 23-September 5, 1967
Garrick Theatre, NYC

c. March 25-April 2, 1967 Eric Clapton & FZ recording at FZ's NYC house  
April 10, 1967 The Mothers Of Invention Why Don't You Do Me Right / Big Leg Emma (7", Verve/MGM VK-10513)
c. April 1967 Barry Goldberg Ronnie Siegel From Avenue L (Goldberg) / Carry On (Goldberg) (7", Verve Folkways KF5045)
1967 Tommy Flanders Friday Night City (Flanders) / Reputation (Hardin) (7", Verve Forecast KF5064)
May 19, 1967 prob. Capitol, NYC
May 26, 1967 The Mothers Of Invention Absolutely Free (LP, Verve V/V6-5013)
summer 1967 Sandy Hurvitz (vocals, piano) joins The Mothers as special guest in the Garrick Shows  
probably c. July 1967  
c. July 1967 Ray Collins quits  
c. July 1967 Ian Underwood (keyboards/woodwinds) joins The Mothers  
July 18, 1967 Photo session for the We're Only In It For The Money cover  
July 21, 1967 Mayfair Studios, NYC
Engineered by Gary Kellgren
July 24, 1967 Mayfair Studios, NYC
Engineered by Gary Kellgren
August 7, 1967 Frank Zappa Lumpy Gravy (LP, Capitol STAO-2719) —withdrawn—
summer 1967 Interview with Matty Biberfeld
WRVR, New York City, NY
  • "Dope Fiend Music" [79]
  • "Poop Rock" [79]
  • "Machinery" [79]
  • "Psychedelic Money" [79]
  • "The Full impact" [TZMLESEP—EBRE]
July-September 1967 Mayfair Studios, NYC
Engineered by Gary Kellgren
September 6, 1967 Mayfair Studios, NYC
September 18, 1967 test pressing
c. September 1967 Motorhead (baritone sax/percussion) becomes an official Mother  
c. September 1967 Ray Collins returns  
September 1967 FZ marries Gail Sloatman  

September 23-October 2, 1967
1st European Tour

  The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ—guitar and vocals
Ray Collins—vocals and tambourine
Don Preston—keyboards
Ian Underwood—keyboards and woodwinds
Bunk Gardner—woodwinds
Motorhead—baritone sax
Roy Estrada—bass and vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
Billy Mundi—drums
 
September 23, 1967 Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
September 28, 1967 Moon Unit Zappa is born  
September 30, 1967 Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
October 1, 1967 Falkoner Theatret, Copenhagen

October-December 1967
East Coast

  Ray Collins quits?  
October 1967 Apostolic Studios, NYC
Engineered by Dick Kunc
c. October 3-8, 1967 Apostolic Studios, NYC
Eric Clapton—voice
Charlotte Martin—voice
October 1967 Apostolic Studios, NYC
Louis Cuneo—voice
Roy Estrada—voice
Motorhead—voice
October 1967 Apostolic Studios, NYC
Spider Barbour—voice
John Kilgore—voice
Monica—voice
October 1967 Apostolic Studios, NYC
Gilly Townley—voice
Maxine—voice
Becky—voice
Larry Fanoga—voice
  Don Preston quits and returns a week later
Ray Collins returns?
 
October-December 1967 Apostolic Studios, NYC
November 13, 1967 Interview by Joe Poll & David Pierce
Mixed Media, Ann Arbor, MI
(Aired in Strobe, WCBN, November 18, 1967)
  • "Psychedelic Music" [79]
  • "MGM" [79]
  • "Psychedelic Upholstery" [79]
  • "That Problem With Absolutely Free" [85]
November 13, 1967 WDET, Detroit, MI
  • "How We Made It Sound That Way" [79]
November 20, 1967 The Mothers Of Invention Lonely Little Girl / Mother People (7", Verve/MGM VK-10570)
late 1967 West Village, NYC, NY
  • "What The Fuck's Wrong With Her" [85]
c. December 9-16, 1967 FZ—shooting of The Monkees episode, LA, CA.  
c. 1967-1968 Linda Ronstadt
Ian Underwood
FZ

1968

January 28, 1968 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Probable last gig with Billy Mundi
 
1968 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
February 1968 Billy Mundi quits to join Rhinoceros  
February 18, 1968 Fall River, MA
Probable first gig with Jimmy Carl Black as only drummer since 1966
 
February 1968 Art Tripp joins The Mothers Of Invention  
February 24, 1968 Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
First gig of Art Tripp (drums/percussion) with The MOI
 
February 29, 1968 NARAS—10th Grammy Awards Pre-ceremony Dinner, NYC  
early 1968 Apostolic Studios, NYC
early 1968 Apostolic Studios, NYC
early 1968 Apostolic Studios, NYC
Ruth Komanoff—percussion
Art Tripp—percussion
1968  
March 4, 1968 The Mothers Of Invention We're Only In It For The Money (LP, Verve V/V6-5045)
c. April 1968 FZ goes to LA to appear in Head  
April 19, 1968 Fillmore East, NYC  
May 3, 1968 The Dog, Denver, CO
May 13, 1968 Frank Zappa Lumpy Gravy (LP, Verve V/V6-8741)
May 18, 1968 'The 1968 Pop Festival'
Gulfstream Race Track, Hallandale, FL
June 4, 1968 RCA Studios, Hollywood
Grace Slick—vocals
FZ—leader
Ian Underwood—piano & woodwinds
Don Preston—keyboards
Art Tripp—drums & percussion
c. June 1968 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Produced & engineered by FZ

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band:
Captain Beefheart—woodwinds, harmonica, vocals
Zoot Horn Rollo—guitar
Antennae Jimmy Semens—guitar
Gary Marker—bass
Drumbo—drums
July 23, 1968 Whisky à Go-Go, LA
Recording engineer: Wally Heider
c. August 14-15, 1968 Ray Collins quits  
August 25, 1968 Kerrisdale Arena, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1968 Sunset Strip, LA
Uher 2-track Recorded by Dick Kunc

Wild Man Fischer—vocals
1968 Zappa Basement, LA
Wild Man Fischer—vocals
1968 Studio 2, Sunset Sound, LA
Engineered by Jerry Hansen

Wild Man Fischer—vocals
Kim Fowley
Rodney Bingenheimer
GTO's
September 1968 Studio 2, Sunset Sound, LA
Engineered by Jerry Hansen

Art Tripp—percussion (overdubs)
1968 Sunset Sound, LA (?)
FZ—overdubs
September 10, 1968 Sunset Sound, LA
2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
1968 KPFK studios, LA

September 27-October 28, 1968
2nd European Tour

  The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ—guitar and vocals
Don Preston—keyboards
Ian Underwood—keyboards and woodwinds
Bunk Gardner—woodwinds
Motorhead—baritone sax
Roy Estrada—bass and vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums and vocals
Art Tripp—drums and percussion
 
September 28, 1968 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany
October 9, 1968 Wild Man Fischer The Circle (Fischer) / Merry-Go-Round (Fischer) (7", Bizarre/Reprise 0781)
October 20, 1968 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 25, 1968 Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
3M 4-track

November 29-December 1968
West Coast

  The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ—guitar, vocals
Lowell George—guitar, vocals
Don Preston—keyboards, electronics
Ian Underwood—keyboards, alto sax
Motorhead—baritone sax
Bunk Gardner—tenor sax
Buzz Gardner—trumpet
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
Art Tripp—drums, percussion
MOI '69
November 27, 1968 KPPC, Pasadena
  • "Secret Greasing" [87]
December 2, 1968 The Mothers Of Invention Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (LP, Bizarre/Verve V/V6-5055)
c. December 1968 Whitney Studios, LA?
December 30, 1968 Ruben & The Jets Deseri / Jelly Roll Gum Drop (7", Verve/MGM VK-10632)

1969

January-May 24, 1969
West & East Coast

c. 1969  
1969  
January 31, 1969 WMEX, Boston
  • "Serious Fan Mail" (parts) [87]
  • "The Reason We Have Stayed Together . . ." [#118]
February 1969 Dick Kunc buys a Uher 2-track recorder  
c. February 1-7, 1969 Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida
February 7-9, 1969 Thee Image, Miami Beach, Florida
Uher 2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
February 14, 1969 McMillin Theater, Columbia University, NYC
Uher 2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
February 16, 1969 The Ballroom, Stratford, Connecticut
Uher 2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
February 17, 1969 Lenny Bruce The Berkeley Concert (2 LPs, Bizarre/Reprise 2XS 6329)
February 21, 1969 The New School, NYC, NY
  • Lumpy Gravy "Shuffle" [85]
  • "Serious Fan Mail" (parts) [87]
February 21, 1969 Fillmore East, NYC
Uher 2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
February 28, 1969 The Factory, the Bronx, NYC
Uher 2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
March 2, 1969 Philadelphia Arena, Pennsylvania
Uher 2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
1969 Zappa Basement, LA
Don Van Vliet—vocals
FZ—guitar, bass?
Winged Eel Fingerling (Elliot Ingber)—guitar
Drumbo (John French)—drums
1969 Don Van Vliet—vocals
March 1969 Entrada Drive, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
Uher 2-track
Produced by FZ
Engineered by Dick Kunc

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band:
Captain Beefheart—woodwinds, harmonica, vocals
The Mascara Snake—clarinet
Zoot Horn Rollo—guitar
Antennae Jimmy Semens—guitar
Rockette Morton—bass
Drumbo—drums
March 1969 Whitney Studios, Glendale, California
Produced by FZ
Engineered by Dick Kunc

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band:
Captain Beefheart—woodwinds, harmonica, vocals
The Mascara Snake—clarinet
Zoot Horn Rollo—guitar
Antennae Jimmy Semens—guitar
Rockette Morton—bass
Drumbo—drums
March 15, 1969 Cal State, Fullerton, CA
Wild Man Fischer—guest vocals
March 24, 1969 The Mothers Of Invention Mothermania: The Best of The Mothers (LP, Bizarre/Verve V6-5068)
April 20-23, 1969 1st International Music Industry Conference, Nassau, Bahamas  
April 21, 1969 The Mothers Of Invention Uncle Meat (2 LPs, Bizarre/Reprise 2MS 2024)
April 28, 1969 Wild Man Fischer An Evening With Wild Man Fischer (2 LPs, Bizarre/Reprise 2XS 6332) produced by FZ
May 24, 1969 Rock Pile, Toronto, Canada
Probably last gig of Lowell George with the MOI
 

May 30-June 7, 1969
3rd European Tour

  The Mothers Of Invention:
FZ—guitar, vocals
Don Preston—keyboards, electronics
Ian Underwood—keyboards, alto sax
Motorhead—baritone sax
Bunk Gardner—tenor sax
Buzz Gardner—trumpet
Roy Estrada—bass, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
Art Tripp—drums, percussion
MOI '69
May 27, 1969 lecture at London School Of Economics  
May 30, 1969 Town Hall, Birmingham, UK
June 6, 1969 Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
EMI Remote, 4-track

June-August 1969
US & Canada

June 16, 1969 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (2 LPs, Straight STS 1053) produced by FZ
June 1969 A&R Studios, NYC
8-track
c. 1969 ?
1969 Providence, Rhode Island
Sony cassette
Recorded by FZ
1969 Boston
  • "What's Happening Of The Universe" [85]
July 8, 1969 The Ark, Boston, Massachusets
Scully 4-track
Recorded by Steve Waldman
1969 Greyhound Bus
Uher 2-track
Recorded by Dick Kunc
July 15-30, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Engineers: Jack Hunt, Cliff Goldstein
  • mixing & recording
July 18, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Ian Underwood—piano
July 18, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitar and percussion
Ian Underwood—keyboards and woodwinds
July 21, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitars
Ian Underwood—woodwinds, harpsichord
July 24, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitar
Buzz Gardner—trumpet
Ian Underwood—woodwinds
Bunk Gardner—woodwinds
John Balkin—bass
Art Tripp—drums
  • WPLJ (Dobard/McDaniels) [09]
July 28, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitar
Ian Underwood—organ
Buzz Gardner—trumpet
Bunk Gardner—sax
John Balkin—bass
Art Tripp—drums
July 28, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Ian Underwood—piano, organ
Shuggie Otis—bass
Ron Selico—drums
+
Don 'Sugarcane' Harris—violin (*)
Johnny Otis—tack piano (*)
FZ—guitar (**)
July 29, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Ian Underwood—piano, tack piano
Max Bennett—bass
John Guerin—drums
+
Don 'Sugarcane' Harris—violin (*)
FZ—guitar (*)
July 29, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitar overdubs
July 29, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
Captain Beefheart—vocals
July 30, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitar
Don 'Sugarcane' Harris—violin, vocals
Don Preston—piano, organ
Roy Estrada—bass
Jimmy Carl Black—drums
July 30, 1969 T.T.G. Studios, LA
FZ—guitar (*)
Don 'Sugarcane' Harris—violin, organ (**)
Ian Underwood—piano, organ, sax
Max Bennett—bass
Paul Humphrey—drums
c. August 2, 1969 NYC
Annie Zannas—voice
Cynthia Dobson—voice
August 19, 1969 CJOH-TV, Ottawa, Canada
Last performance of the original Mothers Of Invention
 
August 25-26, 1969 Sunset Sound, LA
Engineer: Brian Ingoldsby

FZ—guitars, octave bass, percussion
Ian Underwood—keyboards, woodwinds
August 28-30, 1969 Whitney Studios, Glendale, CA
Engineer: Dick Kunc

FZ—guitars, percussion, organus maximus
Ian Underwood—keyboards, woodwinds, organus maximus
c. August 28-30, 1969 prob. Whitney Studios, Glendale, CA
Jean-Luc Ponty—violin
September 1, 1969 The Mothers Of Invention My Guitar / Dog Breath (7", Bizarre/Reprise 0840)
September 5, 1969 Dweezil Zappa is born  
September 15, 1969 Lord Buckley A Most Immaculately Hip Aristocrat (LP, Straight STS 1054)
September 22, 1969 Thee Experience, LA, CA
Jean-Luc Ponty & George Duke Trio
Jean-Luc Ponty—electric violin
George Duke—electric piano
John Heard—electric bass
Dick Berk—drums
+
FZ—guest guitar
 
October 6, 1969 Jean-Luc Ponty King Kong
Whitney Studios, Glendale, CA
Produced by Richard Bock
Engineer: Dick Kunc

Jean-Luc Ponty—violin
+
FZ—arranger
George Duke—electric piano
Ian Underwood—tenor sax, conductor*
Gene Estes—percussion
Buell Neidlinger—bass
Art Tripp—drums
+
Donald Christlieb—bassoon*
Gene Cipriano—oboe & english horn*
Vincent DeRosa—French horn & descant*
Arthur Maebe—French horn & tuben*
Jonathan Meyer—flute*
Harold Bemko—cello*
Milton Thomas—viola*
c. October 1969  
October 7, 1969 Jean-Luc Ponty King Kong
Whitney Studios, Glendale, CA
Produced by Richard Bock
Engineer: Dick Kunc

Jean-Luc Ponty—violin
+
FZ—arranger, guitar*
George Duke—electric piano
Ernie Watts—sax
Gene Estes—percussion
Wilton Felder—bass
John Guerin—drums
October 10, 1969 Frank Zappa Hot Rats (LP, Bizarre/Reprise RS 6356)
October 24-28, 1969 Festival "Actuel"
Amougies, Belgium
FZ—host & guest guitar with (at least) The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Pink Floyd, Caravan, Blossom Toes, Archie Shepp, Pretty Things, Sam Apple Pie, Captain Beefheart
 
November 28-29, 1969 Frank Zappa & Friends
Thee Experience, LA

FZ—guitar, vocals
Ian Underwood—keyboards, alto sax
Jeff Simmons—bass, vocals
Art Tripp—drums
 
December 8, 1969 GTO's Permanent Damage (LP, Straight STS 1059) produced by FZ
1969 Whitney Studios, Glendale, CA
Engineer: Dick Kunc
Jeff Simmons—bass, keyboards, vocals
FZ—guitar, production
Ian Underwood—woodwinds
John Kehlior—drums
This project researched & developed by Román García Albertos
http://www.donlope.net/fz/
WARNING: This is not a complete list of FZ concerts, as only those of special significance or which are represented in FZ's official output appear in this chronology. If you're looking for an exhaustive list of FZ concerts go to Charles Ulrich's Frank Zappa Gig List, and if you're looking for the complete known setlists go to Oscar Bianco's FZShows, v. 7.1.
Here's a list of main sources & contributions
Release dates and sessions information taken from Greg Russo, Cosmik Debris: The Collected History And Improvisations Of Frank Zappa (The Son Of Revised), 2003
Concert dates and venues taken from Charles Ulrich's Frank Zappa Gig List
Corrections & additions welcome
This page updated: 2024-01-25