Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa performing on the "Zappa Plays Zappa" tour in 2006. Zappa Plays Zappa is the name of a Concert tour and band led by Dweezil Zappa, the oldest son of the late American composer and musician Frank Zappa, devoted (Photo by Zack Sheppard. )
Background information
Birth name	Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa
Born	September 5, 1969 (1969-09-05) (age 38)
Origin	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genre(s)	Rock Heavy metal Hard rock Pop
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1986 - present
Associated acts	Z Ahmet Zappa Zappa Plays Zappa
Website	Official website
Notable instrument(s)
Gibson SG

Dweezil Zappa (born September 5, 1969) is an American rock guitarist. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Hard rock (also referred to as heavy rock) is a variation of Rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage and Psychedelic rock Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa (born May 15 1974 is an American Musician, Actor and Novelist. Zappa Plays Zappa is the name of a Concert tour and band led by Dweezil Zappa, the oldest son of the late American composer and musician Frank Zappa, devoted The Gibson SG is a popular model of solid-bodied Electric guitar that was introduced in the early 1960s Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres

Biography

Early life

Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who worked in business, and musician Frank Zappa. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director ^[1] He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon Unit, and his two younger siblings Ahmet and Diva. Moon Unit Zappa (born September 28 1967) is an American actress and musician Ahmet Emuukha Rodan Zappa (born May 15 1974 is an American Musician, Actor and Novelist. Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen Zappa (born July 30 1979 in Los Angeles, California) is the youngest child of Frank Zappa and Zappa's He is the cousin of actress Lala Sloatman. ^[2] Zappa's father was of Sicilian, Greek-Arab and French descent and his mother was of Danish, French, Irish and Portuguese ancestry. ^[3]

Dweezil's registered birth name was Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa,^[4] although this occurred only because the hospital at which he was born refused to register him under the name Dweezil. A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for The name was a nickname coined by Frank for an oddly-curled pinky-toe of Gail's. He was always called "Dweezil" by his family and was unaware that this was not the name on his birth certificate. Upon this discovery at the age of seven, he insisted on having his nickname become his legal name. Gail and Frank hired an attorney and soon the name Dweezil was official.

Career

In the 1980s, Zappa worked as a MTV VJ. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. He also recorded some solo rock albums, as well as playing guitar for other artists. Dweezil can be seen in the music video for Don Johnson's top 40 song, "Heartbeat. Don Johnson (born Donnie Wayne Johnson, December 15 1949 Personal life Relationships and family At 22 Johnson began a four-year liaison " He also played co-lead guitar (along with Reb Beach) on Winger's cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze. Reb Beach (born Richard Earl Beach Jr on August 31, 1963, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania) is an American rock Guitarist Winger is an American rock band formed in New York City that gained popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s James Marshall Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix) (November 27 1942 – September 18 1970 was an American Guitarist, Singer and Songwriter Purple Haze is a song recorded in 1966 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. " Dweezil has said that Eddie Van Halen was his favorite guitar player, and he began copying Van Halen's distinctive guitar style. Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (born January 26 1955 is a Dutch Guitarist, Keyboardist, Songwriter and producer He also had a part in the futuristic Arnold Schwarzenegger movie The Running Man as Stevie ("Don't touch that dial!"), and gave his most famous cameo role in Molly Ringwald's brat-pack movie Pretty in Pink as Andi's friend, Simon. The future is commonly understood to contain all events that have yet to occur Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor The Running Man is a 1987 Film adaptation loosely based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. Molly Kathleen Ringwald (born February 18, 1968) is an American Actress, Singer and Dancer. The Brat Pack is a nickname given to a group of young actors and actresses who frequently appeared together in teen-oriented coming-of-age films in the 1980s Pretty in Pink is an 1986 Film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools

Since the early 1990s, Zappa has been working on a piece of music named 'What The Hell Was I Thinking?', a 75-minute piece featuring guitar solos by dozens of famous guitar players. The project has suffered from numerous difficulties and has been reworked several times since the '90s. Dweezil said in September 2004:^[5] "I started recording it on analog tape almost 13 years ago. . . There are probably about 35 guest guitar players on it, everybody from Brian May to Edward van Halen, Eric Johnson, Angus and Malcolm Young — it's quite a crazy project. Brian Harold May, CBE Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (born January 26 1955 is a Dutch Guitarist, Keyboardist, Songwriter and producer Eric Johnson (born August 17, 1954) is a Guitarist and recording artist from Austin Texas. Angus McKinnon Young (born on 31 March 1955 is the lead guitarist songwriter and co-founder of the Australian Hard rock band AC/DC. Malcolm Mitchell Young (born January 6 1953) is an Australian Guitarist, best known as a founding member Rhythm guitarist Backing I'm still waiting and hoping to record Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page as some of my final guests on there. Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck (born June 24, 1944 to Arnold and Ethel Beck in Wallington, England) is an English James Patrick Page, OBE (born 9 January 1944 is an English Guitarist, Composer and record producer "

In the mid 1990s, Zappa voiced the character Ajax Duckman on the animated series Duckman. Duckman is an animated sitcom created by Everett Peck and developed by Peck Jeff Reno and Ron Osborn based on characters created by Peck in his Dark Duckman is an animated sitcom created by Everett Peck and developed by Peck Jeff Reno and Ron Osborn based on characters created by Peck in his Dark He also briefly appeared in the television sitcom Normal Life with sister Moon Unit Zappa and former Laverne and Shirley star Cindy Williams. Moon Unit Zappa (born September 28 1967) is an American actress and musician Laverne & Shirley was a popular American television Situation comedy that ran on ABC from 1976 to 1983 Cynthia Jane "Cindy" Williams (born August 22 1947) is a BAFTA and Golden Globe Award nominated American actress best known for starring He composed and performed the theme music for The Ben Stiller Show (the solo from Spinal Tap's "Break Like the Wind"). The Ben Stiller Show was a Sketch comedy Television show that aired on FOX from September 1992 to January 1993 In the late 1990s Dweezil, alongside with his brother, Ahmet, started a short-lived TV show called Happy Hour which was later canceled due to copyright infringement with the name).

In "Weird Al" Yankovic's 2003 eleventh studio album Poodle Hat, Dweezil performs the opening guitar solo and lends his vocal talents to the track, Genius in France. Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic (ˈjæŋkəvɪk born October 23 1959 is a Grammy Award winning American singer Musician, actor satirist Poodle Hat is the eleventh Album by "Weird Al" Yankovic.

In 2006, Zappa organized the "Zappa Plays Zappa" tour. Zappa Plays Zappa is the name of a Concert tour and band led by Dweezil Zappa, the oldest son of the late American composer and musician Frank Zappa, devoted He assembled a band of young musicians with a view to bring the music of Frank Zappa to a younger audience. Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21 1940 – December 4 1993 was an American Composer, Electric guitarist Record producer and Film director The tour also features guest appearances by Steve Vai, Napoleon Murphy Brock and Terry Bozzio. Steven "Steve" Siro Vai (born June 6 1960 in Carle Place New York) is an American Instrumental rock Guitarist Napoleon Murphy Brock is an American singer Saxophonist and Flautist who is best known for his work with Frank Terry John Bozzio ( December 27, 1950) is an American Drummer best known for his work with the late Frank Zappa. The tour began in Europe in May with dates in the U. S. from June. After a break it continued in the U. S. on October 18, 2006. The 2007 version of the tour ran from July, finishing in Australia in early December, and featured Ray White as special guest. Ray White is a soul vocalist and rock and blues Guitarist, most well-known as a member of Frank Zappa 's touring ensembles The shows ended with the promise: "There are so many songs we want to learn to play . . . see you next year . . . "

Personal life

Zappa's first serious relationship of note was with Katie Wagner, daughter of actor Robert Wagner, star of the Hart to Hart TV show. Katie Wagner (born May 11 1964 in Los Angeles California) is a television personality and Hollywood reporter Robert John Wagner (born February 10, 1930) is a Golden Globe - nominated prolific American Film and Television Hart to Hart is an American Television series starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers. Zappa later went on to have a brief relationship with actress Sharon Stone. Sharon Vonne Stone (born March 10, 1958) is an American Golden Globe - and Emmy -winning Actress, producer, and former For six years, Zappa dated musician Lisa Loeb. Lisa Anne Loeb (born March 11, 1968) is an American Singer-songwriter and actress. Dweezil and Lisa wrote and performed music together, and even went on tour with Loeb's band. The couple co-hosted the cooking show Dweezil & Lisa on Food Network in 2004. Dweezil & Lisa was a Food Network television series presented by rock musicians and erstwhile couple Dweezil Zappa and Lisa Loeb. Food Network is a cable network that airs specials and recurring (episodic programs about food and cooking However, the couple broke up in the summer of 2004. Zappa married fashion stylist Lauren Knudsen on September 3, 2005 in Los Angeles. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. They have a daughter (born 2006), named Zola Frank Zappa. ^[6]

Discography

Go With What You Know

• My Mother is a Space Cadet - 1982
• Havin' a Bad Day - 1986
• My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama - 1988
• Confessions - 1991
• Shampoohorn - 1994
• Music For Pets - 1996
• Pet Box
• Automatic - 2000
• Go with What You Know - 2006

References

External links

• Dweezil Zappa's website
• Dweezil Zappa at the Internet Movie Database