Zappa: A Biography [B0146]

2004 PB. Per Wikipedia "Frank Vincent Zappa (1940–1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed rock, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestral and musique concrète works; he also produced almost all of the 60-plus albums that he released with his band the Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. His work is characterized by nonconformity, improvisation, sound experimentation, musical virtuosity, and satire of American culture. Zappa also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. He is considered one of the most innovative and stylistically diverse musicians of his generation." This book traces the life of ground-breaking musician Frank Zappa from his Italian American childhood roots to his ultimate success as a composer and rock star.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "A solid, detailed, warts and all biography of a complex figure, a unique artist in himself but also a figure that illuminates his time and place."; "Not a nice guy...yet...magically brought freakdom music from the overwhelming sixties thru structures of jazz, Stravinsky/Varèse to satirical antics and creepy new rock. Gotta hate him but admire him."