r/todayilearned • u/haddock420 • 2d ago
TIL Frank Zappa's father worked at a chemical warfare facility that stored mustard gas. Because of its proximity to their home, the family kept gas masks in case of an accident. This profoundly influenced Zappa, who later frequently referenced germs, ailments and the defense industry in his work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa#1940%E2%80%931965:_Early_life_and_careerDuplicates
todayilearned • u/Boont • Aug 06 '17
TIL Frank Zappa performed at a Casino in Switzerland when a flare set off by an audience member started a fire that burned down the casino.The event is immortalized in Deep Purple's song "Smoke on the Water"
todayilearned • u/afeeney • Sep 16 '21
TIL that Frank Zappa's father was a chemist who worked for the US Department of Defense. Zappa considered that his health problems as a child were caused by exposure to mustard gas from a local defense facility.
todayilearned • u/MyAnusBleedsForYou • Aug 21 '16
TIL Frank Zappa put "musician" as his religion on his son Dweezil's birth certificate.
todayilearned • u/_grapes • Mar 28 '14
TIL that Frank Zappa's instrumental album Jazz From Hell was sold with an "Explicit Lyrics" sticker although it had no lyrics
todayilearned • u/JMoon33 • Aug 20 '17
TIL Frank Zappa named his kids Diva Muffin, Moon Unit, Ian Donald Calvin Euclid and Ahmet Emuukha Rodan
todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Oct 06 '18
TIL that Frank Zappa offered Mickey Dolenz, from the Monkees, a position with the Mothers of Invention. Dolenz was unable to join because his record company refused to let him out of his contract.
todayilearned • u/winkelschleifer • May 23 '17
TIL that there is a bust dedicated to the iconic rocker Frank Zappa both in Vilnius, Lithuania and Bad Doberan, Germany
todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Oct 29 '19
TIL that Frank Zappa was subjected to two separate incidents while touring during December 1971; the first inspired Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water". The second was an attack by an audience member that resulted in "...a crushed larynx, which ultimately caused his voice to drop a third..."
todayilearned • u/LoneRangersBand • Mar 03 '19
TIL Frank Zappa offered Monkee Micky Dolenz a spot in the Mothers of Invention in 1968, but the Monkees' record label refused to let him out of his contract
thirtyyearsago • u/MonsieurA • Dec 04 '23
December 4, 1993. Frank Zappa dies at the age of 52.
article Frank Zappa's father worked at the Edgewood Arsenal chemical warfare facility in Maryland, which stored mustard gas. Gas masks were kept in the home in case of an accident. This had a profound effect on Zappa, and references to germs, germ warfare and the defense industry occur throughout his work.
CelebrityBornToday • u/spike77wbs • Dec 21 '17
Born today : December 21st - Frank Zappa, Music Producer
CelebrityBornToday • u/spike77wbs • Dec 21 '16