Frank Zappa - Baby Snakes

For fans of rock concerts on video, this is one to watch - it’s a great document of how rock performances were different 50 years ago. No lockstep choreography, FZ brought fans on stage and appears to roll with it. He was able to do that because of the amazing musicians that surrounded him. Frank wrung everything out of his bands, as Terry Bozzio laments on film. Hearing interviews years later from those who played with him, they became better because of it. Of course, for fans of Uncle Frank, this is a MUST HAVE!

I went to this concert, and looking back on it I just went because I thought it would be a happening event. I did think that it was silly and fun, and of course Zappa's solos were amazing. I felt cool because I was into jazz then and more often would go hear something like McCoy Tyner, and not many rock concerts any more. Now I have introduced my kids to this music and am rediscovering what a genius Zappa was, and I feel bad that I missed the point while he was still alive. It is a bit like Alfred Hitchcock, how it was only after he died that I realized he was an artistic genius. I am saying this because of some comments about his not being a good guitar player. Aside from being a superficially foolish comment, it is also deeply idiotic. Zappa was not only a great technician and improvisor, he wrote, arranged and conducted brilliantly, and had a completely original concept of music. You don't have to like it, but you should understand what went into this music -- especially today when the young generation is growing up on some really bland uninspired stuff.Zappa's concerts were like Dadaist events. The only thing missing was a shocked audience that thought they were going to see something like the Jonas Brothers -- like Jimi Hendrix when he was an unknown warmup band for the Monkees.

Finally I own a copy of this. Uncle Frank is the best!! The clay nation was a big deal then. But the concert footage is so rocking!!

Zappa released with BABY SNAKES a concert film by which others should be measured. Contained on this DVD rings out truly amazing music played by an amazing band in front of a ravenous audience of stirred up fans. Afficionados of FZ's will eat this one up. Music fans in general should check this one out to witness how a live band should perform UNMITIGATED ENTERTAINMENT. This 2-1/2 hour concert video is interspliced with hilarious backstage antics and mind-boggling claymation by a chap that probably can ONLY do claymation (you'll understand after his cameos). The recording quality of the concert sound resounds clear and strong. Zappa conducts this band at points as if it were a rock orchestra but the TIGHTNESS by which he rehearsed his bands more accurately translates his conduction into a neat little artifact that LIVE, FZ PLAYS HIS BAND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT. Some truly inspired live improvisation is documented whereby Uncle Frankie conjures music out of his finely tuned musos (his swirling stage ministrations call to mind a magician!) that only he can create. Buy the DVD and witness singular sonic events that FZ opportunistically captured for us on this wonderful film. The claymation is WAY-TRIPPED OUT: I can only describe the animation as phantasmagorical visual spewings that involve sex, peccaries in car chases, and Billy the Mountain. The animation more than aptly flows alongside Zappa's sonic brain candy. Performed are many classic FZ tunes like "Dinah-Moe Hum" and "Camarillo Brillo" as well as more esoteric rock-orchestrations like "The Black Page" or "Zoot Allures". Prime FZ at the height of his creativity. And this film reveals the maestro to be revelling in every second of the zany stage insanity. You will, too. "The present day composer refuses to die" - indeed, long live Frank Zappa!

The video illustrates Frank Zappa's mastery of live performances and the tight playing of his backing musicians. Bruce Bickford's clay animations are fantastic. A few segments could have been deleted to make everything flow more smoothly, but Baby Snakes is still great entertainment.

This DVD is great fun for any Zappa fan. Yes the Camera work could have shown more of Zappa on his axe, but the sound visuals and play list more than make up for it. Zappa and his mates are having a great time jamming to all the tunes we all know and love so much, along with great times and horseplay behind the scenes and back stage before after and during the show. You can really tell the folks in the crowd are into the show, from the costumes, to singing along and just going nuts. A huge bonus to me is the great claymation video mixed into the movie, its really some amazing stuff. If you ever wanted to see Zappa in concert but never did, or even if you have like myself, you will enjoy this DVD. It's Zappa at the peak of his creativity, with his best band mates. From Adrian Belew's hypnotic droning, to Terry Bozzio's Hard paced Drum beats, to all of Frank's great axe playing this is Zappa's best overall DVD around right now. Do yourself a favor and pck it up today.

Having read all the other reviews, I'd like to focus on the aspect of FZ as an Artist. Because that's what's on display, and is one reason for the extended bit with Bruce Bickford, who I think Frank saw as the claymation-artist version of himself. Someone gives Frank a card, and it has a quote, "The modern-day composer refuses to die," which Frank says must have its proper attribution to Edgar Varese- Edgar Varese was a composer/artist. Watch Frank as he manages to interact with the audience, shake everyone's hand, and sing his lyrics flawlessly. Despite a couple of "Go ---- yourself"s, Frank shows a lot of sensitivity to his young audience. The girl Angel, who basically wants Frank's baby, tries to interject something when he lets her onstage- his response is hilarious: he looks at her as if to say "Are you crazy?" then says, "Sounds like fun," and shuts her up with a munchkin-voiced "Stop it!" The key word to describe FZ here is "masterful," he is in charge every moment. The bit onstage with the toy police car, with the fake trombone-playing, and with Roy E. and his faulty improv with the gas-mask, are all about Frank incorporating something new into his music, improvising, having the band follow his descriptive hand-gestures, only to roll it all up in a ball and throw it in Roy's face, to see what reaction it will get. Was he self-indulgent, egocentric? Sure. Confident and cocky? Absolutely. You can be taken in by it or put off by it. Is the "Poodle Lecture" really a philosophical statement of life on earth? Nah. But it's funny, and draws the audience into his surrealistic world. The blow up doll and the raunchy lyrics, are all part of FZ's assault on mainstream attitudes. In the '60's, he trashed the middle-class, but he trashed the hippies, too. So he was an iconoclast, too. We need more of them.

A must have for any Zappa fan. Terry Bozzio and band are the perfect match for Frank.

膨大な音源に比べて非っ常～に少ないZAPPA映像作品。ずいぶん昔に輸入ビデオを買って、ライブ映像の部分だけを1本にまとめて観ていました。よく「Does Humor Belong in Music？」と比較されがちですが、聴衆も含めてのバカ度、下品度はこちらのほうが遥かに上ですし（←誉めてるんです）なによりも演奏（＆パフォーマンス）の凄みとライブならではの異様なエネルギー、ZAPPAのカリスマ性がビンビン伝わってきて最高です！天才ドラマーであるビル・ブラッフォードをして「人間離れしたドラマー」と言わしめるテリー・ボジオは荒削りながら既にスタイルは確立しています。新生キング・クリムゾンしか知らない人が見たら目を疑うようなアホさ加減のエイドリアン・ブリューもイイ味出してます。（きっと、大御所に可愛がられるタイプなんでしょうね）パトリック・オ・ハーンもエド・マンもその後ソロ名義でアルバム発表してますし、他のメンバーのその後についてはあまり詳しく知りませんが今振返ってみれば、恐ろしいメンバーが揃っていたものです。個人的に、ZAPPAのライブCDの中では「Zappa in New York」が一番好きです。さらに豪華なメンバーがちゃんとZAPPAワールドの一員になってますね。それとこのDVDにチョロっと入っている「Roxy」、ヴィニー・カリウタ在籍時の映像なんかも残っているのなら、早くDVDで発売してもらいたいものです。恥ずかしながら、この「Baby Snakes」については“国内版ビデオやDVDにはならないだろう”と、とっくに諦めていたのでこの存在を知ったのはつい最近でした。しかし知ってしまったからには観ないわけにはいきませんから、フリフリ・DVDプレーヤーを買っちゃいました。いやぁ、久し振りに浸りました。音も良くなっているようですし、嬉しいです。でもやっぱりライブ映像以外の部分があまりにも長くて辛いですからレコーダー買って編集しなきゃいけませんね…今年は都合がつかず、毎年命日に墓参りのつもりで行っていた蝋人形館（東京タワー）に行けませんでした。反省してます。

'77年のライヴを収録した映画のDVD化。ザッパ曰く「普通じゃない人人による普通じゃない人の為の映画」。ビデオでは2本に別れていましたが、DVDでは3時間切れ目無く楽しめます。ブックレットもファイル型で凝っています。（もちろんビデオに同様「NO-Dメガネ」も付いています）音声はオリジナル2chステレオとDD5.1chで収録。マルチテープからミックスされたものでは無いと思われますが、ドゥイージル・ザッパ監修のサラウンドミックスは悪くないできです。おまけで予告編や、ソフト化が待たれる「ROXY」でのライヴ等が収録されています。ビデオに収録されていた「PEACHES EN REGALIA」のクリップと、通販CMはカットされています。日本向けDVDプレーヤーでは再生できないうえ、ライヴ以外の語りも多いので英語の聞き取りに自身のある方以外には、輸入盤はお勧めできません。時間は掛かるかも知れませんが、日本盤の発売を待つのも良いと思います。

さて、タイトルにも書いた通り７８年のライヴと良く勘違いされているがテリー・ボズィオ、エイドリアン・ブリュー、パトリック・オ・ハーンがハロウィーンに揃ってるのは間違い無く７７年。（ＦＺが「Tonight! Halloween Fxxx Around～」と言ってる」）７８年ではヴィニー・カリユタがボズィオと入れ代わり、エイドリアンはこのツアーを観たデヴィッド・ボウイのバンドへ加入。前半はブルース・ビックフォードのグニャグニャした摩訶不思議なクレイアニメとライヴ映像が交差、後半はライヴ映像のみなので普通の人は観易いでしょう。ＦＺはアリゾナ州フェニックスで、とある男から譲り受けたと云うカスタムメイドのＳＧをガンガン弾きまくる！切れ味鋭いボズィオは黒パン１丁で叩きまくり、Ａ．ブリューはＦＺ所有の改造ストラトを自在に操る。アンコールは「ダイナモ・ハム」、「キャマリロ・ブリロ～マフィン・マン」、「サン・ベルディーノ」そしてトドメの「ブラック・ナプキン」と大サービス！トータルで２時間４４分。ボーナス映像はあのロキシーライヴ！！！８９年に出た「True Story Of 200Motels」のロキシー映像とはダブりが無いので必見！！！リージョン1なので専用のＤＶＤプレイヤーが必要です。国内盤、何とかリリースされましたね。

Terry Bozzio, Adrian Belew, Patrick O'Hearn がいた時期の最高のライブ・ビデオです。３時間にわたってザッパワールドを堪能できます。アメリカ盤はリージョン１なので購入に当たっては注意が必要です。