Dog Breath Variations

"Like Pound, Moore and Lowell, Frank Zappa's renown exists independent of any widespread familiarity with his work.The public Zappa is remembered for the eccentric names he gave his children (Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva), his refusal to use drugs and his fearsome advocacy of the First Amendment.

There are also widespread myths, like the story that Frank Zappa once shit on stage or that he had a gross-out contest with Alice Cooper. In truth, all of the available facts suggest that little in Zappa's behavior resembled the rock and roll lifestyle that he documented in his work.

Interviews with former bandmates reveal a workaholic and homebody whose final triumph was a home studio that, when he was not on one of his many tours, allowed him to combine his passions for work and family. Zappa's life was devoted to creating an environment for his compositions. In The Real Frank Zappa Book, his autobiography, Zappa recalls that when Dweezil was born, he responded "musician" to the request for a religion on the hospital admission form. Close enough."