The 125-Plus People, Places and Things Ruling the Rock & Roll Universe : Rolling Stone

BEST TRIBUTE BAND

Zappa Plays Zappa

Zappa Plays Zappa is total truth in advertising: a fantastic band led by guitarist Dweezil Zappa, dedicated to performing the music of his late father with exacting precision. "People think they know everything about him because they've heard 'Don't Eat the Yellow Snow,'" says Dweezil, 38, referring to his dad's comic 1974 single. "They don't." In fact, a Zappa Plays Zappa show is usually more than three hours long, as the band zigzags through every era of Frank's three-decade legacy. That spread also means militarylike preparation for a tour. "Frank typically rehearsed a band for three months," says Dweezil, who spent a few months mastering "The Black Page" — a daunting piece originally written for percussion — on guitar. Zappa Plays Zappa will have a busy '08, with a U.S. tour that kicks off in June and includes their Bonnaroo debut. "Most of the band didn't have a background in Frank's music," Dweezil notes. "Now they enjoy it. That's the audience I was hoping for. Once you hear this music, the more you want it." DAVID FRICKE