Zappa.com

I'm hoping it won't be in the same vein as Nigey Lennon's crap but from the product description it sounds promising:

http://www.amazon.com/Freak-Out-Life-Fr ... 673&sr=1-1

Sounds good, will have to check this out...

40 years after the fact, I'm not holding my breath for too much in the way of accuracy.

What next. An expose by the man who used to cut the grass?

Could be interesting. As his personal secretary, she was an insider who could provide us with a different perspective from that time.

wow... can't wait... (for how long did she work for zappa?)

methinks someone adviced her to write this, to improve her meager british pension... I mean, why would she wait so long?
I'm not expecting anything special from this.

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"bit of nostalgia for the old folks."

I've heard that she charges that Sir Francis Bacon wrote all of Frank's music.

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You gotta give the people something good to read, on a Sunday

They could call it "He was a very nice boy"

Time ... is an illusion. If you think you can forget ... or later tell yourself and others that you weren't there ... I'm gonna suggest you are another one of those ... I didn't inhale ... type of person!

The worst part of all this, is that Gail is living a bit of a fantasy, and hell at the same time, and she could really put a stop on all this by laying down the book herself ... and have fun from her OWN day 1 ... which was almost the same thing as this secretary's wording as above, as far as I can see. But I think Gail might be embarassed if she had to be honest with herself and say, for example, that the sex was too good and fun, and things just happened from there ... there is nothing wrong with that ... it happened to quite a few of us too! ... but it would be a concern for people that might think that ... yeah ... she wouldn't know A from Bmaj or Min ... and should not be in control of the legacy! Now ... things can get really bad ... it is her family and she has the right!

But it also tells you that there is/was a lot about Frank, that Gail herself is not capable of talking about ... for whatever reason ... because many people might say ... something else, or something not nice ... after all ... look at this board here ... there is no middle ground and there are a lot of upset folks ...

What the heck ... I would rather that Pam woke up and stopped being a republican bitch that is playing the game "I didn't inhale it" (by saying I didn't have sex!) ... and help put a lot more things in perspective that are not visible, and sometimes I think that Gail is hoping that some of those things never come out ... or heaven forbid ... that the world never think of Miss Pam as a slut! ... who cares who you slept with ... but there is a lot more about that time and place that is historical and shows something about the art and the music ... and in the end, it was ... no one gave a shit ... people were just getting laid and getting stoned? Fuck th emusic? ... because that is what is happening with the legacy of a lot of these people in those very days ... same thing has happened, and is happening, with Jerry Garcia!

Shall I say ... I hope she was a good poke/toke and fun? ... because she's trying to collect her orgasm now a few years this late? I have not met very many people around Frank's world that can talk about the music ... with intelligent knowledge of music and history and understanding of the arts around that music ... and I seriously doubt that a "secretary" is going to make that history any better and help provide the understanding that will help this legacy better ... instead of simply catering to the pop-guitar fans!

Bullshit.

I heard that she charged Sir Francis Bacon way too much for her services! (... we aint'd discussing them!... ... funny neither did Pam!)

I joined the United Mutations in 1968. With my application, I drew a picture of Zappa and sent that as well. Well...about a month later, I get the package (I wish I still had this stuff!) with photos, membership card, the questionaires written by The Mothers. And a hand written note from Pauline!
She thanked me for sending the picture and that she showed it to Frank and he liked it too.
She sounded very nice in the note she wrote. I was in shock for the rest of day over this.
I'd like to read her book.

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"The largest land mammal is the absent mind" (Don Van Vliet - 1971)

You couldn't even read the entire post, but you're gonna read a book?

I want the book about the '88 tour.

All being well, it will be out in paperback in November (2011).

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"Well of course, everything looks bad if you remember it. Now where are my chili boots?" - HOMER SIMPSON

http://www.idiotbastard.com

Great! I wish you well then.

Pauline has a page on FaceBook for her tome, with some passages included. It's taken from her diaries, from what I gather, and other rememberances. Very interesting, she worked for Frank 1968-1972, a very fruitful time for him. Not sure if this will also include any tawdry bits, don't get that vibe--however---on the back jacket, a quote by Frank (in big type) "Do you think if we f*cked (their asterisk, not mine), you would still be my secretary?" Kind of funny, perhaps he came on to her, or was just joking around, if she accepted or not, remains to be seen. The blurbs say it centers on the comings and goings of famous musicians, The GTO's, The Mothers, and Pauline finding herself in this "strange" world. I may flip through it when it comes out in the bookstore before buying it---okay, I'll most likely purchase it.

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One two, buckle my shoe!

You know you will Dove!

Here's the link to the Facebook page, some little tidbits are there:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Freak-Out-My-Life-With-Frank-Zappa-by-Pauline-Butcher/224388334279391

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You gotta give the people something good to read, on a Sunday

I'll buy it. I hope I will like it.

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If we're dumb . . .
Then God is dumb . . .
(An' maybe even a little bit ugly on the side)

I've pre-ordered this tasty little sucker

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"drums are too noisy, 'n you've got no corners to hide in"

If you have a look at Pauline Birds Facebook page, as well as the FB page of the book (link referenced earlier) It is worth noting that she kept a diary and wrote letters home, quite lengthy ones, 20 pages long, single spaced and every few weeks. The events may be 40 years ago but not often in the books written about FZ has there been such a source of material to draw upon to bring clarity to the matter. I am very much looking forward in a few days to the book.

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A Blanket in my Muesli. A Blanket in my what??

He's a CEO for Chrissakes!

Well put, it's a must read!

This book came out in UK on September 5. I'm living in another country and got the book in 3 days with zero shipping fee. Try Book Depository.

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Zappa Books

That is very efficient. You could be one of the earliest. What is your early impression?

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A Blanket in my Muesli. A Blanket in my what??

He's a CEO for Chrissakes!

I would say it's a good read. This book gives you absolutely original view from a decent British secretay, who wasn't any freak, groupie, or musician, and who happened just to live and work in Zappa's house several years.

Here you can read some funny short stories taken from this book: http://www.afka.net/Books/Freak_Out.htm

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Zappa Books

I read it when I saw your earlier post (the afka link) I have ordered a copy from the same source, so will be curious to see how fast from Saturday morning. I will still buy from a bookshop if I see it before the posted book hits the doormat, as I believe that one should buy from bookshops.


I nearly forgot, the Afka link should try and connect to her 2 facebook pages, as there is a lot of extra information happening all the time as she publishes extracts directly from her diaries and responds to messages, in fact she indicates that there are quotes which are the wrong way round (or something amiss), so she could instantly publish corrections! Her book is based on diaries and letters so in effect the facebook accounts are different.

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A Blanket in my Muesli. A Blanket in my what??

He's a CEO for Chrissakes!

Those short anecdotes interest me, they seem like 'slice of life' vignettes. I would be interested in that kind of book. More 'fly on the wall' less tortured analytical meanderings (read "The Dialectics of Poodle Play").

_________________
If we're dumb . . .
Then God is dumb . . .
(An' maybe even a little bit ugly on the side)