Disco Boy wrote:
I think it's insane for anyone to wish for Dweezil to actually stop playing FZ's music and hence effectively end Zappa Plays Zappa. I definitely don't think they've run their course. Sure, ZPZ could've tackled more of the '80s catalogue, etc. (and hopefully they will soon), since their setlists of the past year or two weren't as challenging as compared to their setlists of the first couple of years. But wanting DZ to stop playing FZ's music live? I don't think so. I mean, who the hell else is going to lead an official representation of FZ's music live, let alone pull it off?! And to be perfectly honest, a DZ solo tour wouldn't draw very well (we're talking a couple of hundred fans per night, tops) since his solo albums haven't sold that well for a variety a reasons and not necessarily because they aren't good. Personally, I don't dig any pre-2000 DZ or Z material. But his two most recent releases, Automatic and Go With What You Know are good albums. And this is partly because Dweezil has worked extremely hard at learning several different guitar techniques (sweep, economy and hybrid picking, etc.) that are crucial to properly executing FZ's music on guitar, not to mention developing his own distinctive style, as opposed to his outdated '80s/'90s Eddie Van Halen technique...but also because I believe he's vastly improved as a songwriter. And as far as I know, he's planning to at least make a few more albums of new music in the future, even if he doesn't tour them because of commercial reasons beyond his control. Lastly, every one of us has faults and Dweezil is no different. Yes, he comes off as arrogant sometimes when it comes to dealing with FZ cover band issues, etc. But so what? We all have things in our lives that we feel more strongly about than others (beliefs, morals, etc.). We ALL slip from time to time...
I don't necessarily want DZ to disband ZPZ just would like him to do something else, too. I've expressed my waning interest in ZPZ on another thread and had some suggestions on how to spice things up. To put it bluntly, my biggest problem with ZPZ nowadays is Ben Thomas. I thought he might grow on me but he hasn't. He's the fly in the soup. I know the soup is really good, but please bring me another bowl without the fly in it. Because of that it's kinda hard to get excited about ZPZ anymore, fine company notwithstanding.
I have to agree that Ben as nice as he is, has run his course and either needs a second lead or replaced, but maybe DZ is reluctent to do so as Ben was there in his time of need.
I have a great idea for DZ to incorporate his none ZPZ stuff into the show. Simple be the openning act for ZPZ, form the Dweezil Zappa band and open with his solo work and new material and then bring out ZPZ. It wouldn't require a stage change if he just used Joe for Drummer and Pete on Bass (good power trio there). If they wanted other members could join in for different songs, say 1 hour DZ band and 2 hours ZPZ, that is close to their current show lenght, I would go in a heart beat!