Zappa ghosts into Playhouse

Frank Zappa Hologram Tour’s only Scottish date

The “mind-melting” Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa hologram tour has its only Scottish date, at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Thursday 9 May 2019, 42 years after Zappa’s only ever Edinburgh appearance.

According to producers Eyelusion, hours of never-before-seen Frank Zappa performance footage from the early seventies will form the basis of the “can’t miss” concert spectacle. The Playhouse is one of only five UK venues, after Edinburgh it will tour to Gateshead, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

The show is created in part by Zappa’s son Ahmet, who is now EVP of business development for Eyellusion and a co-trustee of the Zappa Family Trust.

Announcing the tour, Ahmet said: “As a futurist, and hologram enthusiast, Frank fearlessly broke through boundary after boundary as an artist and, in honouring his indomitable spirit, we’re about to do it again, 25 years after his passing,”

In 1974, Frank Zappa transformed his Los Angeles rehearsal space into a sound stage and cranked out a passionate, trademark performance seen only by the camera operators in the room who captured every last bizarrely beautiful moment.

This footage, locked away in the Zappa vaults for 44 years, will serve as the basis for what will be the world’s most ambitious hologram tour to date, blending live footage of Frank with outrageous visuals that offer a striking view into his complex musical works.

surreal imagery and humour

“This mind-melting show we’re putting together celebrates the music, often surreal imagery and humour synonymous with Frank,” continues Ahmet Zappa. “We will be pushing the limits of what anyone has seen holographically on stage before in a live venue.

“Circumstances, objects, places and subject matter from Frank’s songs and imagination will be brought to life for the first time on stage. We are anthropomorphizing Frank’s music, so his own hand drawn illustrations, classic imagery from his album artwork and characters from his songs can all interact and perform on stage.

“And let’s not forget, Frank himself will be rocking his fans, alongside his bandmates like nobody’s business.”

One of those bandmates, Ray White, was with Zappa’s band for his one and only Edinburgh appearance, on February 14, 1977 – also at the Edinburgh Playhouse. On that night he was credited with playing “cowbell, guitar and vocals” according to Zappa’s introduction.

longtime and legendary

Ray White will be joined by other longtime and legendary Zappa players: Mike Keneally on guitar, bassist Scott Thunes, multi-instrumentalist Robert Martin and, on drums, Ed Mann and Zappa archivist Joe ‘Vaultmeister’ Travers.

The whole bizarre concept of the tour is decidedly Zappa-esque. And it is unsurprising to learn that whatever form it might take now, it had its genesis with Zappa himself.

“My father and I actively discussed 3D and ‘holography’ and it was a concept he actively engaged in” says Ahmet. “He actually devoted half a chapter of his The Real Frank Zappa Book (1990) to this subject.

“This is a love letter and a journey celebrating the genius artistry of Frank Zappa. On a personal note, I feel like I am finishing something my father started years ago.”

Listings

The Bizarre World of Frank Zappa
Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 – 22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA
Thursday 9 May 2019
Tickets on sale now from www.atgtickets.com. Click here to buy now.

ENDS

Tags: Ahmet Zappa, Eyellusion, Frank Zappa, hologram, Music, News, Playhouse, Production News