Frank Zappa: Stairway to Heaven (Vienna, 1988)
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- Опубліковано 12 лип 2014
- Frank Zappa cover of "Stairway to Heaven"
May, 8th, 1988 Wien (Vienna) Stadthalle
audience shot VHS (video) + Master Copy audience recording (audio), mastered by Zappateer boguspomp
(camera shake stabilized by UA-cam)
For me, the horns playing the guitar solo is best part of this awesome performance…Zappa was a national treasure
Like it was written for them.
You are correct Sir! Never in my wildest dreams could I have thought up substituting the horns in place of the guitar solo. But it works so beautifully like it was always meant to be that way! All provided to us through the genius of Zappa!
It happened almost by accident: As was Frank's usual practice with his later bands, they learned the song without him and another guy (Scott Thunes, in this case) rehearsing the band; the original intention was for FZ to take a solo on it. During that period, Mike Keneally (stunt guitar) - who has an AMAZING ear - learned Jimmy Page's original solo, and played it as a placeholder. At some point in that process Paul Carman (alto sax) picked up the solo from Mike playing it repeatedly, and started playing it in unison with him. When Frank showed up and they ran through the tune, they played it the way they'd rehearsed it - and Frank said, "That's brilliant! Can all the horns do that?" So Paul wrote it out in harmony for all five horns.
Too bad the cameraman had no clue where to point his camera
worst cameraman in the history of live concerts. The coolest thing about this is that the whole horn section plays the guitar solo at the end but cameraman is focusing on the bass player and the guitarist
Definitely was the best band you never heard in your life!
Until Scott Thunes killed it. :/
@@plumage_againWord
The splendid transcription of Page’s solo for the horns is such a wonderful honor for him.
he'd learned that someone in the band, I think it was Paul Carman, knew the solo; so now, all systems go
But it's beefed up by someone -- Keneally? -- at the back of the mix.
Ike was the best singer Frank ever had !
The guitarist plays the solo note for note along with the horns.
@@robbiedaug Proof that it CAN be played correctly on stage. Despite much Led-zevidence to the contrary! 😄
Zappa was as brilliant a musician and composer as rock or jazz has ever known. On top of that, he was wildly entertaining !!
'Jazz from Hell'...
Zappa was a fucking genius both intellectually & definitely musically. !!!!! 🎸
Frank was always so original, even when re-arranging music he didn’t write. The unpredictability and re-imagining, improvising was the essence of his musicality
The thing about Frank is he could stand back and let the truly amazing group of people he put together shine!
Yeah !he pushed them to be as best as they ever can be !
absolutely
Yes He Did !
I saw them in concert myself. they were the best technical band I have ever seen. so many changes in rhythm and key and the guys were always perfect. so well practiced.
I saw the band in Syracuse that tour.
Still can't believe a few idiots forced Frank to cancel most of the tour that year.
Only Frank Zappa could get away with this, absolutely brilliant 😊
I wish Frank was still with us, what a wonderful human being he was.
really ?
@@stompfolks you're one of those who think he was "problematic" and cancellable?
This appears on the Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life album. It IS pure genius that he has the horn section play the solo note-for-note. I took it as an homage to Page. That Zappa wouldn’t f*** with one of the most iconic solos ever. Instead, he lets us hear it in a fresh innovative way. Genius!
Surtout que les textes sont sur l'argent ou les rêves et les intentions d'en profiter , conditions, conditionnée . il en fait un thème notre frank😉😆
I saw them at the Beacon theater in NYC met Frank n hung with Ike n a few members that night...but when they were doing Stairway i remember thinking to myself as the solo was coming up....what is Frank gonna do? his mangle it strangle it Frank solo?...or Page's solo.....my head exploded when the horn section slayed it.... flash forward ...I would end up doing countless shows with Ike n many Zappa Alumni in Project Object
💯
2 guitarists were playing it too.
I heard them!
The people who disliked this, have no idea how great Frank Zappa was.
Tom, there's no dislike and even if there would be some, we don't care, Frank was THE ultimate composer.
I agree he was a great guitarist but his records were full of jokes and narration. The only one I own that is all serious music is "Sleep Dirt".
The deaf Dumb all over and maybe Christians are the the dislikers
@@TooSkinnyKenny His music was incredibly serious. He just didn't take himself seriously in the process. This is an absolutely brilliant arrangement and performance.
@@SimpleManGuitars1973 yes his music was serious but it was just so quirky. Apostrophe and Sleep Dirt are the ONLY albums of his i could sit through completely.
I saw this band play this in Cleveland and it still ranks as one of my favorite performances I've seen. The horn section took the top of our heads off with the solo.
Ike Willis is fantastic. Seems to be saying with his gesture to the band, Yes, I know echoing with laughter is wonderful, ok yes, enough with the laughter, thank you I will proceed with next verse now
That moment when Zappa DOESN'T play the solo, but instead gives us an arrangement for the horn section. Genius.
You goddamn right.
To me, it's a way of saying "this is above just another rock solo, this is Musical Canon" -- I agree, it's Genius.
@@benaustin6361 Actually, I think it's Zappa's way of saying that Page's original version is not a "real" solo. Frank was very disdainful of the idea of the guitar hero, and often referred to the phallic symbolism of both the solo and the instrument.
Frank did a couple of iconic rock covers on that tour (this one and I Am The Walrus) as well as Ravel's Bolero. I'm certain Zappa had cogent and conceptual continuity reasons for including them, but I never heard him explain why.
You may be right though. Perhaps it was Frank's way of tipping his hat to other forms of genius, or it may be because he loved to thwart audience expectation!
yepp! n Frank could do any genre n song n way better then the org. version. I saw most of his Norway- shows incl this '88. Cry every day didn't go abroad see more.. eg. string of cons this time of year London Hammersmith Odeon '78. How could i be 22 yrs n such a fool- makes me wonder
@@pallland496 I saw him twice in Glasgow (1977 and 1979) and once in London (1988). The first one was only my second gig, and I was in the front row! The only problem was the stage was 12 feet high, and I saw NOTHING! The good news was when Frank appeared he came right to the edge of the precipice and looked right down at me. Bodyguard John Smothers spent the whole gig kneeling at the edge of the stage, but there was no prospect of anyone getting up there. Not unless we'd formed a human pyramid!
Frank was a genius! 🎶🤙🏼
No, he was a nitwit.
@@poopy_pants_joe1194... and you're an idiot 🎉 🍻
I was at this concert. What a great experience. Always loved Frank Zappa ❤❤❤
Seems fun as hell to play this!Unbelievable rendition!
Frank's first divebomb in the intro is amazing and just says it all. Brilliance.
I saw Zappa in Vancouver ,October 1981, didn't know what to expect but was blown away by Franks musicianship ,his guitar solos were unbelievable and to this day myself and the two friends that were with me always talk about how great of a concert it truely was, rip Frank....
I saw that tour a month or so later. Little Stevie Vai!
Not only was the musicianship incredible (of course), but it was so FUNNY! I left the theater with a sore gut from laughing so hard. RIP Frank; we miss you, man.
I'm just thankful to have lived in the same timeline that Frank Zappa did. Easily in my top five grouping.
My fave was Roxy era, and I liked him better on an SG, but still great.
I named my youngest son Zappa - as a first name. As far as we know, the only one on planet earth. He is 15 now and he loves his name - Frank’s music not sooo much. I am sure it will come.
Frank Zappa and band were like the Harlem Globe Trotters of Rock and Roll.
Perfect analogy!
What a kool way to describe Frank & company. Ya nailed🔨 it!
His intention was to mock and expose the absurdity of pop rock.
Nicely done is an understatement.
Sweet vocals. . .totally relaxed delivery. . .reverent yet chillax
Then Robert Martin comes in for the outverse and blows my head off every time I hear it!
What makes Zappa special for me, is that he always had an eye on other artists music.
This is a wonderful homage to one of the greatest song in the era of rock, just played a little different. 😃
Yes, and a lot of young musicians who played for him became famous.
What a brilliant tribute. Frank sure knew how to create an amazing arrangement!!!
He truly was a Genius
@@ralphecat Not so much.
@jondough930 wtf are you talking about?
I saw this tour in upstate NY. The crowd ate up every second of this. Awesome
Buy "Zappa,the hard way "a book written about that tour.Frank canceled the tour halfway through, took a 450k hit and never toured again.
Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be. --Frank Zappa
Those legendary Zappa concerts are part of my life forever. I will never forget.
there is nothing even close to FZ in concert...
Best cover of this song I’ve ever heard. Not surprising coming from zappa. Incredible
This was a fantastic and ear-opening version! The horn charts, especially for the final solo, were incredible. However, for me, it's hard to beat the Kennedy Center Honors version with Nancy Wilson, Jason Bonham, multiple guitarists, orchestra and choir! In any case, what a tribute to the song and to the band that created such magic.
Dolly Parton's cover is really good.
Dredd zeppelin's
Frank was a genius
Absolutely Amazing
wow i wonder if Jimmy ever saw this, what a group of musicians... just outstanding... RIP Frank
I am sure someone would have seen it and brought it to his attention 😂
I was among the fortunate few Americans that got to see the Zappa tour that year.
I still can't believe a small group of musicians could be so petty and throw away a season of touring with a Zappa band.
You can hear it all on "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life".
Did not expect the horns solo.
Powerful to see and hear live.
I was among the fortunate few Englishman that got to see this band too. They did a few concerts here, I saw them at Brighton on the south coast, just down the coast from where I live. A whole bunch of us hired a bus. Zoot Allures on 'Best Band' was recorded that night. It was a fabulous night, they were brilliant.
I saw the last show he did out on Long Island. They threw away a lot of history. The versions evolved during the tours. We missed some good stuff.
Brilliant band,the horns playing the guitar solo is incredible
Love it. Simply a genius.
Me and wife saw Zappa in Baltimore on mother's day around 1978. Zappa is as unique as it gets, guitar master
That would've been May 11, 1980.
Killer show, too. Arf arf!
Here's the setlist to jog your memory:
Chunga's Revenge
Keep It Greasey,
Outside Now
City Of Tiny Lights
Society Pages
I'm A Beautiful Guy
Beauty Knows No Pain
Charlie's Enormous Mouth
Pick Me I'm Clean
Cosmik Debris
You Didn't Try To Call Me
I Ain't Got No Heart
Love Of My Life
Easy Meat
I Don't Wanna Get Drafted
Joe's Garage,
Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?
Dancin' Fool
You Are What You Is
Dong Work For Yuda
Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up
Don't Eat The Yellow Snow
The Illinois Enema Bandit
Was it at the bmore civic center slash bmore arena?
@@williamfitzgibbons3083
Baltimore Civic Center. May 11, 1980
Frank Zappa (guitar/Synclavier/vocals), Ike Willis (rhythm guitar/vocals), Mike Keneally (stunt guitar/keyboards/vocals), Robert Martin (keyboards/Synclavier/ vocals), Ed Mann (percussion/Synclavier/vocals), Scott Thunes (bass/mini-moog), Chad Wackerman (drums/electronic percussion), Walt Fowler (trumpet/flugelhorn/Synclavier), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Paul Carman (alto/soprano sax), Albert Wing (tenor sax), Kurt McGettrick (baritone sax).
Personnel on the 1988 tour
Just the genius at his best...nobody can take a song like that and makes it his own,,,,just amazing
Nobody can … because there are copyright laws in place for such a thing .
Zappa was incapable of coming up with anything like 'Stairway'
Saw this in Rochester with the whole Beatles thing and was blown away. The horns are great but bobby Martin belting out the vocals at the end kills it. Miss u frank, but thanks for years of great music.
I hope you mean 'kills it' in a good way. Hard to tell sometimes :)
What an amazing rendition. Frank was a true genius that would be such an asset to the current dialogue musically and political discourse. Thank GOD for the gift of hearing.........
Protect your hearing because when it’s damaged…it’s gone for good.
I am glad this is preserved on video, BUT it wold have been nice to actually see horn section when they rip into it!
Only Frank could make this work...fantastic.
Such an amazing talent; gone way too soon.
Frank was the first to discover the blues buried behind this musical masterpiece. He LISTENS and ORCHESTRATES but he also IMPROVISES. 😎🎸
I heard this arrangement for the first time three days later in Zurich. I was so in awe and I still am!
This genius of a man left us way too soon, fortunately the music can live forever....RIP my brother
Frank Zappa was an under appreciated musical genius…
By whom?
@@stephenj8576by ABBA fans 🤭
Ike really does do this song justice. Always loved his voice.
+Stev0BabaGhanoush Yeah Ike's real good.
I think he and Robert work well as a pair, too, because Robert can sing that much higher.
Oh yeah He was recently diagnosed with cancer if anybody up here in the comments section didn't see that on the subreddit the other week I wanna say that it's prostate cancer but it could be lung
Ike is sick😭😭please donate to the fundraise to cure him? Thx freakz
@@maplelafe7671 I think his GoFundMe or whatever site he used reached its target a couple months ago or so but if you have a link to a more current funding project I'll try to donate. Thanks
I'm not a big fan of Zappa, but I do admire the fact that he didn't give a f*** what anyone thought about his music, he just wanted to perform.
First time I have seen video of this. Thank you so much!!
Saw this tour at Wembley, absolutely amazing. Top musicians and Zappa's humour made it a wonderful show.They really did an amazing version of Stairway, kudos to Frank.There'll never be another like him, genius ☘
He'll be back. I promise.
Because this was before.
All this is just
Eternity. Not understood yet.
🤣❤❣💋
The night I was at Wembley Robert Plant was in the audience and Ike said "Thanks for letting us play your song Robert"
Frank Zappa was my first concert 1978 at the Apollo in Glasgow Scotland
The horns are flat-out fuckin` KILLIN` it ! Zappa was my first-ever concert (The Balloon Farm, NYC 1966), and saw him multiple times through the years. He always had the most amazing musicians with him. Even STING (!) did a guest appearance with Frank....
A great song with a Frank Zappa twist
Awesome
I saw this tour. He did this tune and a medley of other early bands like The Beatles. It was all in good fun. Little did I know, it was all coming to an end.
Saw this tour front row center Cleveland Music Hall. One of best ever
I saw this tour. As ever just amazing.
I saw Zappa many times , every show was different and awesome
still remember bumping into him at a McDonalds on Ventura in Encino in the 80's...
I'm so happy and grateful that he created such incredibly good music, to be honest I don't really understand how you can do without such good sound !
I once saw Frank Zappa .He gave a free concerts..Happy together
remember when flo and eddie (the turtles) were part of the mothers???? wow!!!!
Frank Zappa was our mascot growing up in Ontario. This is superb!
I cant see Zappa as a wonderful human being but one of the greats of modern guitar, yes
Totally insane, to I it had a flair of fusion and a touch of reggae!
Adónde fueron a parar todos esos genios que deambularon con Zappa???? Gente única!!!!!
I saw Zappa and his various bands, five times in the 70's at the Uptown Theater in Chicago. It was always great, and we were always tripping on acid to kick it up a notch.
Same! Bro!
when you need a song to be happy again,this is it.
oh i love this version, thanks for upload 😎🌞👍
The horns for the solo work well. Thank you!
Fascinating clip.I saw Frank 7-8 times never heard a single cover other than the mockery of Bob Dylan on the Sheik Yerbouti tour with Adrian Belew doing the voice.
Así es tu si sabes.
Whipping Post, Atlanta, OMG
This title is on album "The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life"
It blows my mind that this line up had so much drama and fell apart so badly after they went to Europe. Regardless, Frank was ALWAYS changing and adding to the orchestrations. The way they played these songs at the beginning of the 88 tour vs the end is mental. I miss you Frank. So, so much.
This version is liberating
A genius, truly.
been a zappa fan for 20+ and this is just so cool
Geniusz. Bardzo "niegrzeczne" wykonanie tego klasyka. Ale jak wspaniałe i intrygujące. Mistrzostwo. Chylę czoło przed Frankiem.
Amen
WOW, fantastic.
My last day of high School in El Paso Texas May 1975 we were hours early for Zappa's show . He sent out a roadie that said if we had tickets we could come inside because it was so hot . We got to watch Frank run through tunes with El Paso's own Jimmy Carl Black, the Mothers of Invention's famed drummer and watch the crew playing volleyball. Best show I've ever seen.
this is a true Zappa spirit! what a legend!
Zappa never disappointed....RIP. Frank
I saw that in Secaucus; NJ in 87 as an encore along with a Beatles medley. It rocked! I was barely able to vote I was so young, but they registered me during intermission. vote folks, or your rights will mysteriously disappear…….
What a visionary the one and only Frank waz.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Ya gotta love Ike Willis here! And despite the seeming irreverence with the comical sound effects, etc., there's no mistaking the homage to Page's guitar solo with the note-for-note ensemble treatment!
I wondered what kind of irreverent take Frank Zappa would deliver for this song. He did not disappoint! LOL
I have listened to this a hundred times and never tried of it! Great to see the performance even if it is an amateur video. Thanks for that!
This is recorded in good quality live on one of the “Best band you never heard in your life” CD sets released by Frank. All great recordings from the road. What excellent bands he had. Ike nailed this one as usual. Great voice!
I saw this live in London in '98 and it blew my mind especially the horn solo. And it Makes Me Wonder.....What Page and Plant thought of this version. No one else on earth could manage to turn it on its head, make it so unique and fresh, and equal in stature to the original. Ike's vocals, Frank's fender, the weird Synclavier samples and the horn section = pure magic
I'm sure you meant 88. I was there too. I think Frank played two nights if I remember correctly. I was there on the first night. I travelled back to Scotland after the gig on the overnight mail train!
@@periurban yeah ‘88. 😁 I moved to US in ‘92. I never forgave my girlfriend at the time for that night ‘cause i’d wanted to see Frank for years and she made us late so I missed the first 15 of that show 😡
@@jammygitt I hope you didn't marry her! lol
I remember on the day of the show going to Tower Records in London, and the whole place was decked out in Frank Zappa stuff - posters, albums covers - and they were playing Zappa over the speakers. Everyone there was a Zappa freak. I felt like I'd walked into my perfect world.
I'd seen Frank twice before in Glasgow, but the London show had a much bigger vibe. It was a great night, and at the show I met two friends from back home who'd been given free tickets by AC/DC (they knew the band) who'd played there the night before.
Happy days!
@@periurban ah. Tower Records - when major cities still had some life.
@@periurban if you are in NYC check out Ed Palermo Big Band. NYCs best musicians play Zappa. Often with alumnis like Napoleon Murphy Brock (!!!!), Mike Kennealy etc guesting. Always sense of humor. Some shows on UA-cam. Used to play Zappa exclusively. Got threatened by Gail etc so while Zappa is heavily featured sometimes they mash up with other artists. Sometimes his versions compare with original or even excel. Sacriligious to say I know 😀
I saw Frank do this bit in the 80s at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Yeah, the horn section solo was incredible! Take Jimmy Page's iconic solo and play it note for note with the horn section as if it's the hokiest piece of music ever written! Such fun, I registered to vote at that show! RIP Frank!
Frank's ANGST... always there, always aware... in it's brilliance
RIP
Such virtuosity. I saw him live several times. Perfection embodied.
This is from Bootleg , good Concert, i have this too...From this Song gives a Maxi Single , of the other Side is Bolero.. ZAPPA was a Genius !!! Thank you from Germany for this good make repair Video.
That horn section covering the guitar solo.... Oh Lordy!
Sheer brilliance.
Saw him do this in NOLA, and you're exactly right, horn section made my jaw drop
@@TMullins123 That must have been one heck of a show.
@@hksoundpro I saw the Cleveland show when they did Stairway and yes it was one heck of a show. The audience rose as one and roared like a lion at the end of this one...it was one of many standing ovations that night....Zappa also did Lets Move To Cleveland that night to make it extra special.
I've been a Frank Zappa fan since 1967 when I was 16. First time I've heard this and love it. For anyone, especially the younger crowd go back and listen to Peaches in Regalia and Montana and I Am the Slime. There will never be another Frank Zappa.
Hot Rats
@@rickystrychnineJoe's Garage is probably my favorite. It's just amazing and hilarious and even moving by the end. Insane.
50 50 and any downers and apostrophe are all great also...
I did not know! so good to discover such a piece today!
Definitely the Sears version of this poncho.
The Page solo on horns at 6:30 is the best part.
Whipping post & ring of fire immediately come to mind.
Yes, in unison with the guitars
Yup, I still remember that from 33 (and a third?) years ago. I don't, however, remember this much monkeying around with the rest of the song at the Rochester show.
They play it better than he does!
@@andythomas706 Well, yeah: Zappa band, after all.
I saw him do this live, and was blown away by the brilliance of that performance
Frank Zappa, the Maestro
vielen dank. for sharing this with us Marc,
Genius encore….because the next day everyone who was at the show likely said, “Zappa played “Stairway to Heaven” as his encore?!?”
What a great performance, the arrangement of the horns makes something clear: Zappa was a genius❤
Brilliant!
That was brilliant! We need more musicians like Frank!
There Will Never Be Another One Like Him !
There are none. Frank was and is unique in all the world