Those familiar with Roxy & Elsewhere will of course recognize many of the selections here, but it's the ability to actually WATCH these incredible musicians play these demanding songs that makes this such a thrill.
#Roxy and elsewhere dvd original footage movie#
Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, both with a companion soundtrack CD, Roxy-The Movie is a document of perhaps Frank Zappa's most accomplished band, which included George Duke (keyboards, vocals), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Napoleon Murphy Brock (sax, flute, vocals), Ruth Underwood (percussion, vibes), Tom Fowler (bass), Ralph Humphrey (drums), and Chester Thompson (drums). Sitting tucked away in the vaults for over four decades, the Zappa Estate and Eagle Rock are finally giving fans what they have been asking for, and believe me, it was well worth the wait. Zappa fans rejoice! Let's hope this paves the way for many more Zappa DVD releases.Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy-The Movie (DVD/CD)įilmed over three nights in December of 1973 at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood, California, Roxy-The Movie is the long awaited video companion to the beloved Roxy & Elsewhere live album from Frank Zappa & The Mothers. There are some minor flaws in the film stock, but the sound is spectacular on this overdue re-release. The packaging also contains a "secret dossier"-looking folder that has many of the credits, stills from the movie, and press clippings, as well as some copy that Zappa provided about the original release. There are also extensive credits both for the original release of the film as well as for the DVD, and some artifacts like the Motion Picture Association of America's certificate of an "R" rating. The DVD adds only a few items to the full-length version of the film (running time over two and a half hours): the original film trailer, two television commercials that were prepared, and a tantalizing trailer for The Roxy Performances (curiously dated 1999). Baby Snakes does a great job of portraying the mixture of tightly rehearsed music, structured improvisation, and inspired spontaneity that made Zappa live shows such fun (and why many fans saw night after night of shows). This is the very young and very talented Sheik Yerbouti band, consisting of Patrick O'Hearn (bass), Adrian Belew (guitar), Tommy Mars (keyboards), Terry Bozzio (drums), Peter Wolf (more keyboards), and Ed Mann (percussion) in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals. The film itself is a mix of concert and backstage footage, along with some rehearsals and lots of disturbing, surreal, and brilliant clay animation courtesy of Bruce Bickford. "A film about people who do stuff that is not normal" mostly refers to the rabid New York audience, although the bandmembers themselves and special deranged guest Roy Estrada also have their fun.
Just over a decade after Frank Zappa's premature death (December 4, 1993) comes the long-awaited release of Baby Snakes on DVD.
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