Frank Zappa teaches Steve Allen to play The Bicycle (1963)
599,993
Published 2014-06-20
(aired March 3, 1963)
This televisual gem inspired me follow along which got me into endless trouble at family picnics and barbecues for playing my own symphonic masterpieces which, for some strange reason, nobody else seemed to enjoy. I extended Frank's genius to my exploration of the vacuum cleaner, ping pong balls and paddles, hammers on concrete and other objects, wrenches, wooden boards like 2x4's, and my personal favourite - the bars and other parts of cages pens and stalls in my father\s veterinary clinic as well as at the Calgary Zoo where he worked. I had a captive audience, but they all seemed to really enjoy my musical efforts at breaking up the monotony of their captivity and hospital recovery. The next time you're out in a forest I challenge you to explore the musical nature of nature for yourself. Trees make great drums and often ring with higher tones - not to mention the musical benefits of rocks and stones.
I miss Frank.
nb - I hold no specific rights to this footage and present it only for educational purposes.
All Comments (21)
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It's a rare treat to see a bicycle player doing an interview - they usually send a spokesperson.
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Weird seeing him dressed so straight-laced and clean.
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If there was ever anyone qualified to play the bicycle......
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It seems that Steve Allen began to realize in this short segment how much he liked Frank Zappa and possibly how much they had in common.
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seeing him without the mustache is so weird
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Frank at 23, already an established pioneer of the avant-garde.
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I think this young man may have a promising future in music.
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Frank was not joking here. You can find this "random disorder of sounds" years later, in his famous albums. This is a musical expression for Frank, some people may not understand him but he was dead serious, a musical genius with such a passion that made him famous worldwide. R.I.P Frank.
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The only time I've ever seen Zappa laugh in public
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Being a musician means realising that everything in existence is a musical Instrument.
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The fact that they let this breathe for sixteen minutes is something we just wouldn't do now.
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Steve was one hip dude. He knew Zappa was for real.....
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So strange seeing Frank so young and in black and white. Even stranger to realize that Steve Allen outlived him by seven years.
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Kudos to Steve Allen for being open minded
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That symphony was then recorded and inserted for play into every MRI machine forever more.
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From playing a bicycle to WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH
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The amount of control that Zappa has over this whole presentation is mind-boggling.
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I'm 65 years old and have never seen this sequence. The range of emotions that I experienced watching this is beyond my ability to articulate.
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Zappa once described music as “decorating time”. ♥️
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For one brief, shining moment 58 yrs ago, a 23 yr-old Frank freaking Zappa pried open the brains of Middle America, Anywhere USA families, sitting around the B&W TV, and expanded them to infinite possibilities.
