MILESAGO - Tours by Overseas Artists

MILESAGO: Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964-1975

FRANK ZAPPA (1973 and 1976 tours)

1973 "Invention in Australia" Tour

Promoter: The Robert Stigwood Organisation

Frank Zappa & The Mothers:
Frank Zappa (guitar, vocals)
George Duke (keyboards, vocals)
Tom Fowler (bass)
Bruce Fowler (trombone)
Ruth Underwood (percussion)
Ian Underwood (woodwinds)
Ralph Humphrey (drums)
Sal Marquez (trumpet, vocals)
Jean Luc Ponty (violin)

Support acts:
Glenn Cardier, Albatross (Sydney)
Mackenzie Theory (Melbourne)

Date	City / Venue	Venue	Notes
21 June (Thu.)	Brisbane	Festival Hall	-
22 June (Fri.)	Brisbane	Festival Hall	extra concert
24 June (Sun.)	Sydney	Hordern Pavilion	extra concert
25 June (Mon.)	Sydney	Hordern Pavilion	-
26 June (Tue.)	Sydney	Hordern Pavilion	-
June 28 Wednesday	Melbourne,	Festival Hall	-
June 29 Thursday	Melbourne, Festival Hall	Festival Hall	guest vocalist Barry Leef
July 1 Sunday	Melbourne, Festival Hall	Festival Hall	extra concert
July 3 Tuesday	Adelaide	Apollo Stadium	extra concert
July 4 Wednesday	Adelaide	Apollo Stadium	-
July 6 Friday	Melbourne	Festival Hall	cancelled due to poor sales
July 8 Sunday	Sydney	Hordern Pavilion	extra concert with guest Barry Leef

The version of The Mothers that toured Australia in 1973 was the ninth incarnation of the group and although all Zappa's backing bands were never less than superb (as his many live recordings attest) many fans consider this lineup of The Mothers -- which featured George Duke, Ruth and Ian Underwood and Jean-Luc Ponty -- to be his best-ever touring band. Alongside the landmark early '70s Australian tours by Yes, Roxy Music, Supertramp and Jethro Tull, the Zappa tours are ranked by many concert-goers as being among the best by any overseas act in that period.

The 1973 tour is also notable for the involvent of Australian jazz-rock singer Barry Leef, then the lead singer with Bakery. FZ spotted Barry when he dropped in at Chequers in Sydney. He was impressed enough to invite Barry to audition and subsequently asked him to join the group. Barry appeared with The Mothers at two concerts as guest vocalist on the song "Road Ladies". Sadly, it transpired that Barry's contract with Bakery prevented him from joining The Mothers.

Zappa made numerous radio and TV appearances while in Australia including The Ernie Sigley Show in Adelaide and the ABC's topical discussion program Monday Conference, hosted by Bob Moore.

Frank Zappa 1976 Australian Tour

The 1976 version of the Mothers was a smaller (but no less impressive) group. The lineup for this tour was:

Frank Zappa
Roy Estrada
Terry Bozzio
Napoleon Murphy Brock
Andre Lewis

Zappa was also interviewed by Norman Gunston (Garry McDonald) for The Norman Gunston Show, and Frank jammed with Norman at the end of the interview (McDonald is an accomplished harmonica player). This interview survives can still be found on the ABC Video compilation The Gunston Tapes.

1976 Tour itinerary / set lists

18 Jan 1976, Horden Pavilion, Sydney
Intro, Stinkfoot, Dirty Love, Filthy Habits, How Could I Be Such A Fool?, Ain't Got No Heart, I'm Not Satisfied, Black Napkins, Advance Romance, Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?, Illinois Enema Bandit, Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station, Tryin' To Grow A Chin, The Torture Never Stops, Let's Move To Cleveland, Kaiser Rolls, Find Her Finer, Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy, Lonely Little Girl, Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance, What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?, Chunga's Revenge, Zoot Allures, Keep It Greasey, Dinah-Moe Humm, Camarillo Brillo, Muffin Man

21 Jan 1976, Horden Pavilion, Sydney, Australia
Intro, Stinkfoot, Dirty Love, Filthy Habits, How Could I Be Such A Fool?, Ain't Got No Heart, I'm Not Satisfied, Black Napkins, Advance Romance, Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?, Illinois Enema Bandit, Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station, Tryin' To Grow A Chin, The Torture Never Stops, Let's Move To Cleveland, Kaiser Rolls, Find Her Finer, Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy, Lonely Little Girl, Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance, What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?, Chunga's Revenge, Zoot Allures, Ship Ahoy, Keep It Greasey, Dinah-Moe Humm, Camarillo Brillo

22 Jan 1976, Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia
Intro, Stinkfoot, Dirty Love, Filthy Habits, How Could I Be Such A Fool?, Ain't Got No Heart, I'm Not Satisfied, Black Napkins, Advance Romance, Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?, Illinois Enema Bandit, Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station, Tryin' To Grow A Chin, The Torture Never Stops, Let's Move To Cleveland, Chunga's Revenge, Zoot Allures, Ms Pinky, Camarillo Brillo, Muffin Man, I'm The Slime, San Ber'dino

23 Jan 1976, Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia
Intro, Stinkfoot, Dirty Love, Filthy Habits, How Could I Be Such A Fool?, Ain't Got No Heart, I'm Not Satisfied, Black Napkins, Advance Romance, Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?, Illinois Enema Bandit, Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station, Tryin' To Grow A Chin, The Torture Never Stops, Let's Move To Cleveland, Chunga's Revenge, Zoot Allures, Ms Pinky, Dinah-Moe Humm, I'm The Slime, San Ber'dino

24 Jan 1976, Apollo Stadium, Adelaide
Intro, Stinkfoot, Dirty Love, Filthy Habits, How Could I Be Such A Fool?, Ain't Got No Heart, I'm Not Satisfied, Black Napkins, Advance Romance, Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me?, Illinois Enema Bandit, Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station, Tryin' To Grow A Chin, The Torture Never Stops, Chunga's Revenge, Zoot Allures, Ms Pinky

References / Links

Zappa In Australia
http://www.zappainaustralia.com/

Rino's Frank Zappa Page
http://home-4.worldonline.be/%7Eir008421/index.htm

FZ Shows Homepage
http://home.swipnet.se/fzshows/index.html