1993 August
No. 2

Just when you thought it was safe
Interview by Phil Wilding, 3 pp

Frank Zappa's early departure from a series of performances by the Ensemble Modern of his "The Yellow Shark" at the Frankfurt festival in September last year, again set off rumours that Zappa's health was once more in a serious state of deterioration. Since the announcement by Moon and Dweezil Zappa of their father's cancer in 1991, Zappa has become the cause of speculation that has for once disregarded his supposed outrages, while once again simply choosing to overlook his music. At the time, he confirmed, "I'm not dead, and I have no intention of checking out this week or within the foreseeable future." "The Yellow Shark", so named after a fibreglass fish that once rested against Zappa's fireplace. He finally turned it over to Ensemble Modern's general manager, Andreas Molich-Zebhauser with a note, 'This is Andreas' personal yellow shark', to help it through Customs. Consequently, the ninety minute piece, consisting of new transcriptions, alongside arrangements of existing Zappa work," Be-Bop Tango", "Dog Breath", "Uncle Meat", combined here as "Dog/Meat", and at the Ensemble's request, "G-Spot Tornado", became "The Yellow Shark". (read more @ Cutting Edge Interview: August 1993)