Ian Dickson/RedfernsFrank Zappa’s legacy will continue, and in a most inventive way.
The late Mothers of Invention leader will go on tour in hologram form, thanks to a new agreement between the Zappa Family Trust and Eyellusion, a company that recently produced a touring Ronnie James Dio hologram.
Ahmet Zappa, co-director of the Zappa Family Trust along with his sister, Diva, says former members of the Mothers of Invention — including multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood, guitarist Denny Walley and saxophonist/vocalist Napoleon Murphy Brock — will take part in the tour, along with other famous Zappa sidemen like guitarists Steve Vai, Adrian Belew and Warren Cuccurullu, bassist Arthur Barrow and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta.
Ahmet exclaims, “When I spoke with them, they were excited at the prospect of performing alongside Frank once again and can’t wait to give fans an unforgettable experience.” He says the tour will feature Zappa favorites plus “some rare and unheard material.”
The tour kicks off later this year. The main events, details still to be announced, will be a staging of Frank Zappa’s three-act opera Joe’s Garage, featuring the Zappa hologram in the role of the Big Brother-like Central Scrutinizer.
Ahmet also says he’d love to include other siblings, like sister Moon Unit, who memorably provided vocals on the novelty hit “Valley Girl,” and singer-guitarist brother Dweezil. However, last year, Dweezil claimed the Family Trust legally forced him to license his own name and re-brand his tour in order to play his dad’s music in concert.
Ahmet tells Rolling Stone claims he tried to prevent Dweezil from performing are “one million percent false.”
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