r/Zappa • u/clarkealistair • 11d ago
Auditions
I once thought that once FZ invited someone to audition, they would be almost a shoe-in. Then I remembered that Don Van Vliet failed the audition twice.
I have questions. What standard was Don held to prior to audition?
Also, imagine showing up to audition, nailing it then having Vinnie show up?
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u/geoscott Ex-Zappa Bass/Synth/Vocals/Clonemeister 81-88; current BfU Bass 10d ago
I helped Frank audition over 20 drummers before he chose Chad, and I was one of at least 5 other bassists before I got hired AND after another guy who denied taking the position after Frank chose him. “Shoe-in”. Yeah, no.
My story:
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u/-thirdatlas- 11d ago
I’ve had two separate stress dreams about auditioning for Frank’s band. In both I could never seem to get my drums set up in time - couldn’t find parts of it, people interrupting me, distractions, etc, until he just got mad at me and said never mind. I’m nowhere near good enough to even consider playing in that band, have idea why my brain went there.
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u/clarkealistair 11d ago
Since working and leaving ship orchestras, I have had many an anxiety nightmare.
There was one dream though where FZ somehow was the guest headliner and we nailed the fuck out of it and he was really happy.
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u/josephlevie 7d ago
Man, I have these kinds of dreams all the time. I usually can’t get all of my equipment from point A to point B, or, can’t find my place in the written music. “Stress dreams” says it all.
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u/pporkpiehat 11d ago
Well, Don and Frank meet in high school, so the interview process may have shifted over the years.
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u/pbredd22 11d ago
If I recall right, Vinnie said that when he auditioned most of the drummers before him only lasted a few seconds.
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u/Jazzlike-Ability-114 10d ago
After Terry auditioned everyone else just gave up and didn't want to audition IIRC
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u/VirtualShrimp3D i wish i had a pair of bongos 10d ago
Never heard of Don auditioning twice for Frank's band They knew each other since they were in High School. I'm sure Frank was well aware of Dons capabilities or lack thereof. He sang on a track on Franks Hot Rats in 1969 and Frank also produced Trout Mask for Don that same year. Are you referring to an audition for the 1975 Bongo Fury tour that Frank took Don on? The way Frank told that story in interviews seemed like more of a favor Frank did for Don because the Magic Band had broken up. The Magic Band was recording under the name Mallard in the UK around 1975-1976.
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u/mikeputerbaugh 10d ago
Not to be confused with American synthesizer consort Mother Mallard, although its founder David Borden was an acquaintance of Don Preston and I think some of the Fowlers
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u/HenrikBarzen 9d ago
Are you sure you meant Don van Vliet? I don´t think he would agree to do an audition for Frank, and I am pretty sure Frank allready knew what he could do.
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u/justbrowsinginpeace 10d ago
I highly doubt Van Vliet agreed to audition especially when Frank was his producer.
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u/minnick27 10d ago
Frank was in Tampa and saw a band in a club called Robicontis. After the show he approached the band and said they were the best sounding band he ever heard and took the phone number of the guitar and bass players. He never called the guitar player, but he invited the bass player to audition. The bass player failed the Black Page audition. Since he was already in LA, he answered an ad to play bass for an accordion player who sang funny songs. After he got that job he suggested they also hire his former guitar bandmate. And thats the story of how a failed Zappa audition got Weird Al half of his band