When Frank Zappa & The Mothers took over Hollywood’s infamous Roxy Theatre in December of 1973 for three nights of madness, mayhem and mind-numbing time signatures, the chance to share the experience with those unfortunate souls without a ticket was cashed in early with the 1974 release Roxy & Elsewhere. That was only a teaser though. What everyone wanted was the film Zappa shot over the three-day stand. Forty years later, Roxy: The Movie is here at last, adding colorful, moving pictures to the sound. And oh what a sight it is to behold.
Even as Zappa explains the situation (“Something Terrible Has Happened…”), the camera rolls and you’re suddenly onstage with the maestro and his band of eight super musicians — George Duke (keyboards, synthesizer, vocals), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Napoleon Murphy Brock (flute, tenor saxophone, vocals), Tom Fowler (bass guitar), Ralph Humphrey (drums), Chester Thompson (drums), and Ruth Underwood (percussion) — ready to twist your eardrums.
Written and directed by Zappa, the film was finally unveiled by the late Gail Zappa, son Ahmet Zappa, and acclaimed director Jeff Stein. Here are some of Zappa’s most enterprising compositions, including “Inca Roads,” ” I’m The Slime / Big Swifty” and the positively undanceable “Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzman’s Church),” where the band leader brings up audience members to show off their best moves to George Duke’s vocal scats. Super groupie Pamlea Des Barre ups the ante during her appearance in “Pygmy Twylyte,” one of three Bonus (Yes & But Also) tracks. The film, for all its sideshow antics, is 80 minutes of mind-numbing musicianship that only someone like Frank Zappa with the assistance of top-notch players could conjure. Roxy: The Movie goes a long way in confirming his musical genius.
~ Shawn Perry
