Friends

Friends magazine was launched in London the 1960s as a rebellious offshoot from the UK edition of Rolling Stone. The magazine was first published as Friends of Rolling Stone. It was later retitled Friends and, from May 1971, Frendz. Friends was intimately connected with UK underground media such as Oz and Time Out, and had many contributors who were part of the London underground or avant-garde scene in the 1960s. The magazine ceased publication in August, 1972. (Art & Popular Culture)
Not the best known British underground paper but in terms of writing far superior to it's competition. It's articles especially on the underground music scene were always interesting and articulate. It ran for 28 issues before becoming the more political "Frendz" which ran to a further 35 issues. (eBay)

1969 December 12

No. 1

(1) It's all in self-defence
By Jonathon Green

(2) There are forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers
By Dick Lawson
(read this interview with Captain Beefheart @ CB Electricity)

(1) Surrounded by The Business, eating through all the courses of a 'luncheon', gradually accumulating more and more different varieties of food and drink inside – it's hardly the ideal place for an interview. Especially if the interview is with iconoclast supreme – Frank Zappa.

Zappa has earned, or perhaps had foisted on him, the reputation as the King of Freaks. Yet his conversation, in marked contrast to his friend Captain Beefheart, is remarkably earth bound for one who the Captain has described as a Martian.

For a start, Zappa is an amazing businessman; he doesn't disdain the non-musical side of pop, in the way that many rock artists do. His current visit, with Beefheart, to England was for the sole purpose of concluding a deal between CBS and his label 'Straight'.

Unfortunately for our conversation, Zappa was beset by the hordes. In what was laughingly called 'The Clinic' he and the Captain were supposed to entertain the ranks of press, business and so on, who poured, apparently without a break, into the interview area.

We talked roughly from the steak to the brandy. And then it was too late to continue. Urgent hands and voices grabbed at the 'stars' and the show went on. What comes below is the Rolling Stone portion of the Clinic.

Dr. Z prescribes a mean script ... (read more)

1970 July 10

No. 9

(1) Hot Waxx!
By ?, 1 p

(2) Miss Pamela Des Barres
By ?, 1 p

(1) Frank Zappa is currently living among the splendid decor of the urinal dynasty of one of London's newest and largest hotels. He and the new Mothers of Invention arrived here last weekend for the Bath Festival, and spent four days before the concert recording at Trident studios for an album due to be released after their next LP – the Weasels Ripped My Flesh. Weasel is due for release in the States in a couple of weeks, but not scheduled for issue here until August or September. According to Zappa the album is to some extent the link between Hot Rats and Burnt Weenie Sandwich, though more 'glandular' than BWS. The main reason for this is the introduction of Aynsley Dunbar into the band. (read more)

Source: Charles Ulrich

1970 October 16

No. 16

Weasels Ripped My Flesh ad on the back cover. No other Zappa content.