Guitar World
Currently published by Future plc with other guitar magazines like Guitarist, Guitar Player, Guitar Techniques, Total Guitar, and Bass Player.
F.Z. Let's look at it from the standpoint of logic. There is a way unless you're dead, and even they there is still a question, that you're not going to offend somebody. There's always someone that's going to get offended over something that somebody does.
That's human nature. Just sitting still you can offend people, so why worry about it? You can't win. I was never meant to be a man for all seasons. Am I here to entertain everybody? No, just the ones who like what I do. The ones who don't like it, like somebody else. (read more)
Source: zappateers
1982 March
Vol. 3 No. 2
Frank Zappa: The Interview
By John Swenson, pp 34-35, 37-38, 40, 45-46, 48-49, 72-73
FZ: By the way, I really enjoyed the review that you did of the albums in Guitar World.
GW: Oh, thanks. I really loved the records.
FZ: I am glad I did them. I mean, I have been waiting to do it for a long time. And a lot of people thought I was crazy for spending the time to do it. But, right now that group of albums is selling better than You are What You Is and Tinsel Town Rebellion. We went into a profit position after two weeks on the market. (read more)
Source: zappateers
1987 April
Vol. 8 No. 3
Zappa's Inferno
By Noë Goldwasser, pp 64-70, 114-115
Jazz From Hell (review)
By Peter Mengaziol, p 105
Our purpose was to plan the Guitar World According To Frank Zappa tape – a 34-minute collection of rare Zappa solos on a special GW audio cassette which this magazine will make available in the spring – and to talk about guitar stuff. (read more)
1987 July
Vol. 8 No. 5
The Importance Of Being Dweezil
By Bud Scoppa, pp 26-29, 31-32
Zappa's Whole Life - Part I
By Peter Mengaziol, pp 112-113
1994 April
Vol. 15 No. 4
Perfectly Frank
The life and times of Frank Zappa – composer, satirist and towering giant of the electric guitar.
By Alan di Perna, pp 32-33, 35, 37-38, 40, 43-44, 47
Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar: A Tribute To A Guitar Genius
An in-depth analysis of the improvisatory inventions of Frank Zappa, one of the most innovative rock guitarists to ever lay hands on the instrument.
By Andy Aledort, 5 pp 51-52, 54, 56, 58
1999 February
Vol. 19 No. 2
Zappa's Universe
On the fifth anniversary of Zappa's death, his former guitarists Steve Vai and Mike Keneally pay tribute to their late friend and boss.
Interviews by Andy Aledort, 12 pp 68-72, 74, 92, 94, 96, 98, 101-102
Zappa's Universe – Part I
Zappa's Universe – Part II
Zappa's Universe – Part III
Perfectly Frank
The life and times of Frank Zappa – composer, satirist and towering giant of the electric guitar.
By Alan di Perna, pp 70-72, 74, 88, 90
Reprint of 1994 April article, with different photos.
The End Page
By J.D. Considine, p 214
1999 June
Vol. 19 No. 6
Frank Zappa. Uncle Meat
By Andy Aledort, pp 68-69
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. Trout Mask Replica
By Andy Aledort, p 102
2003 December
Vol. 23 No. 12
Dynamo Frank
In a special 10th anniversary tribute, Guitar World presents the one and only Grand Wazoo in his own words.
Interview by Alan di Perna, pp 78-80, 82, 84, 104, 106, 108, 156-157
In-A-Gadda-Stravinsky
A selected discography of Frank Zappa's best work
By Alan di Perna, p 80
2006 August
Vol. 27 No. 8
Let's Be Frank
On the eve of their tour honoring Frank Zappa's music, Dweezil Zappa and guitar ace Steve Vai trade memories of the man who gave them their start
By Alan di Perna, pp 46-48, 50, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102
2008 August
Vol. 29 No. 8
Frank Zappa's Rare Gear
When it comes to faithfully recreating Frank Zappa's music and tones, his son Dweezil heads to the original source: dad's collection of priceless musical equipment
By Alan di Perna, pp 82-86, 88, 90
The secret weapons behind Dweezil's killer tones
By Alan di Perna, p 84
In the studio with Dweezil Zappa (video 16:48)
Dweezil Zappa unveils his new custom live guitar and shows off some Frank Zappa's classic guitars
2009 December
Vol. 30 No. 14 Anniversary issue
The Big Three-Oh!
pp 60-82, including
December 4, 1993 - Frank Zappa Dies of Cancer
By ?, p 72
2010 September
Vol. 31 No. 9
The 30 Coolest Guitarists Of All Time
By Alan Di Perna, Chris Gill, Richard Bienstock
Can you describe your audition for Frank Zappa? I hear it’s kind of a funny story. —Tommy Moore
I flew out to Frank’s house—my first time on a plane. That’s how green I was. They picked me up and took me to his house in the basement, which would turn into his studio over the years. It was just a big empty room. Frank’s sitting behind a console, he’s got a cigarette in his mouth, of course, and there’s a microphone in the middle of the room. Unfortunately, there were people moving things all over; here goes a piano in front of you, they’re setting up something over there and so on. It was very distracting. Frank gave me a long list of songs. I had to borrow the albums from friends because I was so poor.
We started, and he’d say, “Okay, let’s try ‘Andy,’ ” and I’d play it for a minute or two and sing some things, and then he’d stop me, take another puff and say, “Okay, try ‘Wind Up Workin’ in a Gas Station.’ I was fumbling and really being distracted by all the stuff going on. I had nowhere to go, so they were gonna take me back to the airport and fly me back home, so I just watched everyone else’s terrifying auditions. I watched keyboard players and percussionists and thought, “Oh my god, these guys are so great, I don’t know how I’ll ever be in this band.”
There was a moment at the end of the day, though, where it was just Frank and I standing there, and I said, “I’m sorry, I really thought I could do this, and I thought it would be different.” He said, “What do you mean?” I said, “I thought it would just be you and me somewhere quiet where I could show you that I could do this.” So we went up to his living room and sat on his purple couch, I took my little Pignose amp and stuffed it between the pillows so I could turn it up as loud as I could, and we started over. We got about a third of the way through and Frank was starting to sing along with me. Finally he put his hand out, shook my hand and said, “You’ve got the job.” Changed my life, that handshake did.