Frank Zappa was a well-known musical satirist, but what happened to him at London's Rainbow theatre on December 10, 1971, was no joke. While playfully launching into a cover of the Beatles song ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand,’ an irate 24-year-old male fan rushed the stage and shoved Zappa into the orchestra pit. "The band all thought I was dead," Zappa said at the time. "My head was over my shoulder and my neck was bent like it was broken. I had a hole in the back of my head, a fractured leg and one arm was paralyzed. The album was made in the studio while I was in a wheelchair. I was writing music even when I was in the hospital." This interview was one of the first Zappa did after his recovery. Non-Angelenos may not fully appreciate what most locals know: Zappa is a giant in L.A. musical history for his genius, daring and inventiveness. (read more)

Source: issuu.com