Musikexpress
Article on MIDEM convention 1970 is about best performers on this festival. The FZ picture is included, but Zappa is not mentioned in the text. As we know, FZ jammed with French group Docdail during MIDEM convention, see Best, March 1970.
The corresponding Dutch issue (May 1971) has an article on 200 Motels. German issue contains only a full-page poster.
1972 April
No. 196
Captain Beefheart: von Zappa zum Genie ernannt (Proclaimed a genius by Zappa)
By ?, p 20
1973 March
No. 3
Frank Zappa "Grand Wazoo"
By Karl Heinz Borchert, pp 42-43
Im Plattentest
By Walter Quintus, p 45
1975 December
No. 12
ME Special Story: Frank Zappa
Rock-Genie und Bürgerschreck (Rock genius and citizen fright)
By ?, pp 60-69
Labelträume-Labelschäume (Label dreams - label foams)
By ?, pp 22-24
Automatic translation: Georgie Duke on keyboards, Chester Thompson, who now plays with Weather Report, on drums, Bruce and Tom Fowler on trombone and bass (according to the cover also as dancers), Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart on vocals, plus three other Mothers and of course Frankie-Boy Zappa - can it get any better and more fun? (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
Automatic translation: With “Zoot Allures” Zappa seems to open a catchy chapter. Calmer and more serene, he seems to be down from his jazzy speed collage trip. The pieces are no longer cluttered like they used to be. Maybe it's because of his current companions, who aren't nearly as clever and experienced as the pros George Duke or Ruth Underwood. (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
1977 March
No. 3
Frank Zappa unterwegs (Frank Zappa On The Road)
By Hermann Haring, pp 24, 26
Originalton Zappa "LSD vom CIA"
By Jim Ladd, p 26
Second article about LSD and CIA is taken from US radio interview - Innerview, Radio show with Jim Ladd. This interview is also contained in GSW Project vol 17.
Source: Pittylabelle @ zappateers
Automatic translation: Even though Frank Zappa changes his musicians like other people don't even change their underwear, after all these years he is managed to preserve his joy of playing and his spirit of experimentation. This album was recorded live in New York in late 1976. With an unparalleled sovereignty, Zappa spits, moans and roars through the four sides of the LP.(read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
1979 January
No. 1
Frank Zappa "Studio Tan"
By in, p 43
George Duke: Jazzrock aus dem Zauberstab
By wof, pp 10-11
Automatic translation: So it's clear: George Duke, Ruth Underwood, Chester Thompson and also Zappa (the album was recorded a year ago) are good musicians. 'When someone becomes a musician, the music is no longer human'. This Iggy Pop quote hits the nail on the head with Zappa. (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
Automatic translation: Zappa is enigmatic again – he claims his fellow players are “unavailable” (unusable, not available), and WEA, his previous sales company, doesn't know anything specific either. It could be that he tricked everything on this LP, or most of it alone, because weaknesses cannot be hidden, especially in the rhythm; on the marimba, however, Ruth Underwood comes under suspicion. (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
Automatic translation: With a play on words (Sheik Yerbouti – shake your booty), Frank Zappa makes his promising debut on CBS. And it can't be compared at all with the DiscReet latecomer album "Sleep Dirt" by WEA (see ME 3/79). A usual Zappa circus is rolling here again: garish, dazzling, deafening, raising dust - number for number breathtaking. (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
The same interview was later published in Yugoslavian monthly Džuboks. Publications in English are not known.
Automatic translation: ME: Have you ever heard a guitarist that resembles you?
Zappa: Yes. Warren [Cuccurullo]. He is the only one. He sits at home and memorizes my guitar solos. I can't even play those solos anymore. On stage we play "Andy" from One Size Fits All and he solos note for note. I just sit there and he plays it. I couldn't do it anymore. (read more)
1981 May
No. 5
Frank Zappa "Tinsel Town Rebellion"
By MK, p 68
The Grandmothers "An anthology of previously unreleased tracks by ex-members of the mothers of invention"
By PBO, p 71
Automatic translation: Grace Slick, then with Jetterson Airplane, once said of Frank Zappa: 'He's the smartest asshole I've ever met.' With his live double LP TINSEL TOWN REBELLION, Zappa of all people sets out to demonstrate what Grace Slick might have meant. After all, no one would doubt that Frank Zappa is highly intelligent. However, we still have to come to the other attribute in the following. (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
Automatic translation: In fact, I think this LP set is the best album Zappa has ever made. What's more: he almost makes kindling out of the efforts of those guitarists who sail in the fairway between jazz and rock. (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
Automatic translation: Who is Zappa trying to annoy? Or does he really want to address someone with the bombardment he has been unleashing on the already flooded sound carrier market for years? Is it about the fans? - God knows they've seen him better than on SHIP... (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
Automatic translation: Why do you usually release double albums?
"Some authors write short stories and others write long stories. It's hard for me to make easy albums, although my next record will be one. I don't like the format."
Is a double album enough?
"No. Just one example: in the last few months we've recorded eighteen album sides. I could release them all at once if someone could afford to buy them. But nobody can, so it will be a single album." (read more)
Source: Pittylabelle @ zappateers
Automatic translation: Fortunately, at least Zappa himself keeps a record of the production of his works. As has been heard, he is said to have created an Opus directory. Something like this might be important for later authors of rock music histories, because the fact that one now loses track of his records is not only due to their quantity, but certainly to a considerable extent to their quality. (read more)
Source: musikexpress.de
1984 November
No. 11
Frank Zappa
Interview by Alan Bangs, pp 26-28, 30
Frank Zappa "Them Or Us"
By Steve Lake, p 92
Automatic translation: Actually, he was fed up with Europe. In Germany in particular, he growled after his last tour, they wanted to reduce him to the role of frightening citizens and making political speeches. At 44 years of age, however, he no longer wants to be a prayer wheel for calcified political freaks. He says. But when he opens his mouth, he'll be the old revolutionary Frank again. Alan Bangs met the master of the all-rounder at the beginning of his tour in Brussels. (read more)
Source: Pittylabelle @ zappateers
This issue features pictures of Wolfgang Wesener, a German photographer active for the last three years in New York. Included is a picture of Frank Zappa, made obviously in Limelight, New York. See also Details, February 1987.
Source: Fulvio Fiore
Automatic translation: Once upon a time there was a shock of the citizens. He posed naked on the toilet bowl, exposed the state and church on the stage and frightened prudish America with pornographic texts. And private? What is it like when the father is a freak? ME / Sounds brought Frank and Dweezil Zappa to the table. (read more)
These pictures are taken by Lynn Goldsmith in 1988. The article here is titled as "Zappa Zoo – Holiday on the Freak Farm". See also Zappainfrance.
Source: Pittylabelle @ zappateers
Automatic translation: It was well known that he was a political mind. It was not to be expected, even from a lateral thinker like Zappa, that he would now apply for the post of American President. ME/Sounds contributor Rudi Dolezal met the candidate in Prague, where he spoke to Czech President Václav Havel about what is on his mind most at the moment: politics. (read more)
1992 November
No. 11
Haifisch mit gelben Zähnen: Frank Zappa wildert in fremden Gewässern
By Detlef Kinsler, pp 62-63
Automatic translation: Frank Zappa mothballed his guitar and turned his back on the rock 'n' roll business with its adolescent excesses. "At my age you just have to look around for something more serious," he responded succinctly to comments that he has now finally changed fronts - from the eternal enfant terrible to the established e-musician. (read more)
Source: Fulvio Fiore
1992 December
No. 12
Punkt Punkt Komma Strich (Period period comma dash. Can musicians paint too?)
By Walter Dahn, pp 12-14, 16
1993 May
No. 5
Frank Zappa "The Man From Utopia"
By Uwe Schleifenbaum, p 94
Frank Zappa "The Amazing Mr. Bickford"
By Uwe Schleifenbaum, p 98
Zappas Geige (Zappa's violin)
By Franks Sohnemann, p 100
1993 June
No. 6
Frank Zappa & Das Ensemble Modern "The Yellow Shark"
By Werner Theurich, p 77
Mothers Of Invention "Ahead Of Their Time"
By Uwe Schleifenbaum, p 84
1993 November
No. 11
Frank Zappa "Hot Rats"
By Holger True, pp 102-103
Frank Zappa "Over-Nite Sensation"
By Holger True, pp 97-98
1994 February
No. 2
Special – Frank Zappa komplett
By Steve Lake, pp 92-97
Captain Beefheart
By Uwe Schleifenbaum, pp 30-31
1994 December
No. 12
Grüße aus der Gruf (Greetings from the crypt)
By Albert Koch, p 20
Schräg - Frank Zappa "Civilization Phaze III"
By Michael Ruff, p 75
2003 December
No. 12
Zappa für Einsteiger (Zappa for beginner)
By Christoph Lindemann, p 91
Does Humor Belong In Music? DVD (review)
By Uwe Schleifenbaum, p 93
2017 February
No. 2
Neu Auf Vinyl (reviews)
We're Only In In For The Money
Lumpy Gravy
Cruising With Ruben And The Jets
Weasels Ripped My Flesh
By Albert Koch, p 101
2020 February
No. 2
Frank Zappa. Hot Rats Sessions 50th Anniversary Limited Edition (review)
By Mike Köhler, p 97