Rocker, prankster, and free speech activist Frank Zappa liked to go all out for his Halloween shows, as evidenced by this 1981 performance (airing on MTV in 1982) from New York's Palladium in support of You Are What You Is. The era reveals itself through his puffy jumpsuit, drummer Chad Wackerman's skinny tie, and percussionist Ed Mann's striped top (Mann plays xylophone, cymbals, and harmonica). The rest of the group consists of guitarists Ray White and Steve Vai, bassist Scott Thunes, keyboard player Tommy Mars, and keyboard/saxophone man Bobby Martin. The 24-track set includes fan favorites “Montana,” in which Zappa imagines life as a “dental floss tycoon,” and “Harder Than Your Husband,” his satiric take on cry-in-your-beer country music. Zappa sings lead on most songs, while his sidemen take over on others, notably “Charlie's Enormous Mouth” (White), “Broken Hearts Are for Assholes” (Mann), and “Teen-Age Wind” and “Bamboozled by Love” (Mars). When Zappa isn't singing or playing guitar, he smokes cigarettes, waves a baton, and twirls a pair of panties tossed onto the stage. All told, it's a good time for those tuned into Zappa's wigged-out wavelength. Presented in Dolby Digital stereo, DVD extras include two bonus songs, a music video, a discography, a photo gallery, and liner notes by Thunes. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)
The Torture Never Stops
(1981) 120 min. DVD: $14.98. Eagle Rock Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 26, Issue 2
The Torture Never Stops
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