Hi,
My dad, used to do a lot of writing, literary criticisms they were called then, of a lot of American Literature and he has a long list of names that most people will never read ... and I do the same thing for many rock bands ... and aside from the obvious satirical thing that Frank did off his neighbors and friends, in the end, the music that he put together is pretty much 2nd to none ... but as much as he talked Varese and this and that ... I have not met a single Frank Zappa "fan" that has heard 5 minutes of Varese, or any other "modernist" so the connection can be found as to how he thought his music was done.
I just got "Hot Rats" myself ... let's see ... Pink Floyd complere, Klaus Schulze half way, Vangelis complete, Peter Hammill-VdGG almost complete, Djam Karet complete, Frank Zappa around 25 CD's now ... and in my book these are some of the most creative people in music, and their output far out-passes a lot of "composers" out there in the past 75 years ... period!
Saddest thing, though ... one of the greatest achievements in film, that many will not agree with me on this, is 200 Motels ... but no one notices that video was the process that helps make a lot of the effects that were used in 2001 what they were, and many other films from that time on!
I guess that a groupie's trip with a band is not a valid excuse for an opera but Carmen's outrage and mistake is a tragedy!
And now ... time for Mystery Roach ... full blast, of course!