Celebrating the music of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention

An evening of unmitigated Zappa classics featuring live music from TREACHEROUS CRETINS + PYGMY TWYLYTE

So prolific was Frank Zappa’s output, that it is nearly impossible to present a representative sample of his work in just one concert. But we are going to give it a go!  Over the course of his life, and since his death in 1993, over one hundred official Zappa albums have been released, alongside countless bootlegs. These range from 60’s psychedelia with the Mothers of Invention, Jazz and Rock material tinged with Zappa’s own inimitable spin, through to orchestral compositions.

Join leading UK bands Treacherous Cretins and Scotland’s Pygmy Twylyte for a night of great live music in central London celebrating the work of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. It’s going to be a dynamite show.

Treacherous Cretins featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock
Treacherous Cretins is a UK based band that performs the works of the legendary American composer Frank Zappa. Its members have played and collaborated with the likes of Dweezil Zappa, Ike Willis, Ray White, Denny Walley, Craig “Twister” Steward, Candy Zappa and more. In 2019, they played the opening slot at the 30th Anniversary Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberan, Germany: a yearly festival dedicated to Zappa’s music which draws thousands of fans from all around the world. With a particular fondness for the more obscure, hard-to-play material and deep-cuts, Treacherous Cretins promises to deliver a tribute to Zappa unlike any other. Expect a generous helping of Zappa rarities and songs seldom played live by other bands as well as plenty of fan favourites.
For the Cretins’ April 2020 tour they are joined by ex-Zappa band frontman Napoleon Murphy Brock on lead vocals and saxophone. Napoleon played with Zappa and The Mothers of Invention from 1973-75 and again in 1984, performing on classic albums such as Apostrophe (‘), Roxy and Elsewhere, One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury and Sheik Yerbouti – some of the most revered albums in Zappa’s vast discography and much loved by fans. “The Roxy Band” is considered by many Zappa fans to be the greatest line-up of musicians Frank ever had, a band that featured the talents of Napoleon prominently and produced some of the most pioneering, progressive music of the 1970s. Napoleon continues to regularly perform Zappa music with various bands in the USA and Europe, but has not made a UK appearance in over a decade, until now!
Testimonials:
‘Hey out there in the land of cool people, who like even cooler music. I suggest that you gather yourselves into a collective group, and come out to the Treacherous Cretins show when it comes to your town, village, or anywhere close to you. I love Frank Zappa music, and I love it even more when it’s done well! This band rocks! Come one, come all, suspend your disbelief, let your hair down, and take the musical journey with them.’ – Ray White (vocalist/guitarist with Zappa from 1976-84).
‘I had a great time singing with Treacherous Cretins at the 30th Jubilee Zappanale, they made me sound good!’ – Candy Zappa (Frank’s younger sister).
‘Treacherous Cretins! Great attitude and chops! In the future it would be an honour to perform and work with this Zappa honouring combo!’ – Craig “Twister” Steward (harmonica player on Zappa albums Joe’s Garage and You Are What You Is).
‘This exciting new band has already blown minds at Zappanale and impressed Dweezil – now they’re playing London and elsewhere with Zappa legend Napoleon Murphy Brock. Wowie zowie!’ – Andrew Greenaway (author of Zappa The Hard Way & Frank Talk).

 

Pygmy Twylyte

Navigating the vast Zappa oeuvre is no mean feat, but Scotland’s Pygmy Twylyte have embraced the challenge with gusto. Since their inception in 2018, the band have selected a core body of classic material, complemented with a rotating offering of more obscure cuts, and blasted this to delighted audiences across the UK.

With guitars, keyboards, saxes and a xaphoon at their disposal, the band has a (stink)foot planted in the camp of several of Zappa’s most memorable touring line-ups. Head to the 100 Club on the 18th April 2020 to nod along to rock numbers, lose count during jazzy interludes (after all, it’s not dead – it just smells funny) and evade the infamous Frunobulax. Officially licensed by the Zappa Family Trust, Pygmy Twylyte present a must-see event for music fans.

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