Frank Zappa | Guitar World

“Steve Vai tried to school me on string bending, but you just don't do that on bass!” Pete Griffin reflects on his time with Steve Vai, and his latest solo EP

By Nick Wells published 3 November 23

The seasoned sideman compares notes on Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde and Dweezil Zappa

How to solo using compound time – the secret behind some of Frank Zappa and Robben Ford's most out-there leads

By Andy G Jones published 3 May 23

Open up some all-new possibilities for your lead strategies with these fresh rhythmic soloing approaches

Two previously unreleased Frank Zappa concerts from 1980 set for release later this year

By Sam Roche published 12 January 23

Shows recorded at New York's Mudd Club and Munich's Olympiahalle will feature on the sprawling new release, which includes an essay by Steve Vai

When Frank Zappa shut up ’n’ stopped playing guitar

By Noë Gold last updated 3 April 22

Tracking the great Frank Zappa’s on-again, off-again love affair with his guitar with Ahmet Zappa, photographer John Livzey, Steve Vai and Zappa biographer and filmmaker Alex Winter

Steve Vai's signature guitar, the Ibanez JEM

Steve Vai on how Frank Zappa inspired him to design the Ibanez JEM – and why the Japanese guitar builder succeeded where others failed

By Robin Davey published 31 March 22

“Ibanez said, ‘We want to make these for other people, too.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Who’s going to want this? It’s so weirdly idiosyncratic to me!’”

Frank Zappa performs live in France in 1970

Frank Zappa and The Mothers' legendary 1971 Fillmore East shows to be released in their entirety in mammoth new eight-disc box set

By Jackson Maxwell published 14 January 22

The Mothers 1971 includes Zappa and co's legendary encore jam with John Lennon and Yoko Ono

10 essential Gibson SG albums

By Glenn Kimpton published 19 November 21

The solidbody double-cut with the instantly recognizable silhoeutte has graced some of the greatest recordings of all time

Frank Zappa: ”I think my playing is probably more derived from folk music – Middle Eastern music, Indian music, stuff like that”

By Guitarist editors published 18 August 21

The guitarist, composer and trailblazer opens up on first guitars, primary influences and the search for better gear

Steve Vai reflects on working with Frank Zappa: "If you didn’t have the goods, you didn’t last. Frank expected everybody to rise to the occasion"

By Guitarist editors published 4 August 21

The virtuoso details his 'stunt guitar' days spent playing, transcribing and recording the most difficult compositions in Frank Zappa's oeuvre

Mike Keneally on working with Frank Zappa: “My mind was being blown on a daily basis”

By Guitarist editors published 14 July 21

The guitarist details how his stint with Frank Zappa's band in the late '80s was his “first professional music experience of any kind”

Alex Winter takes us behind the scenes of his extensive Frank Zappa documentary, Zappa

By Guitarist editors last updated 28 June 21

Wading through Zappa's exhaustive audio/video archive, Winter puts together a portrait of a visionary guitarist and artist at work

Weezer fan the flames of rock 'n' roll in Australian Guitar #143, out today

By Australian Guitar published 30 May 21

Now this is one fiery new issue!

Frank Zappa's last ever US show set for release as a live album

By Sam Roche published 26 April 21

Listen to I Ain't Got No Heart, from Zappa's performance at New York's Nassau Coliseum in 1988

Frank Zappa once told Steve Vai his guitar tone sounded “like an electric ham sandwich”

By Sam Roche published 23 February 21

“I said, ‘Why? I've got the Strat, I've got the Marshall...” Vai recalls

Frank Zappa performs on stage at Ahoy on 15th May 1982 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The life and times of Frank Zappa – composer, satirist and towering giant of the electric guitar

By Alan di Perna published 21 December 20

Looking back at the career of the one-of-a-kind musician and guitar visionary

Watch the official trailer for Zappa, the first all-access documentary on Frank Zappa’s life and career

By Richard Bienstock published 29 October 20

The new film was directed by Bill & Ted star Alex Winter, and features Steve Vai and Mike Keneally

Inside Dweezil Zappa's mission impossible: performing his father's Hot Rats album live

By Henry Yates published 9 January 20

A half-century after the album’s original release, Zappa embarked on the ultimate labour of love when his Zappa Plays Zappa project planned to tour Hot Rats

Get a comprehensive look at Frank Zappa's guitars, amps, effects and more in a new book, Zappa Gear

By Richard Bienstock published 9 October 19

Zappa's diverse, often heavily modified collection is chronicled in more than 180 studio photos

'The Bizarre World of Frank Zappa' Hologram Tour Set for U.S. in April

By Richard Bienstock published 11 February 19

Show will “celebrate the music, often surreal imagery and humor synonymous with Frank," promises Ahmet Zappa.

10 legendary shows from the Capitol Theatre

By Tom Gilbert published 4 September 18

We celebrate Port Chester, N.Y.'s iconic theater with 10 unforgettable concerts from the venue's storied career.