I have seen very little discussion about Frank Zappa's influence on Phish. Everyone has something to say about The Grateful Dead's effect on them but Phish is more like Zappa than any other group that I can see. People mention the Dead because Phish likes to jam but if you listen to Zappa you can see that Trey even has the same vocal style. Some of you probably already know about this but I'm guessing alot of the younger fans don't know and should go get some Zappa right away and learn a little more about the roots of their favorite group. Nobody even talks about this obvious influence...... Check it out.
They covered "Peaches en Regalia" a few times, that's all I know. Recommend some Zappa albums, then? You've got me curious.
Well, I would say that Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) is more similar to Zappa than anyone else. After all, they did work together during the '60s.
I agree with you totally on that as that was not what I ment when I said that. I was simply saying that Phish was alot more like Frank Zappa than they were like any other group they've been influenced/compared to. Dig? :H
I really couldn't recommend any really great albums because in all honesty I'm not the biggest fan of Frank Zappa but what I like, I really like. Phish displayed alot of their Zappa influence back when they were still "Phish". When I say that I mean back when they still threw it all up in the air and really let it all out. In other words, before they became the really good cover band. I can recommend some Zappa songs that I like, My guitar wants to kill your mama~ Fine Girl~ Joe's Garage~ Montana~ Oh No~ Hungry freaks daddy~ theres alot more so I'd say just dive right in and don't be afraid.
if u watch Treys interviews with Charlie Rose he discusses Zappa..... its a given that there is influence
never thought of that man, i'll think about it next time. good point though, people always try to compare phish to one band without seeing any influences in other artists. thanks for pointing it out.
fishman was a huge zappa fan!! and yes phish does sound alot like zappa...... just the crazy lyrics and fusion jazz jams. Ive said this for many years.
Yeah I saw where Jon Fishman is doing this promotion for Rykodisc's Frank Zappa collection which they were calling "Strictly Commercial". Rykodisc has been kickin' the Frank Zappa collection for at least 4 or 5 years now but Jon Fishman has just recently started his promotional campaigne.
I agree, Zappa was probably Phish's strongest influence. As for recommendations, I just got Zappa's Joe's Garage and totally love it.
i talk about it all the time and people just act like i dont know what im talking about... but it IS obvious, the odd time signatures and strange experimental sounds are very akin to zappa, and not only trey's vocal style but also his guitar style is similar to frank's. as for zappa albums to check out, there's actually a record out now compiled by jon fishman of all his favorite zappa tracks and the ones that influenced him the most. also apostrophe, just another band from LA, and hot rats if you want to hear alot of what zappa stuff really influenced phish.
The albums "Apostrophe," "One Size Fits All," "OverNite Sensation," and "Hot Rats" are excellent places to start. As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, Phish used to cover "Peaches en Regalia" which is this free-form jazz jam that begins the aural assault of trippiness known as "Hot Rats." If you want the most Phish-y album in the Zappa Discography, I would go with "Hot Rats." But "Roxy and Elswewhere," "Joe's Garage," and all the aforementioned albums will "do you right." The REAL Zappa fanatics (and I don't claim to be one) would say albums like "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" or "Sheik Yerbouti" were truly awesome. The old school music fanatic would say that "FREAK OUT!!!" changed "Rock and Roll" several months prior to the release of Seargent Peppers' and his Lucifer Sam Club Band Record Blahness or something... But those are distinct Zappa heads...And they are much rarer than any other fan... Well, except maybe for Ozric Tentacles...
