“HE’S A HAPPY GUY NOW, ON THE DAY SHIFT AT THE UTILITY
MUFFIN RESEARCH KITCHEN…”
I first contacted Joe about an interview after the
trailer for ‘The Roxy Performances’ appeared at http://www.zappa.com/; I thought he might be
able to give a bit more of an insight into what the hell’s going on with the
‘new’ Zappa releases. I also had a few things I wanted to ask him about Dweezil and “Z”. Now read on…dot, dot, dot.
IB: I first heard of you when Marc Ziegenhagen (now the keyboard player in Beer For Dolphins) sent me a tape of The Real Frank Zappa Show
that you put together at Berklee in 1991. Can you
tell us a little bit about that?
JT: I first
saw Marc playing in a Zappa show at Berklee. I made
friends with him soon afterwards seeing as we had a lot in common musically. We
became close, playing together in different situations around school. When I
decided to do The Real Frank Zappa Show, I asked him if he wanted to do
it. He did. He was very helpful with arrangements and introducing me to Mike
Genovese – who was also in the show – and way helpful with transcriptions. I
was very happy with the way the show turned out at the time. Marc Z has been
very important to me. He exposed me to a lot of great things musically and was
responsible for introducing me to Mike Keneally.
IB: During
the show, you said your uncle Gary had played you ‘Sheik Yerbouti’
in 1977 – how on earth did he manage that?!?
JT: My
mistake. I should have said 1979. That still bugs me.
IB: Sorry,
couldn’t resist that. Did Frank ever get to see your tribute? I’m sure he would
have been impressed with your rendition of ‘The Black Page Drum Solo’.
JT: I gave Dweezil a copy of it in 1991, but he said he didn't get a
chance to show Frank. I asked Frank on the phone once if he remembered ever
seeing it. He hadn't. Probably just as well.
IB: How did
Mike Keneally create the opportunity for you to join
“Z”?
JT: Marc Z
introduced me to Mike in 1991 when Dweezil came to
IB: Can you
say what led to Scott Thunes’ departure from the
band?
JT: Scott
had problems with me. He has problems with a lot of people. He had been working
with Dweezil for a long time. It just ran its course
pretty much. You should ask Scott.
IB: During
your short time with the Zappas prior to Frank’s
death, did you participate in any of the Friday night soirées?
JT: Yes.
Memorable moments include watching the newly finished ‘Mommy’ video with Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, and FZ in the room. Also when Gene Simmons came
to visit.
IB: Did you
ever get to actually record anything with Frank?
JT: No.
IB: Shame.
Do you think Steve Martin has made a worthwhile film since Parenthood?
JT: Bowfinger had some moments.
IB:
Listening to ‘Music For Pets’ again recently, it struck me that it has quite a
melancholy feel throughout – more so than I’d remembered, as I always think of
“Z” as a very ‘up’ band. Obviously songs like ‘Happiness’ and ‘Father Time’
contribute to that mood – so was that apparent at the time of its recording?
JT: Yeah.
Plus Dweezil and Ahmet were
having "creative" differences at the time. Tension was apparent.
Weird time.
IB: Tell me
about the last days of “Z”. You seem to have remained friends with Keneally, while Dweezil seems to
want nothing more to do with him. Great shame.
JT: Well,
things were getting frustrating with "Z". Mike eventually started to
play his own stuff and wanted to do his own band while being a part of
"Z". Didn't fly. Decisions were made. “Z” was never the same. It's
too bad 'cos live we were incredible.
IB: I’ll
say. How did you hook up with Warren Cuccurullo?
JT: Warren
sat with Frank at my first gig with “Z” in Hollywood. He introduced himself to
me after the show. Eventually, when he was playing his solo stuff, he asked me
if I would play (thanks to Thomas Nordegg's
recommendation!). The rest as they say is history.
IB: Has he
any plans for more solo shows?
JT: I hope
so; I want to play that music again.
IB: What do
you know of the ‘Al Malkin tapes’?
JT:
Completed and sitting on a shelf. I've never heard them. Warren talks about
them sometimes. Not too high on the priority list for me right now.
IB: Maybe one
day. How did the vaultmeister job come about?
JT: After
Frank died, there needed to be someone to look after the vault. Mike Keneally did it for a brief moment, but didn't last long.
Then eventually it was learned by the UMRK crew that I knew more about what was
contained in those tapes then anyone there. Gail assigned me the job.
IB: So
what’s it like, rummaging through these ‘modern day archaeological treasures’?
JT: Beyond
the beyond! Speechless. I'm really finding a lot of stuff. I've been doing it
for four years or so. Not all of the tapes will play. There are problems with
anything on Ampex tape. Mostly the bulk of anything
from 1978 to 1980 is unplayable – needs to be baked and transferred. We aren't
doing that up there right now. But all the Scotch tapes from the 60s and 70s
play great.
IB: Whose
decision was it to edit ‘Revenge Of The Knick Knack People’ on ‘Läther’? The
full length version always reminds me of that Marx Brothers film where Chico
plays a tune on the piano and can’t remember how it ends, so he keeps repeating
a particular refrain. For me, the humorous impact of ‘Knick Knack People’ was
lost in this horribly foreshortened version.
JT: Well, ‘Läther’ was
being worked on pretty much right when I started the Vault job. The stuff on
the bonus section I found in one afternoon of looking for nuggets. I had
certain things in mind for it. I was going to continue my searches, but the
next day I came into the studio and Spence said, "Here it is, check it
out." He had compiled the stuff he liked from the one and only day and was
content. I didn't have the say-so to recommend we keep searching. We needed the
complete ‘Knick Knack’ – plus the complete 'Flambay'
– and I wanted to get the accapella version of ‘Dong
Work For Yuda’ from the live 76 band featured on ‘Läther’. There
you have it.
IB: Is there
a lot more stuff in the vaults like ‘Knick Knack People’ and ‘Basement Music
#1’ that Frank put together on his own before he got the Synclavier?
JT: Not a
ton, but yes.
IB: You say
that ‘The Roxy Performances’ is currently at a
standstill. Are you able to say why the trailer was posted at http://www.zappa.com/ with no supporting
information?
JT: I didn't
even know it was posted.
IB: Do you
know anything about its intended release – either as a video, DVD, CD…?
JT: There
was talk of all 3 formats. I'd love to release a CD box set of ‘The Complete Roxy Performances’. That would rock. Maybe in the future if
I have anything to do with it.
IB: ‘The
Rage And The Fury’ has similarly been advertised with no clue as to a likely
release date – how much longer do we have to hold our breath for this,
‘Trance-Fusion’, ‘Dance Me This’…?
JT: I wish I
could tell you. It is sad and extremely frustrating, but there are reasons for
everything. Hopefully things will change in the near future.
IB: Thus far
your vaultmeistering has only manifested itself on
two albums (‘FZ Plays FZ’ and ‘Läther’) – can you say any
more about future projects? We’ve heard there might be releases from the Bongo
Fury band, as well as the Petit Wazoo.
JT: Well,
there has been work on those things, but no plans for releases. Lately I've
been documenting and transferring audio with preservation in mind, not putting
together projects. In the back of my mind though I have lots of ideas.
IB: So, Joe
– Britney Spears: wouldja?!
JT: Yes.
IB: If she
were my daughter…how do you feel about Keneally
writing a song for you?
JT: Extremely
flattered. I miss him; we used to spend so much time together. But ever since
he moved to San Diego, it's been hard spending time with him. I dig the song.
IB: Do you
have a favourite spoon?
JT: No.
IB: Really?
Hi ho. What has Ahmet been up to these past few
years? I’ve heard about the Idiot Sevilles and I know
he’s done some TV work, but not a lot else. Has he been fannying
about reading comics and playing video games?
JT: I don't
see much of him. I barely talk with him. He doesn't live at the house anymore,
so he's always doing his own thing.
IB: Did
Moon’s wedding go ahead OK after the death threat saga?
JT: I don't
even know.
IB: Is there
a lot more stuff like the older material on ‘Automatic’ that Dweezil might release?
JT: Yes,
tons of it! Whether it gets released or not is another story!
IB: And what of 'What The Hell Was I
Thinking’?
JT: Back burner...that's what happened to
that project.
IB: Having
now completed a couple of tours, do you think you’ll become a full time member of
Duran Duran?
JT: NO!!
IB: Will you
be going into the studio with them?
JT: Maybe if
the time comes. They have been concentrating on live performances for the past
couple of years.
IB: What
does the future hold – any plans for solo stuff?
JT: From
who, me?
IB: Yes,
you. From YOU. Are you gonna do a Josh Freese and knock out a solo album?
JT: No, I
don't write music, I just play everyone else's.
IB: Do you
think Chelsea should have waited until the end of the season before getting rid
of Gianluca Vialli – or is
Claudio Ranieri doing OK?
JT: I have
no fucking clue. I only like hockey.
IB: In the
winter? Okay, final question: what is your all time favourite FZ tune of all
time – and you can only choose one – and why?
JT: Well,
that is tough. I love so much of it, of course. I guess that right now ‘Rat Tomago’ is high on the list. It changes constantly. This
isn't a fair question!
***
A fredited version of this interview will no doubt appear in
a future edition of T’Mershi Duween. Photo of Joe with DZFC fanzine editor,
Cindy Zeuli, taken at a Warren Cuccurullo
instore in New York City, March 1996. Used by kind
permission of Cindy Z.