Frank Zappa quotes - page 5

Frank Zappa was an American composer, musician, and bandleader known for his eclectic and innovative approach to music. His work blended rock, jazz, classical, and satire, challenging conventional musical and social norms. He is remembered as a fearless creative force and outspoken advocate for artistic freedom. Here are 161 of his quotes:

My solos are speech-influenced rhythmically; and harmonically, they're either pentatonic, or poly-scale oriented. And there's the mixolydian mode that I also use a lot...But I'm more interested in melodic things I think the biggest challenge when you go to play a solo is trying to invent a melody on the spot.

Frank Zappa

You're an asshole! You're an asshole! That's right! You're an asshole! You're an asshole! Yes yes!

Frank Zappa

On Ventura, there she goes She just bought some bitch'n clothes Tosses her head n flips her hair She got a whole bunch of nothin in there.

Frank Zappa

The U. S. is a mere pup tent of a civilization. We've got two hundred years of stupidity behind us and we think we're right up there with everyone else who's been doing it for thousands of years.

Frank Zappa

Most people don't think I'm rational. They're too busy featuring their hurt. They find it irrational not to feature your hurt. That's how fucked up they are.

Frank Zappa

I can't talk to you about music because you don't know anything about music. I can talk to you about politics or sociology and all that peripheral stuff, but I can't talk to you about music. There's not enough information in common that I could say to you so you'd be able to understand. Besides, the people who read OUI don't give a fuck about music anyway.

Frank Zappa

I love the guitar, always have. I can relate to it a lot better than a saxophone.

Frank Zappa

Music is the only religion that delivers the goods. All music is good. It fulfills a social function. It's like wallpaper to your lifestyle. It defines what you are.

Frank Zappa

You can't always write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say, so sometimes you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whipped cream.

Frank Zappa

I searched for years I found no love. I'm sure that love will never be a product of plasticity.

Frank Zappa

I may be vile and pernicious But you can't look away I make you think I'm delicious With the stuff that I say I'm the best you can get Have you guessed me yet? I'm the slime oozin' out From your TV set.

Frank Zappa

Shes a valley girl In a clothing store Okay, fine... Fer sure, fer sure.

Frank Zappa

Why should I smile when I'm sitting here with you?

Frank Zappa

The '60s was really stupid ... It was a type of merchandising.

Frank Zappa

The lessons learnt in the '60s about merchandising stupidity to the American public on a large scale have been used over and over again since that time.

Frank Zappa

I think that if you use the so-called "strong words" you'll get your point across faster and you can save a lot of beating around the bush.

Frank Zappa

Forget about the Senior Prom and go to the library and educate yourself if you've got any guts.

Frank Zappa

The more you can escape from how horrible things really are, the less it's going to bother you... and then, the worse things get.

Frank Zappa

I don't want to see any religious people in public office because they're working for another boss.

Frank Zappa

I have an important message to deliver to all the cute people all over the world. If you're out there and you're cute, maybe you're beautiful. I just want to tell you somethin' - there's more of us UGLY MOTHERFUCKERS than you are, hey-y, so watch out.

Frank Zappa

We live in a very special time right now. At no other time in history has there been such mass disillusionment in terms of reliance on governing functions. Most people don't want to come to terms with that. It's been proven over and over again that the emperor isn't wearing any clothes, but most people don't like to look at naked emperors. In the process of turning around to avert their eyes, they saw the discotheques and a few other things and latched onto them.

Frank Zappa

The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business.

Frank Zappa