50 years ago – Zappa's first visit to Scandinavia

Tonight is the 50th anniversary of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention's legendary concert in Konserthuset, Stockholm.
The September 30, 1967 show was recorded by Sveriges Radio and has been aired several times and as a result of that ended up on several bootlegs. It is also a rare recording of this early incarnation of the Mothers. The radio broadcast is 40 minutes long and starts off with several shorter pieces, mostly pop songs, and ends with a longer instrumental: King Kong, including I Can't Happen Here from the first Mothers album Freak Out! released in 1966.
The clip above from the Konserthuset concert includes Petrushka (Stravinsky), Bristol Stomp (Appell/Mann) and Big Leg Emma (Zappa).

This was the Mothers of Invention's first European tour and they first went to London and Amsterdam. The Scandinavian part of the tour started with two shows at Liseberg's amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden on September 29. Next day they played Stockholm and then off to Copenhagen, Denmark (October 1), and Lund, Sweden (October 2).

Zappa and the Mothers quickly became quite popular in Scandinavia, at least in Sweden. During the next 15 years Zappa's European tours always included shows in the Scandinavian countries and sometimes in Finland too (actually not a Scandinavian country, although it borders to Sweden).
In Sweden Zappa got quite a lot of attention: In 1973 Swedish public service television filmed a concert in Stockholm with Zappa's new line up of the Mothers. In 1979 Zappa's song Bobby Brown was one of the most popular songs, also in Norway and Germany. Now and then one could even hear Dancin' Fool and Joe's Garage being played on Swedish Radio.

Track list for Zappa "Halloween 77"

Now we know the content for the 6 Halloween '77 shows that will be released on a USB stick. Check out links below. Amazon is also taking pre-orders now.
The release, the box, also includes a Frank Zappa Halloween mask and costume. (Pretty stupid we think.)
There is also a 3 CD version, which has the entire show from October 31, 1977 (which is also included in the memory stick edition) plus some extras.

The cover for the 3 CD set.

Information on the memory stick release at Amazon.com

Information on both releases at Zappa.com

Rolling Stone's Walter Becker article

The new issue of Rolling Stone has an article about Steely Dan founder Walter Becker who died September 3 at the age of 67:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/remembering-walter-becker-steely-dans-quiet-hero-w504720

Frank Zappa live on stage - as a hologram

The Zappa Family Trust announces "The Hologram Tour", with Frank Zappa live on stage as a hologram backed up by several of his old musicians:

Zappa Family Trust working with Eyellusion on multiple groundbreaking productions that will feature former bandmates in celebration of late music legend’s art, life and legacy.

LOS ANGELES – SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 – Eyellusion, live music’s premier hologram production company, today announced that it will work closely with the Zappa Family Trust to produce hologram performances of Frank Zappa, giving fans an opportunity to experience the prolific, eclectic and critically acclaimed music legend live in concert again. Production for the Zappa shows will kick off in late 2017, with performances announced later in 2018.

“I’m thrilled that Frank Zappa will finally be going back out on tour playing his most well-known music as well as some rare and unheard material,” said Ahmet Zappa, co-Trustee of the Zappa Family Trust. “We can’t wait to bring his creative work back to the stage with the musicians he loved to play with, such as Steve Vai, Ian Underwood, Adrian Belew, Arthur Barrow, Vinnie Colaiuta, Scott Thunes, Mike Keneally, Denny Walley, Warren Cuccurullo and Napoleon Murphy Brock among others who are committed to being part of this epic endeavor. When I spoke with them, they were excited at the prospect of performing alongside Frank once again and can’t wait to give fans an unforgettable experience.”

He continued, “Also, how radical would it be to have Moon singing ‘Valley Girl’ onstage with Frank? Or to see Dweezil side by side with our father playing dueling guitar solos? That would be my greatest wish and I look forward to bringing this special celebration of Frank’s legacy to a town near you. But if that wasn’t enough Zappa coolness, we’re also planning on staging Joe’s Garage The Musical with none other than Frank Zappa himself starring as the Central Scrutinizer.”

More to read here: http://www.zappa.com/news/frank-zappa-back-road-hologram-tour

The Walter Becker Media Project 2017

Walter Becker's homepage has added a page titled The Walter Becker Media Project 2017. After asking for help to document media's coverage of Walter's passing and accumulated the volunteers to do that, the Media Project is now a continuation where fans can help.

"Because we figure we've got the ear, so to speak, of fans who have expressed interest in contributing to WB's historical record (that would be you). And maybe that's an opportunity we shouldn't let go of so quickly.

For instance, high on our wish list of  Becker archive activities has been to collect all of WB's "Hey 19 raps" into one place….and in a format that won't disappear or change standard, such as Quicktime.

(We won't bother to detail the ways in which such a compendium would be of value; you either get it or your don't).

This project becomes more urgent by the day, as Youtube material disappears behind paywalls quicker that it can be viewed. 

...

Can we (the fans) find, extract, and convert these raps so that we end up with a comprehensive library of the nightly improvisational gems of WB's beautifully twisted mind?? " 

Go to http://walterbecker.com/mediaproject.html to read the full text.  

P.S.
Talking of gathering bits and pieces of Walter Becker's work from all over the web, we at Radio Dupree would love to see the complete video included in the press kit for his debut album 11 Tracks of Whack. The video was once upon a time available on the Youest of Tubes, but disappeared years ago.

Blue Note Jazz Festival in Yokohama cancelled after Donald Fagen withdraws as headliner

The final dates of the Donald Fagen & The Nightflyers tour would've been three shows in Japan. Two of them headlining the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Yokohama.


Following the cancellation of the final four U.S. shows a couple of days ago it was not really a surprise that the Japanese leg was cancelled shortly afterwards.

A bit more surprising is that it lead to the whole festival being annulled. Here's the full message on the festival's homepage:

2日間ヘッド・ライナーとして出演を予定していました「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ ナイトフライヤーズ」は、ドナルド・フェイゲン氏の急病により、来日および本フェスティバルへの出演がキャンセルとなりました。

「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ナイトフライヤーズ」出演キャンセルを受け実行委員会で検討しました結果、本フェスティバルの開催を中止することを決定しました。

今回のフェスティバルには、国内外の素晴らしいアーティストの皆様に出演いただく予定になっておりました。ヘッド・ライナーである「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ナイトフライヤーズ」を軸に各アーティストに出演のお願いをし、プログラムを組み立ててきたなかで、主催者としては「ドナルド・フェイゲン＆ザ・ナイトフライヤーズ」の出演無くしては、この音楽フェスティバルを成り立たせることは難しいと考え、開催中止という結論に至りました。

お手持ちのチケットは払い戻しをさせていただきます。払い戻しの方法は2017年9月22日（金）に、本ウェブサイトでご案内いたします。

本フェスティバルを楽しみにしてくださっていたお客様には、多大なご迷惑をおかけしますことを深くお詫び申し上げます。


2017年 9月 14日
Blue Note JAZZ FESTIVAL in JAPAN 実行委員会

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of Blue Note JAZZ FESTIVAL in JAPAN 2017 at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse on September 23 & 24.

Due to the sudden illness of Donald Fagen, he is unable to perform with his band, Donald Fagen &The Nightflyers, and their upcoming shows in Japan.

Despite our best efforts, we are not able to go ahead without the 2 days headlining artist.
Sincerest apologies to all of you who were looking forward to the festival. Your tickets refund information will be made available on this website on Sep 22.

Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding.

September 14, 2017
Blue Note JAZZ FESTIVAL in JAPAN Executive Committee

Walter Becker tribute on Clam Radio Thursday evening!

Clam Radio on WUSB-FM in New York will be all Walter Becker Thursday at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

John Tabacco presenter:

"This Thursday, Sept.14th from 9:00AM - 12:00 noon Clam Radio will be darkling down and celebrating the musical legacy of Walter Becker. Steely Dan songs, solo work, co-writes, rarities, interviews and various productions by W.B. will be feeding your speakers. Tune into 90.1FM or listen at www.wusb.fm
No static at all."

UPDATE September 22:

Missed it? The compelete show is avaiable in four parts. Here's part 1:
https://www.mixcloud.com/clamradio/clam-radios-tribute-to-walter-becker-part-1/ 

Donald Fagen cancels shows and new Steely Dan shows announced

A couple of days ago eight Steely Dan shows in the U.S. in were announced. This adds to the previously announced shows in London and Dublin late October:

October 13 – Thackerville, OK @ WinStar World Casino and Resort
October 16 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
October 17 – Buffalo, NY @ Shea’s Performing Arts Center
October 19 – Orillia, ON @ Casino Rama Resort
October 20 – Windsor, ON @ Caesars Windsor
October 22 – Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre
October 24 – Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Pavilion
October 25 – National Harbor, MD @ MGM National Harbor

October 28 - Dublin @ 3Arena
October 29 - London @ The O2 Arena
October 30 - Dublin @ 3Arena

Following Walter Becker's death a couple of Donald Fagen & The Nighflyers shows were cancelled, but now all the remaining four U.S. dates of that tour has been cancelled due to illness. The September 20 in Osaka, Japan show plus two in Yokohama, Japan on September 23 and 24 are still listed on Fagen's Facebook page.

Details on the upcoming Zappa Halloween '77 release

There seem to be two different releases; a 3 CD version with the entire Halloween night show plus some extras, and a box set on USB stick featuring all six Halloween shows of 1977.
Yes, it's a little bit confusing.
But this is the information we get from the very fine source http://www.idiotbastard.com/news.htm#Hot

Adrian Belew and King Crimson friends again

The inconvenience between Crimson ex front man Adrian Belew and the current Crimso line up seems to be solved.
Belew was unhappy with King Crimson playing songs from the early 80's KC era where Belew was the front man and also co-writer of the bands songs.
Band leader Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew have spoke on the phone and seems to be on good terms with each other.

Fripp writes on his Facebook page: 
"Adrian has also agreed to be King Crimson's Ninth Man. Who knows what the future holds for this strange outfit?"

Belew corrected this: "it doesn't mean I'm back in the band currently. it means I may be back in the band in the future at some point. it leaves the door open for Crimson to evolve as necessary. so, nothing for the future has changed with either Crimson or Gizmodrome but at least we now understand each and can continue our friendship."

https://www.dgmlive.com/news/Belew%20now%209th%20Man

Walter Becker's daughter posted a tribute and Donald Fagen a lyric "for Walter"

After Steely Dan founder Walter Becker died yesterday his musical partner for the past forty years; Donald Fagen, posted a lyric on his Facebook page. It's a song called Dead of Winter and by the band Eels. The post simply says

"For Walter
(posted by Donald and Libby Fagen)"

standing in the dark outside the house
breathing in the cold and sterile air
well i was thinking how it must feel
to see that little light
and watch it as it disappears
and fades into
and fades into the night

Link to the full post: https://www.facebook.com/DonaldFagenMusic/posts/1757739640923093




And over at walterbecker.com Walter's daughter Sayan has posted a tribute that begins:

You loved music more than anyone I know. You're always there bobbing your head to each beat,  doing a little dance here and there, or sitting over there with your big head phones on and swaying back and forth. I could see it, your dissecting the song — listening in closely for each beat , for each musical instrument — you know, whatever you musicians do. But I get it.

Link to the full tribute: http://walterbecker.com/daughters.html

Walter Becker has died

walterbecker.com

Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker died today. He was 67 years old.

Becker was not part of the band when they played the Classic West and Classic East concerts in July this year, and in an August interview with Billboard magazine Donald Fagen was quoted saying that "Walter's recovering from a procedure and hopefully he'll be fine very soon."

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen met at Bard College, New York 1967 and started writings music together. They had great success during the 1970's after forming the band Steely Dan.
Steely Dan split in 1981 but reformed in 1993 touring and eventually releasing one live and two studio albums. The latest being Everyting Must Go from 2003.

During the Steely Dan break up Walter Becker produced numerous artists, including Donald Fagen's 1993 album Kamakiriad. In return Donald co-produced Walter's solo debut 11 Tracks Of Whack from 1994.

Walter released a second solo album in 2008 titled Circus Money. It was produced by Larry Klein who in March this year wrote this on his Facebook page:

"I co-wrote and produced an album with my friend Walter Becker in 2008. I don't think that I've ever had more fun writing and making a record."



Donald Fagen statement September 3, 2017:

Walter Becker was my friend, my writing partner and my bandmate since we met as students at Bard College in 1967. We started writing nutty little tunes on an upright piano in a small sitting room in the lobby of Ward Manor, a mouldering old mansion on the Hudson River that the college used as a dorm.

We liked a lot of the same things: jazz (from the twenties through the mid-sixties), W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, science fiction, Nabokov, Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas Berger, and Robert Altman films come to mind. Also soul music and Chicago blues.

Walter had a very rough childhood - I’ll spare you the details. Luckily, he was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. He was cynical about human nature, including his own, and hysterically funny. Like a lot of kids from fractured families, he had the knack of creative mimicry, reading people’s hidden psychology and transforming what he saw into bubbly, incisive art. He used to write letters (never meant to be sent) in my wife Libby’s singular voice that made the three of us collapse with laughter.

His habits got the best of him by the end of the seventies, and we lost touch for a while. In the eighties, when I was putting together the NY Rock and Soul Review with Libby, we hooked up again, revived the Steely Dan concept and developed another terrific band.

I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band.

Donald Fagen & Walter Becker. Photo: Danny Clinch/steelydan.com