Zappa bodyguard John Smothers dies

Frank Zappa's bodyguard John Smothers has passed away. Frank's son Ahmet told the news on WNST radio recently.

Smothers (b. 1930) was more than a bodyguard. Besides being an efficient guard he became a part of the folklore around Zappa much thanks to his strong personality and unique language. Zappa even wrote a song about him, Dong Work For Yuda.

Smothers is featured in Zappa's film Baby Snakes which was shot in 1977, and in We Don't Mess Around filmed in Austria 1978 where he also is interviewed. This is how he describes Zappa:

"He's one of the best guys I done worked for.  I done worked for the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sister Soul, Temptations, I done worked for them all in the last 22 years. Frank is about the be- about the best one."