Dweezil Zappa
| Dweezil Zappa | |
|---|---|
Dweezil Zappa in Denmark with Zappa Plays Zappa, October 13, 2007
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa |
| Born | September 5, 1969 |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, heavy metal, instrumental rock |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, bass, piano, banjo |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Zappa, Favored Nations, Barking Pumpkin, Chrysalis |
| Associated acts | Frank Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, Extreme, Ozzy Osbourne, Spinal Tap, Steve Vai, Warren DeMartini, Zappa Plays Zappa, Dream Theater, Winger |
| Website | www |
| Notable instruments | |
|
Gibson SG Hagström Viking |
|
Dweezil Zappa (born Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa; September 5, 1969) is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor. He is the son of musical composer and performer Frank Zappa. Exposed to the music industry from an early age, Dweezil developed a strong affinity for playing the guitar and producing music. Able to learn directly from world-class guitarists such as Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen, Dweezil quickly developed into a musical star in his own right, releasing his first single (produced by Eddie Van Halen) at the age of 12.
In addition to writing and recording his own music, Dweezil has carried on the legacy of his father's music by touring with the group Zappa Plays Zappa. The band features renditions of Zappa's original material and the lineup has often included Zappa alumni such as Napoleon Murphy Brock, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio and others.
Dweezil Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of musician Frank Zappa and Gail Zappa, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon, younger sister Diva and younger brother Ahmet. He is the cousin of actress Lala Sloatman. Zappa's father was of Sicilian, Greek, Arab, and French descent, and his mother was of French, Irish and mostly Danish ancestry.
Dweezil's registered birth name was Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa. The hospital at which he was born refused to register him under the name Dweezil, so Frank listed the names of several musician friends. "Dweezil" was a nickname coined by Frank for an oddly-curled pinky-toe of Gail's. At the age of five years, Dweezil learned that his legal name was different, and he insisted on having his nickname become his legal name. Gail and Frank hired an attorney and soon the name Dweezil was official.
In the 1980s, Zappa worked as an MTV VJ and was promptly fired after badmouthing MTV on The Howard Stern Show. He also recorded some solo albums, as well as playing for other artists. Zappa can be heard playing lead guitar on the Fat Boys' "Wipe Out" (1987) and can be seen in the music video for Don Johnson's top 40 song, "Heartbeat". He also played co-lead guitar (along with Reb Beach) on Winger's cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze". He also had a part in the futuristic Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man as Stevie ("Don't touch that dial!"), and gave his most famous cameo role in John Hughes's Brat Pack film, Pretty in Pink (starring Molly Ringwald), as Andie's friend, Simon.
...
Wikipedia