Dweezil Zappa Talks Fire, Frank, and Duck Calls
Guitar virtuoso Dweezil Zappa recently caught up with KZ106’s Dylan for a candid chat before his performance at the Walker Theatre in Chattanooga on April 10. Son of the late, great Frank Zappa, Dweezil continues to honor his father’s legacy while carving out his own unique musical path.
Speaking from his Los Angeles home — surrounded by his wife and three rescue dogs — Dweezil shared memories of previous visits to Chattanooga, including a lightning-struck blackout mid-solo during a past show that made for an unforgettable moment. He recalls jumping back into the performance perfectly on cue: “Let’s go right back into where we were in the solo and continue the song as if nothing ever happened.”
Beyond the stage, Dweezil keeps busy exploring music production, gear, and YouTube content. Though he once enjoyed golfing, these days he prefers tinkering with recording techniques and building his online presence. His YouTube channel, simply under his name, offers a mix of cool content, music tips, and guitar experiments.
When asked about modern music, Dweezil admitted he doesn’t consume much new material traditionally, instead stumbling upon artists via social media. While acknowledging the technical prowess of many current guitarists, he questions whether their songwriting has the staying power of classics from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
As for gear, Zappa is both curious and cautious about AI, noting how it can help separate instruments from stereo tracks for remixing — a useful but controversial innovation. He’s also still a fan of the Rockman, that legendary Tom Scholz-designed guitar processor, which he says is enjoying a bit of a comeback.
Of course, the conversation inevitably turned to Frank Zappa’s music. Dweezil explained that many misunderstand the complexity and classical approach behind his father’s work. “He really wrote everything… He was more like the composer and conductor,” he said. Recreating Frank’s music demands not just technical skill but deep coordination between players.
For anyone unfamiliar with Frank Zappa’s catalog, Dweezil encourages them to catch this tour, titled “Rox-Postrophé”— a mash-up tribute to Frank’s albums Roxy & Elsewhere and Apostrophe. The show promises everything from tight, complex arrangements to unpredictable fun — including spontaneous karaoke with a duck call and maybe even covers like Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and Van Halen’s “Push Comes to Shove.”
