In a strange turn of events, the ghost of Frank Zappa – or more accurately, a hologram of the famed singer-guitarist – has responded to Ticketmaster’s recent censorship of tour art for the upcoming, and highly controversial, hologram Zappa tour.
Previously, the advertisement image featured a small two penguins, embodying Zappa’s mid-’70s tune “Penguin in Bondage.”
Apparently, Ticketmaster’s Content Governance team flagged the sadomasochistic image – which is barely noticeable and quite small – as “questionable content.” Specifically, the penguin’s exposed rear-end was the main issue, and organizers Eyellusion and the Zappa Family Trust complied with Ticketmaster’s censorship request to have it covered.
However, in classic Zappa form, they did not do it quietly.
Firstly, the penguin’s rear is now covered by a “Warning/Guarantee,” that mimics a similar tongue-in-cheek label that Zappa put on his albums in the ’80s, after the Parents Music Resource Center – led by Tipper Gore – cracked down on “questionable” and “offensive” rock music. Zappa famously testified in front of members of the PMRC and Senate in September 1985, defending musicians’ First Amendment rights.
With that in mind, event organizers for the hologram tour also released Zappa’s own “response” to the Ticketmaster censorship, giving fans a taste of what they can expect from computerized version of the musician.
The hologram echos Zappa’s 1984 quote, “I’m a person who likes to do what he wants to do…whether people like it or not and what I do is designed for people who like it, not for people who don’t.”
The Zappa hologram tour kicks off on April 19 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY.
See the video, warning label and before/after artwork below:
8 Comments comments associated with this post
Chris Ryan
March 4, 2019 at 10:05 amI saw Zappa does Zappa twice, and it was an excellently performed set of pg versions of older zappa songs. Many of the old musicians played and it was IMO worthwhile….but that was 10 years ago. i have Dweezil coperforming with a video of Frank 20 ft tall behind him. None of it replaces the old Frank, and I will not spend money on a crass attempt to bring back the dead.
chocolate george
March 1, 2019 at 8:31 pmJust watch the dvds and go see dweezil. people will piss money away on anything
Noodles
March 1, 2019 at 3:06 pmStrictly commercial.
Almy
March 1, 2019 at 2:06 pmSaw FZ 3 times- this is a joke.
Show No Comments
March 1, 2019 at 11:57 amNot surprised to see that no one is wasting time & electrons to comment on this bullshit. Got to wonder who is going to bother to show up at the Cap for this money grubbing garbage!
Slicerboy
March 1, 2019 at 1:59 pmI am showing up to check it out. As this technology is going to open the door to bands like the Grateful Dead to bring Jerry back through this technology.
I loved Frank and was very fortunate to see him perform and can’t wait for the 19th.
WHOLEPIEGIRL
March 1, 2019 at 2:29 pmPlease do let us know how it goes! Hopefully its a good cover band with moving pictures. Saw him a few times in the 70-80’s too and was great. Enjoy!
bob franzem
March 1, 2019 at 4:11 pmI, for one, have tix for the Paramount… wave of the future, Dude… in 20 years, hologram concerts will be the only way to see classic rockers…