| − | '''Frank Zappa''' (1940-1993) was an [[avant-garde]] [[rock]] musician, [[guitar]] player, and [[composer]]. His music spanned a wide range of genres, though he is perhaps best known for his distinctive guitar-driven jams. Social satire also played a central role in nearly all of his music. His song lyrics were often obscene, even by today's standards. | + | '''Frank Zappa''' (1940-1993) was an [[avant-garde]] [[rock]] musician, [[guitar]] player, and [[composer]]. His music spanned a wide range of genres, though he is perhaps best known for his distinctive guitar-driven jams and for his band ''the Mothers of Invention''.[http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19802/m1/] Social satire also played a central role in nearly all of his music. His song lyrics were often obscene, even by today's standards. |
| − | A self described "practical conservative," Zappa was a libertarian politically and came close to running on the [[Libertarian Party]] ticket in the [[1988 Presidential Election]]. He was critical of anything he considered conformist, from [[organized religion]] to the [[hippie]] culture that was ascendant around the same time his music began to be. He is also notable for his staunch opposition to [[illegal drugs]], which he maintained throughout his life (though, being a libertarian, he still considered [[drug legalization]] a necessary policy). | + | A self described "practical conservative," Zappa was a libertarian politically and considered running on the [[Libertarian Party]] ticket in the [[1988 Presidential Election]].[http://www.afka.net/articles/1988-02_Buzz.htm] He was critical of anything he considered conformist, from [[organized religion]] to the [[hippie]] culture that was ascendant around the same time his music began to be. He is also notable for his staunch opposition to [[illegal drugs]], which he maintained throughout his life (though, being a libertarian, he still considered [[drug legalization]] a necessary policy). |