The Music of Frank Zappa: An Evening With Ugly Radio Rebellion ft. Ike Willis at The Grey Eagle
Ugly Radio Rebellion origins go back to a Detroit band known as Uncle Meat. In 2002, guitarist Scott Schroen felt inspired to start a project consisting of everyone and anyone capable of playing the music of Frank Zappa, a definite challenge.
An ad was placed in the local paper simply stating, “musicians wanted to perform the music of Frank Zappa”, and so ensued a few weekends of what was later dubbed, “Zappa Survivor”. Groups of musicians drilled selected pieces during rehearsal, and later everyone would vote on who they think should stay for the next round. The few that were left from the ‘survivor’ sessions ultimately became the lineup for the band Uncle Meat. The project performed FZ around the greater Detroit area until the last show on Frank’s birthday, December 2003. Eventually Uncle Meat was disbanded but Scott Schroen and bassist Preston Parish reformed the project as… Ugly Radio Rebellion.
IKE WILLIS
Singer and guitarist who was a regular sideman for Frank Zappa, first joining Zappa’s band for the 1978 tour. He didn’t tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982, but returned for Zappa’s final two tours in 1984 and 1988.
Among others, he is featured in Joe’s Garage, Tinsel Town Rebellion, You Are What You Is and is the title character and narrator in Zappa’s off-Broadway-styled conceptual musical Thing-Fish.
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