Euclid James 'Motorhead' Sherwood

A one-hour documentary on the making of Frank Zappa's bizarre 1971 comic musical. Vintage private footage from Frank's personal archives plus behind-the-scenes of the actual shooting and recording. With Ringo Starr, Theodore Bikel, Keith Moon and such songs as "Sleeping in a Jar," and "Strictly Genteel." The inside history of the first feature-length film to be shot on video in 6 days.

A film by Frank Zappa made for the Dilexi Foundation on KQED

Frank Zappa et son groupe, les Mothers Of Invention, débarquent à Centerville pour un concert. Mais l'atmosphère est tendue, apparemment, on ne veut pas d'eux ici...

In a little over an hour, 'VIDEO FROM HELL' provides a preview of current and projected Honker releases, including 'BABY SNAKES', 'THE TRUE STORY OF 200 MOTELS' and 'UNCLE MEAT' (all 1987 releases) along with segments of 1988 shows still in preparation ('YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE'- which will be released after the multi-CD package, 'I NEED YOUR LOVE' - the homespun philosophy of Al Malkin, and 'AN AMERICAN DISSIDENT' - the homespun philosophy of Frank Zappa).

Quand, le 4 décembre 1993, Frank Zappa disparaît, le monde perd avec lui l'un de ses artistes les plus créatifs, mais aussi l’un de ses plus grands provocateurs. Connu pour ses paroles acérées, régulièrement boycotté et censuré par les radios et l’industrie du disque, le compositeur et guitariste américain compte parmi les personnalités les plus énigmatiques et les plus controversées de l’histoire de la musique du XXe siècle. Que ce soit comme enfant terrible du rock avec son groupe The Mothers of Invention, comme satiriste iconoclaste dénonçant la politique et la société ou comme businessman autodidacte gérant sa propre production, la radicalité de ses compositions et son opinion intransigeante ont polarisé les passions.

A travers des images d'archives et des entretiens avec les proches de Frank Zappa dont sa veuve, Gail, le documentaire explore la vie privée du musicien et son engagement politique avec les événements de son époque.

Shot on July 23, 1968, this historical 16mm footage of Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention at Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, CA has been newly restored from the Vault! The film has been newly synced to the 2023 mixes, marking the first time it's ever been seen with audio. Frank Zappa never had the opportunity to see this footage synced to the music. Now you do. The film was shot in increments and features silent performance footage of The Mothers along with scenes involving The Freaks and the premier of The GTO's (Girls Together Outrageously). In the audience were Flo & Eddie (The Turtles), John Mayall, Elliot Ingber (The Fraternity Of Man), Alice Cooper and members of the Rolling Stones.