Posted on 05/02/2016 9:10:54 AM PDT by Wolfie
Zappa Family Trust Threatens Dweezil Zappa Over Band Name
This summer, Dweezil Zappa and his backing band will once again perform the music of his father Frank Zappa on a nationwide tour, but unlike the past decade, the guitarist will be playing under a different moniker. Instead of Zappa Plays Zappa, the touring unit will now be dubbed Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa, stemming in part from a bitter feud between Frank Zappa's children over their father's copyright, the New York Times reports.
In the wake of matriarch and longtime estate executrix Gail Zappa's death in October, son Ahmet Zappa was tasked with handling the day-to-day operations of his father's estate with help from youngest daughter Diva Zappa. Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa are not trustees, but remain equal beneficiaries of their father's estate with their other two siblings.
Earlier in April, Dweezil Zappa received legal notice from the Zappa Family Trust that continued use of the name Zappa Plays Zappa could result in copyright infringement damages of $150,000 per song performed. Gail Zappa had previously allowed Dweezil to use the Zappa Plays Zappa in exchange for an "exorbitant fee."
"My last name is Zappa; my father was Frank Zappa," Dweezil said. "But I am not allowed to use the name on its own. I'm not allowed to use a picture of him. I'm not allowed to use my own connection with him without some sort of deal to be struck."
Dweezil added, "I just hope people will understand that the only thing I'm changing is the name."
The Zappa Family Trust issues have created a rift between brothers: Dweezil and Ahmet released a pair of albums together in the Nineties; now, they only communicate through lawyers. The siblings have also split over the upcoming authorized Frank Zappa documentary.
Speaking to the New York Times, Ahmet Zappa said the trust's stance against Zappa Plays Zappa isn't personal and that they're only preserving the integrity of their father's legacy. "I am not standing in the way of Dweezil playing the music," he said. "He would just have to be in accordance with the family trust."
“Plastic people...oooh, baby, now you’re such a drag...”
They’re only in it for the money.
Sounds like the kids who didn’t inherit a share of Frank’s talent are quite jealous of those who did.
Dweezil?
That family is like a cereal factory in Battle Creek- a whole lotta flakes.
CC
I say scrap the lawsuit and let Moon Unit adjudicate this matter.
I just hope they all remember that “You Is What You Am”.
Ha - exactly the type of situation Frank would have written a song about.
Growing up with the name Dweezil should entitle him to just about anything he wants.
Frank would have been disgusted by this whole episode
The daughter is named “Moon Unit”.
Wow, Ahmet was in the ZPZ band during rehearsals/ training (Dweezil spent 2 years getting himself and the players ready) then he left very early in the first tour owing to personal life chaos. Sad to see he’s gone dick move. Gail was always pretty severe about the name and the music, but she did understand that to make money on it you have to keep it out there. Surprised Dweezil isn’t one of the trust managers, I can see keeping Moon out her relationship with her father was a bit troubled. Hate to see them going down the Hendrix path, that messed up his musical legacy for decades.
Ahmet, huh?
Don't blow the cash, live under the thumb of others.
Just have to say ‘sue me’ and give half the trust to lawyers and hope you can get a judge to assign most of the fees to the jerk’s share of the estate.
” Find her finer, see who designed her...
Named after famed music executive Ahmet Ertugan.
This is the only song I’ve ever heard or seen from him;
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x27x8i_dweezil-zappa-plays-fz-my-guitar-wa_music
That was my point
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