Author:Nigey Lennon,

ISBN 187939541X

The following review was contributed by: Paul Lappen & CLICK TO VIEW Paul Lappen's Reviews

 Lennon was your average rebellious teenager in 1960s
California, until she discovered a strange looking
album by someone named Frank Zappa at the local record
store. She bought everything she could find by him,
and wore out the albums due to playing them over and
over. A budding songwriter, she and her boyfriend
recorded several songs on reel-to-reel tape and sent
them to Zappa.

Months went by, until the phone call came asking if
they could stop by at the offices of Zappa's record
label. That would be enough for most people, but to
realize that Zappa actually listened to the tape was
overwhelming. His general opinion was that she didn't
stink, but that she wasn't ready yet. On thing led to
another, and a trip to the Zappa residence led to an
invitation to be a substitute guitarist on his next
tour.

On tour, Zappa rarely, if ever, indulged in the
alcohol and drugs that are part of any tour, if only
to keep that boss/employee distance. He was
obsessive/compulsive and a perfectionist who, because
of constant stomach problems, drank kaopectate by the
gallon. Lennon's time on the tour was rather short,
only a couple of months. Zappa sent her home after
word got to Mrs. Zappa that their relationship wasn't
exactly platonic.

Time went by, and after Lennon got thrown out of the
house (the relationship with her parents was not
good), she was able to crash in the basement of the
Zappa residence, on the understanding that she not
disturb him while he was composing. He had been
seriously injured at a concert in England, and,
physically and emotionally, things had changed. The
arrangement lasted for a while, until Zappa went back
on tour.

More time went by, and Lennon attempted to continue
her music studies at a local college. She again ran
into Zappa while he was rehearsing a grand, orchestral
piece called The Great Wazoo. She tried to be as
helpful as possible, while also learning as much as
possible. Zappa seemed to tolerate her, more than he
actually wanted her around. The relationship between
them ends badly.

Zappa fans should read this book. He is shown to be a
lot more than just someone with strange ideas about
music. For rock music fans in general, this is a gem
of a book.