I picked up Zappa by Barry Miles when a friend had mentioned he had read the newest biography about Frank Zappa. I’m a casual Zappa fan, but am in now way a super fan who knows a majority of Frank’s vast music catalog. I have a few albums, but more importantly, I have friends who are very into his music - so I’ve listened to many hours of Frank’s music indirectly that way. I also enjoy Zappa’s forays into the film world and enjoy watching my copy of 200 Motels and Baby Snakes (the live concert footage in Baby Snakes is really great!). I even caught a show during the last tour of Zappa Plays Zappa with Steve Vai, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and Terry Bozzio. I’m still on the fence, however, about throwing down yet another $60.00 to see the current Zappa Plays Zappa tour with Ray White. Like I said, I like Frank Zappa, but I’m not a super fan. I just find his music, films, and persona very interesting.

Zappa by Barry Miles is a worthwhile read for any level of Zappa curiosity. It’s especially interesting to read a third party’s account of Zappa’s life after having read Zappa’s autobiography The Real Frank Zappa Book. Zappa’s autobiography is interesting for an entirely different set of reasons. It’s interesting to read someone telling the story of their life, but of course sometimes things are skewed to their point of view. Zappa also omits important things from his life he doesn’t want to touch on in his book (due to his personal distaste of aforementioned things or his general disinterest at being introspective). He even gets dates, times, and places wrong much of the time. So from an opposing view alone, Barry Miles’ book is great in that it clears up some of the misinformation and inaccuracies that are lurking in Zappa’s autobiography.

Miles starts from the beginning and gives a very factual recount of Zappa’s nomadic youth. He paints a good picture of his recently immigrated family and their travels around the country searching for an allusive home base (led by father Francis). The constant uprooting was to influence Zappa for the rest of his life. Miles goes into details and clears up some childhood myths and inaccuracies from Zappa’s autobiography. He goes into depth as far as Frank’s upbringing, his siblings, and his musical education and development.

Miles’ impartial approach reveals details that Frank would not reveal about himself, and in that regard Zappa is very refreshing. He is also able to tell the story of Zappa’s life from a subjective point of view, and does not candy coat any of Zappa’s negative personality traits such as being a control freak, somewhat litigious, and even a little cheap. He lays it all out, but he does not do so in a way that is vindictive or attacks Zappa. Zappa was a strange, gifted, and extremely intelligent man, and that is the main gist of the book. The book is chock full of interesting anecdotes and factoids about Frank Zappa. There are direct quotes from Frank, but also direct quotes from important figures in his life like band mates, former teachers, and former business partners. It’s interesting to hear others’ perspectives on Frank Zappa. Also, Barry Miles is able to deliver an unmatched intimacy of Zappa’s life to the reader since he knew Frank personally.

For those interested in the life and music of Frank Zappa, Barry Miles’ Zappa is a must read. But even if you don’t really know much at all about Zappa, I would recommend this book. Zappa’s life and prolific career is full of twists and turns that would be interesting to people even if they’ve never heard the name Frank Zappa before. How did Zappa help give Alice Cooper his start in the music business? How good is sex with Janis Joplin? What does Frank Zappa have to do with Jimi Hendrix’s penis?? Read Zappa by Barry Miles. You just can’t make stuff like this up.