‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ coming to Rams Head Live

For more than two years his son Dweezil Zappa, a brilliant musician in his own right, is bringing “Zappa Plays Zappa,” to town as part of a tour that highlights the Frank Zappa legacy. “I am a huge fan of his music, just like his fans are,” said Zappa. “This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and I’ve done a lot of work to make it possible.”

The tour began after two years of the younger Zappa closely studying his father’s extraordinarily sophisticated music so that he could match it chord for chord. No easy task as anyone who has even taken a passing glance at the elder Zappa’s catalog — which moves from pop to rock to blues to soul — can attest.

“The thing about him was that he could write music anywhere,” said Zappa. “He would sit with a pen and paper and just hear the music in his head. He had a clear idea and could orchestra it.”

While Frank Zappa — musician, composer, arranger, producer, film director, political activist and band leader — is a cause celebre to many baby boomers, Zappa feared his music would be swept aside. To prevent that, the younger Zappa shelved his own music for a while to complete this project. Part of past tours have included Frank “sitting in” on jams via video.

“I try to choose things that really show what makes Frank different than other people,” he said. “Part of my goal is that I’m trying to introduce his music to a younger generation.”

But just why would a musician choose to live in a famous parent’s shadow instead of furthering separate musical chops?

Zappa is thoughtful when asked about those who reject their parent’s music.

“If you feel it, then it’s real for you,” he said. “But I think if you feel like you’re in the shadow you’ve put yourself there.”