The early Mothers of Invention were a band of anarchic, free-spirited, musically telepathic mavericks headed by the unparalleled musical genius of Frank Zappa. Featured on such classic LPs as Freak Out, Absolutely Free and We're Only In It For The Money, the band let rip over Zappa's satirical yet complex compositions.

Using the band's on-the-road antics as a backdrop, a live performance was often akin to a free-form rock 'n' roll revue. Disbanded in 1970, Zappa would sometimes reassemble The Mothers of Invention in a number of different guises, but rarely found another group that collectively distilled his offbeat musical vision so perfectly.

Billy James recaptures those early years as remembered by those who were there; Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada, Bunk Gardner, Buzz Gardner and Don Preston. Completing the picture with anecdotes about other ex-members like Ray Collins, Lowell George, Art Tripp and Motorhead Sherwood, the book investigates the oddball humour that surrounded the Zappa entourage from 1964-1970.

Fully illustrated, Necessity Is… presents a fitting tribute to a time when musical barriers were there to be broken.

ISBN 0946719 14 4
192 pages - illustrated - Paperback

NECESSITY IS...
THE EARLY YEARS OF FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION

Billy James

About the author:

In 1996 Billy James collaborated with Michael Bruce, the guitarist from the original Alice Cooper group, on his highly acclaimed book No More Mr Nice Guy (also on SAF - an updated edition out now).

In 1998, he co-authored the best-selling Lunar Notes - Zoot Horn Rollo's Captain Beefheart Experience and in 1999, he wrote the definitive history of Grand Funk Railroad - An American Band (both on SAF).

"Billy James' book about Frank Zappa and his early entourage is flat out wonderful." Booklist

"Largely the product of new interviews with former Mothers such as Don Preston and Roy Estrada, Billy James book is an informative account of the band's inception" Mojo

"What makes James' book such a delight is, this time the story gets told by the original group members (mostly Preston and Gardner) who give a clear insight into the natural history of The Mothers, their music, their hidden talents and Zappa's tightly diciplined, drug-free working methods and demands"
The Wire

(l-r) Author Billy James with contributors Jimmy Carl Black, Bunk Gardner and Don Preston. Photo:Barb Dye

£12.99 plus postage