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| Gail Zappa, Mrs. Matt and Gail's Sister Joyce |
We're saddened to pass along the news that Gail Zappa has died at age 70. The Zappa Family confirmed Gail's passing to TMZ. The report indicates Zappa had been battling lung cancer for years.
Gail Zappa was born Adelaide Gail Sloatman on New Year's Day 1945. She met legendary guitarist Frank Zappa in 1966 and the pair married a year later. Gail spent the decades following Frank's 1993 death running the Zappa Family Trust. A few months ago Gail turned over day-to-day operations of the Zappa Family Trust to her son Ahmet Zappa, who along with Dweezil, Moon and Diva, survive their mother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Zappa family.
17 comments:
@Matt
Sorry to read this, Matt. Gail Zappa was a well known figure in the music industry. Their's was a long marriage. Are you able to share how Mrs Matt knew Gail?
RIP Gail Zappa
I am VERY sorry to hear that someone else has just lost their mother to cancer. My condolences to the children of Gail!!
Sad to hear. She had such great stories.
Very sad indeed at least her & Frank will be reunited
@Equinox:
I met Gail through her sister, who is a friend of mine. The night this picture was taken (about 2 1/2 years ago), Gail was so funny and really letting the stories fly - about Frank mainly, but also some stories about their experiences with Manson. Her stories were confidential at the time, which is why they were not posted on this blog. She was diagnosed shortly after this visit.
@MrsMatt
Thanks for that Julie. It's always to see you on the boards. Gail Zappa always seemed to be a much nicer, better person than other rock star consorts. It would be great if, at some point in the future, you were able to share the Manson stories.
Way back in the early 1980's, Frank Zappa was doing dates in London. I was staying in a large hotel in Kensington. I went into the lift (elevator) and it was full of some very scary looking individuals. The elevator got stuck between floors and it took some time to get it sorted. I looked so terrified at being stuck with these guys that one of them leaned over and said in an American accent, "Don't worry, we won't harm you!". The following day, I was told that it was Frank Zappa's road crew!! There were the saddest, poorest looking groupies running full speed into the dining room to get to the buffet - the girls had just spent the night with these roadies for the sake of getting a breakfast!
@Mrs Matt
Correction - obviously in the first sentence of my above post, I meant to type 'it's always nice to see you on the boards'. Oops!!
@Equinox
We sat at my friend's dinner table that night for 9 straight hours (6pm until 3am), so there was a lot of talking being done. I feel comfortable now sharing one of the stories: In august of 1968, Gail and Frank went to a party at Terry Melcher's house. For the first half hour or so, they stayed outside talking to friends and had a great time. Then, they all entered the house through the front door. Immediately, upon walking in, Gail apparently had a premonition, though she didn't realize that at the time. In her mind's eye, she saw massive amounts of blood everywhere, including the walls. She "saw" knives and bodies. Without taking one step further into that house, she grabbed Frank and announced that they were leaving the party right then and there - and he, of course, agreed to leave. One year later - TO THE DAY - the murders took place.
Wow that's a crazy story. Another great one to add to the collection of lore.
I'm a big Zappa fan and remember, I think from his biography, Gail saying something like they stayed together all those years by avoiding talking to each other, maybe it was kind of a joke. Got the picture of him spending all his time in his home studio, never going out, and not spending much time with his family. Also, I got the feeling he fooled around a lot, at least in his younger years. And smoked and drank coffee endlessly.
@Mrs Matt
Oh my God!! I am a great believer in premonitions. I have read so much about Gail over the years, and no one had a bad word to say about her. Rest in peace, Gail.
Yep, Frank drank lots of coffee and smoked lots of cigarettes. But, he didn't drink or do drugs at all and would fire a band member in a nano-second if he even heard they had gotten high. His kids have nothing but great memories of him from what I've heard - particularly Diva, who was with us that evening the photo was taken. Gail practically worshipped him and has kept his home studio exactly the way it was when he was alive for all these years. She was a staunch protector of the Zappa name, brand and Family Trust.
Very sad to hear...
Wait a minute - Frank and Gail HAD experiences with Manson !
That crazy Hendrickson has been trying to tell US about the Laural Canyon / Hollywoood connection FOREVER and all WE could do is think HE lost HIS marbles. AND we are educated by the "greatest" and most progressive "establishment" to ever of EXISTED on this earth.
Step right up folks and get your marbles on eBay and Amazon. Marble "loans" now available, under Marble-care - BUT there is a DEADline !
Thanks Mrs.Matt, I'm glad the kids have great memories of him and that Gail did too. I didn't even know there was a Diva.
Mrs. Matt did she ever say anything about Manson wanting to trade a few Manson girls with Frank so he could have a night with her? Frank said thus saving his wife from that honor. It's a rumor I've heard and have always wondered if it was true.
oops left out Frank said "no"
@beauders:
I've never heard that one, and Gail certainly didn't mention that to me. Given the hours of talking we did, I think she would have mentioned that story had it happened. She was totally creeped out by Charlie, though, and locked herself in the bedroom once, when Charlie came to the house "demanding" a meeting with Frank.
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