Wymer Publishing  [Publication date 17.08.26]

Andrew Greenaway’s revised and expanded ‘Zappa The Hard Way’ is a meticulously researched and even handed account of what proved to be Frank Zappa’s last tour.

The 1988, 12 piece band (including a 5 piece horn section), managed to complete the East Coast and European legs of an exhaustive tour, playing some scintillating music, later captured on the ironically titled ‘The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life’, and related releases.

The band’s demise is also part of a related question as to whether there were any actual future tour dates booked or not?

Written with the apparent distain of The Zappa Family Trust, author and Zappaphile Andrew Greenaway offers a chronological account of the trigger moments of the band’s antipathy (excluding Mike Keneally) towards Scott Thunes, the bass player and  ‘Clonemeister,’ aka the band’s MD.

And while that rupture undoubtedly caused problems, it is significant that such was the collective’s respect for Zappa that they still stuck together to play some great music, a point made by percussionist Ed Mann: “The disharmony showed itself in the interaction of the rhythm section, which created a kind of simmering/angry vibe to make music within.”

But He also says: The reason the music sounded good was because everyone loved Frank so much and no one, no matter how miserable they were, chose to quit and leave him high and dry.”

Having digested the interviews, there is more that a suspicion that outside elements beyond simply Scott Thunes were the cause of friction.

Ike Willis for example, recalls that: ““The 1988 tour would have been my absolute favourite tour only the people who were managing Frank at the time were not my favourite people. The 1988 tour – as far as the band was concerned, because it was the best band we ever had – was the most fun.”

It’s a quote that might have been followed up, if only to ask who these managers were?

Ed Mann also mentions the management problem when dwelling on why things feel apart:  “Corporate suits as management, loss of (Bennett) Glotzer and his family vibe, loss of (John) Smothers and his saving grace, loss of Frank’s normal band-leader style, loss of Howard (Kaylan) and Mark (Volman), loss of Tommy Mars.” Frank clearly not well, self destructive behaviour….”

After Glotzer left, Gail Zappa apparently took over, but both quotes suggest some interim road managers were a problem.

No matter, Greenaway strikes an objective balance between reflective musical and personal memories.

He also teases out the shared funny moments on and off stage between Zappa and his band

Different accounts of particular incidents are set side by side, with the author occasionally adding his own view, but only for the purposes of clarity rather than subjectivity.

He tackles the potentially tricky problem of Scott Thunes’s pivotal role in the discord with a gentle touch, suggesting he is now mellowed person, who when looking back reflects on his sense of isolation; “I was the only guy who was my friend on that tour.”

Thunes is very honest in recalling that Ed Mann the former Clonemeister (circa 78-79) told him: “Don’t you understand what a privilege it is to play with Frank? How can you ruin his music so intensely, so blindingly, so egomaniacally?”

The author might have got more out of Arthur Barrow – Thunes’s predecessor as Clonemeister – who  briefly explains the hard work involved, from transcribing and teaching the band the music, to the 8-to-10 hour rehearsals, aside from worrying about his own bass and vocal parts, and having to know everyone else parts too.

Speaking in 1980 Thunes reflected that: “It seemed to me that he (Zappa) was very happy with just getting the notes right. Everything else is secondary.”

Again the above quote is unresolved, as it begs the question whether FZ was simply uninterested in what was going on with the band, or probably too tired because of ill health to care.

And so to the (eh hem) “crux of the biscuit”, whether Zappa had actually booked in the rest of a tour, the cancellation of which reputedly cost him 4000.000 dollars or more?

He asked the band members individually if they would continue if Scott Thunes was in the band, and with the exception of Keneally the answer was no.

Though had the tour dates been announced the answer might have been different.

It conjures up a distant parallel with the Zappa’s 1971 Albert Hall ban, a date which according to former The Mothers vocalist Howard Kaylan, was never in his diary even for rehearsal purposes.

In the event Zappa used both incidents as big PR stories, which in the case of the abortive ‘88 tour did no harm to his future album releases.

‘Zappa The Hard Way’ warrants this re-issue, complete with the short  additional material of Candy Zappa’s foreword, and Pauline Butcher’s Afterword book-end.

2 things remain constant, the respect for Zappa’s music and the memories of his quest for excellence which brought out the best in the musicians he hired.

The reasons he seemed to fall short as a band leader on this tour is something he took with him to the grave.

Andrew Greenaway’s inherent knowledge of his subject matter, his engaging writing style and the fact the book is filled previously unseen photos from tour photographer Sergio ‘Milo’ Albonico, complete with exhaustive line-ups, set lists and even an index, makes this a great re-issue.****

Review by Pete Feenstra  

 

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

Josh now hosts “Taerk’s Tracks” as part of the Singer Songwriter Sunday sequence on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.

This is the first show broadcast on 27 September. Josh presents some of his inspirational artists and tracks.

---

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast 20 September 2026.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

---

Power Plays w/c 28 September 2026

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – Halo (Frontiers)
THUNDERMOTHER Bimbo Boost (Napalm Records)
ELYSION Dead Loves (Massacre Records)
CHRIS JOHNSON & THE HOLLYWOOD HILLBILLIES Till The End Of Time (Rustbelt Electric)
LAKE Ordinary People (indie)
CRASHING WAYWARD Bullet For Heart (Golden Robot Records)
DEAD POET SOCIETY Miami For The Weekend (Spinefarm)

Featured Albums w/c 28 September 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

---

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings.  The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.

---

Recent (last 30 days)

---