Frank Zappa, bike musician

yet another blast from the past

Fourteen years ago, Frank Zappa died. In addition to his incredibly innovative contributions to the world of rock and roll, he should also be remembered for his influence on democracy here in the US and abroad.

During the Cold War Zappa was hardly on the list of approved artists sent abroad to showcase American democracy. But that did not stop Zappa and his band, The Mothers of Invention, from becoming a symbol of freedom to Czech playwright, and later president, Vaclav Havel.