#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

A Young Frank Zappa Performs Music on a Bicycle with Steve Allen

It's not a cigar box guitar, but it sure is strange enough for us to study... In 1963, Frank Zappa appeared on the Steve Allen show to perform a completely avant garde music on various parts of a bicycle, including using a violin bow on the spokes.

What's really interesting is his use of pre-recorded tapes, spoken words from the announcer and other elements, which is very much along the lines of John Cage's style.

Whether you're a Zappa fan or not, this is a great historical glimpse into a maverick composer's early years.

6 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 5, 2016 at 7:35pm

You can tuna fish...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on February 5, 2016 at 9:15pm

what about a mud shark?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on February 5, 2016 at 10:27pm

A Circular Motion is destined to take the place of it in your mythology.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on February 9, 2016 at 4:04am

Just because you haven't tried it doesn't mean it won't work. Part of the fun of experimenting.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bristol Blue on February 9, 2016 at 8:55am

Thanks for posting. Zappa was always Zappa.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pete Turner on February 9, 2016 at 9:16am

One of the funniest tapes I ever seen, laughed the whole way thru! I'm old enough to remember Steve Allen.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pete Turner on February 9, 2016 at 9:18am

Laughed all the way thru the tape! Classic Steve Allen & Zappa so young!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jamie MacBlues on February 9, 2016 at 2:44pm

Interesting stuff :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alberto Magotti on February 10, 2016 at 12:47am

Love Frank

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on February 10, 2016 at 3:12am

Oh man that was fun to watch!

Now I have to find "How's Your Bird"

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wal Callaby on June 19, 2018 at 8:28am

Rather sad really... FZ had tried to get onto the show with his more- er, more conventional music several times, only to be turned down each time. Subtract the bicycles and you get a decent idea of what he was doing then.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Randolph on June 19, 2018 at 11:20am

Although this is not the first time I've seen this, it never gets boring. If only Steve Allen knew at the time who he was talking to, I believe he would have been a bit more "in tune" with Frank. They both have incredible musical talent and a different take on life. Great video and yes, I am a Zappa (and Allen) fan. Especially Frank's "Joe's Garage" 3 LP set and Steve's "Piano Tonight" LP. Both are classics.