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Mothers Of Invention, The

Profile:Frank Zappa joined the R&B group the Soul Giants in 1964. The band included vocalist Ray Collins, bassist Roy Estrada and drummer Jimmy Carl Black. Zappa emerged as their creative leader and changed their name to the Mothers. When they signed Verve Records, their name was changed to The Mothers Of Invention. For much of their seminal 1960's albums, the group also included woodwind player Bunk Gardner, saxophonist Motorhead Sherwood, keyboardist Don Preston, multi-instrumentalist Ian Underwood and additional drummers Billy Mundi and Art Tripp. Most of the members appeared on "Freak Out" (1966), "Absolutely Free" and "We're Only In It For The Money" (1967), "Cruising With Ruben & the Jets" (1968) and "Uncle Meat" (1969).
During Zappa's jazz/classical rock period of 1969-1970, The Mothers were augmented by Don "Sugarcane" Harris (violin), Jean-Luc Ponty (violin), Ruth Underwood (percussion), Aynsley Dunbar and John Guerin (both drums). Most of these members appeared on "Uncle Meat", "Hot Rats", "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" and "Burnt Weeny Sandwich". From 1970-72, Zappa formed a new Mothers with former Turtles members Flo & Eddie (vocalists Mark Volman & Howard Kaylan) and bassist Jim Pons. Don Preston, Ian Underwood and Aynsley Dunbar remained in the lineup, along with additional keyboardist George Duke. After Zappa was pushed from the stage by a fan in 1972 and could not tour for the next year, that lineup of the Mothers was disbanded. Two more jazz rock albums, "Waka Jawaka" and "The Grand Wazoo", were recorded with much of the previous jazz rock group including Preston, Ian and Ruth Underwood, Dunbar, Ponty, Huerin and Duke. Trumpeter Sal Marquez was also added. Zappa and the Mothers went back to vocal rock songs with jazz elements in 1973 on "Over-Nite Sensation", then 1974's "Apostrophe" and 1975's "One Size Fits All". Much of the same band remained, along with new members Bruce Lambourne Fowler (trombone), Tom Fowler (bass) and Napoleon M. Brock (saxophone). In 1975 Zappa stopped using the Mothers of Invention for his backing band. By the late '70s and entirely new backing band was formed with only occasional participation from past Mothers members. Beginning in the 80's, past Mothers members Collins, Black, Gardner, Sherwood, Preston, Tom and Bruce Fowler occasionally played in a Zappa tribute band, The Grandmothers.
Aliases:Mothers, The
Members:Andre Lewis, Art Tripp, Aynsley Dunbar, Billy Mundi, Bruce Lambourne Fowler, Bunk Gardner, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Don Preston, Elliot Ingber, Frank Zappa, George Duke, Howard Kaylan, Ian Underwood, Jean-Luc Ponty, Jim Pons, Jimmy Carl Black, John Guerin, Lowell George, Mark Volman, Motorhead Sherwood, Napoleon M. Brock, Peter Wolf (3), Ray Collins, Roy Estrada, Ruth Komanoff, Ruth Underwood, Suzy Creamcheese, Tom Fowler
Name Variations: All | Mothers Of Invention, The | Mothers | Mothers Of Invention | Mothers, The
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Releases:
Freak Out! (Album) ◄ (11 versions)   Verve Records ... 1966
How Could I Be Such A Fool / Help I'm A Rock (7")   Verve Records 1966
Who Are The Brain Police? / Trouble Comin' Every Day (7")   Verve Records 1966
Absolutely Free (Album) ◄ (9 versions)   Verve Records ... 1967
We're Only In It For The Money (Album) ◄ (8 versions)   Verve Records ... 1967
Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (Album) ◄ (3 versions)   Verve Records ... 1968
Burnt Weeny Sandwich (Album) ◄ (8 versions)   Bizarre Records ... 1969
Mother's Day (2xLP)   Metro Records, Metro Records, Metro Records 1969
Mothermania (LP)   Verve Records 1969
My Guitar (7", Single, Promo)   Bizarre Records 1969
My Guitar (7", Single)   Reprise Records 1969
The **** Of The Mothers Of Invention (Comp) ◄ (2 versions)   Verve Records 1969
Uncle Meat (Album) ◄ (7 versions)   Bizarre Records ... 1969
Weasels Ripped My Flesh (Album) ◄ (6 versions)   Bizarre Records ... 1970
The Worst Of The Mothers (LP)   MGM Records 1971
The Grand Wazoo (LP)   Reprise Records 1972
Over-nite Sensation (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Discreet 1973
2 Originals Of The Mother Of Invention - Burnt Weeny Sandwich / Weasels Ripped My Flesh (2xLP, RP)   Reprise Records 1975
Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention (LP, Comp)   Verve Records 1975
One Size Fits All (Album) ◄ (9 versions)   DiscReet ... 1975
We're Only In It For The Money / Lumpy Gravy ◄ (2 versions)   Zappa Records ... 1985
American Pageant (Musical Underground Oratorios) (LP)   Duchesse Records 1989
'Tis The Season To Be Jelly (CD, Album)   FOO - EEE Records 1991
Freaks And Motherfu*#@%! ◄ (2 versions)   FOO - EEE Records ... 1991
Piquantique (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   FOO - EEE Records ... 1991
The Ark (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Essential ... 1991
Unmitigated Audacity - Live At Notre Dame University May 12, 1974 (CD)   FOO - EEE Records 1991
Playground Psychotics ◄ (2 versions)   Zappa Records ... 1992
Ahead Of Their Time (Album) ◄ (2 versions)   Zappa Records ... 1993
'Tis The Season To Be Jelly (LP)   Bizarre Records  
Deseri (Flexi, 6", Mono, Tra)   БУД КОН  
Pop History Vol 7 (2xLP, Comp)   Polydor  
Appears On:
200 Motels (Album) ◄ (8 versions)   United Artists Records ... 1971
Some Time In New York City (Album) ◄ (5 versions)   Apple Records ... 1972
You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 5 (2xCD, Comp, Alb)   Zappa Records 1992
Floored Genius 2 - Best Of The BBC Sessions 1983-91 (CD, Comp) Are You Hung Up? Nighttracks 1993
Tracks Appear On:
Under Ground (2xLP) Plastic People, Who Ne... Polydor 1968
Zapped (LP, Comp, Smplr, Promo) Valarie Reprise Records, Straight, Bizarre Records 1969
Zappéd (LP, Comp, Smplr, Promo, RE) Holiday In Berlin, Ful... Reprise Records, Straight, Bizarre Records 1970
Let It Rock For Release (LP, Comp) Willie The Pimp Kinney Music 1971
Supernatural Fairy Tales: The Progressive Rock Era (5xCD, Comp + Box) Inca Roads Rhino Entertainment Company 1996
Frank's Wildest Years! (CD, EP) Dirty Love, Fifty-Fifty Hitch-Hyke Records, ZOO (Magazine) 1998
Unconditionally Guaranteed Volume 7 (CD, Album, Comp) Who Needs The Peace Corp? Uncut Magazine 1999
Sin City 14 L.A. Rock Classics (CD) Son Of Suzy Creamcheese Uncut Magazine 2004
In Search Of Syd : 15 Mind-Bending Freak-Outs! (CD, Comp) Who Are The Brain Police? Mojo Magazine 2007
Stooges Jukebox (CD, Album) Help, I'm A Rock Mojo Magazine 2007
Unofficial Releases:
Poot Face Boogie (LP)   The Amazing Kornyphone Record Label 1971
'Tis The Season To Be Jelly (CD, Album)   Exil Compact Music 1988
Live At The Ark - Boston 1968 (CD, Album)   Exil Compact Music 1988
Indiscreet Picture Show (LP)   Smog Records (2)  
Live USA (CD)   Imtrat  
No Commercial Potential (2xLP, W/Lbl)   Singer's Original Double Disk  
Trick Or Treat (LP, Album)   Bizarre Records  
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