Frank Zappa’s series “Whisky A Go Go” returns with episode four

“The Whisky a Go Go” YouTube series Immerse yourself in the history of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention is back with episode four. This time, Vault Master Joe Travers and Pamela Des Barres of the legendary GTOs talk about the very first performance of Zappa and the Mothers at the Whisky – not on the club’s stage, but on the floor itself.

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In the new clip, which you can watch in full below, Travers explains in more detail how this came about.

“Johnny Rivers was the house band at the time,” he says. “They were on vacation but they didn’t get their equipment off the stage, so they got Frank to set up right here on the floor in front of this structural beam, which is still here today. We know it’s still the same because we have pictures to prove it.”

Des Barres asks: “So they all sat down here in front of the stairs?”

“No, they’re all standing, but it was so silly,” laughs Travers. “But hey, they got their big break. They got to play at the Whisky! This is literally the place where history was made nearly 60 years ago. And here we are, so much time later!”

The fascinating ongoing series “Whisky a Go-Go” supports Zappa and The Mothers of Invention and is titled Whisky a Go Go, 1968, which was released on June 21st via Zappa Records/UMe.

In 1968, an advertisement by Frank Zappa appeared in LA Free Press Read: “The Mothers of Invention cordially invite you to join them on Tuesday, July 23, 1968, as they take over the Whisky a Go Go for a full 5 hours of unprecedented merriment, secretly being recorded for a forthcoming album. Clothing optional. Beginning sometime this evening. RSVDT” This album ultimately went largely unheard until now.

Produced by Ahmet Zappa and Joe Travers and over 55 years in the making, this extensive collection includes everything The Mothers of Invention played in their three sets that night. The album is complete and was remixed in 2023 by Craig Parker Adams at Winslow CT Studios from high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz digital transfers of the original 1-inch 8-track analog tapes.

A Super Deluxe Edition box set has been released on both 5LP 180 gram black vinyl and 3CD and includes a booklet with many previously unpublished photos from the evening’s events, along with extensive liner notes by Vaultmeister Joe Travers, an essay by Pamela Des Barres about the Zappa-signed group The GTO’s, who played that evening, and an interview by Ahmet Zappa with the legendary Alice Cooperwhose own band caused a great stir as one of the main acts that evening at the Whisky.

Buy or stream Whisky A Go Go 1968.