"The Torture Never Stops" is a song by

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by wikt:nonconformity, nonconformity, Free improvisation, free-form improvisation, sound experimen ...

from the 1976 album '' Zoot Allures''. Other versions appear on '' Zappa in New York'', ''

Thing-Fish ''Thing-Fish'' is an album by Frank Zappa, originally released as a triple album box set on Barking Pumpkin Records in 1984. It was billed as a cast recording for a proposed musical of the same name, which was ultimately not produced by Zappa, but ...

'', ''

You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 ''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1'' is a double disc live album by Frank Zappa. It was released in 1988 (see 1988 in music) under the label Rykodisc. It was the beginning of a six-volume, 12-CD set Zappa assembled of live performances ...

'', ''

You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 ''You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4'' is a two-CD set of live recordings by Frank Zappa, recorded between 1969 and 1988, and released in 1991. Track listing All tracks written by Frank Zappa, except where noted. Personnel Musici ...

'', ''

The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life ''The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life'' is a double-disc live album by American musician Frank Zappa, released in 1991. The album was one of four to be recorded during the 1988 world tour, along with ''Broadway the Hard Way'', ''Make a Jaz ...

'', '' FZ:OZ'', '' Cheap Thrills'', '' Buffalo'', ''

Philly '76 ''Philly '76'' is a live album by Frank Zappa, recorded on October 29, 1976 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and released by the Zappa Family Trust on December 21, 2009 to commemorate Frank Zappa's 69th birthday. It is the fourth i ...

'', and ''

Hammersmith Odeon The Hammersmith Apollo, currently called the Eventim Apollo for sponsorship reasons, and formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a live entertainment performance venue, originally built as a cinema called the Gaumont Palace. Located in Ha ...

''. Zappa played "The Torture Never Stops" in concert from 1975 to 1978, in 1981 and again in 1988. The song debuted in 1975 as "Why Doesn't Somebody Get Him a Pepsi?" though few of the instrument parts were similar to the album version. Critics have written that while performing the song, Zappa comes off as calm yet passive-aggressive.

Michel Delville Michel Delville (born 1969) is a Belgian musician, writer and critic. Delville teaches literature at the University of Liège. He is the author of books about comparative poetics and interdisciplinary studies. He was awarded the 1998 SAMLA Book ...

, in his essay ''Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and the Secret History of Maximalism'' contrasted the tone of "The Torture Never Stops" with

Brian Eno Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (; born Brian Peter George Eno, 15 May 1948) is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his contributions to ambient music and work in rock, pop an ...

's album '' Ambient 1: Music for Airports''.

Rat Tomago

A live solo from the song, called "Rat Tomago", was put on the 1979 album ''

Sheik Yerbouti ''Sheik Yerbouti'' is a double album by Frank Zappa, released in March 1979 as the first release on Zappa Records (distributed by Phonogram Inc.) It is mostly made up of live material recorded in 1977 and 1978, with extensive overdubs added i ...

''. Like "The Torture Never Stops", it contains the same basic structure, bass line, and female moaning. "Rat Tomago" was nominated for the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1980, but lost to Paul McCartney and Wings' "

Rockestra Theme "Rockestra Theme" is the fourth and final single on Wings' final studio album ''Back to the Egg''. Recording "Rockestra Theme" was recorded on 3 October 1978 at Abbey Road Studios by an all-star collection of musicians dubbed "Rockestra", although ...

Personnel

Studio version *

– guitar, bass, keyboards, lead vocals *

Terry Bozzio Terry John Bozzio (born December 27, 1950) is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa. He has been featured on nine solo or collaborative albums, 26 albums with Zappa and seven albums with Missing Person ...

– drums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Torture Never Stops 1976 songs Frank Zappa songs Songs written by Frank Zappa Captain Beefheart Song recordings produced by Frank Zappa Black comedy music