HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Muffin Men
OR:
Muffin Men on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

The Muffin Men are a British musical group founded in 1990 and based in
Liverpool, England Liverpool is a port city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population of (in ), Liverpool is the administrative, c ...
, which primarily plays the music of
Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...
and
The Mothers of Invention The Mothers of Invention (also known as the Mothers) were an American rock music, rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Originally an ...
. Rather than play pieces note-for-note as originally written by Zappa, the band play their own interpretations of Zappa's material. They intend to cater to strengths of the current line-up, often giving the music a different slant from the original versions. The group formed in 1990, originally to play a one-off concert to celebrate Zappa's fiftieth birthday. They are named after Zappa's 1975 song " Muffin Man". Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the band toured for thirty unbroken years around the UK, Europe and Scandinavia, performing Zappa's music as a
tribute band A tribute act, tribute band, tribute group or tribute artist is a Musical ensemble, music group, Singing, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act. Tribute acts include individual performers who mimic the so ...
, along with some of their own compositions. Until his death in 2008, the band often featured guest vocals and percussion
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
, who performed with Zappa in the
Mothers of Invention The Mothers of Invention (also known as the Mothers) were an American rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Originally an R&B band ...
. With Black, they also performed material by
Captain Beefheart Don Van Vliet (; born 'Don Glen Vliet'; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as the M ...
. In 1994 The Muffin Men played a nine-week European tour with guest vocalist/guitarist
Ike Willis Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted ...
, and again teamed up with Willis in 2003 for a special Zappanale festival show, which also featured
Napoleon Murphy Brock Napoleon Murphy Brock (born April 23, 1943) is an American singer, saxophonist and flute player who is best known for his work with Frank Zappa in the 1970s, including the albums '' Apostrophe (')'', '' Roxy & Elsewhere'', '' One Size Fits All ...
.
Mike Keneally Michael Joseph Keneally (born December 20, 1961) is an American guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer. Keneally leads his own band, and is also known for a stint with Frank Zappa and for extensive work as a session musician with a range ...
has also appeared with the band, along with
Ray White Ray Shirley White Sr. is an African Americans, African American soul music, soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist, best known as a member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa's band in late 1976, being feature ...
and Robert Martin.
Denny Walley Denny Walley (born February 4, 1943) is an American guitarist. He was born in Pennsylvania. He is known for working with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and '80s. Career Denny Walley spent much of his childhood in New York City before his family moved ...
toured and recorded with the band from 2010 to 2018. The band's 25th anniversary gigs (2015) featured a core line-up of three original members – Rhino, Jumpy and Roddie, with Phil Hearn on keys. Past members from the previous lineups made guest appearances at a special show at
The Cavern Club The Cavern Club is a music venue on Mathew Street, Liverpool, England. The Cavern Club opened on 16 January 1957 as a jazz club, later becoming a centre of the rock and roll scene in Liverpool in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The club beca ...
in Liverpool.


Original lineup

* Ian (Bammo) Bamford – lead guitar and ocals * Paul (Rhino) Ryan – drums and vocals * Mike Kidson – saxophones, trousers and vocals * Andy (Waco) Jacobson – keyboards and vocals * Roddie Gilliard – guitar and vocals * Naraish Nathaniel – bass and vocals * Ian Jump – lead guitar and vocals * Roy Stringer (1956–2001) – Apple Macintosh, samples, vocals and noises The Muffin Men have played with many Zappa alumni. Special guests have included: *
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
(1938-2008) – drums *
Denny Walley Denny Walley (born February 4, 1943) is an American guitarist. He was born in Pennsylvania. He is known for working with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and '80s. Career Denny Walley spent much of his childhood in New York City before his family moved ...
– guitar *
Ike Willis Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted ...
– guitar and vocals *
Mike Keneally Michael Joseph Keneally (born December 20, 1961) is an American guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer. Keneally leads his own band, and is also known for a stint with Frank Zappa and for extensive work as a session musician with a range ...
– guitar *
Ray White Ray Shirley White Sr. is an African Americans, African American soul music, soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist, best known as a member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa's band in late 1976, being feature ...
– guitar and vocals * Robert Martin – vocals, keyboards, horn, saxophone * Ed Mann – percussion * Bunk Gardner – saxophone *
Don Preston Donald Ward Preston (born September 21, 1932) is an American jazz and rock keyboardist. He is best known for being a member of the original version of Frank Zappa's band The Mothers of Invention during the late 1960s. He continued to work with Z ...
– keyboards *
Napoleon Murphy Brock Napoleon Murphy Brock (born April 23, 1943) is an American singer, saxophonist and flute player who is best known for his work with Frank Zappa in the 1970s, including the albums '' Apostrophe (')'', '' Roxy & Elsewhere'', '' One Size Fits All ...
– saxophone *
Arthur Brown Arthur Brown may refer to: Entertainment * Arthur William Brown (1881–1966), Canadian commercial artist * H. Arthur Brown (1906–1992), American orchestral conductor * Arthur Brown (musician) (born 1942), English rock singer * Arthur Brown, ...
*
Eugene Chadbourne Eugene Chadbourne (born January 4, 1954) is an American banjoist, guitarist and music critic. Life and career Chadbourne was born in Mount Vernon, New York, Mount Vernon, New York, but grew up in Boulder, Colorado. He started playing guitar wh ...
– guitar * Ben Watson


Discography

* 1992 - Let's Move To Cleveland/
I'm the Slime "I'm the Slime" is a 1973 single by Frank Zappa and The Mothers from the studio album '' Over-Nite Sensation''. The single version is a different mix and edit from the version on the album. Live recordings of the song can be found on '' Zappa i ...
(7", 33rpm Vinyl Single) * 1992 - The Muffin Men (4-Track CD-Single) * 1993 - Say Cheese And Thank You * 1994 - Mülm (with
Ike Willis Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted ...
) * 1996 - Feel The Food * 1996 - Frankincense (feat
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
) * 1998 - MufFinZ. (feat
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
) * 1999 - God Shave The Queen (feat
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
) * 2001 - More Songs From The Campfire. (feat
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
) * 2002 - Live @ The Cavern (feat
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
) * 2003 - Baker's Dozen (feat
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
) * 2003 - When Worlds Collide (with Ensemble 10:10) * 2008 - Live In The Kitchen Of Love (with
Ike Willis Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted ...
) (Limited Fan Release) * 2008 - Looks Like Noodles To Me (with
Ike Willis Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted ...
) (Limited Fan Release) * 2011 - Just Another Band from L4 (Limited Fan Release) - feat.
Denny Walley Denny Walley (born February 4, 1943) is an American guitarist. He was born in Pennsylvania. He is known for working with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and '80s. Career Denny Walley spent much of his childhood in New York City before his family moved ...
, Robert Martin, Ben Watson * 2015 - Sorry We're a Trifle... (Fan Release, limited to 25 copies, to commemorate 25 years in operation) USB card with a selection of live and studio recordings. * 2019 - (It's All) Smoke and Mirrors – Live in the UK (Limited Fan Release) - feat
Denny Walley Denny Walley (born February 4, 1943) is an American guitarist. He was born in Pennsylvania. He is known for working with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and '80s. Career Denny Walley spent much of his childhood in New York City before his family moved ...
The Muffin Men Videography: * 1990–1997 – Muffin Movies Vol.1. (feat
Jimmy Carl Black James Inkanish, Jr. (February 1, 1938 – November 1, 2008), known professionally as Jimmy Carl Black, was an original member of the Mothers of Invention, providing drums and vocals. He is known for introducing the songs “ Are you Hung Up?” a ...
&
Ike Willis Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted ...
) * 1998–2003 – Muffin Movies Vol.2 * 2003 – Live At Zappanale 14 (with
Ike Willis Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted ...
&
Napoleon Murphy Brock Napoleon Murphy Brock (born April 23, 1943) is an American singer, saxophonist and flute player who is best known for his work with Frank Zappa in the 1970s, including the albums '' Apostrophe (')'', '' Roxy & Elsewhere'', '' One Size Fits All ...
) * 2004–2005 – Muffin Movies Vol.3 * 2012 – Powdered Water. Cd/Promo DVD (Limited Fan Release) – Compositions of Frank Zappa &
Don van Vliet Don Van Vliet (; born 'Don Glen Vliet'; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as the M ...
feat.
Denny Walley Denny Walley (born February 4, 1943) is an American guitarist. He was born in Pennsylvania. He is known for working with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and '80s. Career Denny Walley spent much of his childhood in New York City before his family moved ...


References


External links


band web site
{{Authority control English alternative rock groups