Complete list of Frank Zappa's live performances
available on Frank Zappa's official videos
This page lists every available live audio-video performance that appears on Zappa's official video releases.
Live performances footage without direct live audio are not listed.
I've not considered Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (there are live performances in the movie, but there's not audience apart for the movie crew) and The Amazing Mr. Bickford, which is an animation movie.
Lists are sorted by songs titles (initial articles have been removed), by video releases and by performances chronological order.
Here's the meaning of the codes used in the lists:
- normal title = this performance of the song is also available as only audio on official Zappa releases (BTB boxes don't count)
- italics title = this performance of the song is NOT available as only audio on official Zappa releases (italics is also used when the video track is only partially released on only audio)
- (M) = medley/suite
- (m) = played as part of a medley/suite
- C = complete performance
- P = partial performance
By songs titles
- Agency Man (m) - C - London, October 25, 1968 - UM - audio released on AOTT and MD
- Alien Orefice - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS - audio partially released on YCDTOSA6
- Approximate - P - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS
- Bamboozled By Love - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS
- Be In My Video - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - audio released on YCDTOSA1
- Beauty Knows No Pain (m)- C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS - audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Black Napkins - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS
- Black Napkins - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS
- Black Page - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS - audio released on BS
- Bogus Pomp (m) - C - London, October 25, 1968 - UM - audio released on AOTT and MD
- Bobby Brown - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS
- Bobby Brown - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- Broken Hearts Are For Assholes - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS
- Broken Hearts Are For Assholes - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS
- Camarillo Brillo - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS
- Carol You Fool - P - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- Charlie's Enormous Mouth (m) - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS - audio released on YCDTOSA3
- City Of Tiny Lights - C - NYC, October 30, 1977 - BS
- City Of Tiny Lights - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS (as bonus track)
- City Of Tiny Lights - P - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- Cocaine Decisions - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TDRS
- Conehead - P - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS
- Cosmik Debris - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on TDRS
- Cosmik Debris - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - very partially audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Dancin' Fool - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- Dancin' Fool - C - SNL, NYC, October 21, 1978 - H
- Dangerous Kitchen - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - audio released on YCDTOSA1
- Deathless Horsie - P - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - full audio released on YCDTOSA1
- Dinah-Moe Humm - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS - audio released on BS
- Dinah-Moe Humm - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - only partially audio released on YCDTOSA6
- Disco Boy - C - NYC, October 30, 1977 - BS - audio released on BS
- Do You Like My New Car (m) - P - San Francisco, November 5-7, 1970 - TTSO200M
- Dog Breath (m) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on TDRS
- Dog Meat (M) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS
- Drowning Witch (St. Etienne) - P - St. Etienne, May 28, 1982 - VFH - audio released on JFH
- Dumb All Over - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS - audio released on YCDTOSA1 (with guitar solo edited out)
- Dummy Up (m) - P - LA, December 8-10, 1973 - TTSO200M - full audio released (with overdubs) on R&E
- Easy Meat - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TDRS and TTNS - audio released on TDRS
- Fine Girl - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS
- Flakes - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TDRS and TTNS
- Florentine Pogen - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on TDRS and (with overdubs) on OSFA
- Gas Mask - P - NYC, October 30, 1977 - BS
- Goblin Girl - P - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- Harder Than Your Husband - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS
- Heavenly Bank Account - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS - audio released on YCDYOSA1
- He's So Gay - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - audio released on YCDTOSA6
- Holiday In Berlin (m) - C - London, October 25, 1968 - UM - audio released on AOTT and MD
- Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - audio released on YCDTOSA6
- Hot-Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- I Have Been In You (intro) - P - NYC, October 30, 1977 - BS - audio released on YCDTOSA6
- I'm The Slime - C - Sarurday Night Live Tv Show, New York City, NY, December 11, 1976 - FZCA
- Inca Roads - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on TDRS and (with overdubs) on OSFA
- Illinois Enema Bandit - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS - audio released on OSD
- Jumbo Go Away - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS
- Jones Crusher - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS - audio released on BS
- Keep it Greasy - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - only partially audio released on YCDTOSA3
- King Kong - P - NYC, October 30, 1977 - BS
- King Kong - P - Metz, June 22, 1982 - VFH - audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Meek Shall Inherit Nothing - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS
- Montana - C - Roxy, LA, CA, December, 1973 - FZCA
- Montana - P - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on TDRS
- Montana - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS
- Mudd Club - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS
- Muffin Man - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS
- Nig Biz - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TDRS
- Penis Dimension - P - San Francisco, November 5-7, 1970 - TTSO200M
- Poodle Lecture (m) - C - NYC, October 30, 1977 - BS - audio released on YCDTOSA6
- Pound For A Brown - P - NYC, October 30 & 31 1977 - BS
- Progress (the play) (M) - C - London, October 25, 1968 - UM - audio released on AOTT and MD
- Punky's Whips - C - NYC, October 29 & 31 1977 - BS - audio released on BS
- Room Service (m) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on (in sligtly longer edit) TDRS
- San Ber'dino - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS
- St. Etienne (Drowning Witch) - P - St. Etienne, May 28, 1982 - VFH - audio released on JFH
- Stevie's Spanking - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TDRS and TTNS- audio released on TDRS
- Stevie's Spanking - P - Rome, July 9, 1982 - VFH - audio released, with some extra material, on YCDTOSA4
- Stink-Foot - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on TDRS
- Strictly Genteel - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early and late show - TTNS - audio partially released on YCDTOSA6 (from late show only)
- Suicide Chump - C - Passaic, October 13, 1978 - H
- Suicide Chump - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS - audio released on YCDTOSA1 (with guitar solo edited out)
- Teen-age Prostitute - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS (as bonus track)
- Teen-age Wind - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS
- Tinsel Town Rebellion - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM - audio released on HIOS
- Titties & Beer - C - NYC, October 31, 1977 - BS - audio released on BS
- Torture Never Stops - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - TTNS
- Trouble Every Day - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- Uncle Meat (m) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - TDRS - audio released on TDRS
- We're Turning Again - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS
- What's The Name Of Your Group (m) - C - London, October 25, 1968 - UM - audio released on AOTT and MD
- Whipping Post - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
- You Are What You Is - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show - TTNS
- Zoot Allures - C - NYC, August 26, 1984 - DHBIM
By video releases
- Black Napkins - C - October 31
- Black Page - C - October 31
- Bobby Brown - C - October 31
- Broken Hearts Are For Assholes - C - October 31
- Camarillo Brillo - C - October 31
- City Of Tiny Lights - C - October 30
- Conehead - P - October 31
- Dinah-Moe Humm - C - October 31
- Disco Boy - C - October 30
- Gas Mask - P - October 30
- I Have Been In You - P - October 30
- Jones Crusher - C - October 31
- King Kong - P - October 30
- Muffin Man - C - October 31
- Poodle Lecture (m) - C - October 30
- Pound For A Brown - P - October 30 & 31
- Punky's Whips - C - October 29 & 31
- San Ber'dino - C - October 31
- Titties & Beer - C - October 31
- Be In My Video - C
- Bobby Brown - C
- Carol You Fool - P
- City Of Tiny Lights - P
- Cosmik Debris - C
- Dancin' Fool - C
- Dangerous Kitchen - C
- Deathless Horsie - P
- Dinah-Moe Humm - C
- Goblin Girl - P
- He's So Gay - C
- Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me - C
- Hot-Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel - C
- Keep it Greasy - C
- Tinsel Town Rebellion - C
- Trouble Every Day - C
- Whipping Post - C
- Zoot Allures - C
Classic albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe(')/Over-Nite Sensation (2006) - contains various snippets from live performances, including a very short fragment of a 1976 performance of Dirty Love with Bianca. The following two complete performances are included as "bonus material":
- I'm The Slime - SNL tv show, NYC, December 10, 1976
- Montana - Los Angeles, CA, December, 1973
Halloween (2003) - two songs as bonus video tracks of the audio-DVD:
- Dancin' Fool - C - performed live at the Tv show Saturday Night Live in NYC, October 21, 1978
- Suicide Chump - C - Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ, October 13, 1978
The Dub Room Special! (1982) - some songs are also available as only audio versions on TDRS cd, overdubbed versions of Florentine Pogen and Inca Roads were released on OSFA:
- Approximate - P - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974
- Cocaine Decisions - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show
- Cosmik Debris - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Dog Breath (m) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Dog Meat (M) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Easy Meat - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - audio available on TDRS cd
- Flakes - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, early show
- Florentine Pogen - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Inca Roads - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Montana - P - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Nig Biz - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show
- Room Service (m) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Stevie's Spanking - C - NYC, October 31, 1981, late show - audio available on TDRS cd
- Stink-Foot - c - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
- Uncle Meat (m) - C - KCET, LA, CA, August 27, 1974 - audio available on TDRS cd
The Torture Never Stops (2008) - contains music from the two 1981 Halloween shows and a studio video for MTV of You Are What You Is - this was first released as a VHS with limited circulation by FZ in 1982 and then released as dolby stereo DVD with 2 bonus tracks by ZFT in 2008.
- Alien Orifice (early show) - audio partially released on YCDTOSA6
- Bamboozled By Love (late show)
- Beauty Knows No Pain (late show) - audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Black Napkins (late show)
- Broken Hearts Are For Assholes (early show)
- Charlie's Enormous Mouth (late show) - audio released on YCDTOSA3
- City Of Tiny Lights (late show - bonus track)
- Dumb All Over (early show) - audio rleleased on YCDTOSA1 (edited)
- Easy Meat (late show) - audio released on TDRS cd
- Fine Girl (late show)
- Flakes (early show)
- Harder Than Your Husband (late show)
- Heavenly Bank Account (early show) - audio rleleased on YCDTOSA1
- Illinois Enema Bandit (late show) - audio released on OSD
- Jumbo Go Away (early show)
- Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (early show)
- Montana (late show)
- Mudd Club (early show)
- Stevie's Spanking (late show) - audio released on TDRS cd
- Strictly Genteel (early and late show) - audio partially released on YCDTOSA6 (from late show only)
- Suicide Chump (early show) - audio rleleased on YCDTOSA1 (edited)
- Teen-age Prostitute (early show - bonus track)
- Teen-age Wind (late show)
- Torture Never Stops (late show)
- We're Turning Again (early show)
- You Are What You Is (early show)
The True Story Of 200 Motels (1989) - contains a few partial performances, including some, not listed here, that are also available on Uncle Meat:
- Do You Like My New Car (m) - San Francisco, November 5-7, 1970
- Dummy Up (m) (a short excerpt of the Pygmy Twylyte impro) - LA, December 8-10, 1973
- Penis Dimension - San Francisco, November 5-7, 1970
Uncle Meat (1988) - footage from London, October 25, 1968, containing the almost complete play Progress (M) (entirely released as audio only on AOTT), including music from:
- Agency Man
- Bogus Pomp
- Holiday In Berlin
- What's The Name Of Your Group
Video From Hell (1987) - Here are listed only the performances not available elsewhere: it contains also some live footage available in other videos listed above:
- St. Etienne (guitar solo from Drowning Witch) - St. Etienne, May 28, 1982
- King Kong (intro and mystery word section) - Metz, June 22, 1982
- Stevie's Spanking (guitars solo) - Rome, July 9, 1982
Chronological
1968 - London, Royal Festival Hall, October 25 (footage included in Uncle Meat, complete only audio version available on Ahead Of Their Time).
The (nearly) complete unique performance of Progress (the play) (M), including also music from:
- Agency Man
- Bogus Pomp
- Holiday In Berlin
- What's The Name Of Your Group
Some of the same footage is included also in The True Story Of 200 Motels.
1970 - San Francisco, Fillmore West, November 6 (footage included in The True Story Of 200 Motels).
From this show, never included in any audio official release, are available partial performances of:
- Do You Like My New Car (m)
- Penis Dimension
More footage from this show is included in various video documentaries, starting from Frank Zappa (VPRO 1971).
1973 - Los Angeles, The Roxy, December 8-10
For now from The Roxy performances only a few short extract are available in video:
1974 - Kcet Tv, Los Angeles, August 27 (footage included in The Dub Room Special!)
Great performance, with some Mr. Bickford's clay animations, including:
- Approximate (partial version)
- Cosmik Debris
- Dog Meat - the medley of Dog Breath and Uncle Meat
- Florentine Pogen - this performance was released, with overdubs, on One Size Fits All
- Inca Roads - this performance was released, with overdubs, on One Size Fits All
- Montana (partial version, guitar solo has been edited out)
- Room Service - the usual follower of Pygmy Twylyte in the second part of 1974
- Stink-Foot
More footage and music from this performance are included in the TV special A Token Of His Extreme (KCET-TV, 1974).
Much of what available here in video has been then released as audio in the TDRS cd, that also includes a Tush Tush Tush vamp not released as video (and a slight longer edit of Room Service
1976 - December (footage included in Classic albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe(')/Over-Nite Sensation as bonus material).
Just one odd video performances, from the Saturday Night Live tv show.
- I'm The Slime - from the Saturday Night Live Tv Show (NBC) conducted by John Belushi, with most of the band that was then featured for the 1976 Christmas Palladium shows
The complete 1976's SNL Zappa apparition is available among traders and collectors (as the 1978's one).
1977 - The Palladium, New York City, Halloween run (footage included on Baby Snakes).
Contains good number of songs, some available only on partial form. Some of them (*) have been released on the Baby Snakes album.
- Complete songs:
- Black Napkins - from October 31
- Black Page * - from October 31
- Bobby Brown - from October 31
- Broken Hearts Are For Assholes - from October 31
- Camarillo Brillo - from October 31
- City Of Tiny Lights - from October 30
- Dinah-Moe Humm * - from October 31
- Disco Boy * - from October 30
- Jones Crusher * - from October 31
- Muffin Man - from October 31
- Punky's Whips * - from October 29 & 31
- San Ber'dino - from October 31
- Titties & Beer * - from October 31
- Partial songs:
- Conehead - from October 31, just a snippet
- Gas Mask - from October 30, the old MOI impro, co-starring Roy Estrada
- I Have Been In You - from October 30, just the intro speech for the song, later released on YCDTOSA6
- King Kong - from October 30, solos & madness
- Poodle Lecture - from October 30, the post Stink-Foot lecture, later released on YCDTOSA6
- Pound For A Brown - from October 30 & 31, bass and keyboards solos
1978 - October (footage included in Halloween - audio DVD - as bonus video tracks).
Just two odd video performances, from very different contests and never released on any album.
- Dancin' Fool - from the Saturday Night Live Tv Show (NBC) conducted by John Belushi, featuring, added at the usual Zappa band for that tour, some brass from the SNL resident band (October 21)
- Suicide Chump - from the late show at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ, October 13
The complete 1978's SNL Zappa apparition is available among traders and collectors (as the 1976's one).
- From the early show:
- Alien Orefice (TTNS) - audio released on YCDTOSA6 (heavily edited)
- Broken Hearts Are For Assholes (TTNS)
- City Of Tiny Lights (TTNS)
- Dumb All Over (TTNS) - audio released on YCDTOSA1 (edited)
- Flakes (TDRS and TTNS)
- Heavenly Bank Account (TTNS) - audio released on YCDTOSA1
- Jumbo Go Away (TTNS)
- Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (TTNS)
- Mudd Club (TTNS)
- Suicide Chump (TTNS) - audio released on YCDTOSA1 (edited)
- Teen-age Prostitute (TTNS)
- We're Turning Again (TTNS)
- You Are What You Is (TTNS)
- From the late show:
- Bamboozled By Love (TTNS)
- Beauty Knows No Pain (m) (TTNS) - audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Black Napkins (TTNS) - audio released on BTB1/As An Am
- Charlie's Enormous Mouth (m) (TTNS) - audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Cocaine Decisions (TDRS)
- Easy Meat (TDRS and TTNS) - audio released on TDRS cd
- Fine Girl (TTNS)
- Harder Than Your Husband (TTNS)
- Illinois Enema Bandit (TTNS) - audio released on OSD
- Montana (TTNS)
- Nig Biz (TDRS)
- Stevie's Spanking (TDRS and TTNS) - audio released on TDRS cd
- Teen-age Wind (TTNS)
- Torture Never Stops (TTNS) - audio released on BTB1/As An Am
- From early and late show:
- Strictly Genteel (TTNS) - partially released on YCDTOSA6 (from late show only)
The second show was almost entirely broadcasted by MTV and both shows were professionally shot. More video recordings with some more music than what is available on The Torture Never Stops and The Dub Room Specials! are circulating among traders and collectors.
Check also FZShow's Halloween '81 official releases and videos.
1982 - European tour (footage included in Video From Hell).
Three partial performances, from three different shows, shot with a home video camera by Thomas Nordegg. All have been released also as only audio material.
- St. Etienne (guitar solo from Drowning Witch) - from St. Etienne, France, May 28, 1982, released on JFH
- King Kong (intro and mystery word section) - from Metz, France, June 22, 1982, released on YCDTOSA3
- Stevie's Spanking (guitars solo) - from Rome, Italy, July 9, 1982, released, with some extra material, on YCDTOSA4
Video From Hell contains also some other non live footage from this tour: Thomas Nordegg seems to have followed (and shot) most part of it!
1984 -The Pier in New York City, August 26, 1984 (footage included in Does Humor Belong In Music?)
Contains good number of songs, of which only a few are fully released on legit albums.
- Complete songs:
- Be In My Video - available as only audio on YCDTOSA1
- Bobby Brown
- Cosmik Debris - very partially, only the end, audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Dancin' Fool
- Dangerous Kitchen - available as only audio on YCDTOSA1
- Dinah-Moe Humm - only partially audio released on YCDTOSA6
- He's So Gay - available as only audio on YCDTOSA6
- Honey Don't You Want A Man Like Me - available as only audio on YCDTOSA3
- Hot-Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel
- Keep it Greasy - only partially audio released on YCDTOSA3
- Tinsel Town Rebellion - available as only audio on HIOS
- Trouble Every Day
- Whipping Post
- Zoot Allures
- Very partial songs:
- Carol You Fool - only a small snippet of the beginning
- City Of Tiny Lights - only a small snippet of the beginning
- Deathless Horsie - the complete performance of this song is available on YCDTOSA1
- Goblin Girl - only a small snippet of the beginning
Main source: Román García Albertos's FZ Videography
Corrections and additions are really welcome.
This page created on December 2005 and latest revised on January 11, 2009
Touring Can Make You Crazy