And there you were assuming that a book which takes a single tour as its subject couldn’t tear you away from 60 Minute Makeover, were you not? Zappa The Hard Way documents the 1988 tour which foundered 10 weeks prematurely when an irreconcilable schism emerged between bassist-cum- “clonemeister” Scott Thunes and the remainder of Zappa’s band, all of whom – amenable stunt guitarist Mike Keneally excepted – refused to fulfil the remaining dates if Zappa retained Thunes’ services.
This equates to a riveting human drama, written with tremendous vigour by hyper-fan Greenaway and recounted with ossuary-dry humour by the main players (bar drummer Chad Wackerman, who politely keeps his counsel). By most accounts, Thunes’ role as “clonemeister” – ie, transcriber of Zappa’s music, who had to know everyone else’s parts in addition to his own – empowered him in his own mind to be in everyone’s grill to the point of blunt force trauma: but reading Thunes’ own take on the proceedings, it’s impossible not to be charmed by his galloping wit and fierce intelligence.
Extensive appendices dot the Is and cross your eyes; and in a limited run of 400 numbered, slipcased copies, all signed by the author, Zappaphiles had best be quick off the mark.
