Gail Zappa

Trustee of the Zappa Family Trust (1945–2015)

Gail Zappa

Born|

Adelaide Gail Sloatman

(1945-01-01)January 1, 1945

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Died| October 7, 2015(2015-10-07) (aged 70)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Occupation| Trustee of Zappa Family Trust (2002–2015)
Spouse|

Frank Zappa

(m. 1967; died 1993)​

Children|

* Moon Zappa
* Dweezil Zappa
* Ahmet Zappa
* Diva Zappa

Relatives| Lala Sloatman (niece)

Adelaide Gail Zappa (née Sloatman; January 1, 1945 – October 7, 2015) was the wife of musician and composer Frank Zappa and the trustee of the Zappa Family Trust. They met in Los Angeles in 1966 and married while she was pregnant with their first child, Moon, followed by Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva. Gail was also the aunt of model and actress Lala Sloatman.[1][2]

In 2002, Gail Zappa founded the Zappa Family Trust, a holder of the title and copyright to Frank Zappa's musical and artistic products, as well as his commercial image. In 2015, the Trust was given to her son Ahmet shortly before she died of lung cancer.

## Early life

[edit]

Adelaide Gail Sloatman was born in Philadelphia to John Klein Sloatman Jr. (1915-1967), a second generation German-American who was a nuclear physicist with the United States Navy, and Laura Freitas (born 1921), who was born in Honolulu of Portuguese ancestry.[3] She had 7 siblings, including 1 half-sibling from her father's previous marriage to Joan Lou Gatt. She was named after her maternal grandmother, Adelaide Silva. She grew up in Hollywood, and lived with her family in London, where her father was posted in 1959, and attended Marymount International School. She also modeled for photographer Terence Donovan.[1]

She worked at the Office of Naval Research and Development, and then moved to New York, where she studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in the mid-1960s. After returning to Los Angeles, she met producer Kim Fowley, and recorded a spoken word single with him as "Bunny and Bear". The record is a satire of Sonny and Cher.[2][4][5]

Gail Zappa made a very brief appearance with then musician boyfriend Bobby Jameson in the documentary film Mondo Hollywood, filmed in 1966.[6] She met Vito Paulekas and Carl Franzoni, the leaders of what became known as the "freak scene" in Los Angeles, and by her own account became something of a groupie.[7]

## Marriage and children

[edit]

She met her future husband Frank Zappa in 1966 when she was working as a secretary at the Whisky a Go Go nightclub on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. They married in a civil ceremony in New York on September 21, 1967, late in her pregnancy with Moon Zappa, born a week later. The marriage also produced children Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva Zappa. Gail had a fraught relationship with her oldest daughter, Moon, which seemed to have been repaired at the end of Gail's life. But, upon her death, it was revealed that the Zappa estate would not be divided equally among the four Zappa children, leaving Moon and Dweezil in a weaker financial position.[8] "It's complicated enough to be grieving the loss of a mean mom", Moon Zappa told the Los Angeles Times in 2016, "and then to find out she was meaner than I could have possibly comprehended ... It's comical, the level of betrayal".[8] Ahmet Zappa insisted his mother was misunderstood. "She demanded respect and got the respect", he said, "and that's really unusual".[8] An interview with Gail was featured in the 1987 book Rock Wives, written by Victoria Balfour.[9]

## In Frank Zappa's work

[edit]

Gail can be seen behind Frank Zappa on the sleeve of his album Absolutely Free (1967) and on the original, parody cover of his We're Only In It For The Money album (1968). Frank Zappa also named Barking Pumpkin Records after his wife's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or smoker's cough.[10] Frank Zappa's relationship with manager Bennett Glotzer ended in 1984.[11] From then on Gail co-managed with Frank, acted as business secretary, and supervised the record labels and mail order business.[1]

## Zappa Family Trust

[edit]

At the time of his death in 1993, Frank urged Gail to withdraw from the music business, but never clarified what was to be done with his publishing catalog. In 2002, Gail founded the Zappa Family Trust,[3] intended to oversee the release of his recordings, including multiple previously unavailable works. The trust holds title and copyright to Frank Zappa's musical and artistic products, as well as his commercial image.[12][13]

After Frank's death Gail authorized the release of the album Läther. Frank had intended to release this in October 1977[14] but due to legal problems he was forced to shelve the album. Upon release in 1996 Gail said "As originally conceived by Frank, Läther was always a four-record box set."[15] Despite this, Frank had already submitted a group of four individual albums (five full-length LPs) to Warner Bros. Records in March 1977.[16][17] The four individual albums and the Läther package have much of the same music, but each also has unique content.[17] In any case, Warner breached the contract by failing to pay Frank upon delivery of the recordings.[17][18][19][20] Gail also claimed that Warner had broken up the Läther recordings into individual albums.[21] However, this is directly contradicted in multiple interviews.[17][20][22] In 1978 Frank said "Läther was made out of four albums. Warners has released two of them already and they have two more that they're probably gonna release."[23]

In July 2015, it was announced that Ahmet Zappa would take over operation of the trust.[3] Ahmet's siblings Dweezil and Moon publicly expressed frustration with his appointment to that role.[8]

Described as "a strong-willed and savvy business woman", Gail Zappa "frequently squared off against the music industry's major players ...". She sent a note ending "Fuck you" to Steve Jobs over the creation of the iTunes Store.[1] She criticized tribute bands playing Zappa's music, saying: "It is absolutely identity theft because from my point of view, Frank Zappa’s audience deserves to hear the music—if it’s for the first time, especially—presented in a way that is in the best possible light of what the composer intended."[1]

### Lawsuit

[edit]

In 2008, the Zappa Family Trust sued the organizers of the Zappanale Festival, held outside Bad Doberan, Germany, demanding they change the name of the festival, remove their promotional posters (which contained an allegedly trademarked moustache similar to Frank Zappa's) and remove the bust of him that has stood in the city center since 2002. In January 2009, the court found in Zappanale's favor after their defense argued that as the Zappa Family Trust only sells products on the Internet and accepts only U.S. dollars, it had not effectively exercised its trademarks in Germany for more than five years. The court also ruled that the use of the moustache was sufficiently different in Zappanale's merchandise so as not to cause confusion between the two.[24]

## Death

[edit]

Gail Zappa died in Los Angeles on October 7, 2015. Rolling Stone and TMZ reported that she died following "a long battle with lung cancer".[2] She was 70.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Larry LeBlanc. "Industry Profile: Gail Zappa". In the Hot Seat with Larry LeBlanc, CelebrityAccess. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
2. ^ a b c Grow, Kory. "Frank Zappa's Widow Gail Zappa Dead at 70". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
3. ^ a b c Sisario, Ben (October 8, 2015). "Gail Zappa, Keeper of Her Rock Star Husband's Legacy, Dies at 70". The New York Times.
4. ^ Kubernik, Harvey; Calamar, Scott (June 23, 2009). Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 9781402765896 - via Google Books.
5. ^ "- YouTube". Youtube.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
6. ^ "Frank Zappa's Widow Gail Zappa Dies at 70". exclaim.ca.
7. ^ Slaven, Neil (November 17, 2009). Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story Of Frank Zappa. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857120434 - via Google Books.
8. ^ a b c d "It's brother and sister against brother and sister in bitter fight over control of Frank Zappa's legacy". Los Angeles Times. June 24, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
9. ^ Balfour, Victoria (1986). Rock Wives: The Hard Lives and Good Times of the Wives, Girlfriends, and Groupies of Rock and Roll. Beech Tree Books. ISBN 0688069665.
10. ^ Miles, Barry, Zappa: A Biography, Grove Press, 2004.
11. ^ Don Menn, "How It All Works. Gail Zappa", Zappa!, 1992, p. 76
12. ^ "Tribute bands zapped"[permanent dead link], herald-review.com, January 11, 2008.
13. ^ Zappa's widow sues festival over use of his image". The Guardian, April 11, 2008.
14. ^ John D'Agostino, "Zäppa (pronounced Zappa)", San Diego Reader, 15 September 1977, p. 26
15. ^ Zappa, Gail (1996). Läther (Media notes). Frank Zappa. Rykodisc.
16. ^ Rense, Rip. "Frank Zappa – A Would-be Chemist Who Turned to Music". The Valley News, December 30, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
17. ^ a b c d Rambali, Paul. "Stern Words In Knightsbridge..." New Musical Express, January 28, 1978. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
18. ^ Sippel, John. "Zappa Zaps WB, Discreet Over Album". Billboard, 5 November 1977. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
19. ^ Rothman, Dave. "A Conversation With Frank Zappa". Oui April 1979. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
20. ^ a b Pollack, Jeff. "Pipco Is an Act of Love". Eggz, 19 April 1978. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
21. ^ Interview with Gail Zappa in the 2020 film "Zappa" produced by Alex Winter
22. ^ Dallas, Karl. "Carry On Composing". Melody Maker, 28 January 1978. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
23. ^ "CFNY Interview". donlope.net. 1978. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
24. ^ "'Zappanale' Wins in Court Against Gail Zappa", Der Spiegel, January 22, 2009.

* v
* t
* e

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention

* Frank Zappa
* Roy Estrada
* Jimmy Carl Black
* Ray Collins
* Don Preston
* Van Dyke Parks
* Henry Vestine
* Jim Guercio
* Steve Mann
* Elliot Ingber
* Jim Sherwood
* Jim Fielder
* Bunk Gardner
* Billy Mundi
* Ian Underwood
* Art Tripp
* Lowell George
* Buzz Gardner
* Aynsley Dunbar
* Mark Volman
* Howard Kaylan
* Jeff Simmons
* George Duke
* Jim Pons
* Bob Harris
* Jean-Luc Ponty
* Tom Fowler
* Ruth Underwood
* Ed Mann
* Bruce Fowler
* Napoleon Murphy Brock
* Chester Thompson
* Terry Bozzio
* Denny Walley
* Ricky Lancelotti
* Norma Jean Bell
* Novi Novog

Official releases
(1966–1993)|

| 1960s|

* Freak Out!
* Absolutely Free
* We're Only in It for the Money
* Lumpy Gravy
* Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
* Mothermania
* Uncle Meat
* Hot Rats

|

1970s|

* Burnt Weeny Sandwich
* Weasels Ripped My Flesh
* Chunga's Revenge
* Fillmore East – June 1971
* 200 Motels
* Just Another Band from L.A.
* Waka/Jawaka
* The Grand Wazoo
* Over-Nite Sensation
* Apostrophe (')
* Roxy & Elsewhere
* One Size Fits All
* Bongo Fury
* Zoot Allures
* Zappa in New York
* Studio Tan
* Sleep Dirt
* Sheik Yerbouti
* Orchestral Favorites
* Joe's Garage Act I
* Joe's Garage Acts II & III

1980s|

* Tinsel Town Rebellion
* Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
* Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More
* Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar
* You Are What You Is
* Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch
* The Man from Utopia
* Baby Snakes
* London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. I
* Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger
* Them or Us
* Francesco Zappa
* Thing-Fish
* The Old Masters, Box I
* Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
* Does Humor Belong in Music?
* The Old Masters, Box II
* Jazz from Hell
* London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. II
* The Old Masters, Box III
* Guitar
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2
* Broadway the Hard Way
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3

1990s|

* The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
* Make a Jazz Noise Here
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
* You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6
* Playground Psychotics
* Ahead of Their Time
* The Yellow Shark

Posthumous
official releases|

| 1990s|

* Civilization Phaze III
* The Lost Episodes
* Läther
* Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute
* Have I Offended Someone?
* Mystery Disc
* Everything Is Healing Nicely

|

2000s|

* FZ:OZ
* Halloween
* Joe's Corsage
* QuAUDIOPHILIAc
* Joe's Domage
* Joe's XMASage
* Imaginary Diseases
* Trance-Fusion
* The MOFO Project/Object
* The MOFO Project/Object (Fazedooh)
* Buffalo
* The Dub Room Special!
* Wazoo
* One Shot Deal
* Joe's Menage
* The Lumpy Money Project/Object
* Philly '76

2010s|

* Greasy Love Songs
* "Congress Shall Make No Law..."
* Hammersmith Odeon
* Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison
* Carnegie Hall
* Understanding America
* Road Tapes, Venue #1
* Finer Moments
* AAAFNRAA: Baby Snakes – The Compleat Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #2
* A Token of His Extreme Soundtrack
* Joe's Camouflage
* Roxy by Proxy
* Dance Me This
* 200 Motels: The Suites
* Roxy the Soundtrack
* Road Tapes, Venue #3
* The Crux of the Biscuit
* Frank Zappa for President
* ZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa's Tastiest Tracks
* Meat Light: The Uncle Meat Project/Object Audio Documentary
* Chicago '78
* Little Dots
* Halloween 77
* The Roxy Performances
* Zappa in New York 40th Anniversary
* Orchestral Favorites 40th Anniversary
* Halloween 73
* The Hot Rats Sessions

2020s|

* The Mothers 1970
* Halloween 81
* Halloween 81 Highlights
* Zappa - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
* Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show
* 200 Motels 50th Anniversary Edition
* The Mothers 1971
* Zappa/Erie
* Zappa '75: Zagreb/Ljubljana
* Waka/Wazoo
* Zappa '80: Mudd Club/Munich
* Funky Nothingness
* Over-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
* Whisky a Go Go

Miscellaneous|

* Lumpy Gravy (Primordial)
* The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa
* Beat the Boots!
* Beat the Boots! II

| Compilations|

* The **** of the Mothers
* Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa
* Strictly Genteel: A "Classical" Introduction to Frank Zappa
* Cucamonga
* Cheap Thrills
* Son of Cheep Thrills

|

Birthday Bundle series|

* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011

|

Singles|

* "Trouble Comin' Every Day"
* "Who Are the Brain Police?"
* "WPLJ"
* "My Guitar"
* "Peaches en Regalia"
* "I'm the Slime"
* "Cosmik Debris"
* "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow"
* "Du Bist Mein Sofa"
* "Find Her Finer"
* "Disco Boy"
* "Dancin' Fool"
* "Bobby Brown"
* "Joe's Garage"
* "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted"
* "You Are What You Is"
* "Valley Girl"
* "Cocaine Decisions"
* "Stairway to Heaven"

Other
compositions|

* "Absolutely Free"
* "Advance Romance"
* "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary"
* "America Drinks & Goes Home"
* "Are You Hung Up?"
* "Billy the Mountain"
* "The Black Page"
* "Brown Shoes Don't Make It"
* "Camarillo Brillo"
* "Cheepnis"
* "Duodenum"
* "Father O'Blivion"
* "Help, I'm a Rock"
* "G-Spot Tornado"
* "I Have Been in You"
* "Inca Roads"
* "Jewish Princess"
* "Let's Make the Water Turn Black"
* "A Little Green Rosetta"
* "Memories of El Monte"
* "Montana"
* "Muffin Man"
* "Nanook Rubs It"
* "Plastic People"
* "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet"
* "Rollo"
* "Sleep Dirt"
* "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast"
* "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
* "A Token of My Extreme"
* "The Torture Never Stops"
* "Uncle Remus"
* "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
* "Who Needs the Peace Corps?"
* "Willie the Pimp"
* "Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station"

Filmography|

* 200 Motels
* Baby Snakes
* The Dub Room Special
* Does Humor Belong in Music?
* Video from Hell
* Uncle Meat
* The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
* The Amazing Mr. Bickford

Relatives|

* Gail Zappa
* Moon Zappa
* Dweezil Zappa
* Ahmet Zappa
* Diva Zappa

Influence|

* In popular culture
* Zappa Plays Zappa
* Pachygnatha zappa
* Phialella zappai
* Zappa confluentus
* 3834 Zappafrank
* Frankly a Cappella
* King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa
* Zappa's Universe

Related articles|

* Discography
* Musicians
* Captain Beefheart
* Wild Man Fischer
* Bobby Jameson
* Ruben and the Jets
* The Real Frank Zappa Book
* Zappa Records
* Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra
* Bizarre Records
* Straight Records
* DiscReet Records
* Barking Pumpkin Records
* Studio Z
* Utility Muffin Research Kitchen
* Zappa

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States

Artists|

* Grammy Awards
* MusicBrainz

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