Historical Events tagged with "frank zappa"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Politics & Government

Musicians Testify Against Obscenity in Music

September 19th, 1985 39 years ago

The Parents Music Resource Center, led by Tipper Gore, hosted congressional hearings where prominent musicians, including Frank Zappa and John Denver, testified against the censorship of rock music. The hearings were centered on concerns regarding explicit lyrics and the influence of music on youth. The event highlighted a growing cultural debate over artistic expression versus perceived moral decay in the music industry.

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Entertainment

Frank Zappa Concert Triggers Montreux Casino Fire

December 4th, 1971 53 years ago

During a concert by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention at the Montreux Casino, an audience member discharged a flare gun into the ceiling, igniting a fire that resulted in extensive damage to the venue. This incident not only interrupted the concert but also captured the attention of music history as it inspired Deep Purple's renowned song 'Smoke on the Water,' which recounts the events surrounding the fire and the aftermath that followed that fateful night in Montreux.

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