Related articles
From the ArchivesGuests at the Castle: Frank Zappa and the Pope
During Václav Havel’s first year as Czechoslovak president, Prague
Castle saw a string of visitors from around the world. And they did not
just include heads of state and other political dignitaries. On January 21
1990, one of the first foreign guests to be received by the new president
was none other than the legendary American rock musician, Frank Zappa, who
had been one of the inspirations for the Czech underground movement in the
‘70s and ‘80s, including Havel himself.
More
Current AffairsFrank Zappa: "God of the Czech underground"
11 years after his death, the music of Frank Zappa returned to Prague on
Tuesday night courtesy of the Grand Mothers, a band composed of 3 former
members of his band The Mothers of Invention. Zappa's influence in the
Czech Republic is legendary and his popularity persists to this day. Today
we take a look at how this iconoclastic Baltimore native became what
Vaclav Havel called "one of the Gods of the Czech underground."
More
Current AffairsFreak Out! Zappa to be performed at Prague Spring Music Festival
One of the world's most prestigious classical music festivals - the Prague
Spring - opened on Monday, with the traditional performance of "My
Country" by the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana. Over the next three
weeks, audiences will be treated to some of the finest classical music
performed by some of the most talented musicians in the world. But this
year, for the first time in the festival's 58-year history, rock music
will be included in the repertoire. Rob Cameron reports.
More
