Every year from Dec. 4th (the date of Frank Zappa's death) to Dec. 21st. (the date of his birth), the world celebrates Zappadan.

It's a chance to remember Frank Zappa and all he contributed. Frank created some astounding music and had a unique creative philosophy.

As the Association for the Recognition and Celebration of Zappadan puts it, "celebrate and subvert the dominant paradigm."

 Let's start with some quotes

"Freaking Out is a process whereby an individual casts off outmoded and restricting standards of thinking, dress, and social etiquette in order to express creatively his relationship to his immediate environment and the social structure as a whole."

"If your children ever find out how lame you really are, they’ll murder you in your sleep."

"Classical musicians go to the conservatories, rock´n roll musicians go to the garages."

"A wise man once said, "never discuss philosophy or politics in a disco environment."

"I have four children, and I want them to grow up in a country that has a working First Amendment."

"My solos are speech-influenced rhythmically; and harmonically, they're either pentatonic, or poly-scale oriented. And there's the mixolydian mode that I also use a lot...But I'm more interested in melodic things I think the biggest challenge when you go to play a solo is trying to invent a melody on the spot."

"To me, absurdity is the only reality."

"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it's not open."

Then there are the lyrics

I'm the Slime - Over-Nite Sensation

I may be vile and pernicious
But you can't look away
I make you think I'm delicious
With the stuff that I say
I'm the best you can get
Have you guessed me yet?
I'm the slime oozin' out
From your TV set.

Cosmik Debris - Apostrophe (')

Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?

Central Scrutinizer - Joe's Garage

This is the Central Scrutinizer...
It is my responsibility to enforce all the laws
That haven't been passed yet
It is also my responsibility to alert each and every one of you
To the potential consequences
Of various ordinary everyday activities
You might be performing which could eventually lead to
The death penalty - or affect your parents' credit rating...
Our criminal institutions are full of little creeps like you
Who do wrong things
And many of them were driven to these crimes
By a horrible force called MUSIC!
Our studies have shown that this horrible force
Is so dangerous to society at large
That laws are being drawn up at this very moment
To stop it - forever!
Cruel and inhuman punishments are being carefully described
In tiny paragraphs
So they won't conflict with the Constitution...
Which, itself, is being modified in order to accommodate
The future!
I bring you now a special presentation
To show what can happen to you
If you choose a career in music
The White Zone is for loading and unloading only...
If you have to load or unload, go to the White Zone...
You'll love it... it's a way of life
Hi, it's me, I'm back...
This is the Central Scruuuuuutinizer...
The White Zone is for loading and unloading only...
If you gotta load or if you gotta unload
Go to the White Zone, you'll love it, it's a way of life
That's right! You'll love it, it's a way of life, that's right
You'll love it, a way of life, right, love it...
This is the Central Scrutinizer...

And so many more!

A nice long mix of Frank's music 

Happy Zappadan everybody. Share your favorite Zappa thoughts!