Classic Rock Revisited founder Jeb Wright recently caught up with FRANK ZAPPA guitarist Ike Willis. He has issued the following update:

"When you think iconic albums by Frank Zappa, You Are What You Is and Joe’s Garage are among the top of list. If you think of the Zappa band then immediately you think of the African-American guitarist and singer Ike Willis. While Frank was the brains behind this era of Zappa, Ike was the brawn, the comic relief and a lot of the lives shows personality.

After first meeting Frank while attending college in St. Louis Ike went on to become the main character Joe from Joe’s Garage. Ike, a fan favorite amongst Zappa’s biggest supporters, was Frank’s right hand man in the studio, leading the band in Frank’s absence. Zappa relied on Ike to have the band ready and to get things right; something Willis prides himself on.

Frank liked to say that Ike had the ‘biggest ears’ he had ever seen. He was not talking about size but rather Ike’s ability to listen to the music and to hear things that were not yet in the musical score. Ike could improve a song by suggesting current parts be altered or by hearing where a part should be. Zappa loved Willis’ ability and often challenged him to grow even bigger ears.

In the interview that follows Ike and I discuss his upcoming tour with Project/Object as well as what it was like to play and rehearse as a member of Frank Zappa’s band and Frank’s last request of Ike that he is still fulfilling to this day."

Q: When Frank was alive he was the Headmaster and the Captain of the ship. Do you ever miss him up on stage? Also, how do you function without him?

Ike: "I basically do what he taught me. Over the course of the years that I was with him, Frank taught me to approach the music, and the arrangements, both live and in rehearsal, a certain way. My job was to watch him and do exactly what he did. When he wasn’t there it was my job to make the guys follow his directions. Over the course of the last thirty years I really haven’t changed anything, which was one of the rules. I miss Frank a lot. I still have dreams about him. I will be in the middle of a dream and we will be in the middle of a concert that we did years and years ago. It is really pretty scary how real they are sometimes. When I wake up I have to realize all over again that he is not here. I really do miss him a lot."

Q: Are you surprised that the music is bringing people of all ages together that are interested in Frank’s music?

Ike: "No, not at all. I am not surprised at all that Frank’s music is still so popular. The two biggest musical cults are Frank Zappa and the GRATEFUL DEAD. I travel to Europe a lot and it is even bigger over there. Thirty years ago I was surprised that it ran that big worldwide. Frank’s music is amazing music and amazing composition; I really think it is totally incredible. What has happened over the years is that each succeeding generation has passed the music onto their kids or their brothers and sisters. When we do the Zappanale Festival over in Europe it makes me feel very good to see thirty thousand people screaming for Frank’s music. I have watched that festival grow every year and it makes me feel very proud, actually."

Click here for the complete interview.