Ticketmaster refused to post the artwork for “The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa” hologram tour on its websites, citing that the graphic contained “questionable content.”
Frank Zappa’s estate responded to Ticketmaster in a press release, noting that the “composer, musician, futurist and innovator Frank Zappa is facing censorship yet again.”
“The tour artwork was curiously censored by Ticketmaster who cited the image for so-called ‘questionable content,’ according to their Content Governance team, and wouldn’t post it online,” the estate said. “The censored image pays homage to Frank Zappa & the Mothers’ 1974 song ‘Penguin in Bondage’.”
Additionally, the estate decided to have Zappa’s hologram respond to Ticketmaster itself by having the hologram’s lips form words used in a voice recording from 1984. The recording was dubbed over a video of the hologram which said, “I’m a person who likes to do what he wants to do…whether people like it or not and what I do is designed for people who like it, not for people who don’t.”
At the beginning of the video, a warning label flashed on the screen, similar to those that used to appear on Zappa’s albums.
“These concerts contain material which a truly free society would neither fear nor surpress,” the label reads. “In some socially repressed areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Amendment rights by attempting to sensor rock & roll. We feel this is unconstitutional and un-American.”
“If you’re someone that can’t enjoy the absurdity and humor of bringing Frank’s music and lyrics to life via holograms – such as penguins in bondage, talking hot dogs and super natural dental floss – this show might not be your cup of tea,” Zappa’s son, Ahmet Zappa, EVP of Business development for hologram company Eyellusion and co-trustee of the Zappa Family Trust, said.
“In response to Ticketmaster, I re-submit the poster artwork with our newly updated Warning Guarantee hiding the buttocks of the cartoon penguin. I mean, seriously Ticketmaster?”
“The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa” hologram tour will include Zappa’s former bandmates Ray White and Mike Keneally, bassist Scott Thunes, multi-instrumentalist Robert Martin, percussionist Ed Mann, and drummer Joe “Vaultmeister” Travers. The tour will kick-off on April 19 in Port Chester, NY and hit nine dates across the U.S. before heading overseas.
Check out the full list of tour dates below.
Visit Ticket Club to find tickets to see Frank Zappa’s hologram on tour this year
The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa Hologram Tour 2019
April 19 — Port Chester, NY @ Capitol Theater
April 20 — Rochester, NY @ Kodak Center Theater
April 22 — Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie
April 24 — Long Island, NY @ Paramount Theatre
April 26 — Boston, MA @ Shubert
April 28 — Albany, NY @ The Palace Theatre
May 01 — Wilkes Barre, PA @ Kirby Center
May 02 — Collingswood, NJ @ Scottish Rite Auditorium
May 03 — Baltimore, MD @ The Modell Lyric
May 09 — Edinburgh, UK @ Playhouse
May 11 — Gateshead, UK @ Sage
May 12 — Manchester, UK @ Bridgewater Hall
May 13 — Birmingham, UK @ Symphony Hall
May 14 — London, UK @ The Palladium
May 16 — Ostend, BE @ Kurssal
May 17 — Amsterdam, NE @ Rai Theater
