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The Mothers of Invention

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Mothers of Invention, the Mothers for short, were an American rock band from California. It began as an R&B group under the name Soul Giants. When Ray Collins asked guitarist Frank Zappa to take over the band, he insisted on playing original material. One of the members left as a result, and on Mother's Day 1965 the band changed its name to the Mothers. The record company wanted a different name, and according to Zappa they became the Mothers of Invention out of necessity, after the proverb that necessity is the mother of invention.

Music and breakthrough

The group attracted attention in the Los Angeles underground. Producer Tom Wilson, who had also produced Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel, saw them play in 1966 and brought them to Verve Records. There the double album Freak Out! was released in 1966. Absolutely Free followed in 1967, Cruising with Ruben and the Jets and We're Only in It for the Money in 1968 and Uncle Meat in 1969. Zappa disbanded the group in 1969 and put together a new line-up in 1970, with among others Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan. After an attack by a member of the audience in London at the end of 1971 Zappa was seriously injured. In 1973 he formed a final line-up, and the last album under the name was Bongo Fury in 1975, with Captain Beefheart.

Influence

The music of the Mothers revolved around sound experiments, satire, playful sleeves and elaborate live shows. What the Beatles did in 1967 with concept albums and studio effects had already been prepared by Freak Out! and the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, both from 1966. Their influence lay above all in the freedom: a pop album could be a joke, a protest and avant-garde all at once.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Trouble Every Day by The Mothers of Invention. Notice the bluesy accompaniment and the lyrics, in which Zappa comments on the riots in Watts.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists