UMe and uDiscover Music are giving fans of the legendary Frank Zappa the chance to win exclusive items from The Vault, the near mythic storage facility that houses the late musician’s life’s work. Exclusive Zappa vintage merch and rare vinyl test pressings will be up for giveaway each month.
First up in this series is a package that includes an original 1980s “We Are What We Watch” promotional poster for Zappa’s movie company, Honker Home Video. The ad features “The Theory Of No-D,” an anti-censorship statement from Mr. Honker, as well as a photograph of Zappa wearing the No-D Glasses. There’s also a “Don’t Mess With Me I’m A Registered Voter” shirt featuring Zappa as Uncle Sam. Arriving in a size large, this rare vintage shirt has been stored at Zappa Records since the ’80s and conveys Zappa’s belief in the power of the individual vote.
Also up for grabs is a test pressing of 2024’s first-ever vinyl release of Frank Zappa for President, a 2016 compilation album featuring a number of Zappa’s politically-themed works, including “Overture To ‘Uncle Sam’” and “If I Was President.” There’s also six “Zappa for President” stickers created around the time that Zappa considered running for the U.S. presidency in 1991. “My main qualifications,” Zappa said at the time, “are that I don’t play golf, I don’t take vacations and I do think the U.S. Constitution is one hell of a document and that this country would work better if people adhered to it more closely.”
Finally, three Honker Home Video original vintage pencils from the office of Zappa and Honker Home Video. Text on the pencils reads: It’s A Honker – Honker Home Video Box 16628 N. Hollywood, CA 91615 (Zappa Hotline 818-PUMPKIN).
The giveaway aligns with a larger celebration of Zappa’s music and influence. Last month saw the release of Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention’s previously unheard live album Whisky a Go Go, 1968, as well as the declaration of June 10, 2024 as Frank Zappa Day in West Hollywood.
Find out more information about the Frank Zappa giveaway here.
