Frank Zappa wasn’t just a musician. He was a force of nature. Composer, guitarist, bandleader, satirist, and outspoken critic of pretty much everything fake or lazy in culture. He released over 60 albums in his lifetime, blending rock, jazz, classical, and avant-garde like nobody else could.

Zappa never chased trends, fame, or commercial approval. He did things his way, whether that meant conducting an orchestra or shredding on stage with The Mothers of Invention. His lyrics were sharp, weird, funny, and often brutally honest.

If you're new to his work, start with: • Hot Rats – jazzy, bold, and mostly instrumental • Over-Nite Sensation – catchy, strange, and full of killer guitar • Joe’s Garage – a wild concept album that hits way harder than it should

Zappa also stood up for artistic freedom and free speech, going head-to-head with censorship in the 1980s. He was as much a thinker as he was a musician.

Not everyone gets Zappa. But once you do, there's no going back.