Punky Meadows

Punky Meadows

Punky Meadows (born Edwin Lionel Meadows Jr. on February 6, 1950) is an American guitarist known for his glam rock image as a member of the band Angel. Drummer Terry Bozzio was fascinated by a photograph of Meadows which showed the singer pouting his lips to the camera. This became a running gag during the tour and Zappa wrote the song Punky's Whips about Bozzio's homo-erotic obsession with Meadows. Meadows is also mentioned in Titties 'n Beer.

In an interview with Greg Prato for Vintage Guitar Magazine, August 2017, Vol. 31 No. 10, Meadows was asked:

Vintage Guitar Magazine, August 2017, Vol. 31 No. 10

What are your thoughts on Frank Zappa's song, "Punky's Whips," which was inspired by a publicity photo of you?

That was actually very cool. If people take it the wrong way and think it's a put-down or an insult, well, Frank has always been a satirical writer. Growing up, I had a friend who was a big Zappa fan. We used to go to his house after I played a club, smoke a joint, listen to Zappa, and go, "Man the dude is a genius. He's amazing." So, one day, we're sitting in my manager's office in L.A., and my manager goes, "Listen, Terry Bozzio - the drummer for Frank - wants to write a song about you." I said, "Sure, man. I have friends who are crazy about Frank Zappa."

So, they wrote the song and sent us a tape. We listen and I go, "Wow... That's cool!" They said, "Frank is playing at Pauley Pavilion and would like you to come up onstage in full outfit and play the last song with him."

That song was actually called "Punky's Lips" because our first publicity photos for Casablanca showed me biting the inside of my lip, but it looked like I was puckering up. It started a little firestorm, and Zappa decided to write a song about that. So, Zappa wanted me to play, and I said, "Yeah. I'll do it." But the other guys in the band got jealous, so Zappa invited us to the show and put us in the front row. We're watching, and there's this big black scrim up behind the stage. Two flashpots go off, the scrim drops, and there's that huge picture of me up there! We go backstage, and he says, "Hey, you're a really good sport. You should come over to my house sometime, and we'll write some songs."

The song was dropped from initial copies of the album Zappa In New York due to fears of litigation:

The fate of "Live In New York" is undecided due to some defamatory material included therein about a certain Punky Meadows.

It seems that Terry Bozzio, Zappa's spirited drummer, harbours a perverse fascination for Punky Meadows, lead guitarist with Angel, who are Casablanca's attempt to reach the kids who find Kiss too gross and any stray Queen fans with more bucks than sense in one fell swoop.

Bozzio, formerly a quiet jazz type, was so struck by a photo of Punky in the adonis pose favoured by groups of that nature that he took to emulating this over-the-shoulder pout position in various awkward circumstances. He has lately been seen on stage sporting S&M gear replete with fido studs and butt strap.

Zappa chronicled his drummer's strange antics in a broad send-up of the manufactured groups syndrome entitled "Punky's Whips". Meadows heard it, felt flattered, and gave Zappa permission to release it – but Warner Brothers wouldn't.

Impasse. Zappa's not about to co-operate with Warners. Any attempt to sign with another company would be blocked by Warners. It could be between three and five years before Zappa's case is dealt with due to the long civil court waiting lists in California. - New Musical Express, January 28th, 1978

Streams

Punky's Whips - Apple Music

Punky's Whips - Spotify

Wikipedia

Punky Meadows