Difference between revisions of "Denny Walley"

From Zappa Wiki Jawaka
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
Denny Walley was the guitarist with the Mothers on the 1975 Bongo Fury tour, and in the fall of '78. He obviously impressed [[Captain Beefheart]] who asked him to join the Magic Band for the European and US tour of 1975. He stayed until 1977 when he was sacked; probably for standing up for himself too much. Denny is married to "Janet the Planet" (yes from [[Baby Snakes (The Film)]]). Denny Walley provided guitar and/or vocals for [[Bongo Fury]], [[Joe's Garage Act I]], [[Joe's Garage Acts II & III]], [[Tinseltown Rebellion]], [[Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar]], [[You Are What You Is]], [[Thing-Fish]], [[Guitar]], [[You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1]], [[You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4]], [[You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6]], and [[Halloween]]; also for the [[Beat The Boots]] series disks [[Anyway The Wind Blows (BTB)]], [[Saarbrücken 1978 (BTB)]], & [[At The Circus (BTB)]], and on the unreleased [[Trance-Fusion]].
+
[[File:Denny Walley.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Denny Walley.]]
 +
[[File:Frank Zappa and Denny Walley.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Frank Zappa and Denny Walley.]]
  
−
[[Category:Bandmembers]]
+
'''Denny Walley''' ([[Pennsylvania]], February 4, 1943) is an American singer, accordionist, bassist and guitarist. He played with Frank Zappa in 1975 and from 1978 on. He is particularly notable for being a slide guitarist. In ''[[Frank Zappa, 82/03]]'' (1982), Zappa even named him ''"the only slide guy that I've had."''
 +
 
 +
==Frank Zappa (early years)==
 +
 
 +
While Walley was born in Pennsylvania in 1943, his family moved to [[Lancaster]] in the mid-1950s, where, through Frank Zappa's brother [[Bobby Zappa]], he met Frank Zappa, who was his neighbor there. This makes him the earliest future bandmember Zappa knew, even though he didn't join Zappa's group until two decades later.
 +
 
 +
Walley originally played guitar in a group called The Detours, with a singer named Tom Leavey. In the mid-1960s, when Zappa played at the [[Garrick Theater]], Walley met Zappa again, sometimes joining him on stage. In 1972, Walley played in the band Geronimo Black,  the group of [[Jimmy Carl Black]]. Walley later played with The Kingpins and King Cotton.
 +
 
 +
==Frank Zappa (1975)==
 +
 
 +
In 1975, during the ''[[Bongo Fury]]'' tour with Frank Zappa and [[Captain Beefheart]], Walley joined  [[The Mothers]], at the recommendation of [[Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood]], who knew that Zappa was looking for a good slide guitarist. Zappa refers to him during ''[[Advance Romance]]'': ''"The way she do me, boy, she might do you, too. Look what she did to Denny right now!"''
 +
 
 +
==Captain Beefheart==
 +
 
 +
After the ''Bongo Fury'' tour, [[Captain Beefheart]] asked Walley to join the Magic Band for their European and US tour of 1975. Walley also played accordion during the song ''Harry Irene'' on the unreleased album ''Bat Chain Puller''. He stayed with Beefheart until 1977, when he was sacked; probably for standing up for himself too much.<ref>https://www.beefheart.com/denny-walley-aka-feelers-reebo-walla-walla/</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Frank Zappa (1978-1988)==
 +
[[File:Denny Walley and Ike Willis.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Denny Walley and [[Ike Willis]].]]
 +
 
 +
By the fall of 1978, Walley joined Zappa's group again. He played [[Mrs. Borg]] on ''[[Joe's Garage]]''. <ref>https://www.donlope.net/fz/musicians/V-Z.html#WalleyDenny/</ref>
 +
 
 +
Walley later married [[Janet The Planet]], an audience member during Zappa's [[Halloween]] concerts in New York City (who can also be seen in ''[[Baby Snakes (The Film)]]''). On 23 May 1989, the couple attended a panel discussion between [[Pierre Boulez]] and Frank Zappa at the UCLA, moderated by [[David Raksin]] (see ''[[An Evening With Pierre Boulez And Frank Zappa]]''). <ref>https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-26-ca-874-story.html</ref> <ref>https://www.afka.net/Articles/1989-10_Tmershi_Duween.htm</ref><ref>https://www.donlope.net/fz/notes/1989.html</ref>
 +
 
 +
The song ''[[Jumbo Go Away]]'' was inspired by Walley who was harrassed by a female stalker, whom he eventually told to go away: ''"Jumbo, go away!"''.<ref>https://www.donlope.net/fz/notes/You_Are_What_You_Is.html</ref> On ''[[Drop Dead]]'', Zappa names Denny in direct connection with [[Jumbo]]: ''"Give him a little shoe! Dat's what Denny be doin'. Work on Jumbo evvy time!"''
 +
 
 +
During ''[[Diseases Of The Band]]'', Zappa mentions Walley: ''"Denny Walley on slide and vocals, he has ... he has an illuminate finger ... and we're gonna have that removed a little bit later in the show."''
 +
 
 +
When Zappa and the Mothers performed [79/02/17-19 London UK Hammersmith Odeon|concert on 17-19 February 1979 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London]], a drunk audience member named [[Angus O'Reilly]] recited weird poems, one titled ''I want a garden"'', whereupon Denny Walley quipped: ''"Oh, you want kindergarten!"''
 +
 
 +
Denny Walley and [[Robert Camarena]] can also be heard on ''[[Denny & Froggy Relate]]'' and ''[["I Heard A Note!"]]''.
 +
 
 +
==Albums Walley performed on==
 +
 
 +
* ''[[Bongo Fury]]''
 +
* ''[[Joe's Garage Act I]]''
 +
* ''[[Joe's Garage Acts II & III]]''
 +
* ''[[Tinseltown Rebellion]]''
 +
* ''[[Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar]]''
 +
* ''[[You Are What You Is]]''
 +
* ''[[Thing-Fish]]''
 +
* ''[[Frank Zappa: Guitar]]''
 +
* ''[[You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1]]''
 +
* ''[[You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 4]]''
 +
* ''[[Anyway The Wind Blows (BTB)]]''
 +
* ''[[Saarbrücken 1978 (BTB)]]''
 +
* ''[[At The Circus (BTB)]]''
 +
* ''[[You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6]]''
 +
* ''[[Halloween]]''
 +
* ''[[Trance-Fusion]]''
 +
 
 +
==After Zappa's death==
 +
 
 +
Walley played with the Zappa tribute bands [[The Grandmothers]], [[The Muffin Men]] and also during the ''[[Zappa's Universe]]'' (1991) concerts. <ref>https://www.united-mutations.com/w/denny_walley.htm</ref>
 +
 
 +
In 2003, Walley played with the reformed [[Magic Band]].
 +
 
 +
Denny Walley is interviewed in [[Frank Scheffer]]'s documentaries  ''[[Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die]]'' (2000), ''[[Frank Zappa Phase II: The Big Note]]'' (2002) and ''[[Frank Zappa: Pioneer Of Future Music, parts 1 & 2]]'' (2007).
 +
 
 +
He is also mentioned and thanked in the liner notes of ''[[The MOFO Project/Object (Fazedooh)|The MOFO Project/Object]]'' (2006) album. <ref>http://donlope.net/fz/notes/The_MOFO_Project_Object.html#Contributors</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Sources==
 +
<references/>
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
* [[Wikipedia:Denny Walley]]
 +
* [https://www.united-mutations.com/w/denny_walley.htm United Mutations page.]
 +
* [https://www.donlope.net/fz/musicians/V-Z.html#WalleyDenny Globalia page.]
 +
* [https://www.jazztimes.com/features/profiles/guitarist-denny-walley-gets-bongo-fury-ous-recalling-collaborations-with-frank-zappa-and-captain-beefheart/?v=910955a907e7 Interview with Jazz Times]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Bandmembers|Walley, Denny]]
 +
[[Category:Blues singers|Walley, Denny]]
 +
[[Category:Singers|Walley, Denny]]
 +
[[Category:Guitarists|Walley, Denny]]
 +
[[Category:Bassists|Walley, Denny]]
 +
[[Category:Accordionists|Walley, Denny]]
 +
[[Category:The MOFO Project/Object (The List)|Walley, Denny]]
 +
[[Category:1955|Walley, Denny]]

Latest revision as of 14:05, 11 August 2026

Denny Walley.
Frank Zappa and Denny Walley.

Denny Walley (Pennsylvania, February 4, 1943) is an American singer, accordionist, bassist and guitarist. He played with Frank Zappa in 1975 and from 1978 on. He is particularly notable for being a slide guitarist. In Frank Zappa, 82/03 (1982), Zappa even named him "the only slide guy that I've had."

Frank Zappa (early years)

While Walley was born in Pennsylvania in 1943, his family moved to Lancaster in the mid-1950s, where, through Frank Zappa's brother Bobby Zappa, he met Frank Zappa, who was his neighbor there. This makes him the earliest future bandmember Zappa knew, even though he didn't join Zappa's group until two decades later.

Walley originally played guitar in a group called The Detours, with a singer named Tom Leavey. In the mid-1960s, when Zappa played at the Garrick Theater, Walley met Zappa again, sometimes joining him on stage. In 1972, Walley played in the band Geronimo Black, the group of Jimmy Carl Black. Walley later played with The Kingpins and King Cotton.

Frank Zappa (1975)

In 1975, during the Bongo Fury tour with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, Walley joined The Mothers, at the recommendation of Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood, who knew that Zappa was looking for a good slide guitarist. Zappa refers to him during Advance Romance: "The way she do me, boy, she might do you, too. Look what she did to Denny right now!"

Captain Beefheart

After the Bongo Fury tour, Captain Beefheart asked Walley to join the Magic Band for their European and US tour of 1975. Walley also played accordion during the song Harry Irene on the unreleased album Bat Chain Puller. He stayed with Beefheart until 1977, when he was sacked; probably for standing up for himself too much.[1]

Frank Zappa (1978-1988)

Denny Walley and Ike Willis.

By the fall of 1978, Walley joined Zappa's group again. He played Mrs. Borg on Joe's Garage. [2]

Walley later married Janet The Planet, an audience member during Zappa's Halloween concerts in New York City (who can also be seen in Baby Snakes (The Film)). On 23 May 1989, the couple attended a panel discussion between Pierre Boulez and Frank Zappa at the UCLA, moderated by David Raksin (see An Evening With Pierre Boulez And Frank Zappa). [3] [4][5]

The song Jumbo Go Away was inspired by Walley who was harrassed by a female stalker, whom he eventually told to go away: "Jumbo, go away!".[6] On Drop Dead, Zappa names Denny in direct connection with Jumbo: "Give him a little shoe! Dat's what Denny be doin'. Work on Jumbo evvy time!"

During Diseases Of The Band, Zappa mentions Walley: "Denny Walley on slide and vocals, he has ... he has an illuminate finger ... and we're gonna have that removed a little bit later in the show."

When Zappa and the Mothers performed [79/02/17-19 London UK Hammersmith Odeon|concert on 17-19 February 1979 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London]], a drunk audience member named Angus O'Reilly recited weird poems, one titled I want a garden", whereupon Denny Walley quipped: "Oh, you want kindergarten!"

Denny Walley and Robert Camarena can also be heard on Denny & Froggy Relate and "I Heard A Note!".

Albums Walley performed on

After Zappa's death

Walley played with the Zappa tribute bands The Grandmothers, The Muffin Men and also during the Zappa's Universe (1991) concerts. [7]

In 2003, Walley played with the reformed Magic Band.

Denny Walley is interviewed in Frank Scheffer's documentaries Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die (2000), Frank Zappa Phase II: The Big Note (2002) and Frank Zappa: Pioneer Of Future Music, parts 1 & 2 (2007).

He is also mentioned and thanked in the liner notes of The MOFO Project/Object (2006) album. [8]

Sources

  1. ↑ https://www.beefheart.com/denny-walley-aka-feelers-reebo-walla-walla/
  2. ↑ https://www.donlope.net/fz/musicians/V-Z.html#WalleyDenny/
  3. ↑ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-26-ca-874-story.html
  4. ↑ https://www.afka.net/Articles/1989-10_Tmershi_Duween.htm
  5. ↑ https://www.donlope.net/fz/notes/1989.html
  6. ↑ https://www.donlope.net/fz/notes/You_Are_What_You_Is.html
  7. ↑ https://www.united-mutations.com/w/denny_walley.htm
  8. ↑ http://donlope.net/fz/notes/The_MOFO_Project_Object.html#Contributors

External links

Retrieved from "http://wiki.killuglyradio.com/index.php?title=Denny_Walley&oldid=67981"