Difference between revisions of "Mark Cheka"
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| − | <blockquote><p> | + | <blockquote><p>"[[Don Cerveris|Don]] introduced me to a friend of his named [[Mark Cheka]], a 'pop |
| − | [[Don Cerveris|Don]] introduced me to a friend of his named [[Mark Cheka]], a 'pop | ||
artist' from New York's East Village. Mark was about fifty and wore a beret. He was living in West | artist' from New York's East Village. Mark was about fifty and wore a beret. He was living in West | ||
| − | Hollywood with a waitress from the Ash Grove named Stephanie, who was also sort of beatnik-looking. | + | Hollywood with a waitress from the Ash Grove named Stephanie, who was also sort of beatnik-looking.</p> |
| − | </p> | + | <p>The main focus of his work was a group of large paintings that looked like police department pistol targets, designed to be viewed under flashing lights, which gave the illusion that the silhouettes were jumping around. I found this a little baffling -- but what the fuck do I know from art? We hung out and had some laughs, in spite of the targets.</p> |
| − | <p> | + | <p>I had come to the conclusion that the band needed a manager, and had thought (Ow! Was I going |
| − | The main focus of his work was a group of large paintings that looked like police department pistol | + | to regret this one!) that the person required for this important position needed to be someone with an 'artistic background.' Only then, I reasoned, would our aesthetic be properly understood, and, once we had acquired a manager of such sensitivity, our future success in show business would be assured.</p> |
| − | targets, designed to be viewed under flashing lights, which gave the illusion that the silhouettes were | + | <p>So, I convinced Mark to take the mysterious voyage out to [[Pomona]] (fifty miles east), where he |
| − | jumping around. I found this a little baffling -- but what the fuck do I know from art? We hung out and | + | might listen to the Mothers, live, at the [[Broadside]]. What did I know from managing? I told him that if he wanted to manage the group and could get us some gigs to go ahead.</p> |
| − | had some laughs, in spite of the targets. | + | <p>He didn't really know how to do that. What did he know from managing? He brought in a guy |
| − | </p> | ||
| − | <p> | ||
| − | I had come to the conclusion that the band needed a manager, and had thought (Ow! Was I going | ||
| − | to regret this one!) that the person required for this important position needed to be someone with an | ||
| − | 'artistic background.' Only then, I reasoned, would our aesthetic be properly understood, and, once we | ||
| − | had acquired a manager of such sensitivity, our future success in show business would be assured. | ||
| − | </p> | ||
| − | <p> | ||
| − | So, I convinced Mark to take the mysterious voyage out to [[Pomona]] (fifty miles east), where he | ||
| − | might listen to the Mothers, live, at the [[Broadside]]. What did I know from managing? I told him that if | ||
| − | he wanted to manage the group and could get us some gigs to go ahead. | ||
| − | </p> | ||
| − | <p> | ||
| − | He didn't really know how to do that. What did he know from managing? He brought in a guy | ||
named [[Herb Cohen]], who was managing some folk and folk-rock groups and was looking for another act | named [[Herb Cohen]], who was managing some folk and folk-rock groups and was looking for another act | ||
| − | to pick up. Eventually they became joint managers of our band, with a contract negotiated 'on behalf of | + | to pick up. Eventually they became joint managers of our band, with a contract negotiated 'on behalf of the group' by Herb's brother, an attorney named [[Martin Cohen|Martin (Mutt) Cohen]]."</p> |
| − | the group' by Herb's brother, an attorney named [[Martin Cohen|Martin (Mutt) Cohen]]. | ||
| − | </p> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
| − | + | <div align=right>— Frank Zappa, ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]''</div> | |
| − | <div align=right>[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]</div> | ||
Revision as of 14:14, 9 April 2007
"Don introduced me to a friend of his named Mark Cheka, a 'pop
artist' from New York's East Village. Mark was about fifty and wore a beret. He was living in West
Hollywood with a waitress from the Ash Grove named Stephanie, who was also sort of beatnik-looking.
The main focus of his work was a group of large paintings that looked like police department pistol targets, designed to be viewed under flashing lights, which gave the illusion that the silhouettes were jumping around. I found this a little baffling -- but what the fuck do I know from art? We hung out and had some laughs, in spite of the targets.
I had come to the conclusion that the band needed a manager, and had thought (Ow! Was I going to regret this one!) that the person required for this important position needed to be someone with an 'artistic background.' Only then, I reasoned, would our aesthetic be properly understood, and, once we had acquired a manager of such sensitivity, our future success in show business would be assured.
So, I convinced Mark to take the mysterious voyage out to Pomona (fifty miles east), where he might listen to the Mothers, live, at the Broadside. What did I know from managing? I told him that if he wanted to manage the group and could get us some gigs to go ahead.
He didn't really know how to do that. What did he know from managing? He brought in a guy named Herb Cohen, who was managing some folk and folk-rock groups and was looking for another act to pick up. Eventually they became joint managers of our band, with a contract negotiated 'on behalf of the group' by Herb's brother, an attorney named Martin (Mutt) Cohen."
Mark Cheka is included in the list of names on the cover of Freak Out! and mentioned in the "biographical trivia" section -
OWE OUR EXISTENCE to Mark Cheka for his initial encouragement and sterling example
