Ferdinando "Nando" Boero
Ferdinando Boero is an Italian jellyfish expert who in 1987 named a new species of jellyfish after Frank Zappa. He asked Zappa for permission, who, in a letter from Gail Zappa to Boero, considered it a compliment: "There is nothing I would like better than having a jellyfish with my name". Boero and Zappa would meet several times. [1]
In 1988, Zappa performed a homage to Boero, titled Lonesome Cowboy Nando, while Boero was in the audience.
Boero is also mentioned and thanked in the liner notes of The MOFO Project/Object (2006) album. [2]
Ferdinando Boero about Frank Zappa
"I learnt a lot from Frank; our relationship was such that whenever we met we started to talk as if we met the day before, and he was a good listener, even though I always tried to have him talking. It is strange to be in a room with Frank Zappa and be 'interviewed' by him! He used to play his latest pieces to me, explaining the achievements he made, and he seemed really curious to know my opinion. I saw his concert with Boulez, in Paris, and the day before the concert he tried to explain to me the reason why the Ensemble Intercontemporain was playing part of his music incorrectly! To me that added even more to his personality. He was FZ, an absolute genius, and he was so serious and so humble. We had a very similar way of seeing the world. I have much fun with my work too and I like serious humor."[3]
