MFLoud
(London)
Sunday 25 Jan 2026, 8:44pm
FRANKLY, YOU’RE NEEDED.
Are you a musician for whom the term “idle virtuosity” is a personal insult?
Do you believe a song isn’t complete unless it contains at least one metric modulation, a sudden burst of musique concrète, and a lyrical non-sequitur about a pony?
Does your idea of a good time involve nailing the exact inflection of the line, “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow”?
If so, stop noodling in 7/8. We have a mission for you.
LONDON ZAPPA COLLECTIVE is fa serious, dedicated, and obsessively detailed Frank Zappa tribute ensemble. This is not a weekend “cover band.” This is an archival excavation and live re-animation project.
WE ARE SEEKING MUSICIANS WHO:
• Can navigate a chart that looks like a schematic for the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen.
• Find the transition from “Inca Roads” to “Sofa No. 1” to be a spiritual experience.
• Have the chops for the “Black Page” but the sense of humour for “Titties & Beer.”
• Understand that the band is a moving parade, and are ready for both the rigorous rehearsal and the spontaneous xenochrony.
• Play one (or more) of the following at a near-professional level: Guitar (with frightening accuracy/attitude), Keyboards/Synth (Bozzio-era chops a must), Bass (the Scott Thunes/Vulfpeck hybrid we need), Drums/Percussion (Polyrhythmic pulverizers only), Winds/Brass (Sugarcane & Horns of Devotion alumni, emerge!), or Vocals (Range: from nasal sprechstimme to soul-shouting glory).
YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO:
• Learn the parts. All the parts.
• Embrace the ethos: “Anything, Anywhere, Anytime, For No Reason At All.”
• Commit to a project that respects the complexity, satire, and sheer audacity of the material.
• Leave your musical vanity at the door. This is about serving the composition, no matter how absurd.
IN RETURN, YOU GET:
• The profound joy of unlocking some of the most brilliantly composed music of the 20th century.
• A collective of similarly obsessed individuals who get it.
• The challenge of a lifetime.
• The chance to utter the phrase, “Let’s take it from the Dolphy-esque woodwind interlude,” in a rehearsal without causing a mass walkout.
AUDITION PROCESS:
Prepare two (2) Zappa pieces of contrasting style. Be ready to discuss your favourite era (60s freak-out, Jazz-Rock beast, Synclavier pioneer, etc.). Proof of obsession is a plus (e.g., you own a Beat the Boots box set, you have strong opinions about the ‘88 band, you know what a Village of the Sun is).
Interested?
Send a detailed musical biography, your Zappa manifesto, and any relevant links to: LZC@fox101.co.uk
Subject Line: I AM THE MUD SHARK
This is a legitimate project for players of serious caliber. All eras of Zappalogy will be explored. The torture never stops.