Dweezil Zappa World

A freelance music journalist, author and musician, I started GRITZ Magazine, a website dedicated to Southern Rock, 13 years ago, but am now doing universalmusictribe.com as well as a weekly Buffalo Radio Show on Blogtalk Radio. I am now a contributor to Twisted South Magazine (twistedsouth.com) and have written their first 2 cover stories (Billy Bob Thornton, Unknown Hinson)and the second issue featured my story/interview on Dweezil. I sometimes co host an online radio show every Wednesday night with Ms. Mars of Zappa.

I have been a writer for 25 some odd years (some more odd than others) interviewing countless folk from George Harrison to Billy Bob Thornton (didja know he wrote SLINGBLADE while listening to Zappa?), Robert Duvall, KISS, Edgar & Johnny Winter, Peter Frampton,Maria McKee ... on and on.

My role as a writer has found me is some fun situations like partying with The Pretenders in Atlanta when their first album came out; smoking a left handed cigarette with Dave and Annie when they were The Tourists prior to becoming The Eurythmics; too many backstage and bus stories; interviewing The Ramones at CBGBs; so many fun memories for an old guy!

I am an author, and have had three books on music published. Another on the way. Also a memoir coming soon called PRISONER OF SOUTHERN ROCK. My heroes are Lester Bangs, Stephen King and Hunter S, Thompson,and I am working on my first book of collected short stories. Think "Southern Stephen King."

I am a songwriter and have recorded five albums with lots of help from friends such as Bonnie Bramlett, Pete Carr, Tommy Crain, George McCorkle, JoJo Billingsley and more. Currently writing a concept album.

I am also a cartoonist, actor and other things that don't pay.

Among my friends I have at least one Zappa alumni, Denny Walley. Some of the most fun I have is when he and I get together in my den with our guitars and create what he calls "air sculptures." Denny is an amazing guitarist. We keep talking about recording our marathon improvs. Our "band" name is Strap On Mohawk, named after the get up Sly Stone wore on the Grammys a few years back...

So I am a big fan of DZ as well, and so happy he has done such an amazing job of keeping Frank's music alive. Thank you from the heart to all of you who supported me during the great "Blind Year" of 2010. God bless you all.