2. DATE OF BIRTH:         July 1, 1954

3. OCCUPATION:         Musician/writer/marathon sleeper

4. PLACE OF RESIDENCE:        Northport, New York, USA

5. WHAT YEAR DID YOU BECOME A FAN?:     1969
 

SAFE AS MILK : ____________________  5
MIRROR MAN : _____________________9
STRICTLY PERSONAL :  ____________ _7
TROUT MASK REPLICA :  ____________1
LICK MY DECALS OFF BABY :  ______ _2
SPOTLIGHT KID :___________________  4
CLEAR SPOT :  ___________________     _3
UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED :  12
BLUE JEANS & MOONBEAMS :  ______11
SHINY BEAST :   _ _________________     8
DOC AT THE RADAR STATION :   _____6
ICE CREAM FOR CROW : ___________10
 

1. Frank Zappa
2. Steely Dan
3. Bonzo Dog Band
4. Laura Nyro
5. John Tabacco
6. Ry Cooder
7. Spade Cooley
8. Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
9. Pat Metheny
10. (everybody else)

9.. HOW DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER CAPTAIN BEEFHEART & THE MAGIC BAND,
AND WAS THERE A PARTICULAR SONG THAT MADE YOU SEE THE LIGHT?:
I first heard "Diddy Wah Diddy" on AM radio in 1966 when I was 11...loved it immediately, there was nothing even remotely like it on the Top 40 airwaves in those days. I managed to find a copy of the single and played it until it wore out. However, I didn't hear any more about Beefheart until 1969, when I picked up a copy of "Trout Mask Replica" at my local record store. Beefheart promptly joined my Top Three list of favorite musicians -- along with Frank Zappa and the Bonzo Dog Band.

10. NUMBER OF BEEFHEART  GIGS SEEN,  AND WHICH YEARS:
2 in 1970,
1 in 1971,
4 in 1972,
1 in 1981

11. ART SHOWS VISITED:
One in the early '90s at a gallery in Santa Monica, CA

12. ANY CONTACT WITH DON?:
Yes. I met Don in 1970 and saw him on an irregular basis from then until late 1975. Last contact was in 1980.
Have Magic Marker drawing he did of me in 1970 -- unfortunately I don't have a scan readily available ( but it is reproduced in "Being Frank"). In 1980 I wrote an article about Don, "Trout Mask Rendezvous," which was published in the Los Angeles Reader.

13. MUSICAL ABILITY / TRAINING:
Primarily self taught. I'm a musician/composer (guitar/keyboards/production); recent CD releases include "Reinventing the Wheel" (Dinghy Records, 2001) and the Eyeinhand "Sampler Vol. 1" (2001). Will be performing at the 13th annual Zappanale festival in Bad Doberan, Germany this July with my band Lennon/Tabacco/Zappa (featuring Candy Zappa, Frank's sister).
Author of seven published books including "Being Frank: My Time with Frank Zappa" (1995; new edition to be released Fall 2002).

14. ANY OTHER INFO YOU WISH TO ADD?
Website address: www.nigeylennon.com