Understanding

200 MOTELS

You may like the movie or not. You may like the album or not. But 200 Motels was certainly a major event in Zappa's career.

It's not an easy film to understand. It's full of "secret" clues that only fans can figure out -and we will decipher most of them here.

200 Motels is not just a movie. It's a whole concept that involves the music, the filming event, the characters, etc. It's about LIFE ON THE ROAD, and has a lot of CONCEPTUAL CONTINUITY (CC) in it.

This was Frank Zappa's first length-feature film. He had a lot of troubles because of it. First, he had to stick to the budget. He could not include the complete script as he planned it. In the middle of the shooting he fought with the director Tony Palmer, who left.

When he tried to perform the play live at the Royal Albert Hall, he was banned because of the lyrics and the concert was canceled. He sued the Albert Hall, but the authorities fight back and he wound up losing under obscenity charges.

Anyway, Zappa fulfilled unless two goals with this picture: to release a movie (after the ill-fated Uncle Meat and Burnt Weeny Sandwich projects), and to work with a full orchestra.

THE MUSIC

1970 was a breaking point in Zappa's music. First (in 1969) he disbanded The Mothers of Invention and released a masterpiece solo album, Hot Rats. Then, he returned with a new Mothers line-up and a different musical and lyrical concept. His music sort of turned to blues and rock & roll, with a lot of guitar playing and wide vocal arrangements. On the other hand, his lyrics switched to more mundane topics: groupies, touring, road food, casual sex, etc. -leaving the political-social satire aside.

Nonetheless, his previous reputation among critics remain intact, thus keeping the high press exposure (especially in Europe -with the years, he will eventually lose it).

These new topics (groupies and life on the road) obsessed Zappa in those days, as his following releases proved: Chunga's Revenge, Fillmore East, 200 Motels & Just Another Band form LA. Zappa even planned to release a book about groupies (The Groupie Papers), which he never did.

THE MOVIE

In the midst of all his activities, Zappa managed to write and produce his first mayor movie.

It was photographed at Pinewood Studios, outside London, England, in 1970 in seven 8-hour days. It was edited in eleven 10-hour days. Of the original script, only one third (1/3) was actually filmed.

It was the first feature-length movie to be shot on VIDEO TAPE and later transferred to 35mm Technicolor film. According to FZ "it set the standards for the most advanced video techniques of its time".

The music was recorded live during performance, except "Penis Dimension". It was composed in a 5-year period mostly in motel or hotel rooms while touring.

The movie and the album were released through United Artists.

The total cost of the movie was $679.000. - The original master video tapes were later sold as used tape for $4000 (American dollars) to "balance the budget" by producer Jerry Goode. This way, the master and all the unused scenes were lost forever.

(For more details please refer to the CD booklet).

THE CAST
 

Martin Lickert: his character, Jeff, was originally written for Jeff Simmons, The Mothers' bass player. Jeff (in the story) is a musician that tired of playing "Zappa's comedy music" decides to quit the group. It so happens that that was what actually happened in reality: Simmons quit the group unhappy with his part in the movie just before the shooting began! Noel Redding (bass player for Jimi Hendrix) audition for the part, but later English actor Wilfrid Brambell (who played the part of Paul McCartney's grandfather in A Hard Day's Night) got the job. But the old actor quit as well, somewhat not convinced with this whole madness. Desperate, Zappa was thinking for a new replacement until someone suggested Martin Lickert, who at the time was Ringo Starr's chauffeur. By chance, Lickert happened to play some bass. (Nowadays, he is a barrister in London).

Pamela Miller: perhaps the ultimate groupie, the most famous of them all. She used to work at Zappa's house as nanny for Moon and Dweezil. As Miss Pamela she was a member of the GTO's, the girl group that Zappa produced. As Pamela des Barres (her married name) she wrote two books about her life with famous musicians (the first one, I'm with the Band is recommended). She has her own page, too.

Lucy Offerall: another groupie that worked as nanny for the Zappa kids. As Miss Lucy she was also a member of the GTO's. (Offerall is obviously a nickname).

Janet Neville: As Janet Neville-Ferguson you can hear her singing on The Grand Wazoo.

As Howard Kaylan explains in The True Story of 200 Motels video, "he plays a version of himself as Frank sees him". It so happens with Don Preston and  Mark Volman.

THE STORY

Basically, the story IS ABOUT HOW TOURING CAN MAKE YOU CRAZY and ABOUT HOW EVERYBODY IN THE MOTHERS ALWAYS WANTED TO QUIT THE GROUP AND "PLAY REAL MUSIC".

The plot was written after actual facts in The Mother's everyday life.

The movie is an absolute example of Zappa's Conceptual Continuity (CC):
Ahead of Their Time: on this album you can hear the original Mothers live in London in 1968. Don Preston plays a scientist that turns into a "monster" when drinking a special potion. Jimmy Carl Black plays a musician that wants to quit to "play real music, became a rock and roll star and get laid". Both events (most noteworthy Preston's act) are also included in the Uncle Meat movie. Chunga's Revenge: among several songs with "life on the road" references ("Road Ladies", "Would you go all the way?", "Rudy wants to buy yez a drink") on the inner sleeve you find CHUNGA, the Gypsy mutant industrial vacuum cleaner. Fillmore East: this album deals a lot with groupies ("What kind of girls do you think we are?", "Bwana Dik", "Latex Solar Beef", "Do you like my new car?"). The latter is also known as "The Goupie Routine", and was on the original movie script. "The Mud Shark" is a real story about a girl-groupie performing sex with a shark as told by members of Vanilla Fudge.

THE PLOT

The movie begins with Larry the Dwarf (Ringo Starr) "dressed like Frank Zappa" lowered down on TV in front of Rance Muhammitz (the devil) by a wire connected to a leather harness with the mission (assigned by FZ) to insert a lamp into the reproductive orifice of a lady harpist (a nun performed by Keith Moon).

You hear the voice of FZ saying: "touring can make you crazy, ladies and gentleman, that's what 200 Motels is all about". Then the Mothers perform "Mystery Roach".

Then Muhammitz hands a hamburger as requested by Mark Volman (Flo) but Martin Lickert grabs it instead. The devil demands him to sign for it in blood. He later explains to the group what they are supposed to make in the film. Motorhead Sherwood meets Chunga, the industrial vacuum cleaner, and falls in love (CC). Jimmy Carl Black claims that he only cares for two things: "beer, and when is he going to get paid" (CC: Uncle Meat CD).

In the meantime, a rock and roll interviewer for an imaginary rock & roll newspaper in San Francisco (performed by Pamela Miller, a real life groupie) writes everything down since she finds that the story about the abnormal relationship between Motorhead and the vacuum cleaner "would be great".

Now in the hotel room, the musicians discuss about how Zappa always knows what they are doing. (Ian Underwood goes: "I've been in the band for years, and I know he always listens"). Meanwhile, Larry tapes everything. The musicians then agree to "pretend they don't know he is watching" and say hello to Frank to the camera that's shooting everything they do.

Flo, Eddie (Howard Kaylan) and Jeff (Martin Lickert) plan to quit the Mothers a form a blues band, since Zappa is "old" and they have no future there.

Rance Muhhamitz introduces himself as the devil, and Flo & Eddie find themselves in CENTERVILLE, "a real nice city to raise your kids". (In the movie, Centerville is a concentration camp within which the percussionists of the orchestra are dressed like soldiers).

Miss Lucy and Miss Janet work in a rancid boutique. They have noticed there is a band in the city with horny musicians waiting to have some action. Lucy is excited with the idea, but Janet finds it repulsive, although she likes the "perverted" drummer with the English accent and the binoculars. (CC: Uncle Meat film).

Then the band plays "This town is a sealed tuna sandwich" and Jimmy Carl Black sings "Lonesome Cowboy Burt".

Muhhamitz finally gives some beer to Jimmy and ask for the blood signing. The lonesome cowboy claims "he cannot be the devil, 'cos the devil has English accent; he has seen him 3 weeks ago on TV".

Then Larry recites about the difference between musicians and normal people, between rock musicians and classic musicians.

The Mothers play "Magic Fingers".

Then we see Larry again. This time he is listening to the tapes of the band speaking while he writes the notes "for his new symphony" after what he hears on the tape. (Zappa has been often accused of stealing ideas from his band members over the years).

Then we hear what was originally called "THE PLEATED GAZELLE" suite (comprising of "Motorhead's Midnight Ranch", "Dew on the Newts we got", "The Lad searches the night for his Newts", "The girls wants to fix him some broth", "The girl's dream", "Little green scratchy sweaters and corduroy ponce", "A nun suit painted on some old boxes") while all these happens: Larry tries to catch the hot nun, Motorhead has his love affair with Chunga, and  the hot nun takes "illegal" pills.

Then we see the famous Dental Hygiene Movie. Actually it's Jeff and his good and bad conscience voices telling him what to do. The good conscience tells him to stay with the group. The bad one tells him to quit the comedy group and form his own blues combo. In the meantime, Jeff drinks a potion, smokes a joint and rips off the hotel room (towels and all).

The nun has an overdose. She says she's going to die, while Lucy and Janet ignore her. They are excited since the English perverted drummer is watching them with his binoculars.

The whole cast parades on "Penis Dimension" opus, a song about how the size of the male organ worries men.

A new group/orchestra interlude follows starting with "She painted up her face" and ending with "Lucy's seduction of a bored violinist".

Then Larry monologues again, this time about how musicians are desperate to find a pussy and their personal methods to get one. "Each one has his own specialty for getting the girl of his dreams". The members of the group run to Redneck Eats to find these girls as we listen to "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy".

Jeff meets Don Preston at his laboratory. Don Preston is sure he turns into a monster with his secret potion, while Jeff says he (Preston) made a mistake joining the Mothers. He could be a star nowadays. Jeff leaves with a joint that Don soaks in his potion. Preston calls Zappa on the phone, tells him that everything went out as planned and asks "when is he going to get paid for this".

While we hear "What will this evening bring me this morning", we see Zappa's eye watching everything that's happening. The nun finally "ascends to heaven". Jeff is in his hotel room under the effects of the marijuana joint and we hear voices saying "we have to get him back to normal before Zappa finds out and make him doing it in the movie". Zappa's big right eye is there again.

The movie ends with the entire cast singing "Strictly Genteel".

As the closing titles roll up, we hear the postlude with business letters and the budget paperwork in the background.

ITEMS YOU SHOULD HAVE
 

200 Motels video
Released in the USA and in Europe through Warner Home Video. It is available subtitled in German and French, at least.
96 minutes.
Hi-Fi MONO.

The True Story of 200 Motels
Excellent documentary released by Zappa himself using footage originally filmed by Peter Bos and created by Roelof Kiers for the superb 1970 "Piknk in LA" VPRO - Dutch TV documentary.
60 minutes.

200 Motels 2-CD
Released through Rykodisc in 1997.
Includes the complete 1970 2-LP album, the booklet, the movie poster, the single version of "Magic Fingers", the promotional radio spots and an enhanced track with the movie trailer.
This was the only album that Zappa did own the rights to.
The Zappa Family had to buy the rights from MGM for the CD release.