Zappa film ‘Summer of ’82’ set for DVD release

In the feature documentary, Summer 82 – When Zappa Came to Sicily, filmmaker and Zappa fan Salvo Cuccia tells the behind-the-scenes story of Frank Zappa’s star-crossed concert in Palermo, Sicily, the wrap-up to a European tour that ended in public disturbances and police intervention. Cuccia had a ticket to the concert but never made it.

Thirty years later, collaborating with Zappa’s family, he recreates the events through a combination of rare concert and backstage footage; photographs; anecdotes from family, band members, and concertgoers; and insights from Zappa biographer and friend Massimo Bassoli. The story is also a personal one, as Cuccia interweaves the story of Zappa’s trip to Sicily with his own memories from that summer.

The film looks at the rise and heyday of Frank Zappa’s career as an innovative composer and libertarian provocateur, and includes tales of the relationship of a busy father with his children.

While in Sicily for the concert, Zappa visited Partinico, the birthplace of his father and grandfather; and in the film’s warm and loving coda, three of Zappa’s children, Dweezil, Moon Diva and his wife Gail, return to meet their relatives there for the first time.

A Blu-ray edition of the film, distributed by MVD Entertainment Group and produced by Eleonora Cordaro for Abra&Cadabra, will be released on December 8th. Bonus features include unpublished photos of Zappa behind the scenes.

SCREENINGS:

11/5 – Los Angeles – The Regent Theater – Q&A with Dweezil & Moon Zappa + Steve Vai
11/17 – Philadelphia – PhilaMOCA – Q&A with Dweezil Zappa
11/20 – Boston – The Regent Theatre – Q&A with Dweezil Zappa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnSTDTfhJ-8&feature=youtu.be

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com