Frank Zappa Smacks Down Censorship Advocates

Frank was definitely a leader in a field of one. Sadly missed for his outspokenness as well as his music.

BILLY was a mountain - ETHELL was a tree growing off of his shoulder...

(MR. CAMPBELL appeared as counsel for defense [ALBERT HALL],
MR. OGDEN appeared on behalf of the plaintiff [ZAPPA], before MR.
JUSTICE MOCATTA.)


Q: Now we come to "Bunna Dik" [sic]. What is the concept of "Bunna
Dik"?
A: I would like to point out at this time that those lyrics contained in this
version of "Bwana Dik" are of a very early draft. The song "Bwana Dik"
did not occur in 200 Motels. It was not included in the film. It is not part
of the album.
MR. CAMPBELL: It was, I think, on another record?
A: Yes, but not in this form. The title "Bwana Dik" is in an album called
Live at Fillmore East but it has nothing to do with the text that you are
asking me to analyze here. It was a totally different set of lyrics.
MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: "Bunna" is apparently a West African term,
or an African term, for "boss," is it? Is that right?
A: It is the kind of word that you have in a jungle movie. I do not know
what it means in reality. It is a jungle-movie word.
Q: What does it mean in a jungle movie?
A: You never know what it means in a jungle movie, you know, unless
somebody can explain to me that that word exists in some special African
language. My understanding of "Bwana" has always been that it's
something that the guy with the box on his shoulder says.
MR. CAMPBELL: What do you mean by "the guy with the box on his
shoulder?"
A: Well, natives walk behind the guy with the helmet, and they have the
box on their shoulder.
MR. CAMPBELL: My Lord, he means the bearers in the jungle.
MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: A sort of porter, or bearer, in a jungle?
MR. CAMPBELL: Yes.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
MR. OGDEN: I am not interested in what my learned friend thinks it is; I
am interested in what the witness thinks it is.
MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: What does "Bunna Dik" mean?
A: "Bwana" with the "Dik" after it would mean a person who, at some
time, could wear one of those helmets, and could have people treating
him in some sort of respected way, and who was also in possession of a
"Dik."
Q: And what is a "Dik?"
A: Well, in this context, it would be a rock-and-roll person's penis.
MR. CAMPBELL: And what is the concept of "Bunna Dik?"
A: O.K. I will explain the concept of "Bwana Dik" to you. In every band
there is some member of the band who, during the course of touring, gets
the opportunity to entertain more girls than the other members of the
band. It is like winning a contest. If we carry this concept to a ridiculous
extreme, this person could be awarded the title of "Bwana Dik." The
song deals with the fact that each in his own way, each member of the
group, secretly believes that he is "Bwana Dik."
Q: Oh, I see.
A: And the song attempts to show how foolish this concept is.
Q: Quite, satirically?
A: That is right, it is a satire. . .

Outtake from the "Real Frank Zappa Book".


http://www.katarsis-net.com.ar/downl...zappa-book.pdf



The final verdict? Justice Mocatta decided that (my paraphrasing) [1] THE MATERIAL WAS NOT
OBSCENE. [2] THE ALBERT HALL HAD, IN FACT, BREACHED ITS CONTRACT. But [3] AS
THE ALBERT HALL IS A ROYAL INSTITUTION, IT WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR AN
AMERICAN MUSICIAN TO PREVAIL IN A CASE LIKE THIS, SO -- YANKEE, GO HOME.