discography

28	frank zappa: joe's garage act I    (1979, lp, usa, zappa records)
29	frank zappa: joe's garage acts II & III    (1979, 2lp, usa, zappa records)
	tonio k.: amerika     (1980, lp, ??, ??) - feat. ike willis
	robert williams: buy my record     (1981, 12", usa, a & m records  sp-12401) - feat. various zappa & beefheart alumni
30	frank zappa: tinseltown rebellion    (1981, 2lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
31	frank zappa: shut up'n play yer guitar    (1981, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
32	frank zappa: shut up 'n play yer guitar some more    (1981, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
33	frank zappa: return of the son of shut up 'n play yer guitar    (1981, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
34	frank zappa: you are what you is    (1981, 2lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
	frank zappa: shut up 'n play yer guitar - box set     (1981, 3lp, eur, cbs)
35	frank zappa: ship arriving too late too save a drowning witch    (1982, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
36	frank zappa: the man from utopia    (1983, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
40	frank zappa: them or us    (1984, 2lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
41	frank zappa: thing-fish    (1984, 3lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
44	frank zappa: frank zappa meets the mothers of prevention    (1985, lp, usa, barking pumpkin) – american version    (1985, lp, eur, emi) – european version
45	frank zappa: does humour belong in music?    (1986, cd, ger, emi)
	frank zappa: the guitar world according to frank zappa     (1987, mc, usa, ??)
	fowler brothers: breakfast for dinosaurs     (1988, cd, usa, fossil fbr 1002) - feat. albert wing, chester thompson, vinnie colaiuta, ike willis
	frank zappa: guitar (50)    (1988, 2cd, usa, ryko)
51	frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.1    (1988, 2cd, usa, ryko)
53	frank zappa: broadway the hard way    (1988, 2lp, usa, barking pumpkin)
1	ike willis: shoulda gone before i left     (1988, lp, us, enigma records  3292-1) - feat.ray white, arthur barrow, jeff hollie
54	frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.3    (1989, 2cd, usa, ryko)
55	frank zappa: the best band you never heard in your life    (1991, 2cd, usa, barking pumpkin)
56	frank zappa: make a jazz noise here    (1991, 2cd, usa, barking pumpkin)
57	frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.4    (1991, 2cd, usa, ryko)
	frank zappa: anyway the wind blows - disc 1     (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70541)
	frank zappa: anyway the wind blows - disc 2     (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70541)
	frank zappa: saarbrucken 1978     (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70543)
	frank zappa: at the circus     (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71020)
59	frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.6    (1992, 2cd, usa, ryko)
	the muffin men: mülm (3)     (1994, cd, ger, muffin records cdmr 012) – incl. various frank zappa compositions; feat. zappa alumni
	the band from utopia: a tribute to the music of frank zappa - live vol.1 & 2     (1994, cd-pro, muffin records) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat. lots of zappa alumni
	arthur barrow: eyebrow razor (2)     (1995, cd, usa, muffin records productions mrp 024) - feat. lots of zappa alumni
	the band from utopia: the band from utopia (1)     (1995, cd, usa, muffin records productions)  - all compositions by frank zappa; feat. lots of zappa alumni
	the muffin men: feel the food (4)     (1996, cd , usa, muffin records cdmrp 017) – incl. various frank zappa compositions, feat.ike willis
64	frank zappa: the lost episodes    (1996, cd, usa, ryko)
	terry robb: jelly behind the sun     (1997, cd, ??, ??) - feat. ike willis
67	frank zappa: have i offended someone?    (1997, cd, usa, ryko)
	rainer pappon: the blurps     (1998, cd, brazil, yakisoba records) - feat. ike willis
	the weevils: none more     (1998, cd, ??, ??) - feat. ike willis on vocals on 'invisible lady'
2	ike willis: dirty pictures     (1998, cd, us, muffin record productions cdmrp037)
	urban sprawl: beyond the bridges     (??, usa, ??, ??) - feat. ike willis
	the muffin men: god shave the queen (8)     (1999, cd, eec, efa 03447-2) – incl.compositions by don van vliet and by frank zappa, feat. zappa alumni
	cosmosis productions / the element orchestra: joe's garage     (2000, dvdr-promo, usa, private release) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat. ike willis
	project/object: absolutely live     (2000, cd, usa, phoenix media group 3020) - feat. ike willis, gary lucas, joe deninzon, all comp. by frank zappa
	youngblood brass band: unlearn     (2000, usa, cd, private release) - feat. ike willis
	the grandmothers: the eternal question     (2001, cdr, ger, private release) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions
	elio e le storie tese: the lugano tapes     (2001, video, italy, ??) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. ike willis
	the band from utopia: a tribute to the music of frank zappa     (2001, dvd, ger, tdk dv-jtbfu) - all compositions by frank zappa
	elio e le storie tese: the lugano tapes     (2001, vhs video, italy, bmg video 74321872453) – incl. various frank zappa compositions, featuring ike willis
	project/object: the dream of the dog     (2002, cd, usa, private release) - improvised music, using familiar zappa chords & vamps
	ike willis: selected works     (2002, cd, usa, uwanna records) = compilation album
	the muffin men: baker's dozen     (2003, cd, uk, private release mmcd 13/2) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. zappa alumni
	various artists: zappanale 13     (2003, 3cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale 13 - the lewinskys - grandmothers west     (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale 13 - retrospective     (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	joe gallant & illumnati: terrapin     (20??, cd, usa, which? records 5656) - feat.ike willis
	various artists: zappanale # 13     (2003, cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	ossi duri: x     (2003, cd, italy, frfrfrz 87451) - incl. various frank zappa compositions, feat. various zappa alumni
	various artists: zappanale 14 - 2003     (2004, 3cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale 14 - 2003     (2004, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale 14 - retrospective     (2004, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale # 14     (2004, cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	the muffin men: muffinz moovies vol.one (1990-1997)     (2005, dvd, uk, private release) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. zappa alumni
	cuccurullo brillo brullo: live at the 2005 zappanale     (2005, dvdr, ger, arf society) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat.ike willis
	the paul green school of rock music: live at the 2005 zappanale - the esoteric zappa     (2005, dvdr, ger, arf society) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat. napoleon murphy brock & ike willis
	various artists: zappanale 16     (2006, 3cd, ger, arf society) - incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions, also incl. one van vliet composition
	various artists: zappanale 16 - retrospective     (2006, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale # 16     (2006, cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions
79	frank zappa: trance-fusion     (2006, cd, usa, zappa records)
	the muffin men: looks like noodles to me     (2006, cd, uk, ark-hive 941) - incl. various frank zappa compositions, feat. ike willis
	various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraa birthday bundle     (2006, itunes, -) - feat. frank, moon, dweezil, ahmet & diva zappa
	the muffin men: muffinz moovies vol.two (1998-2003)     (2006, dvd, uk, private release) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. zappa alumni
	pojama people: dec, 2006 compilation     (2007, 3cdr-promo, usa, private release) - feat.ike willis & incl. lots of frank zappa compositions
80	frank zappa: buffalo  (80)     (2007, 2cd, usa, vaulternative records)
	the muffin men: live at zappanale 14     (2007, dvd, uk, private release / nale 031) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. ike willis & napoleon murphy brock
	pojama people with ike willis: footsie notes     (2008, cdr, usa, private release) - feat.ike willis
83	frank zappa: one shot deal     (2008, cd, usa, zappa records)
	various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraaa birthday bundle 21 dec 2008     (2008, itunes, -) - feat. frank, dweezil, ahmet & diva zappa
	filippo bellavia & b.street band: zappa in blues     (2008, cd, italy, lazarimus lzrm 04121993) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat. ike willis
	project/object: zappanale 20     (2009, dvdr, ger, private release) - all zappa material / feat. ike willis, don preston, robert martin, denny walley & dr.dot
	the central scrutinizer band: with ike willis live in brazil?     (2009, cdr, brasil, private release) - feat. ike willis, all compositions by frank zappa
	movie / documentary: let's hear it for jimmy carl black     (2010, dvdr, ger, arf society) - feat. moni black, geronimo black, helmut king, napoleon murphy brock, roy estrada, don preston, bruce bickford, ike willis
	the muffin men: zappanale 21     (2010, dvdr, ger, private release) - all compositions by frank zappa  //  feat. ike willis, ray white, robert martin & denny walley
	various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraaaa birthday bundle 21 dec 2010     (2010, itunes, -) - feat. frank, dweezil, ahmet zappa
	elio e le storie tese: collection     (2011, 11cd+3dvd, italy, la gazettea dello sport) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. ike willis
	candy zappa: ...to be perfectly frank...     (2011, cd, usa, porterville records / crossfire publications) - incl. various frank zappa compositions  //  feat. frank zappa, ike willis, don preston
	the muffin men: live at zappanale 21, bad doberan, august 2010     (2011, dvdr, ger, private release) - all compositions by frank zappa  //  feat. ike willis, ray white, robert martin, denny walley and ben watson
	elisa fisher: ike willis meets the catholic school girls     (2012, download, --, elisa fisher / aquarian) - feat. ike willis and ray white
	ossi duri: frankamente     (2013, cd-on-demand, usa, amazon) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat. ike willis
	elio e le storie tese: dei megli dei nostri megli     (2014, 3cd+dvd, italy, hukapan) - incl. 'sofa' (frank zappa), featuring ike willis on 'i am the walrus'
	wolfram klug: burt, the nerd     (2014, cd, switzerland, private release)- feat. ike willis, tommy mars, arthur barro, robert martin, albert wing, ed mann  //  incl. 'chunga's revenge' (frank zappa)
	john tabacco & nigey lennon: the miseducation of willie the hill     (2014, download, --, bandcamp) - incl. various frank zappa compositions / feat. candy zappa, ed palermo, ike willis
	ike willis with zappatika: live in liverpool     (2015, download, --, bandcamp) - all compostions by frank zappa
	ike willis & zappatika, feat. denny walley, ed mann and jeff hollie: zappanale 26     (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society) - incl. various frank zappa compositions
	various artists: zappanale 26 - good bye session     (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society) - incl. various frank zappa compositions, faet. ike willis, ed mann, mats öberg, jeff hollie, craig steward, denny walley
	zappatika: the pony suite     (2015, download, --, itunes) - feat. ike willis, jeff hollie and craig 'twister' steward // incl. various zappa quotes
	the muffin men: kamikaze     (2015, cdr, uk, private release) - improvisations recorded during the performance of frank zappa compositions, feat. ike willis, jimmy carl black
	zappatika and friends: the pony suite - the ritzy 2016 spring tour edition     (2016, cd, nl, private release) - feat. ike willis, jeff hollie and craig 'twister' steward, denny walley and ed mann
	various artists: zappanale # 26     (2016, 3cd, ger, arf society) - incl. various frank zappa compositions, feat. napoleon murphy brock, ike willis, denny walley, jeff hollie, craig twister steward, ed mann, robert martin, albert wing, ray white, tom fowler, robbie mangano, mats öberg
105	frank zappa: frank zappa for president     (2016, cd, usa, zappa records zr 20021)
	ike willis & zappatika feat. jeff hollie & craig steward: welcome to the starlight lounge     (2016, download, --, itunes) - all compositions by frank zappa / feat. ike willis, jeff hollie and craig 'twister' steward
	zappatika: live on the isle of wight     (2017, download, --, ??) - all compositions by frank zappa //  incl. 'the pony suite' (zappatika, ike willis)
	z.e.r.o.: santaville     (2017, cd, uk, cordelia cd078) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat. ike willis, craig twister steward
	paul green's rock academy feat. ike willis and denny walley: zappanale 28     (2017, dvdr, ger, arf society) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat. ike willis and denny walley
	various artists: zappanale 28 - good bye session     (2017, dvdr, ger, arf society) - incl. various frank zappa compositions, feat. ike willis
	various artists: mappa zappa     (2018, cd, uk, cordelia records) - all compositions by frank zappa
	frank zappa: poughkeepsie     (2018, cd, uk, smokin' smcd963) = 1978/09/21 poughkeepsie concert
	ike willis & zappatika: highway maintenance     (2018, youtube movie, --, zappatika)- including various compositions by frank zappa
	showbiz: scattered hurricanes     (2018, cd, italy, lazarimus)  – feat. ike willis / incl. 'black napkins' (frank zappa)
	ike willis & zappatika: highway maintenance     (2019, cd, nl, private release / zappatika) - all compositions by frank zappa
	the mofüglys: a murder of crows     (2019, cd, usa, private release) - feat. bryan beller, rick mmusallam, ike willis, eric svalgard

concerts

* * * in concert, as the ike willis band * * *

• 1986/--/-- concert Los Angeles, CA, usa
  • (Venting The) Krypton Gas, Biznis As Usual, Bad Time, The Foreigner From Boston, Solution, Ounces Of Prevention, Fine, The Hollow Earth

• 1988/12/03    concert portland, oregon, usa
      = not with ike's regular band, but with the guys he played on his latest album.
      the set included o.a. 'one son', 'blonde hair, blonde teeth' (i.willis) and 'outside now' (frank zappa)

* * * in concert with project/object * * *

• 1997/08/16 concert 'lion's den', new york city, ny, usa // guest: jerry cuccurulo & ed palermo
• 2000/08/11 "zappening", peoria, illinois, usa // guests: ray white, jimmy carl black
• 2000/12/30 concert '8x10', baltimore, md, usa

* * * in concert with ossi duri * * *

* * * in concert with the marijuana jazz band * * *

• 2002/07/26    "zappanale" festival in bad doberan, with a.o. project/object, 

at zappanale

• 2003/07/25 "zappanale no.14", in bad doberan, germany, organised by the arf society

* * * the ike willis project * * *

• 2004/05/28 concert 'twelve galaxies', san francisco, usa

* * *

• 2004/06/05 concert 'Flynn MainStage', Burlington, VT, usa
  • line-up
    • the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival Big Band
    • feat. Ike Willis, Ernie Watts, and Napoleon Murphy Brock
  • performing Zappa material

* * * the ike willis project * * *

• 2004/12/07 concert 'boomboom room', san francisco, usa

* * * ike willis * * *

• 2005/03/08 concert 'Gus Zoppi Music Center', serling hights, mi, usa

* * * in concert with ugly radio rebellion * * *

• 2005/03/08 concert 'The Hayloft', Mt Clemens, mi, usa

random notes

note: ike will be sitting in with conan obrian's band 12/9/97 for a few songs

ike is touring europe, as of spring '94, fronting a british band, "the muffin men", who have a cd of fz covers, that sounds like "pretty good musicians". they are sincere fans. very sincere.

ike had a solo band based in portland, or.  (as of '95)  i'm not sure if he still lives there or not.

 i picked up a disc by ike willis called "should'a gone before i left", which is good.  it has arthur barrow on bass and ray white doing some vocals. interesting find!  it's on muffin records. the album cover is in crayon, or some kind of colored pencil. 

 ike willis band..."shoulda gone before i left" is re-released on cd as a picture disc (& remixed i hope). available now! tracking list: biznis as usual - sleepy - miss you well - krypton gas - bad time - the foreigner from boston - do don't - the hollow earth - ounces of prevention - fine - resolution.   cdmrp 010 1994/96
ike willis, jon edmunds, ray white, colin saunders, arthur barrow, todd rodgers, jimm summey, tim such, a.o.
ike willis band...new cd is already in works. ike is busy with recording. guests will be tommy mars, andy treacy, arthur barrow, bruce fowler and others. sounds like a must!

     from the muffin records home page:
the ike willis band works now on their new album "dirty pictures" which is scheduled for its release in fall 1996. ike and band will be also on tour in '96 and we hope to bring you this great show near your town. please check the 'touring section' at the 'muffin menu' for further details. tracking list: blonde hair, blonde teeth - bad time II - dirty pictures -andy young - eye of nude - malcolm - the doctor is in - yo cats - some son - planet no.III - the clock - something rash - inside out - love tax.

     from: dan gardoqui (danielg@hopper.unh.edu)
(paraphrased) ike willis is playing with the extraordinary zappa cover band "project/object" in the nyc/nj area.

      from: kingfelix@monarchy.com (kingfelix) -      date: tue, 16 dec 1997 
project object (with ike willis) came to the court tavern in new brunswick and played an absolutely beautiful set of zappa tunes, including the joes  garage album in its entirety!

     from: "gary titone" (gtitone@concentric.net)
ike willis as a special guest performed with project object for a number of dates during the second week of december and the court tavern show did showcase joe's garage in it's entirety.that's right you heard right the entire joe's garage. it was videotaped but the event spiritualy was much deeper than what can be reproduced on videotape.
for documentation the video/audio reference shoud be a great find but i'll reiterate more on the spirituality along with some brief critisism .
as far as performance goes project object did a splendid job with joe's garage.  they truly brought to life much of what we know this epic to be. musically they pull this stuff of pretty darn good and ike willis's guitar solos are truly performed with many of the same techniques that fz used. ike's guitar work has truthfully come a long way since his tenure with fz. a very long way. the only other guitarists i have seen produce that much of the signature fz guitar style in a solo was mike keneally and warren cuccurullo..... project object  even went as far as to get a girl with a nice set of jugs(my guess is 38d's) to play the part of mary. mary was dressed in very tight black spandexish clothing which showed her features in a way that probably produced quite a few hardons. very nice in the juggs indeed and she did shake it around a little.   but the central scrutinizer could only be performed by frank and the attemp that was made was least appealing to me. let the same be said for watermellon in easter hay solo.
for me no matter how good any cover ensemble could musically attempt to recreate joe's garage there are certain elements of that project that can not and will never be reproduced.
spiritually there were things that were going on that was beyond the performance. it really seemed as if we were in a basement in canarsie and as the songs were played i could envision how and why much of what exists in joe's garage came to be. the show was dedicated to jerry cuccurullo who passed away on 12/5 and as jay cuccurullo performed unanounced i could feel a new meaning in joe's garage.  for me this meaning came to be in the celebration of the life of jerry cuccurullo.

     from: thomas & alana west (arielrep@classic.msn.com) - date: fri, 14 nov 97 
ike willis will be appearing on december 9 at the bottom line in nyc with ed palermo's big band (they appear about once every four to six weeks playing ed's big-band arrangements of fz tunes).  

     from: greg gomez-portland or
i don't know if he still is, but at one time ike willis was a resident of portland.  in the early 90s or late 80s he put out a cd with a portland blues musician by the name of terry robb.  the cd was entitled "jelly behind the sun".  i don't know if it is still available or not and i can't remember the name of the label.  no doubt a portland one.  for folks that are interested in trying to track down this cd the best portland area record stores to check are music millenium and locals only.

      from: nick harris (nickh@allenmachinery.com) -      date: thu, 05 mar 1998 17:03:36 -0800
sitting here looking over the prelim. press kit for ike willis' upcoming release "dirty pictures".  album should be out and the band touring in mid to late april.  i also must mention that i saw the "the band from utopia" show in portland and i think they did a fine job.  

     from: alexandre dupont (dupont@hidro-carste.org.br)
last december ('97), ike willis played two shows in san paolo, brazil, with the great local tribute band the central scrutinizer band. the shows were recorded and the group is currently mixing them for a future release (cd by muffin records). please visit the central scrutinizer band's web site at
http://www.scrutinizer.com.br/

     from: asmet (asmet@tm.net.my)
ike willis also sang a couple of verses on 1 song on a robert william's album. i think it's called "buy my record".  i believe arthur barrow is also on this record.

 be sure and check out the ike willis interview at eric martin's page:
http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/makeup/5207/martin/ike.htm

    From slime.oofytv.set, may 30, 2004

Review of Ike Willis Project may-28-04 show at the 12 galaxies in san fran:

Show was full of surprises, got there as the warmup act was warming up; the guy on stage looked familiar, on closer inspection it was Ray White's & his trio - that's right you heard right - Ray's lookin rather dapper these days, played a short set including a sweet rendition of 'City Of Tiny Lights' (Ray sang it before Belew) plus a couple a brazillian-flavored songs, the rest were straight on blues chicago style, bass player & 2nd/lead guitarist both young & talented locals.

About a hundred people showed up by the time Ike took the stage with a new band including his wife on percussion/backing vocals plus a guitarist/bass/drummer...Ike mixed it up, scattering half a dozen Zppa with his own stuff plus an irie cover of Marley's runnin away, crowd was hoppin... Hey why do a reggae vamp when you can do the real thing, & Ike's voice was...uhhh...well... Ike's voice; can't beat it with a fuckin lead-filled snowshoe; playin with Frank all those years shows up in his own guitar playing, he gave us a good taste of FZ: 'son of orange county', 'lucille', 'filthy habits', and 'black napkins'...Ray joined him onstage for 'outside now' then split.

Good time had by all, Ike's comin back this summer with Paul Green & co. Plus i got Ike & Ray to autograph my thingfish booklet ;) ....

cheers
slime.oofytv.set

    From slime.oofytv.set, December 8, 2004:

Ike Willis Project in concert 2004/12/07 in San Francisco.

Caught this show last night at the Boomboom Room, 2nd ever gig for the Ike Willis Project , the band played mostly the same set as the last gig in May, but sounded a bit more polished/rehearsed.

1st set was ike's compositions, some great tunes, especially the opener instrumental. After about half a dozen songs, his throat took a hit - sounded just fine to me - then a new reggae dancehall number, the band can lay down a irie groove when they get  warmed up.
Threw in a couple of early Beatles tunes including ‘I'll Be Back’.

2nd set was billed as a shred guitar duel [by the evening's host, guitar player mag] between Ike & Mike O'Dell but Ike kinda rolled his eyes & disclaimed 'you do the math'.
It was an interesting duet jam rather than a duel with Ike playin rhythm & Mike experimenting on lead with a good dose of effects all 'round.

The highlight of the evening was back-to-back ‘Black Napkins’ & ‘Outside Now’. After ‘Black Napkins’, Ike says 'This song was written by a friend for me' and launches into ‘Outside Now’, Marley's ‘Runnin Away’, then ‘Filthy Habits’ & ending the set in true style with ‘Muffin Man’.

All for the nominal service charge of 10 bucks, plus guitar player mag people were handing out free copies of this month's & last month's [article on Keneally & Mike Stern in Jan '05] issue.
Ike's now living in s.f. & says he'll be performing around town with some regularity.

filmography

1989 the true story of 200 motels