This is a list of the different line-ups of the Mothers, The Mothers Of Invention and other Zappa touring bands.

 

    guitar and/or vocals bass drums, percussion strings keyboards, wind instruments
1964 / 1966 the mothers # 1 f.zappa r.collins     r.estrada   j.c. black                                
1966 the m.o.i. # 2 f.zappa r.collins e.ingber   r.estrada   j.c. black                                
  the m.o.i. # 3-1st                                              
early 1967 the m.o.i. # 3-2nd f.zappa r.collins     r.estrada   j.c. black billy mundi       d.preston bunk   motorhead                
1967/09 -> 1968 the m.o.i. # 3-3rd f.zappa r.collins     r.estrada   j.c. black billy mundi     i.underwood d.preston bunk   motorhead                
1968/01 -> 1968/10 the m.o.i. # 3-4th f.zappa       r.estrada   j.c. black art tripp     i.underwood d.preston bunk   motorhead                
1968/11 -> 1969/05 the m.o.i. # 3-5th f.zappa   l.george   r.estrada   j.c. black art tripp     i.underwood d.preston bunk buzz motorhead                
1969/06 -> 1970 the m.o.i. # 3-6th f.zappa       r.estrada   j.c. black art tripp     i.underwood d.preston bunk buzz motorhead                
1970/02 hot rats f.zappa m.bennett     ed greene     i.underwood
1970/03 hot rats f.zappa       m.bennett     a.dunbar     i.underwood sugarcane                      
1970/05 the m.o.i. # 4 f.zappa r.collins     j.simmons   b.mundi a.dunbar     i.underwood d.preston   g.duke motorhead                
1970/06 -> 1970/12 the m.o.i. # 5 f.zappa flo & eddie     j.simmons     a.dunbar     i.underwood     g.duke                  
1971/05 -> 1971/08 the m.o.i. # 6-1st f.zappa flo & eddie     j.pons     a.dunbar     i.underwood d.preston b.harris(#1)                    
1971/10 > 1971/12 the m.o.i. # 6-2nd f.zappa flo & eddie     j.pons     a.dunbar     i.underwood d.preston                      
1972/09 the grand wazoo orch. f.zappa   t.duran   d.parlato   j.gordon r.underwood t.raney j.kessler i.underwood s.marquez b.fowler e.dumler m.mcnabb t.malone g.ferris j.mcnabb k.shroyer m.altschul j.migliori r.reed c.owens
1972/10 -> 1972/12 the petit wazoo orchstra f.zappa   t.duran   d.parlato   j.gordon           b.fowler e.dumler m.mcnabb t.malone g.ferris g.barone          
  the m.o.i. # 7-1st                                              
1973/02 -> 1973/07 the m.o.i. # 7-2nd f.zappa       t.fowler   r.humphrey r.underwood   j.-l.ponty i.underwood s.marquez   g.duke                  
1973/08 -> 1973/09 the m.o.i. # 7-3nd f.zappa       t.fowler   r.humphrey r.underwood   j.-l.ponty i.underwood     g.duke                  
1973/10 -> 1973/12 the m.o.i. # 8 f.zappa       t.fowler   r.humphrey r.underwood c.thompson   n.m.brock   b.fowler g.duke                  
1974/02 -> 1974/03 the m.o.i. # 9-1st f.zappa   j.simmons   t.fowler   r.humphrey r.underwood     n.m.brock   b.fowler g.duke                  
1974/04 -> 1974/05 the m.o.i. # 9-2nd f.zappa   j.simmons   t.fowler   r.humphrey       n.m.brock d.preston b.fowler g.duke w.fowler                
1974/07 -> 1974/11 the m.o.i. # 10-1st f.zappa       t.fowler   c.thompson r.underwood     n.m.brock     g.duke                  
1974/11 the m.o.i. # 10-2nd f.zappa       r.rogers   c.thompson r.underwood     n.m.brock     g.duke                  
1974/11/19 -> 1974/11/23 the m.o.i. # 10-3rd f.zappa       m.urso   c.thompson r.underwood     n.m.brock     g.duke                  
1974/11/24 -> 1974/12/01 the m.o.i. # 10-4th f.zappa       j.youmans   c.thompson r.underwood     n.m.brock     g.duke
1975/04 -> 1975/05 the m.o.i. # 11 f.zappa beefheart   d.walley t.fowler   t.bozzio       n.m.brock   b.fowler g.duke                  
  the m.o.i. # 12-1st                                              
1975/09 -> 1975/11 the m.o.i. # 12-2nd f.zappa       r.estrada   t.bozzio       n.m.brock a.lewis n.j.bell                    
1975/11 -> 1976/03 the m.o.i. # 12-3rd f.zappa       r.estrada   t.bozzio       n.m.brock a.lewis                      
1976/10 -> 1976/11 zappa # 1-1st f.zappa r.white     p.o'hearn   t.bozzio       e.jobson b.odin                      
1976/11 zappa # 1-2nd f.zappa r.white     p.o'hearn   t.bozzio       e.jobson                        
1976/12 - SNL zappa # 1-3rd f.zappa r.white d.pardo   p.o'hearn  b.cranshaw t.bozzio r.underwood     e.jobson d.samuels r.brecker m.brecker l.marini t.malone r.cuber  ch.hardwick          
1977/01 -> 1977/02 zappa # 1-2nd f.zappa r.white     p.o'hearn   t.bozzio       e.jobson                        
1977/09 -> 1978/02 zappa # 2 f.zappa a.belew     p.o'hearn   t.bozzio e.mann     t.mars p.wolf                      
1978/08 -> 1978/10 zappa # 3-1st f.zappa   i.willis     a.barrow v.colaiuta e.mann     t.mars p.wolf                      
1978/10 zappa # 3-2nd f.zappa       p.o'hearn a.barrow v.colaiuta e.mann   l.shankar t.mars p.wolf                      
1979/02 -> 1979/04 zappa # 3-3rd f.zappa w.cuccurullo i.willis d.walley   a.barrow v.colaiuta e.mann     t.mars p.wolf                      
1980/01 zappa # 4-1st f.zappa r.white i.willis     a.barrow s.lott       t.mars                        
1980/01 -> 1980/07 zappa # 4-2nd f.zappa r.white i.willis     a.barrow d.logeman       t.mars                        
  zappa # 5-1st                                              
1980/09 -> 1980/12 zappa # 5-2nd f.zappa r.white i.willis s.vai   a.barrow v.colaiuta       t.mars b.harris(#2)                      
1981/08 -> 1982/07 zappa # 6 f.zappa r.white   s.vai   s.thunes c.wackerman e.mann     t.mars r.martin                      
1984/07 -> 1984/08 zappa # 7-1st f.zappa r.white i.willis     s.thunes c.wackerman       n.m.brock r.martin a.zavod                    
1984/08 -> 1984/12 zappa # 7-2nd f.zappa r.white i.willis     s.thunes c.wackerman         r.martin a.zavod                    
1987/12 zappa # 8-1st f.zappa flo & eddie i.willis     s.thunes c.wackerman e.mann     t.mars                        
1988/02 -> 1988/06 zappa # 8-2nd f.zappa i.willis m.keneally s.thunes c.wackerman e.mann r.martin b.fowler a.wing w.fowler p.carman k.mcgettrick

 

"the mothers of invention" (1964 / 1966)
frank zappa, ray collinsroy estradajimmy carl black but also henry vestine, alice stuart, ...

"the mothers of invention" (1966)
frank zappa, ray collins, elliot ingberroy estradajimmy carl black

"the mothers of invention" (early 1967)
frank zappa, ray collinsroy estradajimmy carl black, billy mundidon preston, bunk gardnerjim 'motorhead' sherwood

"the mothers of invention" (1967/09 -> 1968)
frank zappa, ray collins, roy estrada, jimmy carl black, billy mundiian underwood, don preston, bunk gardnerjim 'motorhead' sherwood

"the mothers of invention" (1968/01 -> 1968/10)
frank zapparoy estrada, jimmy carl black, art trippian underwood, don preston,
bunk gardnerjim 'motorhead' sherwood

"the mothers of invention" (1968/11 -> 1969/05)
frank zappalowell georgeroy estradajimmy carl black, art trippian underwood, don preston, bunk gardner,
buzz gardner, jim 'motorhead' sherwood

"the mothers of invention" (1969/06 -> 1970)
frank zapparoy estradajimmy carl black, art trippian underwood, don preston, bunk gardner,
buzz gardner, jim 'motorhead' sherwood

"hot rats" (1970/02)
f.zappam.bennetted greeneian underwood  

"hot rats" (1970/03)
f.zappam.bennettaysnley dunbarian underwood, sugarcane harris

"the mothers of invention" - the spring 1970 band (1970/05)
f.zappa, ray collins, jeff simmonsbilly mundi, aysnley dunbarian underwood, don prestongeorge duke, jim 'motorhead' sherwood

"the mothers of invention" - the fall 1970 band (1970/06 -> 1970/12)
frank zappa, flo & eddie (mark volman & howard kaylan), jeff simmonsaysnley dunbarian underwoodgeorge duke

"the mothers of invention" - the summer 1971 band (1971/05 -> 1971/08)
frank zappa, flo & eddie (mark volman & howard kaylan)jim ponsaynsley dunbarian underwood, don preston, bob harris

"the mothers of invention" - the fall 1971 band (1971/10 > 1971/12)
frank zappa, flo & eddie (mark volman & howard kaylan)jim ponsaynsley dunbarian underwood, don preston

"the grand wazoo orchestra" (1972/09)
f.zappat.durand.parlatoj.gordon, r.underwood, t.raney, j.kessler , i.underwood, s.marquez, b.fowler, e.dumler, m.mcnabb, t.malone, g.ferris, j.mcnabb, k.shroyer, m.altschul, j.migliori, r.reed, c.owens

"the petit wazoo orchstra" (1972/10 -> 1972/12)
f.zappat.durand.parlatoj.gordonb.fowler, e.dumler, m.mcnab, t.malone, g.ferris, g.barone

"the mothers of invention" - the spring / summer 1973 band (1) (1973/02 -> 1973/07)
frank zappatom fowlerralph humphrey, ruth underwoodjean-luc ponty, ian underwood, sal marquez, george duke, bruce fowler

"the mothers of invention" - the spring / summer 1973 band (2) (1973/08 -> 1973/09)
frank zappatom fowlerralph humphrey, ruth underwoodjean-luc ponty, ian underwoodgeorge duke

"the mothers of invention" - the fall 1973 band (1973/10 -> 1973/12)
frank zappatom fowlerralph humphrey, ruth underwood, chester thompsonnapoleon murphy brockbruce fowler, george duke

"the mothers of invention" - the winter 1974 band (1974/02 -> 1974/03)
frank zappajeff simmonstom fowlerralph humphrey, ruth underwoodnapoleon murphy brockbruce fowler, george duke

"the mothers of invention" - the spring 1974 band (1974/04 -> 1974/05)
frank zappajeff simmons tom fowlerralph humphreynapoleon murphy brock, don preston, bruce fowler, george duke, walt fowler

"the mothers of invention" - the summer/fall 1974 band (1) (1974/07 -> 1974/11)
frank zappatom fowlerchester thompson, ruth underwoodnapoleon murphy brockgeorge duke

"the mothers of invention" - the summer/fall 1974 band (2) (1974/11)
f.zappar.rogerschester thompson, ruth underwoodnapoleon murphy brockgeorge duke  

"the mothers of invention" - the summer/fall 1974 band (3) (1974/11/19 -> 1974/11/23)
f.zappam.ursoc.thompson, r.underwoodnapoleon murphy brockg.duke

"the mothers of invention" - the summer/fall 1974 band (4) (1974/11/24 -> 1974/12/01)
frank zappajames youmanschester thompson, ruth underwoodnapoleon murphy brockgeorge duke

"the mothers of invention" - the summer/fall 1974 band (1) (1974/12)
f.zappatom fowlerchester thompson, ruth underwood
napoleon murphy brockgeorge.duke  

"the mothers of invention" - the spring 1975 band (1975/04 -> 1975/05)
frank zappa, captain beefheartdenny walley, tom fowlerterry bozzionapoleon murphy brockbruce fowler, george duke

"the mothers of invention" - the fall 1975 / winter 1976 band (1)  (1975/09 -> 1975/10)
f.zapparoy estradaterry bozzionapoleon murphy brock, andre lewis

"the mothers of invention" - the fall 1975 / winter 1976 band (2)  (1975/11 -> 1975/12)
frank zapparoy estradaterry bozzionapoleon murphy brock, andre lewis, norma jean bell

"the mothers of invention" - the fall 1975 / winter 1976 band (1) (1976/01 -> 1976/03)
frank zapparoy estradaterry bozzionapoleon murphy brock, andre lewis

"zappa" - the winter 1976 band (1) (1976/10 -> 1976/11)
frank zappa, bianca odin, ray white
patrick o'hearnterry bozzioeddie jobson

"zappa" - the winter 1976 band (2) (1976/11)
frank zappa, ray white
patrick o'hearnterry bozzioeddie jobson  

"zappa" on 'Saturday Night Live'
frank zappa, ray white, don pardopatrick o'hearn, b.cranshawterry bozzio, ruth underwoodeddie jobson, david samuels, randy brecker, michael brecker, lou marini, tom malone, ronnie cuber, ch.hardwick

"zappa" - the winter 1976 band (3) (1976/12) 
frank zappa, r.white, d.pardop.o'hearn, t.bozzio, r.underwoode.jobson, d.samuels, r.brecker, m.brecker, l.marini, t.malone, r.cuber

"zappa" - the winter 1976 band (2) (1977/01 -> 1977/02)
frank zappa, ray whitepatrick o'hearnterry bozzioeddie jobson  

"zappa" - the fall 1977 / winter 1978 band (1977/09 -> 1978/02)
frank zappa, adrian belewpatrick o'hearnterry bozzio, ed manntommy mars, peter wolf

"zappa" - the fall 1978 band (1) (1978/08 -> 1978/10)
frank zappadenny walley, ike willis, arthur barrow, vinnie colaiuta, ed manntommy mars, peter wolf

"zappa" - the fall 1978 band (2) (1978/10) 
frank zappa
denny walley, patrick o'hearn, arthur barrow, vinnie colaiuta, ed mannl.shankar, tommy mars, peter wolf

"zappa" - the 1979 band (1979/02 -> 1979/04)
frank zappa, warren cuccurullo, ike willis, denny walley, arthur barrow, vinnie colaiuta, ed manntommy mars, peter wolf

"zappa" - the spring/summer 1980 band (1) (1980/01)
f.zappa, ray white, ike willisarthur barrow, s.lotttommy mars

"zappa" - the spring/summer 1980 band (2) (1980/01 -> 1980/07)
frank zappa, ray white, ike willisarthur barrow, david logeman, tommy mars

"zappa" - the fall 1980 band - (1980/09 -> 1980/12)
frank zappa, ray white, ike willis, steve vaiarthur barrow, vinnie colaiutatommy mars, bob harris(#2)

"zappa" - the 1981 band (1981/08 -> 1981/12)
frank zappa, ray whitesteve vaiscott thunes, chad wackerman, ed manntommy mars, robert martin

"zappa" - the 1982 band (1982/05 ->1982/07)
frank zappa, ray whitesteve vaiscott thunes, chad wackerman, ed manntommy mars, robert martin

"zappa" - the 1984 band (1) (1984/07 -> 1984/08)
frank zappa, ray white, ike willisscott thunes, chad wackermann.m.brock, bobby martin, allan zavod

"zappa" - the 1984 band (2) (1984/08 -> 1984/12)
frank zappa, ray white, ike willisscott thunes, chad wackermanrobert martin, allan zavod

"zappa" - the 1987 band (1987/12)
frank zappa, flo & eddie (m.volman & h.kaylan), ike willisscott thunes, chad wackerman, ed mannt.mars

"zappa" - the 1988 band (1988/02 -> 1988/06)
frank zappa, ike willis, mike keneally, scott thunes, chad wackerman, ed mann, robert martin, bruce fowler, albert wing, walt fowler, paul carman, kurt mcgettrick