breakfastimebreakfastime
October 2002, Breakfastime took part in the first Zappa Hoot Night in Austin, Texas. It's an event where bands play the music of Frank Zappa for a good cause: benefitting the American Cancer Society. The band was called The Creamcheese Incident. They perform a couple of times a year.
One year later, October 8, 2003, Breakfastime took part in the second Zappa Hoot Night. This time, the band was called Saint Breakfastime's Memorial Pancake Bar-B-Que.
Breakfastime recorded Frank Zappa's 'Aybe Sea' for "Lemme Take You To The Beach", the Zappa Surf album on Cordelia records. The track was produced by Buddy Sackaday at the Barnyard Studios in Austin, Texas.
The picture on the right was taken from the www.breakfastime.com website.
Here's a short chat with John Hancock: (October 2003)
UM: Who are you & where are you from?
John Hancock: BREAKFASTIME is a moniker I've used
for many years as a sideman for various singers/etc. BT is a
multi-instrumentalist/producer type guy. BREAKFASTIME has appeared on
numerous records, last couple of years he's been popping up on various
compilations as a solo act doing stuff like David Bowie's "Golden
Years" (1995's "Only Bowie" comp on defunct Austin
label Only Boy) to a Shadowy Men cover (Deep Eddy Records, couple of years ago)
and recently "Jesus Christ Surferstar" on OMOM Records (Italy).
Also a new comp early next year on Deep Eddy Records called "Texas Guitar
Showdown" which will have an original cut called "Maddison
County". I also released a solo CD single in 2001 of a cover of
Gershwin's "Rhapsody and Blues"-also available from Deep Eddy Records
(www.deepeddy.net) Phil Dirt at Reverb
Central has given me a couple of real good reviews and some airplay as well.
I have a full album of instrumentals sittin' in the can if you know anybody
that's interested in that sort of thing...
UM: What kind of music do you normally play?
John Hancock: Various stuff from the punk rock/c&w/blues/jazz/heavy metal disco school
UM: Are you a Surf kind of person or band?
John Hancock: Surfed once, hurt my back. Love the beach, though
UM: Is it your way of life?
John Hancock: Someday I will return to my hometown of Galveston, Texas and I'll never have to worry about sand in my shoes again...
UM: Do you really want to live in California?
John Hancock: I lived in California for about five years - Texas Beach is nice too. If I can ever get this full album out I'll return to the Golden State and rock the house.
UM: Do you play (have you ever played) other Zappa compositions?
John Hancock: Oh yeah. A thing we do here in
Austin in October is called "Frank Zappa Hoot night" wherin various
local musicians interpret Zappa tunes for a most appreciative audience.
It's a benefit show for the American Cancer Society and a lot of fun.
Happens again tomorrow night. This year my band is called "Saint
Breakfastime's Memorial Pancake Bar-B-Que" and features Walter Daniels
(Jack 'O Fire, Big Foot Chester, South Filthy) on harmonica and Ralph White (Bad
Livers, Solo Artist) on Kalimba.
Last years band was called "The Creamcheeze Incident" Whole different
thing.
UM: Put them on record?
John Hancock: This will be the first Zappa
composition on record for me. I'm thinking of making a Zappa tribute page
for my website and having some music from these shows on there-I want people to
hear my (fuzz bass) version of "Watermelon in Easter Hay" and my
original composition "This One's for Frank"
I really need to update my websit with this stuff, though.
p.s. it's www.breakfastime.com
UM: How did you find out about Alan's Zappa Surf Project?
John Hancock: Ted James at Deep Eddy Records sent me the contact info. Thanks, Ted!
UM: What was first: the project or your track? In other words, were you already playing a Zappa Surf Classic before you heard of Alan's project, or did you start working on it after you found out about the project?
John Hancock: The project dictated the need for Zappa Surf music. I answered the call. The music is our master. We just get to hold the guitars and act cool.
UM: How did you choose the Zappa composition?
John Hancock: It just jumped out at me as having Surfin' possibilities (it's about the Sea, I think...)
UM: Is it your favourite Zappa composition or just the one that needs a Surf Treatment?
John Hancock: Whichever one I'm learning or playing right now is the fave - a guy can learn a lot about music from this stuff.
UM: Any other comments?
John Hancock: Thanks for asking! Also check out www.zappahootnight.com
UM: Thank you, John.
discography
| various artists:
lemme take you to the beach (2004, cd, uk, cordelia records cd035) - all compositions by frank zappa |
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concerts
random notes
from Breakfastime
june 2003
Greetings,
I was looking for
Zoogz Rift today and found your website-great! I'm a big FZ fan as well,
so it's a been real treat! I used to go see Zoogz a lot back when I lived
in LA, and even played in a band w/some of his guys ( "Mako" Sharkey
and Ed O'brien) for a while.
I have since moved
home to Texas and continue to pursue various musical wierdness, playing guitar
for Texacala Jones, T. Tex Edwards, Walter Daniels, and others as well as
pursuing (sort of) a solo "career" as BREAKFASTIME -the "world's
favorite unknown guitarist". One of my musical ventures is my 'lil
'ol FZ tribute band THE CREAMCHEESE INCIDENT which plays a couple of times a
year. (Mother's Day, Halloween, etc.). Although I've yet to get anything on my
website ( www.breakfastime.com ) about TCI
just yet, I promise I'm "working on it"! Creamchz Incident
formed last year for a benefit show that looks like it will be a regular thing
now. Called "Frank Zappa Hoot Night", this benefit show features
Austin-area musicians (including Terry Bozzio!) doing all Zappa music and
the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. You can find out more
about this event at www.zappahootnight.com
or by e-mailing event organizer Mo Pair at moofgrass@hotmail.com
I'm hoping you can
add this stuff to your list of artists that cover Zappa's music, if you will.
Thanks.
Another item of
interest is a compilation CD being put together of all FZ music-done in surf
style! If you would be so kind as to pass along this info to other
like-minded musicians, I'm sure it would make for an even more exciting album!
Contact address is cordelia@stayfree.co.uk
Thanks a zillion!
BT
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