Oh man, it is weird and crazy. Really political music. It's experimental, with some prog/art, with some jazz, with some classical, with some everything.

He's had awesome people in his band:

Steve Vai
Flo & Eddie
Captain Beefheart
Ike Willis
ect...

I've nothing more to say than "Zappa is god"

Ike Willis has a Frank Zappa tribute band called Project Object and they're INSANE!!!!! If you feel that you missed out on the live Zappa experience, this is as close as you're gonna' get !

didnt he burn down a casino?

wait no it was someone with a flare gun while he was playing sorry

Yeah, that's what Deep Puprple's song Smoke on the Water is about.

smoke on the water fire in the sky.... it was montreux casino

Dude, that is awesome!

Also, for anyone who likes band biographies and such, The Real Frank Zappa Book is a must read for any Zappa fan. Right now I'm reading the most recent biography on Zappa, and I must say it's pretty good....I'm listening to Beefheart right now.

deep purples ****in nuts too

frank zappa
 

dont no much about this guy, and havent heard much of his stuff, but what i have heard is the album 'sheik yerbouti' (the name always makes me smile) which is really cool, my favourite songs being 'dancing fool' 'wild love' 'baby snakes' and 'rat tomago'.

one more thing, is there anybody here that actually owns all of zappa's stuff?\
apparently he released like 60+ albums.