Have You Heard: Zappa Plays Zappa, Indio Mega-Concert, Puddle Of Mudd

Zappa Plays Zappa is being forced to change its name … Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones post teaser videos for Indio, Calif., shindig … Puddle Of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin was reportedly arrested over the weekend.

Zappa Plays Zappa – the band headed up by Dweezil Zappa in tribute to his father Frank Zappa’s music – will now be known as Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa.

The name change comes following last year’s death of Frank’s widow, Gail Zappa, and the transfer of the control of the Zappa Family Trust to two of Dweezil’s siblings: Ahmet and Diva.  

The New York Times reports that the Trust informed Dweezil in April that he didn’t have permission to tour as Zappa Plays Zappa, a trademarked named owned by the trust. Dweezil was warned he “risked copyright infringement damages of $150,000 each time he played a song [as Zappa Plays Zappa] without proper permission.”

Dweezil won’t be sellling any official Frank Zappa merchandise or using images of him on tour. According to the Times, Frank Zappa’s “likeness is also controlled by the trust.”

Photo: Chris McKay / WireImage.com
"Experience Hendrix," Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Ga.

On the bright side, Dweezil told the Times that changing the band’s name will “emancipate” him from the trust. The guitarist/vocalist said he previously paid his mother an “exorbitant fee” to perform as Zappa Plays Zappa. He will continue performing his father’s music as Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa.

“re: Zappa Plays Zappa –> Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa – I want to thank everyone for their understanding and support. Onward and upward!” Dweezil tweeted May 1.

He also retweeted a post from his sister Moon that said, “Thank you for grieving the horror & injustice with Dweezil and me. Love over gold is in actions not words no matter the mustache disguise.”

Upcoming tour dates for Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa include headline gigs, festival appearances and a July 2 show with Umphrey’s McGee at Red Rocks.

Puddle Of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin has reportedly added another arrest to his rap sheet.

According to an exclusive report from TMZ, police handcuffed Scantlin immediately after the band wrapped up Saturday’s concert at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach, Calif. Bail was set at $250,000.

The gossip site says the singer was arrested for not appearing at “a court hearing in a vandalism case involving a house he allegedly trashed earlier this year.” Scantlin was reportedly arrested in January for vandalizing the Hollywood Hills home.

Photo: Jason Moore
Rock On The Range, Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH

According to Spin, Scantlin was arrested four times in 2015 including “riding around on a baggage carousel in Denver Airport, fleeing arrest and DUI in Minnesota, and possession of marijuana and DUI in South Dakota.” TMZ reported he was arrested in December for misdemeanor drug charges following a traffic top for expired tags. 

While we continue to wait for more details about the three-day concert series featuring Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Who, Roger Waters and Neil Young, five of the six artists have posted teaser videos to get fans pumped for the big weekend.

The videos confirm that the shows will take place in October. The Los Angeles Times reported a few weeks ago that plans were underway for an Oct. 7-9 event at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif., featuring Dylan and the Stones performing Friday, McCartney and Young on Saturday, and The Who and Waters on Sunday.

Photo: AP Photo / Eduardo Verdugo
Foro Sol, Mexico City, Mexico

Although Young hasn’t released a teaser video, as of post time, his longtime manager talked to the Times in April.

“It’s so special in so many ways,” Elliot Roberts told the Times. “You won’t get a chance to see a bill like this, perhaps ever again. It’s a show I look forward to more than any show in a long time.”

Check out the videos below: