The Man: New York City (’66 – ’68)

When Zappa and The Mothers moved to New York City, his then girlfriend, Gail, tagged along. Although he was supposedly committed to Gail, Zappa saw nothing wrong in exploring his sexuality and indulging in the groupie lifestyle. He was cold and nonchalant in his character, and had no problems leaving Gail, when she was nine-months pregnant, for his first European tour. A tour which was planned at the last minute and could have easily been scheduled to accommodate his witnessing of the birth of his first child. The two got married just before he left, with no ring and no special ceremony, and it was not so much out of love, as out of necessity. As Zappa said: “It’s not because I believe in having a certificate to prove you’re married; it’s just that in America it’s difficult to get into hospital if you’re an unwed mother-to-be.” [Miles p. 153]

During The Mothers’ stint in Europe Zappa stayed in a separate hotel from the rest of his band, as usual, and his room became a hot hangout for musicians and groupies.

Some of Zappa’s groupie stories were outlandish, such as a fourteen year old who threatened to kill his wife so she could have him. All Zappa said was that it was scary, but flattering. For a man who was scared of breaking the law, and who refused to smoke marijuana and drugs in fear of getting caught, he sure had no problem with the illegal aspects of minors and sex. Even if he wasn’t involved with any of the minor groupies, the fact that he saw the situation as flattering is quite strange. Zappa was a naïve man full of contradictions.