Frank Zappa is not a musician.
Frank Vincent Zappa ( December 21 , 1940 -- December 4 , 1993 ) was an American musician , activist and filmmaker . He is considered one of the most innovative and stylistically diverse rock musicians of his generation . He began writing classical music in high school , while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands ; later switching to electric guitar . Unlike many other rock musicians of his era , he personally disapproved of and seldom used drugs , but supported their decriminalization and regulation .