Frank Zappa’s Widow Gail Zappa Has Died

Gail Zappa, the wife of the late Frank Zappa, has died. The cause of death is currently unknown, but according to a statement from the family, she died peacefully at home surrounded by her children. She was 70.

Gail and Frank were married from 1967 until his death in 1993. They had four children—Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet, and Diva. Following Frank’s death, Gail Zappa ran the Zappa Family Trust and was responsible for releasing 38 albums of her late husband’s music. This year, the Frank Zappa album Dance Me This, billed as his final album, was released. It was reportedly his 100th record.

Born Adelaide Gail Sloatman, Gail was “a key figure in the creative renaissance that is Laurel Canyon.” She made a single with Kim Fowley in 1966 credited to “Bunny & Bear”. She met Zappa while working as a secretary at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go. In his autobiography (via Rolling Stone), Zappa wrote that “it took a couple of minutes, but I fell (don’t laugh) in love.”

The Zappa Family Trust wrote: 

Gail enthusiastically executed her role as guardian of her husband’s creative life and, with his passing, strove to ensure his legacy as one of the leading American composers and musicians of the 20^th century.  In this and all business endeavors, Gail passionately advocated to establish clear definitions of intellectual property and copyright laws on behalf of not just her husband, but all artists. While she conducted intricate legal negotiations with corporations as grand dame of the Zappa Family Trust, she never failed to impart the sense of humor that was part and parcel of her indomitable and formidable personality. Gail, self-described as a pagan absurdist, was motivated by love in all aspects of her life, kept her authenticity intact, unbowed and, simply put, was one bad ass in the music business and political world.

Gail will forever be identified as a key figure in the creative renaissance that is Laurel Canyon. But more than any singular accomplishment, she defined herself in her personal relationships, happiest when surrounded by loved ones and artists, often one in the same. The memories she leaves behind are indeed her own art form. Her searing intelligence, unforgettable smile, wild thicket of hair and trailing black velvets leave a blur in her wake. 

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