In July 1994 the International Astronomical Union named a Czech-discovered asteroid, "Zappafrank."

His 1979 album "Joe's Garage" came 20th in Classic Rock Magazine's list of the 30 greatest concept albums of all time. [March 2003]

As a child, his favorite TV program was Robert Clampett''s puppet show, "Time for Beany" (1949).

Has an enormous following in the former communist countries of east-Europe.

Is buried next to Lew Ayres in Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California.

Was of French, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Greek and Arab ancestry.

Had planned to work on a movie with the Mystery Science Theater 3000 crew before his death.

Zappa is the first, and so far only, artist to be inducted into both the Jazz and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.

Wrote his own copyright notice, that appeared on his later records, and was the first to specifically mention sampling. Also released the first 3-inch CD single, with a remix of "Peaches En Regalia", in the late 1980s.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Gene Simmons visited with the Zappa family at their home, socializing, some time before Zappa's death. During their visit, Zappa showed Simmons something that proved how prolific Zappa was - hundreds of master tapes of unreleased music.

During his last days, he wanted to make a movie called Dwell. Dwell would be a musical about a giant spider, but from the spiders point of view. He was going to make it with the people from Mystery Science Theater 3000, and had several conversations with Kevin Murphy.

In recent years, various re-workings of his songs have been recorded, including versions in Baroque instrumental and a'capella vocal stylings.

Gave up his driver's license voluntarily, because he hated standing in line at the DMV.

Bought a small recording studio with the proceeds of his score for "Run Home Slow"; first came to public attention when he was arrested in a scandal involving the studio. (He was later cleared.)

Is known affectionately by his fans as FZ.

Included a warning-cum-guarantee on his late-1980s albums, deriding the Religious Right's attack on rock and pop music, and censorship in general, and concluding "If there is a Hell, its fires wait for them, not us."

Started out playing drums in his teens, then adopted his brother's f-hole acoustic guitar, trying to copy horn and guitar solos on blues and jazz records. Later studied Music Theory in college.

Was a school friend of Don Van Vliet (later, alias Captain Beefheart).

When marrying Gail Zappa in a civil ceremony, Zappa pinned a pin saying 'congratulations from Mayor Lindsay' onto her in the absence of a ring.

The small town of Bad Doberan, Germany holds an annual Zappanale festival, celebrating his life and music (first held in 1990).

Father of Diva Zappa, Moon Unit Zappa, Dweezil Zappa and Ahmet Zappa

Used a wah-wah with his onstage guitar setup, which he'd usually leave set in one position as a filter, rather than rock it to get the wah effect.

In 1995 a group of Lithuanian artists erected the world's only Zappa statue in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

He was voted the 21st Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.

Inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1994.

Played Carvin guitars.