A musician who played with the one and only Frank Zappa is back on stage this week. Jimmy Carl Black will be playing in a tribute to the man himself, with The Muffin Men at the Manor, in Biggin Hill, on November 11.

Roddie Gilliard formed the Liverpool-based band nearly 12 years ago. They only tour twice a year but have managed to get veteran drummer Black on board.

Gilliard said he found out Black had moved to Italy and simply called him and invited him sing with the band in 1993. Black has played with them ever since.

Black stumbled into the history books when the guitar player of his band The Soul Giants got drafted into the Army in 1964. One of the band said he knew a guitarist named Frank Zappa, so they auditioned him and hired him.

One month later, Frank took over as leader of the rockin' combo The Mothers. Producer Tom Wilson heard them playing Trouble Coming Every Day and before they knew it they had a record deal with MGM records.

Now Black has set up his own record label and plays with several European bands now but he doesn't consider himself famous and he is definitely not rich.

He said he plays with the Muffin Men because they remind him of the Beatles.

He said: "They were such good musicians and I liked their accent. I'm a big Beatles fan and the first time I talked to Roddie he sounded like John Lennon and I said 'this guy has got to be OK!'"

He and Gilliard hit it off immediately, like they had known each other all their lives. The collaboration has been an ongoing success.

Join them for a rare treat as they recapture the weirdness of one of the most memorable bands of all time in a Frank Zappa tribute to remember.

Nov 11, The Muffin Men featuring Jimmy Carl Black, The Manor, Main Road, Biggin Hill, doors 7.30pm, band 9pm, £6, 01322 664551.

November 6, 2001 14:39