Better Than a Sidewalk Star
On July 28, Street Number 13 (this is the actual name of a street in the Marzahn district of Berlin) is getting a new, and in Sound Effects' humble opinion, far superior name: Frank-Zappa-strasse. It will be the first roadway in Germany named after a rock musician, thanks to the efforts of members of ORWOhaus, a musician's collective housed in an industrial building on the street. Andreas Otto, spokesperson for ORWOhaus, says this in a press release: "Frank Zappa was one of the best all-around musicians in the world. He was celebrated for his uncompromising pursuit of musical exploration and excellence, and also for his courage using his music and lyrics to make society see its faults and hypocrisies. He stood up to his own government against politically-motivated censorship – he testified with great intelligence in the US Congress, and he refused to hold back his own outrageous sense of humor. We of ORWOhaus had our own battles trying to save an unused building and turn it into an active music center, and we decided that Zappa was a great example of how a musician can have an influence so far beyond the notes on a page. We hope Frank would be proud to have his name as an address for so many musicians."
