The Family Behind Frank Zappa in the ’70s

Pictured here is a surprising side of Frank Zappa, the unconventional musician often hailed as the king of psychedelic rock. Zappa was a family man at heart despite his dynamic and eccentric music. This photo shows him spending quality time with his parents in their home in Los Angeles, California, in 1970.

Zappa’s self-taught musician and composer work was marked by nonconformity, experimentation, and satire of American culture. He composed rock, pop, jazz, and classical music, among others, and directed feature-length films and music videos. He remains a major influence on musicians and composers today, almost three decades after his death.