2012 is panning out to be a very busy year, where I am taking ZPZ out on the road as well as pushing ahead with a number of interesting solo initiatives.

We’ve already done a run of shows in California and western states. We were joined by Scott Thunes for these shows and played with Allan Holdsworth twice too, which was a thrill for me. We did a fairly unusual setlist with a lot of MOI era content and influences. We had a great time and the shows went really well.

I’ve just announced the onsale of my new album – F.O.H. which is another release by the U.K. label Fantom Records. They were behind the Live – In The Moment album and are pushing hard to get a DVD project finalised for release this year too.

On the solo side, I am using whatever time I can grab to advance some of my own compositions – spanning both classical and rock genres. I have already written some classical material and I am looking forward to performing that later this year, possibly with a small orchestra. Details have yet to be finalised, but I will keep you posted.

I am about to embark on the Hendrix Experience tour and I have really enjoyed learning some of Jimi’s work. I’ve been asked if I can perform with the Hendrix/Zappa Stratocaster and regret that I can’t get affordable insurance to cover the risk of the guitar being stolen or damaged. I am going to use the guitar for some of my project work, though….

I will be off to Israel late springtime, to do a couple of performances there in collaboration with another artist (details to be announced soon) and will be running a masterclass clinic while I am there.

The ZPZ tour down to Australia is well advanced and we will be playing three shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle as well as the Byron Bay Bluesfest. We are all looking forward to getting back to Australia, where Frank and ZPZ have a great following.

We’re juggling with the opportunity to play four shows down in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in the early summer and then we’ve got a big run planned for the U.S. in the summer, as well as Dweezilla. That will see us performing 26 shows in what will be an incredibly busy period!

If the winds are favourable, we may be heading to Italy in mid August! I recently went to Sicily to visit Partenico, where Frank’s family originally came from. There’s a project brewing for 4 shows in Italy in mid/late August and - as always – it depends on the financial viability of the offers we get. But, I am really keen to return to Sicily as there’s some strong Zappa ties and it would be great to do.

In November and December we are planning a ZPZ run in the UK and Europe, as well as a show in Israel. The UK Roundhouse is working on a show as part of a broader Zappa related event (all very hush hush at the moment!) and we are putting together a run of shows in the UK following the Roundhouse, (8 or 9 shows) Europe (9 or 10 shows) and Israel.

Finally, we would like to squeeze in time to see our friends and fans in the North East and Canada, so we’re looking at options there.

That’s a snapshot of what we’re planning. These things are always fluid, but we are hard at work! Thanks for all your support!

Dweezil.

1^st March 2012