| Muffin Men | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Liverpool, England |
| Years Active: | 1990–present |
| Associated Acts: | The Mothers of Invention |
| Current Members: | Ian Jump Phil Hearn Paul Ryan Phil Oakes Mike Kidson |
| Past Members: | (Original lineup 1990) Ian (Bammo) Bamford Paul (Rhino) Ryan Mike Kidson Andy (Waco) Jacobson Roddie Gilliard Naraish Nathaniel Ian Jump Roy Stringer (1956-2001) Later members: Steve Belger (1956-2020) (drums) Andy Frizell (bass, trombone flute etc.) Stefano Baldasseroni (drums) Dave Dominey (bass) Martin Smith (trumpet) Carl Bowry (guitar) Tilo Pirnbaum (drums) Mike Smith (keyboards, saxophone) Tony Whittaker (piano) |
The Muffin Men are a British musical group founded in 1990 and based in Liverpool, England, which primarily plays the music of Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention. [1]
Rather than play pieces note-for-note as originally written by Zappa, the band play their own interpretations of Zappa's material. They intend to cater to strengths of the current line-up, often giving the music a different slant from the original versions.
The group formed in 1990, originally to play a one-off concert to celebrate Zappa's fiftieth birthday. They are named after Zappa's 1975 song "Muffin Man". Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the band toured for thirty unbroken years around the UK, Europe and Scandinavia, performing Zappa's music as a tribute band, along with some of their own compositions.
Until his death in 2008, the band often featured guest vocals and percussion Jimmy Carl Black, who performed with Zappa in the Mothers of Invention. With Black, they also performed material by Captain Beefheart.
In 1994 The Muffin Men played a nine-week European tour with guest vocalist/guitarist Ike Willis, and again teamed up with Willis in 2003 for a special Zappanale festival show, which also featured Napoleon Murphy Brock.
Mike Keneally has also appeared with the band, along with Ray White and Robert Martin.
Denny Walley toured and recorded with the band from 2010 to 2018.
The band's 25th anniversary gigs (2015) featured a core line-up of three original members – Rhino, Jumpy and Roddie, with Phil Hearn on keys. Past members from the previous lineups made guest appearances at a special show at The Cavern Club in Liverpool.
The Muffin Men have played with many Zappa alumni. Special guests have included:
The Muffin Men Videography: