After meeting at the Zappanale festival in East Germany, Banned from Utopia and the Paul Green Rock Academy decided to tour together in the summer of 2024 to celebrate and share their love of the music of Frank Zappa.
Banned from Utopia (BFU) is the Zappa tribute act featuring alumni from his band: Robert Martin, Ray White, and Scott Thunes. Joining them are Robbie “Seahag” Mangano (Project/Object, The Grandmothers), Jamie Kime (Zappa Plays Zappa), and Joel Taylor (The Al Dimeola Band). BFU plays some of Zappa’s trickiest compositions while always keeping the fun and chaotic nature of the Zappa live show alive.
The Paul Green Rock Academy (PGRA) is the latest music school from School of Rock founder Paul Green. It is an audition-only program for serious and ambitious young musicians. They have spent the last three years touring as the backing band for both Jon Anderson of YES and Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers. More than anything, Green loves having his students play Zappa, calling it “one-stop shopping for music education.”
