“I asked Frank Zappa, ‘Are you sure I can do this?’ Like a good father he kicked me out of the nest”: Beat’s new boy Terry Bozzio on his transition from American to British prog
Drummer, composer and painter Terry Bozzio has been named the new drummer for Beat, the King Crimson-related side-project featuring Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto. The piece revisits a 2017 interview in which Bozzio looked back on his career, including his time with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, his stint with UK, and a 2010 collaboration with guitarist Allan Holdsworth alongside Levin and Mastelotto, which he described as one of the highlights of his career.
In the interview extract, Bozzio recalls his audition for Frank Zappa, saying he was so impressive that "nobody wanted to audition after me." Zappa reportedly told him he had the gig if he wanted it, to which Bozzio, unsure of his own readiness, asked "Are you sure I can do this?" Zappa's response was simply to ask whether he wanted the job, and Bozzio said yes, launching a formative period in his career before he went on to record with British prog musicians.
- Terry Bozzio named new drummer for King Crimson side-project Beat.
- Interview revisits his career with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart.
- He recalls being hired by Zappa despite his own self-doubt.