I never understood Zappa until I listened to his orchestral and chamber music. I thought he was a rock guy and doing the usual trite “with Symphony Orchestra” music that rock guys did. I was wrong. He knows what’s he’s doing, and he’s outstanding.

I find his later compositions for rock ensemble are way out there but brilliant. Earlier stuff like in Burnt Weeny Sandwich (Igor’s Boogies, Prelude to Holiday in Berlin) I find brilliant and hilarious. I don’t understand the attraction to some of his pure rock music, but I can understand his interest in the vernacular.

Beefheart bore obvious similarities and parallels with Zappa in some respects, but I don’t think one way or the other about his music. He’s clearly one heck of an all round artist though.

I would say they are both similar in that they both tried to push the boundaries of their art, even if it would come off as silly at times.