On the evolution of The Grand Wazoo's other name

[Barry]

Since I have hijacked a couple of threads over this, it seems the best thing to do is to give it one of its own.

We have already discussed “Mediocrates of Pedestrium”, now we have “Madame du Barry” (no relation)

Madame du Barry, or Jean Bécu, Comptesse du Barry (1743 – 1793) Last courtesan of Louis XV


(Image: Wiki)

As reflected in art from the time, Jeanne was a remarkably attractive blonde woman. Her beauty came to the attention of Jean-Baptiste du Barry, a high-class pimp/procurer nicknamed le roué. (again no relation!) Du Barry owned a casino, and Jeanne came to his attention in 1763 when she was entertaining in Madame Quisnoy's brothel-casino. Giving her the appellation of Mademoiselle Lange, Du Barry helped establish Jeanne's career as a courtesan in the highest circles of Parisian society; this enabled her to take several aristocratic men as brief lovers or clients.

She then ‘worked’ her way up the social ladder and eventually into the court of Louis XV. As Mademoiselle Lange, Jeanne immediately became a sensation in Paris, building up a large aristocratic clientele. The dashing Maréchal de Richelieu became one of her recurring customers. Because of this, Jean du Barry saw her as a means of influence with Louis XV, who became aware of her in 1768 while she was on an errand at Versailles. The errand involved the duc de Choiseul, who found her rather ordinary, in contrast to what most other men thought of her. In any case, Jeanne could not qualify as an official royal mistress unless she had a title; this was solved by her marriage on 1 September 1768 to du Barry's brother, comte Guillaume du Barry. The marriage ceremony included a false birth certificate created by Jean du Barry himself, making Jeanne younger by three years and of nobler descent.

In 1792, Madame du Barry was suspected of financially assisting émigrés who had fled the French Revolution. The following year she was arrested. The Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris accused her of treason and condemned her to death.

[Alex_UK]

Very interesting Barry. It really was a cruel old world in revolutionary France, wasn't it!

Might have to disagree with this bit, though:

(Image: Wiki)

As reflected in art from the time, Jeanne was a remarkably attractive blonde woman.

I think I'm with the duc de Choiseul on this, though of course beauty is entirely in the eye of the beholder... (and in my case, based on that portrait - even trying to imagine the world 300 years ago, well, you wouldn't, would you?)

I'm resisting the temptaion to make any "head" jokes. Doh! Too late!

(Please Ignore or excuse my cultural irreverence, I am truly a heathen in these matters!)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Well, well........I must say that your historical research on old Louis XV's bit of fluff is impeccable. (And rather spookily, I was going to use 'Louis The Turkey'*** instead of this name)
But that's not it!


***Louis The Turkey was one of the backing vocalists on Frank Zappa's 'Lumpy Gravy' album.

[Darren]

I'd have to say that she looks quite beautiful to me. Her character and whit shine out of that image. Quite charming.

[The Grand Wazoo]

So, lovely as she may well have been, I'm getting bored with her in all my posts. Would anyone care to have a crack at deciphering the musical (and very possibly Zappalogical) connection to her name?

[Barry]

Taken from “Waki pedia”:

Jeff Simmons, aka Robert Sumpner Jr....Jet Sims....Junior Turlock... (along with another half dozen psuedonyms) (May 1949, Seattle, Washington) is an American rock musician and former member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Simmons provided bass, guitar, and backing vocals for the group between 1970 and 1971.
He first came to the attention of Frank Zappa as a member of the Seattle-based group Easy Chair. When the "Chair" opened for the Mothers at the Seattle Arena, Frank's interest was piqued and as a result they were signed to Straight/Bizarre Records. Easy Chair became part of the legendary Bizarre "Gala Pre-Xmas Bash" on December 6 & 7, 1968 (along with The Mothers, Larry "Wild Man" Fischer, the GTO's, and Alice Cooper) at the Shrine Exposition Hall in Santa Monica.... Easy Chair were handed over to Jerry Yester and Zal Yanovsky for production but time dragged on and the band parted ways.

Simmons was then signed to Straight Records to do two albums: one was a - mostly instrumental - soundtrack for the obscure biker film "Naked Angels"; and the other "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up". Zappa contributed generously to the 2nd album, under the pseudonym LaMarr Bruister. (FZ wrote the title track - which he later recorded for Joe's Garage Act I, co-produced the album - with engineer Chris Huston, played lead guitar on 'Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up' and 'Raye', and co-wrote Wonderful Wino with Simmons)

Simmons was then tapped by Frank to play bass for a one-off "Hot Rats" concert, and soon after to join The Mothers. Though he played both bass and guitar in the MOI, Jeff considered himself honored to follow "such a great bassist as Roy".... Simmons is the transistional Mother and was equally at home with the rock and the jazz. Playing alongside Ray Collins, Don Preston, and his tutor for the Zappa book Ian Underwood, Jeff cut his musical teeth with some of the heaviest including the great George Duke, Aynsley Dunbar and the Fowler Bros.

Simmons provided bass, guitar, and/or vocal for 'Chunga’s Revenge'; 'Waka/Jawaka', 'Roxy & Elsewhere'; 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1'; 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6', and 'Playground Psychotics'; also for the Beat The Boots series disks: 'Freaks & Motherfuckers'; 'Unmitigated Audacity'; 'Piquantique'; 'Disconnected Synapses'; 'Tengo Na Minchia Tanta' and 'At The Circus'.

Jeff can be seen in the Zappa movie The True Story Of 200 Motels, even though he "left the group just before the movie started".


What has all this to do with Madame Du Barry? Well:

Jeff Simmons included a song about Madame du Barry



in his 1969 album ‘Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up’.



This album was produced by Frank Zappa and released on his Straight label.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Way hey!

Really obscure is hard with the internet!

[Barry]

Now change your 'name' Chris.

Regards

[The Grand Wazoo]

Who the hell is Rose Hill?

Ah-haaa!
Have I got you?

[Barry]

Ah-haaa!
Have I got you?

Yep! It could be one of a number of things: the name of your prep school; the name of a teacher at said school; your first girlfriend; your mother's maiden name etc. etc. etc.

Or simply the name you use when attending one of Marco's exclusive 'frock' parties.