Wingering It
I often end up somewhere unexpected, having forgotten the path. I remembered this time: Come wander with me.
I am very finicky about podcasts. As with most of my content consumption, I prefer for them to be edifying (or children’s programming). I want to learn something new, or hear a different perspective. And it helps if there is music, as I usually listen at the gym or on a run. I found the Discography podcast, and have been listening to the Zappa episodes. (It’s good; check it out.)
Zappa is someone I’ve always been aware of but never listened to. None of it. Except “Valley Girl.” This sent me directly to Moon Zappa’s Wikipedia page, where I noted that “she appeared as guest vocalist on Kip Winger's third solo album.’ Um, that Winger?
That punching bag of late 90s litë metal? Yes, the very one.
Kip Winger is 1) a real person, and 2) a real musician. He composed a symphonic piece for strings, piano and harp for a ballet commission, which premiered with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in 2009. Who knows if it’s good – and that’s not the point – but it’s legit.
And he’s still playing and seems to be a regular person (with a showy guitar), like in the video below.
And I know now all of this thanks to Zappa.
#winger















