Dweezil Zappa on AllMovie

With a father like the legendary Frank Zappa, one might assume that it may be difficult to gain recognition for your own independent accomplishments outside of the larger-than-life legendary status built in the family name. Not so for guitarist virtuoso/actor Dweezil Zappa. After winning a Grammy at the age of 18 and topping the charts in 1988 with the humorously rebellious "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama," the younger Zappa found popularity not only in the music scene, but in movies and television as well.

Born September 5, 1969, in Hollywood, CA, Dweezil took to the guitar from an early age. With teachers like his father, Eddie Van Halen, and Steve Vai, Dweezil quickly gained musical footing and mastered the instrument. Occasionally playing on his father's recordings and with sibling Ahmet, it wasn't long before Dweezil opted for a solo career and released his first album, Havin' a Bad Day, in 1986. Following with My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama two years later, Dweezil proved that his talents on the guitar were no fluke and scored a big hit with the title single. Dweezil's musical talents would later be employed with his brother, Ahmet, as they formed Z and released their debut album, Shampoohorn, in 1994. Aside from their musical partnership, Dweezil and Ahmet got big laughs with numerous talk show appearances and eventually filtered their unique and wacky chemistry into a USA Networkvariety show called Happy Hour in 1999. With it's no-holds-barred, anything-goes format and a pension for inviting wild guests, it wasn't unusual to see such luminaries as Danny Bonaduce drop his pants and do a table dance.

Often spotted in small roles and cameos, Dweezil may also be a familiar face to moviegoers and TV addicts with his roles in Pretty in Pink (1986) and Jack Frost, as well as his voice work on Duckman and appearances on Hollywood Squares. Pitching in as a composer for the theme of The Ben Stiller Show, among others, Dweezil's love for music never trailed too far behind his movie and television appearances. Frequently seen in the company of singer Lisa Loeb, Dweezil released Automatic, his first album in nearly a decade, in 2000.