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In Moon Unit Zappa’s memoir, ‘Earth to Moon,’ famous names collide with family trauma

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In Moon Unit Zappa's memoir, 'Earth to Moon,' famous names collide with family trauma

As a seasoned critic with a penchant for delving into the lives of the artistic elite, I must say that Moon Unit Zappa’s memoir, “Earth to Moon,” is a gripping and raw account of a life lived under the watchful eye – or rather, the erratic gaze – of a musical legend. The tale unfolds like a dark fairy tale, with its share of enchantment, heartache, and the ever-present specter of Frank Zappa looming over it all.

One evening in 1979, Moon Unit Zappa, who was 11 years old at the time, drifted off to sleep amidst her parents’ usual bickering. It wasn’t uncommon for them to argue, so this was nothing out of the ordinary. Her father, Frank, was a renowned musician and composer known for his intricate, challenging musical style, as well as an apparent fondness for romantic entanglements with his admirers. Her mother, Gail, assisted him in managing his professional affairs, and their disagreements frequently revolved around financial matters, other women, or a combination of both.

On that specific evening, events took an unexpected turn for the worse. The next thing I knew, after a few hours of restful slumber, my father was standing by my bedside in the early morning light, urgently whispering, “Gail’s in a frenzy. I need you to stow away the gun for now.” This is something she recounts in her recent memoir, “Earth to Moon.”

In the same room, the girl’s little baby sister is sound asleep in her crib, and her two younger brothers are tucked in for the night as well. Unbeknownst to her, there was a gun in the family household, and she had no clue about its whereabouts. However, in the middle of the night, driven by terror, she embarks on a search for a firearm that might or might not have been present. Regrettably, she doesn’t manage to find it, and luckily, her mother remains unaware as well.

The initial sections of Zappa’s book are filled with harrowing incidents, such as the one she remembers when she was around 4 years old, where her feet got burned on the radiator because the women supposed to watch her were negligent. Additionally, there are instances of explicit abuse like the one where her mother handcuffed her and her younger brother Dweezil, forcing them to listen to a recording of their own cries.

A significant aspect of the Zappa family’s unique dysfunction is highlighted through a simple observation: only Frank’s presence would prevent his kids from quarreling. In her words, “Ceasing their fights was necessary since he had limited time to spare,” emphasizing that his children learned to prioritize his music above all else.

It’s no wonder that Zappa tried to gain her father’s recognition by agreeing to sing on one of his albums. The joint effort, titled “Valley Girl,” turned out to be a hit single that freed her from her father’s limelight and propelled her into a short-lived phase of pop fame at the tender age of 14.

The book “Earth to Moon” has a distinctly Hollywood feel, filled with anecdotes about famous figures Zappa meets throughout her life, such as sharing microwaved gas station burritos with Janet Jackson during high school lunch breaks. However, after the release of “Valley Girl” in 1982, the memoir seems to lose its momentum and its raw honesty. While Zappa poignantly depicts her childhood experiences that molded her, she becomes less detailed and immediate as the story progresses into adolescence and adulthood, struggling to navigate her trauma.

The book “Earth to Moon,” derived from the author’s personal diaries, often seems like a direct transcription rather than an interpretation of the original content. For example, when a young Zappa humorously recounts the handcuffing incident to a talk show host, the host informs her during a commercial break that it is not a cute story; it’s child abuse. The author writes that at this point, she feels an internal alarm sounding, like everyone should be on high alert. However, the book does not delve deeper into the impacts of this disclosure.

In Moon Unit Zappa's memoir, 'Earth to Moon,' famous names collide with family trauma

Immediately after, the chapter switches to reveal that Van Halen had split up and disbanded. This news left the world spinning on its head. If such an incredible band couldn’t hold it together, what hope is there for anything else? A year later, Zappa is depicted working as an MTV VJ in New York.

As the book nears its end, the missing parts and skipped sections expand. The initial chapter of “Earth to Moon” presents insights Frank Zappa accumulated throughout his journey, including enigmatic sayings like “The solution lies in going through it. Embrace what pains you and move towards happiness.” However, it fails to illustrate when or how these lessons were acquired.

In Moon Unit Zappa's memoir, 'Earth to Moon,' famous names collide with family trauma

As a person who has experienced the loss of a parent at a young age, I can empathize with the story you’ve shared. Losing my father at a similar age left a profound impact on my life, shaping my path and influencing the choices I made.

As a movie critic, I found “Earth to Moon” a poignant endeavor by its author, echoing with the resonance of Zappa’s struggle against erasure, reclaiming her narrative within her family’s annals, and asserting her right to narrate her own story. However, the reading experience feels fragmented, leaving one yearning for a more comprehensive perspective. In essence, “Earth to Moon” transcends being just a book; it becomes an impassioned cry from a wounded child, yearning to be seen, acknowledged, and understood in her pain.

Zan Romanoff is a writer and the author of several novels for young adults.

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2024-08-13 19:31

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