Frank Zappa’s Long Term Percussionist, Ed Mann Passed Away At 70

Frank Zappa’s longtime percussionist, Ed Mann was announced dead at 70.

The news of his passing was shared by Chad Wackerman, a fellow musician and a collaborator with Zappa. Wackerman wrote:

“Rest easy my old friend Ed Mann.
“A masterful and brilliant percussionist. He could read anything Frank Zappa threw at him and I never once heard him make a mistake. He toured with Frank for 11 years and went on to record with many of the greats. Ed was a creative force and a great teacher and will be missed.”

Mann’s love for music began early during childhood. He got his first drum kit at 11 and started performing with local bands. he began studying at the Hartt College of Music in Connecticut in 1972. Still, he soon transferred to the California Institute of the Arts, where he broadened his musical horizons, exploring jazz, world music, and experimental rock.

Mann first encountered Zappa in 1977 through a mutual friend, John Bergamo, one of his teachers at Cal Arts. A few months later, Mann was invited to audition for Zappa. Mann recalled:

“It happened at two o’clock in the morning up at his house.
“[Zappa] just put some stuff up and asked me to read it which I did as well as I could, and then we improvised and played by ear, then he asked me to join the band.”

Mann’s tenure with Zappa lasted until 1988, during which he appeared on more than 30 of Zappa’s albums, both studio and live releases. His final Facebook post, published on Dec. 21, Zappa’s 83rd birthday, paid tribute to his former colleague. “This photo is from November 1977, playing Frank’s huge orchestral bass drum,” Mann wrote. He recounted an incident where he broke Zappa’s drum mallet during a performance of “Disco Boy.” Expecting dismay, he was surprised by Zappa’s approving smile and pat on the back. “I could feel that for some reason, breaking that mallet had earned me seal of approval.”

After his time with Zappa, Mann became a sought-after session musician, collaborating with artists such as Andy Summers, Kenny Loggins, Tammy Wynette, Los Lobos, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also contributed to film scores for renowned composers like Hans Zimmer, Jeff Rona, and Klaus Badelt.