Banned from Utopia

Musicians who each worked with Frank Zappa at various times formed Banned From Utopia to extend the improvisational principles central to his projects. The ensemble, which its members shorten to BFU, delivers Zappa compositions through an open-ended, investigative style while also developing original pieces that echo the eccentric technical mastery of their onetime leader. Established in 1994, the band has continued routing performances throughout the United States, mixing a funk-driven hard-rock blend with singular readings of Zappa works.