Frank Zappa

In May 1985, a group of prominent Washington wives founded the Parents Music Resource Center in response to what they felt was the growing problem of indecent lyrics in popular music. The PMRC urged the record industry to regulate the content of their albums; by August 1985 the industry had agreed to place labels on albums that contained explicit lyrics. However, the PMRC sought additional steps, including the printing of lyrics on the back of the albums and a more detailed ratings system. On September 19, 1985, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on pornographic lyrics in rock music, in which members of the PMRC testified.

Several musicians also testified at that hearing. One of the witnesses was Frank Zappa, known for his work as a solo artist and with the Mothers of Invention. In his testimony, excerpted here...