Zappa and Me: The image that created an icon

COMING SOON!

Documentary Feature Film (1 x 90 mins)

Frank Zappa was a maverick and is still a cultural icon, known for his outrageous lyrics, musical genius and his eye for publicity.

On a hot August day in 1967 in a London hotel, Zappa was photographed sitting on a toilet, publicity shots for a UK tour that never happened.  

‘These pictures that helped create that mystique turn 60 in 2027.’ 

Two very different posters were made, selling millions. Indeed Zappa once said he was more famous for sitting on a toilet than for his music. 

While Zappa acquired fame and money, the photographer faded into obscurity. Nobody knew who the creator of this world famous image was. 

Zappa and Me tells the story of how young rock & roll snapper Robert Davidson took the photo of a lifetime – and how it changed his life.

The Film

Zappa and Me reveals how the negatives were stolen from Robert by heavies in London, how the images were exploited while Robert was left penniless and how they were unexpectedly recovered years later from an Los Angeles rock & roll memorabilia store handling the sale of Zappa’s manager Herb Cohen’s estate. 

Zappa and Me tracks Robert’s personal story delving into the music biz of the 1960s, where exploitation was rife – a world the naive public schoolboy Davidson embraced with glee.  Only to get badly hurt.

Disillusioned and broke, Robert turned his back on photography, eventually going mad, abandoning his family, and becoming homeless.

It took decades, and two freakish twists of fate, to reunite Robert with his work and let him claim it as rightfully his.  

But he survived.  And through all his trials and tribulations, he has always held onto his dream – that he would finally be recognised as the creator of a truly legendary photograph.

The film will ask:

How did the image of a man sitting naked on a toilet become a poster on walls worldwide?

Why did Zappa allow this young man to take these pictures?  

Now revered as art – and held in two of Britain’s major museums – do they still have the power to shock?

The Cast

Chris Welch, a Melody Maker journalist who was on assignment in the Royal Garden Hotel the day Robert too the Zappa portraits.

Pauline Butcher, also at the London press conference, became Zappa’s secretary, remembers Zappa’s run ins with manager Herb Cohen.

Piers Secunda, renowned artist and son of the agent Tony Secunda who booked Robert to snap Zappa, but never paid him. 

Candy Zappa, Frank’s younger sister who describes Frank as ‘her hero’ recalls first seeing the photograph.

Sadie Frost, actor, documentary filmmaker and Robert Davidson’s stepdaughter speaks about her memories growing up.

Bev Bevan, drummer with The Move. Robert shot dozens of publicity pics for the band, including for Flowers in the Rain, the first record on BBC Radio 1.

Joe Boyd legendary 1960s rock & roll journalist and publisher.

Gerry Fialka, former Zappa employee and longtime archivist who points out ‘the picture is the Frank Zappa origin story’. 

Mary Davidson, Robert’s ex-wife

Zappanale. We speak to Zappa super-fans who travel each year to the legendary Zappa focused music festival.

Additional talent to be confirmed…

The Film So Far

Filming started in 2019, then COVID hit. 

In 2022, Director Zoe Clough made a 30 minute rough cut for Robert’s 80th birthday. Now we are aiming to release a 90 minute feature doc with interviews with key journalists and others involved with Zappa in the 1960s. 

Film Funding

We’re currently seeking additional funding to complete the film. 

The money will cover additional filming in London, Europe and LA, a new edit, a grade and dub, music and archive licences, publicity and a BBFC certificate for UK cinemas.

We’re commissioning new music from composer Mark Royce. We’ll recreate the audio vibe with original music from the Lesser Known Tunisians, a 70’s, Zappa-inspired prog-rock band fronted by Robert’s co-biographer John Elliot.

We’re seeking funding from:

• Executive Producers who will be offered 5 points in the film for each £10,000 investment (based on net profits above recouped production budget)
• Kickstarter campaign which aims to raise £35,000 for the project

Our Kickstarter will be launching in Autumn 2026.

But in the meantime sign up with your email to stay in touch with the project. Details below.

Press

Candy Zappa speaks to Tom Spence about Zappa and Me here on the KVTA Morning Show. June 2026

Watch the Zappa and Me sizzle reel here.