Mark Volman: The Zany Anti-Hero the World of Music Needed

BY: DIGITAL WAX MEDIA STAFF

We recently learned of singer Mark Volman’s passing at the age of 78. This news may not resonate succinctly with those outside a few niche interest groups. Namely, enthusiasts of classic rock, Frank Zappa, and 60s pop may feel appropriately bummed about this development.

Those in the know, however, understand that Mark Volman was one of music’s most potent and overlooked characters. Alongside longtime partner in crime Howard Kaylan, Volman subjected popular music to a delightfully zany spirit. The pair were all but inseparable professionally since they first gained notoriety fronting The Turtles in the 1960s.

There was more of a separation of roles in the early days, as management and higher-ups were making more calls. As such, Kaylan was definitively isolated as the lead singer while Volman was a bit further back in the stage setup with his own mic and of course his tambourine. While Volman would notch the occasional songwriting credit as a Turtle, one of his most notable contributions would come by way of his place in The Turtles’ harmony vocal blend. The voices of Kaylan and Volman would blend just as well as their respective senses of humor, and the two would continue to sing alongside one another for decades.

While we’re on the subject of humor, track down some video of early Turtles performances. There are multiple to be found online, and they offer early glimpses of the signature vaudevillian on-stage chemistry of the two singers. Also worth checking out is a clip of the two by a marker board describing in convoluted detail the nature of their relationship with management as members of The Turtles and the ensuing issues which would emerge.

Once The Turtles were no more, many may have expected Kaylan to set out on his own as a solo star. He had the exposure as the face of some major pop hits and the sixties, and he certainly had the ability – this writer would posit that Howard Kaylan is perhaps the most underrated vocalist of his generation. But it was not meant to be. Kaylan was resolute in remaining alongside his pal in his pursuit of future work.

In a surprise to many, the pair were recruited by none other than Frank Zappa to front his new group following the busting up of the original Mothers. It was onstage with some of the most gifted musicians of the era that Volman and Kaylan (soon to become Flo & Eddie) would hone the craft of stage banter and improv performance which would become a hallmark of their act and collective identity.

This era of Frank Zappa’s music often goes unappreciated. It can be tough for some listeners to get past the performative aspect of the band dynamic. But once one is able to traverse that hill, there’s a world of musicality into which to dig. Just Another Band from L.A. may be the most worthwhile representation of this version of the early-seventies Mothers.

The band is fully locked in and the Mark Volman – Howard Kaylan harmonies are tighter than ever. The vaudevillian performative aspect has also been refined, and listeners can find some of Volman’s cheekiest and most notable contributions to the Zappa catalogue there. Although not part of this album – it can be found on the Fillmore East live record, the cover which simply reads, “THE MOTHERS” – the band’s recorded performances of “Tears Began to Fall” absolutely rip.

Once Zappa began crafting another all-new vehicle for his musical expression, the duo went solo – or something like that? Flo and Eddie became their own act, taking a sort or rock-tinged singer/songwriter approach for their debut as a duo – The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie. The record is perhaps the most “serious” of the duo’s output and is genuinely worth seeking out. Gems like “Feel Older Now,” “It Never Happened,” and “Burn the House” show that Flo & Eddie were much more than a novelty act.

As their careers progressed, the pair would lean more into their comedic stylings – gaining notoriety for radio appearances and interviews with the likes of David Bowie and Tom Waits. They would remain fairly prevalent and heavily connected, though they would never quite become Top 10 (or even Top 50 stars) again.

They would exist on the fringe of pop culture visibility for a while, however. The two would continue to rub shoulders with many of the greats, enjoying close friendships with the likes of Alice Cooper and Stephen Stills. Their distinct humor and proclivity to take the piss out of anything and everything would also rub some of their more big-time contemporaries the wrong way. Criticisms and occasionally legal action would be directed their way by names such as George Harrison and Fleetwood Mac.

Though humor and performance were more heavily emphasized during this stage in the Flo & Eddie saga, that doesn’t mean the pair didn’t stretch out musically at times. During the early 1980s, Volman and Kaylan would record an experimental EP inspired by German synth-pop and emerging new wave and techno artists such as Kraftwerk.

They would also release a reggae record – Rock Steady with Flo & Eddie. The album would feature interpretations of classic Jamaican music as well as other covers. The album’s tongue-in-cheek style notwithstanding, some of the top reggae players in the world would contribute to the recording sessions for the record.

In later years, Flo & Eddie became highly sought studio vocalists, and their (often uncredited) backing harmonies can be heard livening up records by everyone from Duran Duran and Blondie to Stephen Stills and The Psychedelic Furs. They would also lean into the own pop history, eventually acquiring the rights to The Turtles’ name and embracing their new station as an oldies act.

Volman would pursue education later in life, eventually earning his Master’s Degree and becoming a successful educator in the world of university. Volman would also continue to fly the Turtles flag fronting the group even after Kaylan became permanently sidelined from performing by health issues.

Mark Volman may not go down as the biggest face of rock. But his contributions are notable and his peculiar brand of absurdist entertainment has resulted in some very out-there art that would not have existed without him. His resume was impressive and his talent was undeniable. The world or music got a little more beige upon Mark Volman’s passing, but we will remember him fondly and honor him always.

Photo: Mark Volman and Frank Zappa – December, 1971 by Heinrich Klaffs. Photo used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.