Monument to Frank Zappa, Vilnius

The city of Vilnius is home to a unique monument dedicated to the legendary American musician, Frank Zappa. The monument, which is located in the heart of the city, pays tribute to the musician's free spirit, despite his having no connection to the city or the country.

The story of how the monument came to be is as fascinating as the monument itself. It all started with artist Saulius Paukštys, who visited the USA and told everyone about how he became friends with Zappa. Though this was later revealed to be an elaborate lie, Zappa's music and free-spiritedness caught the attention of other Lithuanian artists, and he became a symbol of freedom.

Sculptor Konstantinas Bagdonas, who was known for his busts of Lenin during Soviet times, created the Zappa statue as a sign of a new era of post-Soviet Lithuania. Initially, the monument was supposed to be erected next to the M. K. Čiurlionis Art Gymnasium, but teachers resisted because the sculpture closely resembled the famous Lithuanian composer the school is named after, and they feared that Zappa's music might have a bad influence on the youth. As such, the monument was placed at its current location, where it was unveiled on 17 December 1995.

Frank Zappa himself never got to see the monument in his honor. He passed away before it was erected, but the monument stands today as a testament to his impact and legacy. Visitors to Vilnius are encouraged to pay their respects to the legendary musician while using it as a starting point to explore the alternative side of the city, including the mural right behind the monument.

A copy of the sculpture was donated to Zappa's hometown of Baltimore. The Vilnius monument is not just a tribute to a musician, but a symbol of freedom, creativity, and the human spirit's boundless potential.