Fido Five

FiDO received its accolade with guest singer Robert Martin, who played in Zappa's band from 1981 to 1988. FIDO has toured four times with the American since 2022, honing their breakneck arrangements. Even before Robert Martin's unfortunate departure in autumn 2025 for health reasons, FIDOPLAYSZAPPA set a course for further reorientation with the Basel Research Prize, which they were the first band to receive:

Under the tour name ‘FIDO FiVE’, the five instrumentalists now consistently present themselves as five characters, five voices and five frontmen. Because that's the only way to do justice to Zappa's legacy.

With their fearless mix of snotty rock live shows paired with virtuoso Swiss precision craftsmanship, the stage-savvy professionals live out their passion for the music of the Great American Composer, and the Swiss tribute orchestra knows how to captivate any audience. The musicians celebrate obscure stories of modified dogs, smelly feet, sad Eskimos and all kinds of other curiosities of life with verve and in many voices.

FiDO shamelessly exploits improvisational freedom, masterfully breaks stylistic boundaries and fully exploits the musical diversity and compositional humour of Zappa's work. With numerous inspiring live shows throughout Europe and six recordings, the Swiss tribute orchestra has earned itself a place in the pantheon of the global Zappa community over the past two decades: stylistically confident, virtuosic, humorous and with their own unique approach, FiDO continue to thrill themselves and their audience even after 20 years of performing Frank Zappa's magnificent work.


Line-up:

• Stef Strittmatter – guitar & vocals
  
• Oliver Friedli – piano, keys, vocals
  
• Martin Medimorec – vibraphone, marimba, percussion, vocals
  
• Pascal Grünenfelder – bass & vocals
  
• Remy Sträuli – drums & vocals