Much like his personality, Frank Zappa's music was an acquired taste. Iconic rocker Lou Reed called Zappa "the most untalented bore who ever lived." But countless people in former Soviet states have adored his music for decades. Per the San Diego Union Tribune, in 1995 Lithuania erected a statue in Zappa's honor. And Czech citizens loved him so much that he was briefly appointed as a Czech ambassador.

As Radio Praha explained, when the Czech Republic was still Communist-ruled Czechoslovakia, censors banned Zappa's music. However, dissidents smuggled his albums in the country, and Zappa's name quickly became synonymous with political and intellectual freedom. Kids caught playing heavy rock tunes were reportedly told by police "to turn off that Frank Zappa music."

In 1990 Czech president Vaclav Havel, who later called Zappa "one of the gods of the Czech underground," hosted Zappa in Prague and appointed him as the "Special Ambassador to the West on Trade, Culture and Tourism." However, within weeks the decision was rescinded at the behest of U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who warned, "You can do business with the United States or you can do business with Frank Zappa."

The intervention was likely payback. James Baker's wife Susan co-founded the Parent's Music Resource Center, which sought to heavily censor music. In 1985 Zappa verbally mauled Susan in front of Congress and even imitated her accent. Apparently her husband got offended.

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