Ike Willis had been Frank Zappa's guitarist and right-hand man for over a decade and a half when he made a promise to Zappa just prior to his passing in 1993: Willis vowed to keep Zappa's music alive for subsequent generations, an oath he's kept through his work with Zappa cover bands like New Jersey's Project/Object and Italy's Ossi Duri as well as his own Zappa-inflected music.

The next phase of Willis' career will find him moving in both directions at once through his new affiliation with Detroit's Ugly Radio Rebellion. On URR's upcoming string of dates - the Winchester lands on what would have been Zappa's 67th birthday - Willis will accompany the Zappa cover band on a deep and diverse set list devised by URR frontman/guitarist Scott Schroen. Going forward, URR will also serve as Willis' backing band on his original music in a configuration known for the time being as the Ike Willis Project.

"Scott and I have been planning this thing for two years because I've been wanting and needing back-up personnel," says Willis. "I've finally found some kids who want to learn my material as well."

Recently relocated to Atlanta, Schroen is excited by the prospect of continuing to work with and beginning to work for Willis in their new arrangement.

"We did our first show with him in 2005 and this will be our third tour with Ike," says Schroen. "We've done some of his stuff but it's going to be more a part of the whole project, and some of the shows will be just his material. We're committed to this. His stuff is great, and he's the best singer in the world."

Although Willis has four or five albums of original music stockpiled, he's only released two solo albums to date, 1986's Should've Gone Before I Left and 2001's Dirty Pictures. His new association with URR will hopefully lead to more touring and an opportunity to get into the studio for some long-overdue recording.

"Money, that pesky eating thing, trying to stay alive in the George Bush economy," says Willis, explaining his long studio absence. "I've had to be so busy keeping hearth and home and making other people rich and famous, just to keep a roof over me and Ma's head, that I haven't had time to devote to the IWP and scare up the funds to go back in the studio. And the personnel, thank you very much. Scott's a bloody genius, and he's dedicated to this thing. These guys are accomplished musicians. Scott plays all of Ruth Underwood's parts on guitar. He is wildly talented."

The upcoming URR show on Zappa's birthday - which will feature an array of interesting components, including "mature" balloon creations by Flower the Clown, special edition T-shirts by caricaturist E.J. Farb, a supply of Kill Ugly Radio beer provided by Lagunitas Brewery and a specially designed cake at the Winchester, and a meet-and-greet at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (check uglyradiorebellion.com for details) - will mark a first for Willis, who has rarely played on Zappa's birthday, before or after his death.

Ugly Radio Rebellion, on the other hand, is closely associated with Zappa's birthday. Schroen's previous Zappa incarnation, Uncle Meat, played its final show on December 21, 2003, and then reformed as URR in 2004. Beginning as a quartet, URR is now Schroen on guitar and vocals, John Garland on bass, keyboards and vocals, and Layla Hall on drums, vocals, bells and percussion, amazingly recreating an impressive version of Zappa's complex compositions with just a trio. In an interesting twist, this Detroit line-up has remained intact after Schroen's relocation to Atlanta, but he's now in the process of putting together a second URR line-up consisting of regional players.

Eventually, the plan is to offer both URR and the Ike Willis Project in tandem, playing a combination of Zappa covers and Willis originals ("More bang for the buck," says Willis with a laugh). Like most of his Zappa shows, Willis is leaving the finalization of this birthday set list to Schroen, given that the event is an Ugly Radio Rebellion show with Willis as a guest.

"After all these years, the songs are all there," says Willis. "It keeps it fun for me and keeps me on my toes, and it lends an element of surprise to the proceedings. I fully expect them to surprise me and I'm sure they will."

music@freetimes.com

Ugly Radio Rebellion with Ike Willis

9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, The Winchester, 12112 Madison Ave., 216.226.5681

Tickets: $15

Willis: Ready for some overdue recording.