Captain Beefheart

Don Van Vliet (born Don Glen Vliet on January 15, 1941 in Glendale, California), is a musician and painter, best known under the pseudonym Captain Beefheart.

Related Topics:
January 15 - 1941 - Glendale, California - Pseudonym

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Vliet's output is rooted in blues music and rock music, but his idiosyncratic, diverse approach largely defies classification. Much of his work was conducted with a rotating assembly of musicians called the Magic Band. He was mainly a singer and in possession of an astonishing four-and-a-half octave vocal range, but Vliet was also a capable harmonica player, and occasionally played noisy, untrained, free jazz influenced saxophone.

Related Topics:
Blues music - Rock music - Octave - Harmonica - Free jazz - Saxophone

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Among the most important of "underground rock" musicians, Captain Beefheart's legacy is one of poor record sales, critical acclaim, and a devoted following. His many admirers include Beck, Tom Waits, Woody Allen, PJ Harvey, Peter Christopherson of Coil, David Lynch, David Byrne of Talking Heads, Gary Lucas (one of Van Vliet's former guitarists, and a member of latest incarnation of the Magic Band), Mark E. Smith of The Fall, John Lydon, Jack White of The White Stripes, Michael Balzary (a.k.a. Flea), Matt Groening, John Lecki, Radiohead, Muse and Devo.

Related Topics:
Underground rock - Beck - Tom Waits - Woody Allen - PJ Harvey - Peter Christopherson - Coil - David Lynch - David Byrne - Talking Heads - Gary Lucas - Mark E. Smith - The Fall - John Lydon - Jack White - The White Stripes - Michael Balzary - Matt Groening - Devo

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Vliet's music has been vastly influential. BBC disc jockey John Peel stated, "If there has ever been such a thing as a genius in the history of popular music, it's Beefheart ... I heard echoes of his music in some of the records I listened to last week and I'll hear more echoes in records that I listen to this week." http://www.beefheart.com/zigzag/articles/genius.htm

Related Topics:
BBC - Disc jockey - John Peel - Genius - Popular music

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