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.

History

Vliet demonstrated prodigious painting and sculpting talents at a young age — earning the praise of Augustinio Rodriguez — but claims his parents turned away several scholarship offers. His paintings, often reminiscent of Franz Kline's, were later featured on several of his own albums.

Related Topics:
Painting - Sculpting - Augustinio Rodriguez - Scholarship - Franz Kline

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A teenage friendship with Frank Zappa while both were students at Antelope Valley High School in Lancaster, California led to some collaborations over the years, though this relationship was subject to peaks and troughs. Over the years, musicians would drift back and forth from Vliet and Zappa's groups. Their collaborative work can be found on the 1975 album Bongo Fury, along with Zappa rarity collections The Lost Episodes and Mystery Disc. Also notable is Beefheart's vocal on "Willie The Pimp" from Zappa's otherwise instrumental album Hot Rats. (1969)

Related Topics:
Frank Zappa - Antelope Valley - Lancaster, California - Pimp - Instrumental - Hot Rats

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Vliet was reportedly quite shy, but able to imitate the deep voice of blues singer Howlin' Wolf. Eventually growing comfortable performing, he learned harmonica, and played around southern California, at dances and small clubs.

Related Topics:
Howlin' Wolf - Harmonica - California

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Beefheart had previously worked with local groups such as The Omens and The Blackouts and formed the Magic Band in 1964 with guitarists Alex St. Clair and Doug Moon, bass guitarist Jerry Handley and drummer Paul Blakely.

Related Topics:
The Omens - The Blackouts - 1964 - Guitar - Alex St. Clair - Doug Moon - Bass guitarist - Jerry Handley - Drum - Paul Blakely

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Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band signed to A&M Records and released a successful single, a version of Bo Diddley's "Diddy Wah Diddy". Their first album, however, was rejected by the label as being too negative and uncommercial. Moon and Blakely were replaced by Antennae Jimmy Semens and John 'Drumbo' French respectively, as well as adding Ry Cooder (guitarist) and released their remixed album, Safe as Milk. In mid-1967 the band was invited to perform at the landmark Monterey International Pop Festival, but according to the liner notes to the CD re-release of Safe As Milk, Ry Cooder convinced the group not to appear, as he felt that the band was not ready for such an important showcase.

Related Topics:
A&M Records - Bo Diddley - Album - Antennae Jimmy Semens - John 'Drumbo' French - Ry Cooder - Safe as Milk - Monterey International Pop Festival

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These early recordings in the late 1960s were fairly conventional blues rock with touches of psychedelic music, and gave only hints of the unique music to come. The 1968 album, Strictly Personal, does

Related Topics:
Blues rock - Psychedelic music - 1968 - Strictly Personal

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serve as a transition between the blues rock of the singles, "Safe as Milk", and the live "Mirror Man" album, and the innovative explorations to come.

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Meanwhile, Beefheart's childhood friend, Frank Zappa, formed Straight Records and signed Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, which had added Zoot Horn Rollo (guitarist), Rockette Morton (bassist) and The Mascara Snake (bass clarinetist), resulting in the landmark 1969 album Trout Mask Replica.

Related Topics:
Straight Records - Zoot Horn Rollo - Rockette Morton - The Mascara Snake - Bass clarinet - 1969 - Trout Mask Replica

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