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News
Farewell, Captain Beefheart...
10:12 AM GMT 18/12/2010
Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, has died in California following complications from multiple sclerosis. He was 69.
From 1967's Safe As Milk to 1982's Ice Cream For Crow, Beefheart defied convention and demolished genres to become one of the most revered and influential artists in music.
Born in Glendale, California, on January 15, 1941, Vliet spent his formative years in Lancaster on the edge of the Mojave Desert, quickly developing a rapacious interest in art, music and sculpture. In the 1950s he joined Antelope Valley High School where he met Frank Zappa. The pair bonded over their love of jazz, blues and R&B and began working on a movie script (Captain Beefheart vs. the Grunt People) and forming a band (Soots). Nothing was to come of either project, but Vliet, buoyed by encouragement from Zappa and the discovery of his Howlin' Wolf-growl, took the Captain Beefheart name and joined Lancaster native Alex St Clair in the original incarnation of the Magic Band.
The group signed to A&M in 1965 and released two singles the following year - a cover of Bo Diddley's Diddy Wah Diddy and the David Gates-penned Moonchild. John Peel, soon to become their most fervent supporter, remembered seeing the band for the first time at L.A.'s Whiskey A-Go-Go: "It was like hearing Elvis for the first time," said the legendary DJ. "I reeled out into the Hollywood night knowing that nothing would ever be the same again."
Dropped by A&M for being uncommercial, the band signed to Buddah and released their debut LP Safe As Milk in 1967. Later dubbed by MOJO as "an avant-garde pop masterpiece", the album's creation was aided by the influence of 20-year old guitar genius Ry Cooder. 1968's Strictly Personal was followed by the trepanning intensity of Trout Mask Replica - a double album recorded in one six-hour maelstrom and released on Zappa's Straight label in the summer of '69. Speaking about the making of the LP Beefheart said: "I don't like hypnotics. I want things to change like the patterns and shadows that fall from the sun."
The astonishing Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1970) was an equally experimental adventure, while Clear Spot (1972) and The Spotlight Kid (1972), although rooted back in the blues, proved that Beefheart and the Magic Band were still out there on their own. Speaking about his musical contemporaries at the time, Vliet was as enigmatic as ever: "They can catch a straight line, but they can't catch a circle. I don't work in straight lines." Record company squabbling, legal disuptes and line-up changes were ongoing during the recording of the poorly received Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974) and Bluejeans & Moonbeams (1974), but his final trio of albums (Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller), Doc At The Radar Station, Ice Cream For Crow) contain some of his greatest creations. Following his departure from the world of music in 1982, Vliet retired to the Mojave Desert and dedicated the rest of his life to painting.
In the ensuing decades his silence and those persistent rumours of ill health only added to the legend. Tom Waits, a man who has always cited Beefheart as a major influence on his music, said: "Once you've heard Beefheart, it's hard to wash him out of your clothes. It stains, like coffee or blood."
A full obituary will follow soon.
Posted by Ross_Bennett at 10:12 AM GMT 18/12/2010
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There will never be anyone else even remotely like the Captain. I was absolutely devastated, my best mate texted me at 8 o'clock this morning with the terrible news. Thanks for the music, Don!
Posted by vollsticks at 1:04 PM GMT 18/12/2010 Report Abuse
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A true original.I even loved Unconditionally Guaranteed and Blue Jeans and Moonbeams. In an age of mediocrity and plastic pop stars, what we wouldn't give for another Captain Beefheart. R.I.P Don a true genius. It's such a shame I wasn't born until 1972 and never got the chance to see the great man. I did see the Magic Band in 2004 and they were still brilliant just proving the music lives on.
Posted by David Dowling at 7:40 PM GMT 18/12/2010 Report Abuse
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He cannot come back to our frownland.
Posted by Daley at 10:30 PM GMT 18/12/2010 Report Abuse
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Bye, Bye Don, so sad about his passing, i was fortunate to have seen him in concert in the early 70s, at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, it is so fresh in my memory, he was terrifyingly brilliant awesome, with the influences of Louis Armstrong, Howlin Wolf and Ornette Coleman in his unique
music, but it ALWAYS sounded like HIM!
No one like him around today, with perhaps the exception of Tom Waits.
We are deprived by the physical presence of him, but his
soul and spirit and his Music and his Artwork, will be with
us forever, hes up there right now with Frank Zappa doing
"Willie the Pimp" Part Two!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rest in Peace Captain, so glad your music has been part of my life.
Posted by Lady B Good. at 12:49 AM GMT 19/12/2010 Report Abuse
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Bye, Bye Don, so sad about his passing, i was fortunate to have seen him in concert in the early 70s, at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, it is so fresh in my memory, he was terrifyingly brilliant awesome, with the influences of Louis Armstrong, Howlin Wolf and Ornette Coleman in his unique
music, but it ALWAYS sounded like HIM!
No one like him around today, with perhaps the exception of Tom Waits.
We are deprived by the physical presence of him, but his
soul and spirit and his Music and his Artwork, will be with
us forever, hes up there right now with Frank Zappa doing
"Willie the Pimp" Part Two!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rest in Peace Captain, so glad your music has been part of my life.
Posted by Lady B Good. at 12:49 AM GMT 19/12/2010 Report Abuse
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For me, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything better than the Zappa/Beefheart live album, "Bongo Fury". Just incredible. You'll be dearly missed, Captain.
Posted by Richard Jones at 2:33 AM GMT 19/12/2010 Report Abuse
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Captain Beefheart R.I.P. Put him on the next MOJO issue cover too!!!
Posted by BlackCoffeeDuck at 5:33 AM GMT 19/12/2010 Report Abuse
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In the fullness of time it will be realised, Don was easily the finest recorded artist of the 20th Century.
Genius is not a word to be used lightly, but can anyone really ever be compared with him? Was lucky to have met him twice in U.K ( Still have some drawings he did for me).
Great art is never easy, it involves an intensity few can give, those like Don are rare, they can only do it thier way.so a commitment from the listener is required,which is much bigger than any "Normal music" It enchants,humours, provokes, and finally gives the listener, that special feeling of oneness with the artist,all great works have. I always felt he said things I wanted to.
Started listening age 15, now 55 still the best.
The Clouds are full of Wine not Whisky or Rye.
Posted by Mark Cosovich at 12:08 PM GMT 19/12/2010 Report Abuse
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A one-off, unique. Now come on Mojo - do him justice and put him on the cover and get Mike Barnes to write about him please.
Posted by John Mclaughlin at 5:12 AM GMT 20/12/2010 Report Abuse
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A one-off, unique. Now come on Mojo - do him justice and put him on the cover and get Mike Barnes to write about him please.
Posted by John Mclaughlin at 5:12 AM GMT 20/12/2010 Report Abuse
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Simply the best.
There's no one quite like Beefheart.
The winner who took it all.
God only knows what we'll do without him.
Posted by Lorraine Chaste at 1:25 PM GMT 20/12/2010 Report Abuse
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A manager, many years ago, suggested I get hold of some Beefheart, which I did (’Troutmask Replica’, ‘Clearspot’, ‘Safe As Milk’, Lick My decals Off, Baby’, and some other stuff). The vast majority of this stuff is truly unlistenable. However, ‘Too Much Time’ off ‘Clear Spot’, is a brilliant piece of soul, albeit with Vliet’s ridiculous lyrics. Always sad when someone of influence passes away. Whilst I’m not a massive fan, and I have tried to really like his stuff, he will be missed by music fans globally. What I will say is that his visuals are truly striking. Here in Brighton, there was an exhibition of his art, and other Beefheart-related music, pictures, video, and radio interviews back in the early 90’s. Quite astounding to the inexperienced ear and eye, as I was at the time. Also, the fact that John Peel was a massive fan, and one-time roadie of sorts, helps. Note to self…must put ‘Ice-Cream For Crow’ on the ipod for tomorrow.
Posted by Darren Stuart at 3:10 PM GMT 20/12/2010 Report Abuse
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Get the Captain on the front of MOJO instead of the continual homages to the Beatles,Queen etc.
Don is the Boss.
Posted by Mick from Liverpool at 11:00 PM GMT 22/12/2010 Report Abuse
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A true artist. Give him the MOJO treatment and publish an exhaustive article chronicling his entire musical career.
Posted by Shack in Central New York at 5:36 AM GMT 27/12/2010 Report Abuse
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who now will save us from the big eyed beans from venus ?
Posted by al cambridge at 8:16 PM GMT 02/01/2011 Report Abuse
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who now will save us from the big eyed beans from venus ?
Posted by mister no p cambridge at 8:16 PM GMT 02/01/2011 Report Abuse
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I would recommend to all the DVD Captain Beefheart under review. Many of the "Under Review"releases suck. The Kate Bush one was especially disappointing. However, due to the cooperation of almost all the main players in the Magic Band, this one is a home run that does justice to his art if not the man himself.
Posted by Anonymous at 6:10 AM GMT 09/01/2011 Report Abuse
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I would recommend to all the DVD Captain Beefheart under review. Many of the "Under Review"releases suck. The Kate Bush one was especially disappointing. However, due to the cooperation of almost all the main players in the Magic Band, this one is a home run that does justice to his art if not the man himself.
Posted by dale at 6:10 AM GMT 09/01/2011 Report Abuse
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