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Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,jc Date: 24 Jan 11 - 10:28 AM The other band was John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - the line-up that recorded Bare Wires. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: Janie Date: 21 Dec 10 - 12:13 AM My Rocker boyfriend of the early '70's loved him. I never quite made up my mind. I loved his music but often not the lyrics. Saw him with Frank Zappa in 1975. I was glad when his short featured set ended and Zappa and the Mothers took charge again, but it was not a good night on which to make broad judgements. The tension and conflict between he and Zappa was palpable that night. That Zappa concert, btw, was absolutely the best concert I have ever attended, in spite of that one short set. I think he was a truly remarkable composer and musician, but also a bit of a legend in his own mind. Personalities - everybody's got one, and there are those who love cultivating personas. His influence has been rather pervasive among musicians whose music I "grok." Rest in peace. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: josepp Date: 20 Dec 10 - 11:01 PM I saw yuh baby dancin' in your x-ray gingham dress I knew you were under duress I knew you were under yer dress Just keep comin' Jesus Your the best dressed You look dandy in the sky but you don't scare me Cause I got you here in my eye In this lifetime you got m'humangetsmeblues With yer jaw hangin' slack n' yer hair's curlin' Like an ole navy fork stickin' in the sunset The way you were dancin' I knew you'd never come back You were strainin' t' keep yer Old black cracked patent shoes In this lifetime you got m'humangetsmeblues Well the way you'd been ole lady I could see the fear in yer windows Under yer furry crawlin' brow Uh silver bow rings up in inches You were afraid you'd be the devils red wife But it's alright God dug yer dance 'n would have you young 'n in his harum Dress you the way he wants cause he never had uh doll Cause everybody made him uh boy 'n God didn't think t' ask his preference You can bring yer dress 'n yer favorite dog 'n yer husbands cane 'n yer old spotted hog Cause in this lifetime You've got m'humangetsmeblues So long, Cap. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: Desert Dancer Date: 20 Dec 10 - 03:44 PM Obit in Rolling Stone, which links this article: The Odyssey of Captain Beefheart: Rolling Stone's 1970 Cover Story, 'I'm not even here I just stick around for my friends'. The NY Times obituary NY Times: "Mr. Van Vliet's life story is caked with half-believable tales, some of which he himself spread in Dadaist, elliptical interviews." Rolling Stone (1970): "When Beefheart learned of the opportunity to make an album totally without restrictions, he sat down at the piano and in eight and a half hours wrote all twenty-eight songs included on Trout Mask. When I asked him jokingly why it took that long, he replied, "Well, I'd never played the piano before and I had to figure out the fingering." With a stack of cassettes going full time, Don banged out "Frownland," "Dachau Blues," "Veterans' Day Poppy," and all of the others complete with words. When he is creating, this is exactly how Don works — fast and furious. "I don't spend a lot of time thinking. It just comes through me. I don't know how else to explain it." In his box of cassettes there are probably dozens of albums of Trout Mask Replica quality or better. The trouble is that once the compositions are down it takes him a long time to teach them to his musicians. In this case it took almost a year of rehearsal." NY Times (2010): "But it was 'Trout Mask Replica' that earned Mr. Van Vliet his biggest mark. And it was the making of that album that provided some of the most durable myths about Mr. Van Vliet as an imperious, uncompromising artist. "The musicians lived together in a house in Woodland Hills, in the San Fernando Valley; what money there was for food and rent was supplied by Mr. Van Vliet's mother, Sue, and the parents of Bill Harkleroad, the band's guitarist (whom Mr. Van Vliet renamed Zoot Horn Rollo). One persistent myth has it that Mr. Van Vliet, who had no formal ability at any instrument, sat at the piano, turned on tapes and spontaneously composed most of the record in a single marathon eight-and-a-half-hour session. "What really happened, according to later accounts, was that his drummer, John French (whose stage name was Drumbo), transcribed and arranged music as Mr. Van Vliet whistled, sang or played it on the piano, and the band learned the wobbly, intricately arranged songs through Mr. French's transcriptions." --- NY Times (2010): "His band was offered a slot at the Monterey International Pop Music Festival in 1967, but Mr. Cooder had quit a week before, and Mr. Van Vliet was too spooked to perform." Rolling Stone (1970): [In 1966...] "The Magic Band was scheduled to play a gig at the Fillmore and to appear at the Monterey Pop Festival, both of which could have been springboards to the top. "Then disaster struck. Beefheart's lead guitar player suddenly quit the band leaving a gap which could not be filled. The unusual nature of Beefheart's songs make it necessary for him to spend months teaching each new musician his music. The departure of the lead guitar destroyed Beefheart's chances in the San Francisco scene. The Monterey Pop Festival went on without him. Those who attended it never knew what they had missed." ~ Becky in Tucson |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,bankley Date: 19 Dec 10 - 07:07 PM a giant among artists |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,scorpio Date: 19 Dec 10 - 06:48 PM One of the best live gigs I ever saw in my life was Beefheart at Leeds University Union in 1971 or 2. He is unique. Still. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,jeff Date: 19 Dec 10 - 06:36 PM There was a band in Cleveland, OH called Eli Radish that was clearly influenced by Captain Beefhart. He was singular and difficult to follow, musically. He was, obviously indifferent to mainstream success on anyone's terms, but his own. That's power. I recall my older brother talking about seeing him and that his guitarist wore a bathrobe onstage. Being pre-pubescent I had trouble wrapping my mind around that. Now, it makes me laugh out loud when I think of it. RIP, Mr. Van Vliet |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: G-Force Date: 19 Dec 10 - 01:39 PM A good piece about him in the Sunday Telegraph (UK) today. Also a little known 'Wikifact': he was a distant relative of Wallis Simpson. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2 From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 18 Dec 10 - 08:39 PM I like (and liked) beefheart (especially with vinegar, salt and pepper.)
There is no question....that the captain from Lancaster (don't get your throbs up UK-ers) California
His influence infused my generation ... DIY.
Sincerely,
Ain't talkin' 'bout the UK invasion. |
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Subject: Don Van Vliet RIP From: beeliner Date: 18 Dec 10 - 05:56 PM An American original, the musician and painter Don Van Vliet, better known as Captain Beefheart, has died. He was 69. Melding swampy blues, herky jerky rhythms and an absurdist sense of humor, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band never sought out mainstream fame, but nevertheless profoundly influenced many performers who found it, from White Stripes to Nirvana to Tom Waits. Born in Lancaster, Calif. and raised in the Mojave desert, Van Vliet was an artistic child who, as he once told David Letterman, did not attend school beyond a half a day of kindergarten, though even that may have been too much. "If you want to be a different fish, you gotta jump out the school," said the musician, who clearly succeeded. Van Vliet eventually hooked up with Frank Zappa before launching a singular musical journey that combined the blues, psychedelia, free jazz and something indefinable on releases such as Safe as Milk, Trout Mask Replica, Doc at the Radar Station and more. Van Vliet gave up music in 1982 to devote himself to painting. Read more: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b217062_captain_beefheart_aka_don_van_vliet_dies.html#ixzz18VTEsnxQ beeliner adds: At least three rock groups, Ant Man Bee, Dali's Car, and Ella Guru, took their names from Beefheart song titles. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: bobad Date: 18 Dec 10 - 12:20 PM Larry, there is some discussion of the relationship he had with Frank in interviews both with Zappa and other band members, in the documentary I linked above. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,Larry Saidman Date: 18 Dec 10 - 11:51 AM I remember seeing him live in Edmonton in the early 70's. I believe he was on the bill with Quicksilver Messenger Service and The Velvet Underground. Being with the student radio station at the time I was involved in interviewing various musicians, and had about a 45 minute interview with him (wish I still had the tape). My most vivid memory of that interview was his insistence that he was NOT one of Frank Zappa's "novelty" acts--and his resentment that Zappa was trying to parade him that way. I think this was shortly after Zappa had started his "Bizarre" label and had put Van Vliet ont he label, ---and also recorded a mentally ill man called Wild Man Fisher--and Van Vliet felt that Zappa was exploiting this man. Interesting, because his obituary refers to his positive affiliation with Frank Zappa. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,Rick Stokes Date: 18 Dec 10 - 10:41 AM A genius of singular vision & creative ability in rock - I believe his contribution will be valued more as the years pass; a sad day.. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: Will Fly Date: 18 Dec 10 - 09:35 AM Will - I saw the Brighton exhibition but it was around 1995. Was it really? I'm sure you're right - anything before 2000 is becoming a haze with me! :-) |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: bobad Date: 18 Dec 10 - 08:40 AM Excellent six part BBC documentary on the Captain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M5YE_a4B1U&feature=related |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,Phil B Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:48 AM Saw him live at the 'Venue' at 1:30 in the morning. Astounding. Still not actually clear how they did what they did. It was a one off experience never paralled by any other gig I've ever been to.R.I.P. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: G-Force Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:31 AM Forgot to say, I only saw him live once, when he was sharing the bill with another band at (I think) the Toby Jug in Tolworth (Surrey, UK). A strange and unsatisfactory evening, not least because the two sets of fans were mutually incomprehensible. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: fat B****rd Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:25 AM Strictly Personal was the first music I listened to after smoking a big cigarette. I was entranced by it then and still am. The Captain's imagery and blend of Mississippi blues and anything else that came to mind, e.g.Ornette Coleman, was and always will be totally unique. Fast and Bulbuous indeed! Don't miss the Voodoo Hoedown. Will - I saw the Brighton exhibition but it was around 1995. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: G-Force Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:15 AM I don't normally contribute to OBIT threads, as others tend to be far more eloquent than me, but in this case I will make an exception. I've been a great fan of the Captain's music for the last 40+ years and have most of his records. These include some of the very, very best tracks in my record collection (and OK, a few of the very worst). An utter genius who was only let down by his inability to find and keep on board a truly sympathetic producer, the best of his music was not just great at the time but remains great and fresh today. He was also an obvious influence on another of my very favourite artists, Tom Waits. But I agree, not to everyone's taste (my wife can't stand him). |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: Will Fly Date: 18 Dec 10 - 06:44 AM The Captain was the closest I ever heard a white man come to singing like Howlin' Wolf - great voice. He was also an interesting painter and I enjoyed an exhibition of his work at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery back in the '80s. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: GUEST,Woodsie Date: 18 Dec 10 - 05:41 AM Beefheart like Zappa didn't condone drugs. The incident you are talking about was at Monterey Pop Festival. The Good Captain tripped and fell backwards of stage prior to the set starting and was so embarraced he couldn't face the (huge in those days) audience. Ry Cooder was never an actual band member. He was called in by the record company to finish production of "Safe As Milk" on which he added his own Guitar, Bass and even some drums to the final mix.He was playing with the band on that occasion and always maintained that that would have been CBs big break if he had managed to overcome his nerves and play. To say that he was "So stoned" and RC left because of that is very unfair to a person that I hold in high regard and who stayed true to his music and art throughout his life without selling out as he could easily have done in the late sixties. Farewell Captain! |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: John MacKenzie Date: 18 Dec 10 - 04:42 AM I hear that he was so stoned once, that he walked off the stage and fell 10 feet, landing on his manager. Now I've met some band managers, and I doubt this was an accident ☺ They say that this was the event that prompted Ry Cooder to leave the band, and when Ry Cooder's scared, I'm scared ☻ Another unique man gone. RIP Cap'n B |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: alanabit Date: 18 Dec 10 - 04:19 AM He was an oddball and I was not a fan of his very individual music. He did enjoy his music though and he inspired a great deal of loyalty among those who liked it. One is sad to hear of anyone being taken by multiple sclerosis - or indeed any prolonged, debilitating illness. I can only hope he had some quality of life and that his passing did not involve too much suffering. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: Jack Blandiver Date: 18 Dec 10 - 03:48 AM Mister Zoot Horn Rollo, hit that long lunar note and let it float: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF9rZoN_-DU&feature=related And the panataloon duck white goose neck quacked webcore, webcore |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) 1941-2010 From: mrdux Date: 18 Dec 10 - 03:11 AM what rap said. sorry to hear that. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet AKA Captain Beefheart From: Smokey. Date: 17 Dec 10 - 11:31 PM Strawberry caterpillar.. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Don Van Vliet AKA Captain Beefheart From: Rapparee Date: 17 Dec 10 - 11:23 PM Well, shit. |
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Subject: Obit: Don Van Vliet AKA Captain Beefheart From: bobad Date: 17 Dec 10 - 09:44 PM http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12024652 |
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