Captain Beefheart
From ArticleWorld
Don Van Vliet is a painter and retired musician, best known by the pseudonym, Captain Beefheart. His work was mostly conducted through the assembly of musicians that were known as the Magic Band. This group was around from the 1960’s through to the early 1980’s. The Captain was mainly the singer, but also performed on the harmonica and on the Saxophone, which he was never trained on.
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He was famous for his mysterious way of presenting himself and the music to the public and his authorative approach to other musicians. He has been a challenge for those that work with him and has been an inspiration as well.
Magic Band
During 1965, Van Vliet joined the Magic Band and quickly took over as the bandleader and was of the defining factors to their unique style. The band had strong root sin blues and rock music, but Van Vliet changed that with his experimental approach.
Trout Mask Replica
In 1969 they released their best known album, Trout Mask Replica. This one album was produced by Van Vliet's former schoolmate Frank Zappa, and has become to be known is a groundbreaking and influential masterpiece that has influenced many performers.
The band after
Van Vliet released several further albums throughout the 1970s. The lineups shifted regularly due to lack of commercial success. Towards the end of that decade he settled with a group of younger musicians, and his three final albums, released between 1978 and 1982, all received critical acclaim.
Legacy
Van Vliet's legacy is one of poor record sales, even though he had a devoted following. This mattered little when he looked at his influence on later punk and New Wave music. His influence stretched to other genres and musicians as well. His contributions and vision has been described as "incalculable" in its impact to the future music scenes.
Aftermath
Since the end of his musical career around 1982, Van Vliet has made few public appearances. Although he has preferred a quiet life in his Mojave Desert home, and has concentrated on a career in painting.
His interest in art dates back to a childhood talent for sculpting, and his work.
He is reportedly suffering from the long-term illness multiple sclerosis.
Magic Band
Meanwhile, several of Van Vliet's former band members have reformed as a group. Since 2003, they have once again been performing and touring as The Magic Band.
Categories: 1941 births | American harmonica players | American male singers | American painters | American saxophonists | Art rock musical groups | Dutch Americans | Experimental musicians | Frank Zappa | Living people | Peel Sessions artists | People known by pseudonyms | Pre-punk groups | Rock saxophonists