R.I.P. Captain Beefheart

Scott Shipley · Post by **Scott Shipley** » 17 Dec 2010 2:47 pm

Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, passed away today from complications of MS, at the age of 69.
R.I.P.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Dec 2010 2:56 pm

Oh, man, that is bad news. One of my favorites, for sure.

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 17 Dec 2010 3:02 pm

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 17 Dec 2010 4:27 pm

Yeah I just saw that...

I met him once back around the late 70s at Village Recording Studios during the "Joe's Garage" sessions with Frank Zappa. Don was a very mellow cat.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 17 Dec 2010 4:36 pm

That's a big Christmas suck-o.

I bought Trout Mask just for the cover (how could you not?!), and the music did take a while to seep in, but once I 'got it' it made most other music pale, didn't do too much good for my mom's complextion either...
Thanx for the education, Capt., and for never compromising. You'll be appreciated much more in time.

During the photo session for TMR, the lights were so hot and with the hours it took to complete the shoot, the fish head started really reaking and he was barely able to get the shot that made the cover. Art sufferage.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Dec 2010 4:41 pm

My friend Dave Sewelson was a piano tuner at one time and he was hired to tune the piano at a show with Jefferson Starship and Captain Beefheart(!). Grace Slick didn't want Don playing her piano, so at the last minute they had to get another one there and it had to be tuned.

Dave was rushing to get it done and he was sweating profusely. Don was nearby, so he asked him, "the piano is tuned would you like to try it out?"

Don said, "Why, sure!" and walked over and started slamming his forearm down on the keys and said, "it's perfect!"

Roger Miller · Post by **Roger Miller** » 17 Dec 2010 5:20 pm

A band I was in opened for Lee Greenwood several times, and he had a band member that was from Captain Beefheart. Anybody know anymore about that

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 17 Dec 2010 11:18 pm

"Safe As Milk" remains one of my very favorite albums of any era of rock. R.I.P.

Frank Freniere · Post by **Frank Freniere** » 18 Dec 2010 7:21 am

One of the best concerts I've ever seen: Ry Cooder opening for Captain Beefheart at an Arlington, VA movie theater ca 1970. Zoot Horn Rollo prancing all over the stage, playing a bass bigger than he was...

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 18 Dec 2010 7:59 am

Roger Miller wrote:A band I was in opened for Lee Greenwood several times, and he had a band member that was from Captain Beefheart. Anybody know anymore about that

That was Paul Uhrig. He was in the Tragic Band (that's what they are referred to)--a band that was put together after the original Magic Band all left. None of the band members had any knowledge of his music. That was back in '74.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 18 Dec 2010 12:18 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqRHr5pEIFU

BBC obit:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11811289

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 18 Dec 2010 2:49 pm

I had the album 'I Scream for Crow' and it was weird but good, still have "Hey Garland, I dig your Tweed Coat' stuck in my head after 30 years, he was doing something right.

RIP Don,

Howard Kalish · Post by **Howard Kalish** » 18 Dec 2010 4:16 pm

Dang, that's sad news. He was one of my favorites. I saw him several times, including that same tour that Frank mentions with Ry Cooder opening. I saw that show at the East Town Ballroom in Detroit. Also saw him at the Roxy on Sunset Blvd. He was unique and had a full-fledged musical vision that he could get others to invest in. Lick My Decals Off is still my favorite, but I like them all.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 18 Dec 2010 5:15 pm

Sad to hear this!

My hippy band "Hannigan's Greenhouse" played at a Denver "Love In" in 1967, opening for the Grateful Dead (pre Garcia beard BTW) and Captain Beefheart.

I vaguely remember that he had to keep an oxygen mask handy between verses.

RIP Captain

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 18 Dec 2010 7:55 pm

I was lucky enough to see him at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood around 1981. It was a great show, filled with nerds and geeks rocking out.
Captain Beefheart had a special place in my musical education. I got into him through a Warner Brothers loss leader LP called "Zappaed". The song "The Blimp" really struck a chord with me, so I bought "Trout Mask Replica". Still one of my favorites, even if the wife doesn't let me play it around the house.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 19 Dec 2010 7:38 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQs8dka52H4&NR=1

Interesting guy.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 19 Dec 2010 8:11 am

I'm playing catch up now. Here's part 1 of a BBC documentary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M5YE_a4 ... re=related

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 19 Dec 2010 12:51 pm

this one from a Netherlands TV appearance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjTTuXwm ... e=youtu.be

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 19 Dec 2010 7:30 pm

Captain Beefheart's 10 Commandments of guitar playing:

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2009/03/c ... aying.html

Gary Meyer · Post by **Gary Meyer** » 21 Dec 2010 10:31 pm

Zoot Horn Rollo wrote an interesting autobiography titles "Lunar Notes". It was one of those books you could read in a couple of days.
I had dinner with Rocket Morton once.'nice guy.He let me play his double neck bass/guitar that still had the songlist tapped to the side.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 27 Dec 2010 9:29 am

Gimme Beefheart's first three albums over any of the San Francisco contemporaries (maybe 'cept Moby Grape) and most UK mod-psyche-proto-prog, and prog bands (and I love them) and Hendrix.. anyday.

I'm hard up to call which is more my fave, Trout Mask Replica (which far outlives it's hype and numerous detractors) or the underrated debut 'Safe As Milk.'

The Steel Guitar Forum

R.I.P. Captain Beefheart

R.I.P. Captain Beefheart

'Lunar Notes'