Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band

This page is a tribute to the music made by Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart and his various Magic Bands. I have been a fan since hearing the song 'The Past Sure Is Tense' on John Peel's radio show in 1986. I knew i'd found a great new inspiration and started to try and get all their albums on vinyl, original copies if possible. This was not a cheap pursuit! His recording and touring career with the Magic Band lasted from 1965 to 1982 and the albums they made together are... you'll just have to listen to them to be honest! There was and is nothing like their music and Captain Beefheart's voice in the whole history of rock 'n roll (a term Beefheart despised anyway). Only within the last 15 - 20 years has the work they created been properly recognised as completely original and inspirational. Since the mid 1980's Don has devoted his time to painting, leaving his musical life as Captain Beefheart far behind. I hope that my page gives a good sense of how extraordinary this man was and i'm sure still is. His fans know that he hasn't been around much in the last 25 years, briefly popping up to promote an art book or exhibition but mostly living a very private life with Jan, his wife, overlooking the ocean in Northern California. He has been in declining health but i hope that he is still the same in his mind. That's some mind after all! - Sam.