(1941-01-15)January 15, 1941 Glendale, California, U.S.
Died
December 17, 2010(2010-12-17) (aged 69) Arcata, California, U.S.[1]
Genres
Rock
blues
avant-garde
Occupation(s)
Singer-songwriter
musician
painter
poet
composer
author
record producer
film director
Instrument(s)
Vocals
harmonica
saxophone
clarinet
oboe
horn
shehnai
Years active
1964–1982
Labels
A&M
Buddah
Blue Thumb
ABC
Reprise
Straight
Virgin
Mercury
DiscReet
Warner Bros.
Epic
Major League
Formerly of
The Magic Band
The Mothers of Invention
Website
beefheart.com
Musical artist
Don Van Vliet (/vænˈvliːt/; born Don Glen Vliet;[2] January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as the Magic Band, he recorded 13 studio albums between 1967 and 1982. His music blended elements of blues, free jazz, rock, and avant-garde composition with idiosyncratic rhythms, absurdist wordplay, a gravelly voice, and a wide vocal range.[3][4] Known for his enigmatic persona, Beefheart frequently constructed myths about his life and was known to exercise an almost dictatorial control over his supporting musicians.[5] Although he achieved little commercial success,[6] he sustained a cult following as an influence on an array of experimental rock and punk-era artists.
A prodigy sculptor in his childhood,[7][8][9] Van Vliet developed an interest in blues, R&B, and jazz during his teen years in Lancaster, California, and formed "a mutually useful but volatile" friendship with musician Frank Zappa, with whom he sporadically competed and collaborated.[10] He began performing in his Captain Beefheart persona in 1964 and joined the original Magic Band line-up, initiated by Alexis Snouffer, the same year. The group released their debut album Safe as Milk in 1967 on Buddah Records. After being dropped by two consecutive record labels they signed to Zappa's Straight Records, where they released 1969's Trout Mask Replica; the album would later rank 58th in Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[11] In 1974, frustrated by a lack of commercial success, he pursued a more conventional rock sound, but the ensuing albums were critically panned; this move, combined with not having been paid for a European tour, and years of enduring Beefheart's abusive behavior, led the entire band to quit.[12]
Beefheart eventually formed a new Magic Band with a group of younger musicians and regained critical approval through three final albums: Shiny Beast (1978), Doc at the Radar Station (1980) and Ice Cream for Crow (1982). Van Vliet made few public appearances after his retirement from music in 1982. He pursued a career in art, an interest that originated in his childhood talent for sculpture, and a venture which proved to be his most financially secure. His abstract expressionist paintings and drawings command high prices, and have been exhibited in art galleries and museums across the world.[13][14][15] Van Vliet died in 2010, having had multiple sclerosis for many years.[16]
^Billboard 2011, p. 135.
^"Don Glen Vliet's birth certificate at Beefheart.com". Retrieved July 18, 2011.
^"Captain Beefheart: Biography : Rolling Stone". www.rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
^Barnes 2011, p. 256.
^Barnes, Mike; Paytress, Mark; White III, Jack (March 2011). "The Black Rider". Mojo. Vol. 208. London: Bauermedia. pp. 65–73.
^Harris, John (August 4, 2006). "Mission: unlistenable". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
^"Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
^Luhrssen, David; Larson, Michael (2017). Encyclopedia of Classic Rock. ABC-CLIO. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-4408-3514-8.
^Moskowitz, David V. (2015). The 100 Greatest Bands of All Time: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World [2 volumes]: A Guide to the Legends Who Rocked the World. ABC-CLIO. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-4408-0340-6.
^Loder, Kurt (June 24, 1999). "Captain Beefheart: The Man Who Reconstructed Rock & Roll". www.mtv.com. New York City: Viacom.
^"58 Trout Mask Replica". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 16, 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
^Ratliff, Ben (December 17, 2010). "Don Van Vliet, 'Captain Beefheart,' Dies at 69". The New York Times.
^Barnes 2011, p. 446.
^Cite error: The named reference ft was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^McKenna, Kristina (July 29, 1990). A Crossover of a Different Color Archived October 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Los Angeles Times.
^"Captain Beefheart Dead at Age 69". RollingStone.com. December 17, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name CaptainBeefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as the Magic Band, he recorded...
official releases by American musician CaptainBeefheart. With various line-ups of musicians called The Magic Band, Beefheart released a total of 13 studio albums...
singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist CaptainBeefheart between 1967 and 1982. Originally Beefheart had simply been the lead singer of the group...
Safe as Milk is the debut studio album by American music group CaptainBeefheart and his Magic Band, released in June 1967 by Buddah Records. A heavily...
CaptainBeefheart and his Magic Band, released as a double album on June 16, 1969, by Straight Records. The music was composed by CaptainBeefheart (Don...
is an American musician, best known as a bassist and guitarist for CaptainBeefheart and the Magic Band in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1963, after moving to...
was known as a drummer notably with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and CaptainBeefheart. Since the 1990s, he has worked primarily as a film score composer...
album by CaptainBeefheart. Released in 1972, it is the only album credited solely to CaptainBeefheart (Don Van Vliet) rather than CaptainBeefheart and his...
Unconditionally Guaranteed is the eighth LP by CaptainBeefheart and the Magic Band, released in 1974. It was recorded at Hollywood Sound, Los Angeles...
American guitarist, songwriter, and composer who was a member of CaptainBeefheart's band. He formed the band Gods and Monsters in 1989. Lucas has released...
later changed his name to Don Van Vliet and adopted the stage name CaptainBeefheart). Zappa and Vliet became close friends, sharing an interest in R&B...
is the 13th studio album (and first official posthumous album) by CaptainBeefheart, released on February 22, 2012. It was recorded in 1976 by DiscReet...
Mothers of Invention and CaptainBeefheart's Magic Band. He also played briefly with Geronimo Black in 1972. CaptainBeefheart gave him the nickname Feelers...
at the Radar Station is the eleventh studio album by American band CaptainBeefheart and the Magic Band, released in August 1980 by Virgin Records. The...
studio album by CaptainBeefheart and the Magic Band. It was originally released on LP in 1972 in a clear plastic sleeve. Beefheart's third album Trout...
Strictly Personal is the second album by CaptainBeefheart and his Magic Band. It was originally released in October 1968 as the first album on the Blue...
Ice Cream for Crow is the twelfth and final studio album by CaptainBeefheart and the Magic Band, released in September 1982. After it was recorded, Don...
more eclectic and experimental sound influenced by Harry Partch and CaptainBeefheart, as heard on the loose trilogy Swordfishtrombones (1983), Rain Dogs...
collaborative album by American artists Frank Zappa and the Mothers, with CaptainBeefheart, released in October 1975. The live portions were recorded on May...
Rollo, is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with CaptainBeefheart and The Magic Band. In 2003, he was ranked No. 62 in a Rolling Stone...
in the album, The World of CaptainBeefheart, a collection of cover versions of songs by avant-garde artist CaptainBeefheart. In February 2018, Hendryx...
Frank Zappa's band the Mothers of Invention during the 1960s and CaptainBeefheart and his Magic Band during the 1970s. Thereafter, Tripp retired from...
and artist. Tepper first came to prominence in the late 1970s with CaptainBeefheart. He has also worked with singers Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, Robyn Hitchcock...
is an American rock guitarist, known for his work as a member of CaptainBeefheart's Magic Band. Cotton first came to attention as guitarist with Merrell...
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