Captain Beefheart Dead At Age 69

Damned, I just read Captain Beefheart passed away! I don’t know if you folks know the guy but he made some truly weird music. A fair part of it bordering on unlistenable, and some compositions far beyond… But some of his songs are gems, and in general he had a sympathetic sound, imho.

I didn’t know he suffered from MS. Teriible disease

Captain, I salute you!! And thanks again for some truly weird music :lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqRHr5pEIFU&feature=related
Btw Big-Eyed Beans from Venus would have been more appropriate for this forum, but I couldn’t find a good version.

Captain Beefheart Dead At Age 69

Experimental rock legend, born Don Van Vliet, died today from complications from multiple sclerosis

By Maura Johnston
December 17, 2010 4:57 PM EDT

Don Van Vliet, who became a rock legend as Captain Beefheart, died today from complications from multiple sclerosis in California. His passing was announced by the New York-based Michael Werner Gallery, which represented his work as a painter.

His Trout Mask Replica was Number 58 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In a 1969 review, Lester Bangs called Trout “a total success, a brilliant, stunning enlargement and clarification of his art.”

“Don Van Vliet was a complex and influential figure in the visual and performing arts,” the gallery said in a statement. “He is perhaps best known as the incomparable Captain Beefheart who, together with his Magic Band, rose to prominence in the 1960s with a totally unique style of blues-inspired, experimental rock & roll. This would ultimately secure Van Vliet’s place in music history as one of the most original recording artists of his time. After two decades in the spotlight as an avant-garde composer and performer, Van Vliet retired from performing to devote himself wholeheartedly to painting and drawing. Like his music, Van Vliet’s lush paintings are the product of a truly rare and unique vision.”

Van Vliet leaves behind a wife, Jan. The two were married for more than 40 years.

source

Btw, personally I have hard time stomaching Trout Mask Replica, widely regarded his master piece, though I do think it’s brilliant. I like Bat Chain Puller / Dirty Beast the best - it features the most playable songs

In case someone’s curious (or too poor or cheap to go out and buy the Captain’s cd, or wants to listen first) there’s a mp3 compilation here:

Captain Beefheart : Tall Tales (Excerpts from the Captain’s Log)

01 Tropical Hot Dog Night
02 The Past Sure Is Tense
03 When It Blows Its Stacks
04 Bat Chain Puller
05 Dachau Blues
06 Harry Irene
07 You Know You’re a Man
08 Sheriff of Hong Kong
09 Moonlight on Vermont
10 The Smithsonian Institute Blues (or the Big Dig)
11 The Host the Ghost the Most Holy-O
12 Observatory Crest
13 Candle Mambo
14 Sugar 'n Spikes
15 Owed t’Alex
16 Big Eyed Beans from Venus

Atmosphere-wise it doesn’t really fit with Freelancer. Unless you’re high on cardamine Maybe I’ll put up a few excerpts of some of his songs in Rogue bars in my mod… (Although I think the Rogues prefer Motörhead and AC/DC)