Captain Beefheart dies aged 69
Written by admin on December 17, 2010 – 8:23 pm -American musician and artist Don Van Vliet, also known as Captain Beefheart, died today aged 69 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. He was born in Glendale, California, on January 15, 1941.
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Some of Van Vliet’s earliest musical experiments were with Frank Zappa with whom he became friends as a teenager. His earliest success came with Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. The band released their first single in 1966 and their first album, “Safe as Milk”, the following year.
A further 11 albums followed, including the Zappa-produced “Trout Mask Replica” (1969) which is generally regarded as the band’s finest achievement. |
The final Captain Beefheart album was “Ice Cream for Crow” in 1982, after which Van Vliet retired from the music business and concentrated on painting. By the early 1990s, he was wheelchair bound due to multiple sclerosis.
Van Vliet’s death was announced by the Michael Werner Gallery. The statement called him “a complex and influential figure in the visual and performing arts” and “one of the most original recording artists of his time.”
Captain Beefheart – “I’m Glad” (from “Safe as Milk”)
Tags: Captain Beefheart, Don Van Vliet, Frank Zappa, Ice Cream for Crow, Safe as Milk, Trout Mask Replica
Posted in American Rock, Obituaries |
