Peel fave, obvs. Saw him in 1975, Southampton. Bloody hell, that’s nearly 40 years ago! As we were queueing to get in he was wandering up and down signing autographs. Wish I knew where mine was, might be valuable!
4 April 2014
Dr Desperate
Two interesting facts about Don Van Vliet: 1 He made up the Van part. 2 He wasn’t the first Captain Beefheart in the Magic Band. Alex St Clair Snouffer was (he made up the St part). They changed their names “because the police were after us for smuggling sponges into Nevada”.
5 April 2014
Bobby SVARC
I used to listen to Trout Mask all the time, Obviously girlfriends were very much thin on the ground but I managed to snare one once and took her back to my mates flat where we introduced her to the herb and the album, By the time we got to ‘Pena’ she ran off in tears and screaming, she fell through the front door and wrecked it..Silly cow
6 April 2014
Russell dean
A little unfair of Mr Blackwell to associate Beefheart with ELO, but leaving that aside, Beefheart produced a number of superb aphorisms over the course of his life including: ‘progress is Chanel Number 5 on the rocks’ which I wore on a T- shirt for a while. I also saw Beefheart in London in the early 80s, perhaps the last time he toured, at least the last time he toured England at least, and I was surprised that Brian May was also there with his wife, the actress from Eastenders. I mention this not to name drop but just because I wouldn’t have thought that he was a fan – mascara snake indeed!
6 April 2014
EXXO
I’d have thought the whole point of the lyrics is that unfair juxtaposition is a superb technique for irking purists such as yourself.
Another one might be to say that I don’t ‘get’ that aphorism at all (is that the point?).
Anyway looking at that picture, i’ve realised that we never saw Tom Selleck or Micky Quinn in the same room as Don V V, did we?
6 April 2014
bobby svarc
The music was……thud like
6 April 2014
Dr Desperate
Here’s the original Chanel No 5 quote, added as a footnote on the back of a poster in 1975. The other aphorisms accompanying it give some indication of the general level of comprehensibility. http://www.zappateers.com/bb/download.php?id=14243
7 April 2014
Russell dean
Dear Exxon Valdez, I am not a purist, whatever that means, but I like Beefheart, Zappa, HMHB, the Fall, Jah wobble and a variety of other bands, all available on CD pretty much anywhere. As far as the comprehensibility of the progress aphorism is concerned I didn’t find it too hard to understand – it isn’t the Times cryptic crossword; there aren’t any clues about Bolivian poets. What the aphorism is driving at is simply that buying Chanel no 5 should be associated with material progress except when it is consumed as an alcoholic drink which is quite a nice paradoxical image for Modern Britain.
7 April 2014
EXXo
A case of collateral irking then perhaps (the word ‘unfair’ did suggest some mild irking). Blue on blue irking. Friendly irking as it were.
Ta for the explanation.
7 April 2014
Russell dean
OK, not irked just can’t stand ELO, the Home Counties Eagles, although that comparison is probably a bit anachronistic.
Anyway, just thought I’d proudly boast that of all the ‘Irk the Purists’ artistes, The Orchestra have been honoured with the second most covers of our songs by HMHB. Which is more than Beefheart.
8 April 2014
bobby svarc
Ice Cream,You scream, We all scream for crow
8 April 2014
peter mcornithologist
4th anniversary of his death. I suggest a toast to the host, the ghost, the most holy-o.
17 December 2014
peter mcornithologist
He once worked as a vacuum cleaner salesman.
5 January 2015
Bobby SVARC
@Peter, That Sucks!!
5 January 2015
Bobby SVARC
Also Peter, If you ever meet or contact Geoff Davies get him to tell you the story of meeting Don at the Liverpool Stadium, It’s well worth it.
5 January 2015
peter mcornithologist
@ Bobby. It inspired him to write The Dust Blows Forwards!
5 January 2015
Bobby SVARC
Where’s the bobbin at?
5 January 2015
peter mcornithologist
He once sold a vacuum cleaner to Aldous Huxley.Oh to have been a fly on the wall.
6 January 2015
peter mcornithologist
I am sure his name was mentioned in a Tesco advert tonight. Or is this a Peter Grummitt moment?
13 December 2015
Peter mcornithologist
Appearing on The Old Grey Whistle Test tonight.May have his lil’ pistol showin.
2 April 2016
Hendrix TATtoo
heard his song frying pan years ago, love the harmonica,discovered it was on an album called the legendary A&M Sessions,costing(£15.99) so i ordered it through a now extinct mail order record shop i used,together with a compilation called zig zag wanderer(£5.99) imagine my surprise when played for the first time how short A&M was, it was no longer than 11 mins. where the compilation had one song on it called tarotplane which was 20 mins.long,and like you already know beefheart is a painter,and was frank zappa’s school-chum. it’s rumoured frank sacked the captain due to him drawing cruel caricatures of zappa on the road. also rumoured that he kept the magic band hostage for months, while he was writing trout mask. https://youtu.be/12bctp3h_LA
3 April 2016
Peter Mcornithologist
@ Bobby Svarc . Have you heard Don and Frank Zappa duetting on Orange Clawhammer . Sorry Chris . Jackrabbit raises folded ears.
2 August 2016
bobby svarc
I certainly have, magnificent.
2 August 2016
Peter Mcornithologist
A sartorial genius to boot ?
9 February 2017
SPT
In history at school we once did an exercise that was intended to hone our evidence gathering skills. It involved a lad who’d been found dead in a ditch with a Captain Beefheart ticket in his pocket. Our teacher shared his love for Beefheart with us, to the total indifference of a group of 12 year olds in the early 80s. We were far more interested to discover that his (the teacher’s) name was Brent. He died very young if I remember right. Which was sad.
12 August 2017
Phyllis Triggs
Ha! We did that exercise at our school too. Funny how these things stay with you. When I first heard The Unfortunate Gwatkin, something about the presentation of the scenario involving the jacket with a tin of sweetcorn in each pocket immediately brought the mysterious fate of the Beefheart fan to mind!
13 August 2017
ExxO
On a site full of proper Reds and Tractor Boy(s) I’m surprised nobody’s made the obvious lookey-likey comment about that photo.
https://ibb.co/dG22U7 The Don made an unexpected appearance at my best mate’s tribute do on Friday night.
16 April 2018
EXXO
Be interested to know what species that trout mask replica replica is replicated upon, especially since it always looked like a koi carp to me.
16 April 2018
dr desperate
In 1995 Cal Schenkel, the comic artist who designed TMR’s cover, seemed a little uncertain on that topic, saying, “The way it came about, I went and found this carp head at some fish market…I took this trout head and hollowed it out—the thing stank like hell—and Don had to hold it up to his face for a couple of hours while we shot. He was really good-natured about it all. I have this incredible piece of 8mm film of him playing the baritone sax through the trout head.” The common carp was introduced to the US in 1831.
16 April 2018
BOBBY SVARC
Well after a phone call to Twat Hayes he assures me that Trout don’t have barbules, but you knew that Exxo. The mask that I purchased was a fully grown Common Carp made from latex, made me sweat like a dockers armpit but the cause was well worth it.
16 April 2018
EXXO
That’s no common (on the original cover) – looks like koi or just maybe mirror carp, but the thin lips on Mick’s replica of of a replica are going to give me Boschian nightmares.
16 April 2018
EXXO
Posted simultaneously with someone again, sorry Mick, that makes it sound like I didn’t appreciate your brilliant craftsmanship – ‘cos I didn’t realise it was actually you in the pic and that you were referring to your own handiwork – outstanding touches of detail. I’d have just stuck a mackerel in me face.
Ace T-shirt too. My Mrs. was at the St. Pauli game last weekend and has brought me back yet another one for my collection. She took her Oyston-boycotting dad for his birthday and said he was blown away by his first experience of the “look what you could have had (for about 13 Euros a pop)” world of the Bundesliga fan culture. Shite football though on this occasion. Be very ironic if St. Pauli aren’t in the same division when HSV finally get relegated.
17 April 2018
Peter Mcornithologist
@ Bobby Svarc .Superb Ps . I wonder what happened to that remarkable green overcoat?
17 April 2018
BOBBY SVARC
@EXXO: It was all a quick lash-up really, I organised a tribute night for my mate who died in December, he was a Beefheart aficionado who had seen the great man two or three times. So I found a hat and mask on e-bay, the only thing I couldn’t find was a kids type of shuttlecock for the top of the hat. I also produced a couple of MixCloud radio shows, you can find them here https://www.mixcloud.com/RoofRadio/rock-mduck-radio-freery-tribute-show/ with a load of other shows I’ve done. So, all in all, it was a great night and has gone a long way to find closure after a few months of sadness.
@PETER: I did have a coat a bit like that I found it at a jumble at our local church hall when we were killing time before our bus turned up. I can still remember the name that was written in the back, Mavis Bevin. My mate Branno bought an old gas mask from the jumble and wore it all the way on the bus, he even bought his ticket from the conductor with it still on, funny as…The coat was a bit tight but served its purpose, had it for a few years actually, would need two sewn together now!.
17 April 2018
Bobby svarc
Hamburg next season then Exxo.
13 May 2018
BOBBY SVARC
Some sad news to report about the death of Victor Hayden of The Magic Band. Victor died on the 7th of December due to complications after being struck by a van. RIP ‘The Mascara Snake’
9 December 2018
peter mcorthilogist
Thank you Bobby. A hero of mine. Musically perfect with selection of suits to lust after.
10 December 2018
BOBBY SVARC
I hear that Bobby Zappa has passed away too.
10 December 2018
Kg
Another little trifle about the great TMR album is (whether deliberate or not) is that replica is an anagram of carp lie. Not too sure about the collaboration of Zappa and Don on orange claw, unless you’re referring to Frank’s excellent production of the album. I don’t know of Frank singing, playing or having any artistic input to the album
9 May 2019
Kg
I stand corrected. After googling Frank, Don and orange, there’s some good ones on you tube, brilliant!! thx for that. I was only referring to TMR album
9 May 2019
Alice van der meer
Whilst waiting for the man from the double glazing company to fix my draughts, I’ve ordered a packet of Captain Beefheart tomato seed. Me? Tragic enough to try them for the name? ‘Fraid so!
Planning on growing them alongside big-eyed beans from Venus.
9 January 2020
transit full of keith
A Captain Beefheart tomato in a polyethylene tunnel grows fast and bulbous. Got me?
Dawlishian
Peel fave, obvs. Saw him in 1975, Southampton. Bloody hell, that’s nearly 40 years ago! As we were queueing to get in he was wandering up and down signing autographs. Wish I knew where mine was, might be valuable!
4 April 2014
Dr Desperate
Two interesting facts about Don Van Vliet:
1 He made up the Van part.
2 He wasn’t the first Captain Beefheart in the Magic Band. Alex St Clair Snouffer was (he made up the St part). They changed their names “because the police were after us for smuggling sponges into Nevada”.
5 April 2014
Bobby SVARC
I used to listen to Trout Mask all the time, Obviously girlfriends were very much thin on the ground but I managed to snare one once and took her back to my mates flat where we introduced her to the herb and the album, By the time we got to ‘Pena’ she ran off in tears and screaming, she fell through the front door and wrecked it..Silly cow
6 April 2014
Russell dean
A little unfair of Mr Blackwell to associate Beefheart with ELO, but leaving that aside, Beefheart produced a number of superb aphorisms over the course of his life including: ‘progress is Chanel Number 5 on the rocks’ which I wore on a T- shirt for a while. I also saw Beefheart in London in the early 80s, perhaps the last time he toured, at least the last time he toured England at least, and I was surprised that Brian May was also there with his wife, the actress from Eastenders. I mention this not to name drop but just because I wouldn’t have thought that he was a fan – mascara snake indeed!
6 April 2014
EXXO
I’d have thought the whole point of the lyrics is that unfair juxtaposition is a superb technique for irking purists such as yourself.
Another one might be to say that I don’t ‘get’ that aphorism at all (is that the point?).
Anyway looking at that picture, i’ve realised that we never saw Tom Selleck or Micky Quinn in the same room as Don V V, did we?
6 April 2014
bobby svarc
The music was……thud like
6 April 2014
Dr Desperate
Here’s the original Chanel No 5 quote, added as a footnote on the back of a poster in 1975. The other aphorisms accompanying it give some indication of the general level of comprehensibility.
http://www.zappateers.com/bb/download.php?id=14243
7 April 2014
Russell dean
Dear Exxon Valdez, I am not a purist, whatever that means, but I like Beefheart, Zappa, HMHB, the Fall, Jah wobble and a variety of other bands, all available on CD pretty much anywhere. As far as the comprehensibility of the progress aphorism is concerned I didn’t find it too hard to understand – it isn’t the Times cryptic crossword; there aren’t any clues about Bolivian poets. What the aphorism is driving at is simply that buying Chanel no 5 should be associated with material progress except when it is consumed as an alcoholic drink which is quite a nice paradoxical image for Modern Britain.
7 April 2014
EXXo
A case of collateral irking then perhaps (the word ‘unfair’ did suggest some mild irking). Blue on blue irking. Friendly irking as it were.
Ta for the explanation.
7 April 2014
Russell dean
OK, not irked just can’t stand ELO, the Home Counties Eagles, although that comparison is probably a bit anachronistic.
7 April 2014
WILD WEST HERO
“Home Counties” ?
Anyway, just thought I’d proudly boast that of all the ‘Irk the Purists’ artistes, The Orchestra have been honoured with the second most covers of our songs by HMHB. Which is more than Beefheart.
8 April 2014
bobby svarc
Ice Cream,You scream, We all scream for crow
8 April 2014
peter mcornithologist
4th anniversary of his death. I suggest a toast to the host, the ghost, the most holy-o.
17 December 2014
peter mcornithologist
He once worked as a vacuum cleaner salesman.
5 January 2015
Bobby SVARC
@Peter, That Sucks!!
5 January 2015
Bobby SVARC
Also Peter, If you ever meet or contact Geoff Davies get him to tell you the story of meeting Don at the Liverpool Stadium, It’s well worth it.
5 January 2015
peter mcornithologist
@ Bobby. It inspired him to write The Dust Blows Forwards!
5 January 2015
Bobby SVARC
Where’s the bobbin at?
5 January 2015
peter mcornithologist
He once sold a vacuum cleaner to Aldous Huxley.Oh to have been a fly on the wall.
6 January 2015
peter mcornithologist
I am sure his name was mentioned in a Tesco advert tonight. Or is this a Peter Grummitt moment?
13 December 2015
Peter mcornithologist
Appearing on The Old Grey Whistle Test tonight.May have his lil’ pistol showin.
2 April 2016
Hendrix TATtoo
heard his song frying pan years ago, love the harmonica,discovered it was on an album called the legendary A&M Sessions,costing(£15.99) so i ordered it through a now extinct mail order record shop i used,together with a compilation called zig zag wanderer(£5.99) imagine my surprise when played for the first time how short A&M was, it was no longer than 11 mins.
where the compilation had one song on it called tarotplane which was 20 mins.long,and like you already know beefheart is a painter,and was frank zappa’s school-chum.
it’s rumoured frank sacked the captain due to him drawing cruel caricatures of zappa on the road.
also rumoured that he kept the magic band hostage for months, while he was writing trout mask.
https://youtu.be/12bctp3h_LA
3 April 2016
Peter Mcornithologist
@ Bobby Svarc . Have you heard Don and Frank Zappa duetting on Orange Clawhammer . Sorry Chris . Jackrabbit raises folded ears.
2 August 2016
bobby svarc
I certainly have, magnificent.
2 August 2016
Peter Mcornithologist
A sartorial genius to boot ?
9 February 2017
SPT
In history at school we once did an exercise that was intended to hone our evidence gathering skills. It involved a lad who’d been found dead in a ditch with a Captain Beefheart ticket in his pocket. Our teacher shared his love for Beefheart with us, to the total indifference of a group of 12 year olds in the early 80s. We were far more interested to discover that his (the teacher’s) name was Brent. He died very young if I remember right. Which was sad.
12 August 2017
Phyllis Triggs
Ha! We did that exercise at our school too. Funny how these things stay with you. When I first heard The Unfortunate Gwatkin, something about the presentation of the scenario involving the jacket with a tin of sweetcorn in each pocket immediately brought the mysterious fate of the Beefheart fan to mind!
13 August 2017
ExxO
On a site full of proper Reds and Tractor Boy(s) I’m surprised nobody’s made the obvious lookey-likey comment about that photo.
https://bootroomblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/john-wark-boro.jpg
14 August 2017
dr desperate
Funny, I was thinking the same about Chris Rodon.
https://thegoldstonewrap.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/chrisrodon.jpg?w=580&h=772
14 August 2017
JUST MARK
Trim his hair and he resembles:
Linky
15 August 2017
BOBBY SVARC
https://ibb.co/dG22U7
The Don made an unexpected appearance at my best mate’s tribute do on Friday night.
16 April 2018
EXXO
Be interested to know what species that trout mask replica replica is replicated upon, especially since it always looked like a koi carp to me.
16 April 2018
dr desperate
In 1995 Cal Schenkel, the comic artist who designed TMR’s cover, seemed a little uncertain on that topic, saying, “The way it came about, I went and found this carp head at some fish market…I took this trout head and hollowed it out—the thing stank like hell—and Don had to hold it up to his face for a couple of hours while we shot. He was really good-natured about it all. I have this incredible piece of 8mm film of him playing the baritone sax through the trout head.”
The common carp was introduced to the US in 1831.
16 April 2018
BOBBY SVARC
Well after a phone call to Twat Hayes he assures me that Trout don’t have barbules, but you knew that Exxo. The mask that I purchased was a fully grown Common Carp made from latex, made me sweat like a dockers armpit but the cause was well worth it.
16 April 2018
EXXO
That’s no common (on the original cover) – looks like koi or just maybe mirror carp, but the thin lips on Mick’s replica of of a replica are going to give me Boschian nightmares.
16 April 2018
EXXO
Posted simultaneously with someone again, sorry Mick, that makes it sound like I didn’t appreciate your brilliant craftsmanship – ‘cos I didn’t realise it was actually you in the pic and that you were referring to your own handiwork – outstanding touches of detail. I’d have just stuck a mackerel in me face.
Ace T-shirt too. My Mrs. was at the St. Pauli game last weekend and has brought me back yet another one for my collection. She took her Oyston-boycotting dad for his birthday and said he was blown away by his first experience of the “look what you could have had (for about 13 Euros a pop)” world of the Bundesliga fan culture. Shite football though on this occasion. Be very ironic if St. Pauli aren’t in the same division when HSV finally get relegated.
17 April 2018
Peter Mcornithologist
@ Bobby Svarc .Superb Ps . I wonder what happened to that remarkable green overcoat?
17 April 2018
BOBBY SVARC
@EXXO: It was all a quick lash-up really, I organised a tribute night for my mate who died in December, he was a Beefheart aficionado who had seen the great man two or three times. So I found a hat and mask on e-bay, the only thing I couldn’t find was a kids type of shuttlecock for the top of the hat. I also produced a couple of MixCloud radio shows, you can find them here https://www.mixcloud.com/RoofRadio/rock-mduck-radio-freery-tribute-show/ with a load of other shows I’ve done.
So, all in all, it was a great night and has gone a long way to find closure after a few months of sadness.
@PETER: I did have a coat a bit like that I found it at a jumble at our local church hall when we were killing time before our bus turned up. I can still remember the name that was written in the back, Mavis Bevin. My mate Branno bought an old gas mask from the jumble and wore it all the way on the bus, he even bought his ticket from the conductor with it still on, funny as…The coat was a bit tight but served its purpose, had it for a few years actually, would need two sewn together now!.
17 April 2018
Bobby svarc
Hamburg next season then Exxo.
13 May 2018
BOBBY SVARC
Some sad news to report about the death of Victor Hayden of The Magic Band. Victor died on the 7th of December due to complications after being struck by a van.
RIP ‘The Mascara Snake’
9 December 2018
peter mcorthilogist
Thank you Bobby. A hero of mine. Musically perfect with selection of suits to lust after.
10 December 2018
BOBBY SVARC
I hear that Bobby Zappa has passed away too.
10 December 2018
Kg
Another little trifle about the great TMR album is (whether deliberate or not) is that replica is an anagram of carp lie. Not too sure about the collaboration of Zappa and Don on orange claw, unless you’re referring to Frank’s excellent production of the album. I don’t know of Frank singing, playing or having any artistic input to the album
9 May 2019
Kg
I stand corrected. After googling Frank, Don and orange, there’s some good ones on you tube, brilliant!! thx for that. I was only referring to TMR album
9 May 2019
Alice van der meer
Whilst waiting for the man from the double glazing company to fix my draughts, I’ve ordered a packet of Captain Beefheart tomato seed. Me? Tragic enough to try them for the name? ‘Fraid so!
Planning on growing them alongside big-eyed beans from Venus.
9 January 2020
transit full of keith
A Captain Beefheart tomato in a polyethylene tunnel grows fast and bulbous. Got me?
10 January 2020
Alice van der meer
Especially when fed with China Pig manure.
10 January 2020
BOBBY SVARC
Grom Toms
10 January 2020
BOBBY SVARC
Grow Toms
10 January 2020