Magic Band people »
Don Van Vliet tributes and fond farewells
We were very sorry to learn that Don Van Vliet passed away on Friday 17 December 2010 due to complications arising from multiple sclerosis. Tributes fromRead More
Bill Harkleroad writes about Don
My friend Art Tripp nailed it head to toe and I just can’t say it any better. Time erased all the injustices and I am leftRead More
Art Tripp writes about Don
In 1984 Don and I had renewed our friendship for many years in north California after we’d both left the music biz. Our homes were onlyRead More
Captain Beefheart Symposium: 13 January
Gary Lucas is bringing his Beefheart Symposium to Los Angeles two days before Don’s 70th birthday. During the symposium Gary will show rare footage of theRead More
Gary Lucas to perform live Dracula soundtrack in London
Gary Lucas will be in London on Sunday 21 November to perform the UK premier of his new solo guitar score accompanying the 1931 Spanish-language “Dracula”Read More
Trout House up for sale
Charlie Rosenkranz, the current owner of the Woodland Hills “Trout House” where the Magic Band lived and conceived Trout Mask Replica, emailed me today to sayRead More
Drumming with the Magic Band
Michael Traylor, who shared the drum stool with John French during the recent Magic Band reunion tours, is featured in the latest issue of the US-basedRead More
Gary Lucas at LSO St Lukes
Friday 17 September 7.30pm Transcender: Najma Akhtar & Gary Lucas + Parvathy Baul Tickets £15/20 Produced by the Barbican Concert at LSO St Luke’s, 161 OldRead More
MESSin’ with Drumbo
Film curator, writer and lecturer, Gerry Fialka, is interviewing John French as part of his ongoing series of MESS (Media Ecology Soul Salon) interviews: Echo ParkRead More
Let go flocks of them…
Here are some golden birdies, bits, bobs and doodads for your delectation: Moris Tepper has a new CD out called A Singer Called Shotgun Throat, aRead More
Captain Beefheart Symposium: 10 September
Here’s a treat if you can make it to: The Magic Room Gallery 155 North Beacon Street, Brighton, Massachusetts 02135 On Friday 10 September 2010 –Read More
John Drumbo French interviewed for new Tom Waits DVD
A new Tom Waits documentary DVD “Under The Influence” features interviews with John French (Magic Band drummer, arranger, latter-day front man and biographer). Produced by ChromeRead More
New John French interview
Stephen Toman has just got in touch to alert me to his recent John “Drumbo” French interview which has just been published online. Don’t miss it:Read More
Herb Cohen dies
Beefheart’s one-time manager, Herb Cohen, has died aged 77. Cohen was a larger than life character, a hard nosed businessman who seemed to have a penchantRead More
One-off concert featuring John Drumbo French in Ventura, California
Henry Kaiser kindly sent us the following info today: Groove Family Fundraiser for Breast Cancer presents Robben Ford & Renegade Creation Ultraviolet Licorice (featuring Bob Bralove, Henry Kaiser,Read More
Beefheart Through The Eyes Of Magic in UK press
I’ve just got my copy of John French’s beautiful massive tome and have been keenly devouring it in every spare moment. It’s also had some favourableRead More
New Rockette Morton album
Described as incorporating Jazz, Swing, Blues, Rock and Country in a very unique instrumental collection from two very unique individuals, Bret Short and Rockette Morton, ShortRead More
John French book reviewed
Due to be published on 11 January 2010 here is the first review of John’s book Beefheart: Through the Eyes of Magic. No secrets are givenRead More
The Magic Band at Minehead
These photographs show The Magic Band playing at ‘Ten Years of ATP’, a music festival in Minehead, on Sunday 13th December. Click on the images toRead More
Greg Ladanyi
Grammy Award winning producer, engineer and mixer Greg Ladanyi died in a fall from a stage in Cyprus in September. He was 57. His first jobRead More