Life articles and interviews »
A Study of Captain Beefheart by Patrick Carr
“New York is a slow turtle with diarrhea” says Captain Beefheart, alias the Spotlight Kid, alias Don Van Vliet. The Anderson Theatre is in that areaRead More
An Octafish Speaks – Zappa employee and friend to the Magic Band answers a few questions
First, some background info… You said that you worked for Zappa… how long was this for and what did you do? I worked for John WilliamsRead More
An Old Fart At Play: Conversations With Captain Beefheart by Lou Stathis
Photograph copyright Anton Corbijn, used by kind permission There’s no doubt in my mind that Don Van Vliet (better known by his nom de disc, CaptainRead More
Authentically Strange by Caroline Boucher
We at the Observer can boast a couple of ancient links with Captain Beefheart, subject of tonight’s Rock Cults programme, The Artist Formerly Known as CaptainRead More
Beef Encounters – Gary Lucas, John Peel and Craig Scanlon on Captain Beefheart
Gary Lucas First saw Captain Beefheart play at a New York club in 1971. Their acquaintance was years old before he plucked up the courage toRead More
Beefheart’s Baby by Jeffrey Peisch
The first thing Don Van Vliet does when you meet him is to bring you immediately into his world. “Those people over there take too manyRead More
Beefheart’s Boogie by Andrew Lycet
WHAT DOES one say to a man who, at the age of three, used to talk with lions inside their cages? How does one cope withRead More
Bent Notes and Blues Grunts by David Belcher
An ornery cuss is Don van Vliet, the subject of next Tuesday’s BBC2 documentary Rock Cults: The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart, introduced and narratedRead More
Captain Beefheart by Kristine McKenna
Captain Beefheart is a visionary / madman / genius who makes remarkably original music. A sculptor / painter / poet / philosopher of the primitive surrealistRead More
Captain Beefheart Pulls A Hat Out Of His Rabbit by Byron Coley and Robert Carey
The stars are matter. We’re matter. What’s the diff, Zoot? Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, has emerged after six years of semi-retirement with a greatRead More
Captain Beefheart’s Far Cry by Lester Bangs
He’s alive, but so is paint. Are you? Don Van Vliet is a 39-year-old man who lives with his wife Jan in a trailer in theRead More
Dave DiMartino responds to allegations about his Magic Band interviews
In April 2003 I received a message from Dave DiMartino, the author of the 1993 Mojo article “Yeah I’m Happy” featuring interviews with Don, various membersRead More
Don talks to Bono, introduced by Anton Corbijn
Introduction by Anton Corbijn: Finally the time has arrived… Bono will meet Captain Beefheart! Albeit from a distance – Bono is staying in a hotel inRead More
Don Vliet and Agostinho Rodrigues by Steve Froy
One of the many myths surrounding Don’s early years involves his association with a Portuguese sculptor called Agostinho Rodrigues (sometimes written as Augustino Rodriquez). Don’s storyRead More
Genius or madman – the jury is still out on Captain Beefheart by Mike Barnes
But why did he throw it all in and go to live in the Mojave Desert? Mike Barnes finds out. “I’M a genius, I was bornRead More
Letter from John French to Mojo Magazine
I just read the Beefheart story a week or so ago. DiMartino, the author, was supposed to send me a copy (all writers promise, most neverRead More
Miss Lobell To Marry…Capt. Don Van Vliet Beefheart, USAF?
This was very kindly sent to me by Brainpang – many thanks to him for this bizarre curio. Joan Lobell is a Beefheart fan who, inRead More
Re-Achieving Naivety by Ben Thompson
Don Van Vliet is probably the only full-time painter who used to be a mythical figure in music. Once Captain Beefheart, he is soon to exhibitRead More
Refusal Of Leave To Land Report
On the 18th January 1968, The Magic Band were involved in a bizarre and humorous incident which resulted in their being refused entry to the UKRead More
Some YoYo Stuff by Anton Corbijn
In 1993 Don Van Vliet made a short film with Anton Corbijn. As you might expect, it’s unlike any other artist portrait you may have seen…Read More