Guest book » Guestbook part 13: 2003

great site, i’ll be back for sure

Don took me to the edge musically.He has changed the way I hear music and indeed the way I write, I love the man.He should be Knighted instead of the usual pricks!

Hello, first: I’m a big fan of Captain Beefheart’s music, I discovered it not so long ago. But I’d like to ask a question; because i like the ‘fast ‘n bulbous’ words so much. I’d like to call my band fast ‘n bulbous. Is that ok? Can I do that?

As the late Morris Graves said; CONSCIOUSNESS IS THE UNIVERSE! As we will kindly keep our ducks in a row, I’m sure that our team will swim without redundance. Happy Holidays! Big Splashy

Harry Irene is the most romantic song ever…met my sweetie 12 years ago today while the twilight of acid rang halos around the place, imagine your 1st time ever taking a psychotropic and hearing Shiny Beast for the 1st time as well! His music is so bold and fierce and human, and the paintings are sublime ….thank you Captain B.

Thanks for the wonderful radio station, it fills my days with sound :) Now let’s take a look at this site…

I liked the article on the Clark Hutchinson Band and likewise have had a great deal of difficulty trying to get acopy of retribution. God how we used to piss ourselves laughing when me and a mate used to play that to unsuspecting guests on my stereo at alarming levels! Well it was 1972 and pills were extremely nice in those days… Is it available anywhere? It was on the Deram label in the UK Then but who knows now.

Captain Beefheart is a great poet and musician, a rare genius, so funny and full of joy and life. God bless him wherever he is.

Just wanted to say that I love this man, have done since – oh, 1969 or thereabouts when John Peel played Trout Mask Replica tracks every Saturday afternoon. Are there any girl fans of his out there?

We would all go see Capt.Beefheart and His Magic Band at the The Exposition Hall in Lancaster Calif. (circa 1965/66). I will never forget the first time I heard Capt. Beefheart and His Magic Band play the Blues. I have never heard anything by anybody (to this date) crank out the Blues as he did with His Magic Band in those early days. The sights and sounds that came blasting at me in that Hall that first time will never leave me ! From his howl’n wolf snarls to the blasting harmonica blows, with the Magic Band firmly standing beside him holding down that heart throbbing beat, I stood there transfixed and totally immersed in what I was hearing (coming into my ears and going through my entire body) ! My first encounter with this man and his (truly) Magic band set the standard for all bands to follow (Blues or otherwise). Ah, to hear that blues again as only Captain Beefheart and that “Magic Band” dished out back then would be pure (Blues) heaven ! You’ve never seen or heard anything like it ! Take my word on this.

I too had forgotten how magik Magik could be – Wonderful site, MANY THANX – Loved the C’ptain and his crew at first sight – that was 30 years ago ! – what sounds can sound like ! Wow! Blew my mind! How come now that with all the great folks/ideas/music/etc in the world, it’s turned into such a nightmare? So CALLING ALL BEEFHEART FANS IN THE UK (and the world round!!): TURN THE SOUND UP !!!

Great Googliemooglie ! A Captain site that’s Bigger than Joan and has smaller hands :O)

Saw the captain at Leeds University twice. First time me and my mate wondered into the student union bar and saw Don and another band member (possibly Bruce Fowler) sat at a table with a cigarette stuck into a meat pie which was sitting in an ashtray placed in front of them. An early example of conceptual art? Or an American comment on UK food? Later we bumped into Don coming out of the loo. He had a piece of cheese strung on a piece of leather around his neck;. My mate asked what the cheese was for. “For my mouse,” said the Captain as he walked away

leaves blew the philosopher stumbled the sky cried into dark

Nothing is better than beefheart.

I recently discovered the capt & band…facinating!!..I saw a good friend I have not seen in years last week in a bar. Said Marc, you ever hear of Capt Beefheart? And he lights up and says Trout Mask Replica!! The best!!!

You’re Crasy man :-)!

I just received an accolade in the press I am delighted about, and I thought I’d share. “Slam Buckra is about as close as anyone’s gonna come to making Captain Beefheart music.” San Diego Union/Tribune Cool huh?

I have absolutely loved Capt. Beefheart’s music from the first time I heard him on “Hot Rats”! I have aspired to attempt to portray my musical soul as deeply as he has, with my own group, The Unknown Eyes, inspired by The Magic Band, esp. “Trout Mask Replica”, which is one of my two all-time fave albums. (The other is “Freak Out”) I even heard of a Texas band called “The Antsmens” which was somewhat of a Beefheart tribute band. Although they were actually a jazz-band, they were right in step with the stylings of the earlier Magic Band style. “Because her hands were so small..”

I was out in the mid-west (Northern Michigan) and attended a “stone circle, poetry telling” up near Elk Rapids. It was at night, with a bonfire and some good people talking and listening. You had to have the poem in your head, you couldn’t read it, that was the rule. I liked the style but the only poem that I knew by heart was “the old fart at play” I bailed out. I wasn’t sure that I could get the whole thing done and I didn’t want to do a dis-service to Don. So I went looking for Captain Beefheart on line and found your site. Nice. Next year, I’ll have a few to tell around that campfire and it’ll never be the same.

Saw the Don at the Stadium, Liverpool at the tender age of 15 in ’74. Was with a great guy called Mac from Leeds. He knew the Don’s Virgin manager in UK and we were invited to a party after the show. Turned out there was only us and two reporters. I sat blown away by being in the master’s presence and finally had to dash to the bog and spew up (thanks to the ‘cocktails’ I’d consumed earlier!) When i came out he had gone but my friend Mac had a doodled-on copy of Unconditinally Guaranteed which he wouldn’t give to me! I have a few of his LPs and occasionally meet people who love the Don – even a young guy who was knocked out by a girl liking the Don! Thatzallfernow Crissy (surenuffandyesIdo)

Hello to all who spawned in grass valley while drinking the Captain’s magic! I truly feel this site completes something….”under her dress” thanks

Thirty years ago I discovered Beefhearts music, now I have rediscovered it. Right now I´m listening to Autumn´s Child. Superb, fantastic. I know where I am, in the southeast of Sweden.

Miss You

Fantastic site. Just what the Dr ordered.

Thank you. I enjoyed getting some info on Don. Would love to see more of his paintings. Have had the good fortune to catch him live during the Doc at the Radar Station tour. Enjoyed his interview with Letterman (many years ago). I am very intrigued by his stance / approach and that he appears to walk it; consequently am interested in ‘what is he doing now’ but understand and respect your comments on this in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Would not disturb his privacy, consequently. Should YOU care to answer…Why are you involved/ did you set up this page? I am not the Emperor Vito featured on Zappa’s Freak Out album…( but should the position be available, I might be interested in applying -if talent is not required) Any additional info or comments would be appreciated. Thank you for an interesting site!

The dexterity of the Spotlight Kid almost resembing a translusive state stated in the rostral ventromedial medussa, hippocampus and also the godlike nymph which stirs, slowly manifesting in all the true connection, symbiosis, positive-negativity, galloping thoughts in a sea of expression.

I am currently reading Mike Barnes’s Biography of Captain Beefheart.Its a tad heavy, but non the less a good read for any fan.. After reading the chapter on the making of the “Clear Spot” album, I was blown away by the rather strange and outlandish interpretations put forward for the classic track “Big Eyed Beans from Venus”.. In his synopsis, Mike Barnes challenges his readers to deliver their own interpretations of the song.. Well one things for sure the song sure ain’t about “TV sets” as Beefheart says, (this I guess is just the Captain’s way of saying “if you can’t figure it out, get back in your box!”). The song I believe is infact Beefheart’s affirmation of the joys of procreation and parenthood. With the classic line “men let your wallets flop out and women open your purses” presenting a primo Beefheart description for copulation, and of course the song title itself being the ultimate description for a newly born baby as the “big eyed bean” from “Venus” alias woman/mother.. And indeed “a man and a women without a big eyed bean… is suffering from the worstest of curses..” There are several other give away lines which paint the full picture on the joys and bliss of parenthood Beefheart style… Then again maybe I’m way off track and it is about TVs, little green men and/or a viagran prophacy.. Any insights most welcome.

The captain is the only man ever to truly inspire me

Nice site…grettings from germany…

This site is fantastic and the music, poetry and lyrics of Capt. Beefheart that are posted here are something to treasure, study and deconstruct. This man is a true original and that is just about the highest compliment I can give an artist. He holds no boundaries, completely limitless in terms of musical form and structure and whether he checks this message board or not (probably not, considering that even his fans don’t seem to post anything here), I want to personally thank him for opening up my mind and completely changing the way that I perceived music can be.

Saw the 1973 Winterland photos! I was at that concert! Had just turned 19. Went to best friend Greg Elich’s house one day and we decided to up and hitchhike to his cousin’s house unannounced (we were in Sacto, cousin was in Carmel – got there in middle of the night) next day his cousin saw an advert for the upcoming Winterland gig and shoved it under the bathroom door (where Greg was). We heard this bloodcurdling scream! His favorite band was Beefheart, Mahavishnu was number two. We were there! Bill Graham showed up when we were sitting outside (first in line). Everyone asked when he was gonna bring Beefheart back. When he announced ’em he goes “I know you’ve waited a long time for this….” We had camped there all night. Remember cop driving by and asking us if we were all right. We said “yeah, we’re just waiting for the concert – we gotta be the first in line”. He looked up at the sign: “Captain Bee Fart?” Best concert I ever saw! Never heard any crowd demand an encore louder, I thought plaster was gonna fall from the Winterland ceiling! The place was actually shaking that hard from all the stomping feet. Greg! Where are you now?

First heard “Dust Blows Forward And The Dust Blows Back” over ten years ago, and the sounds still amaze me on that album… Don’s paintings are harsh, man.

Why do we always leap towards the strange? Where we would like to be? Why are we so alone? Suttherland is waiting.

Without a record in 21 years I’d have thought Vliet’s career wasn’t so well chronicled, but I guess he still has fans out there. He was smart to leave the pop music business right when he did; it was all downhill from there and will never return to what it was in his day. Surely he figured that out long ago. And subsequent history has proven him dead right. I heard he has some health problems but won’t speculate. Sorry I don’t know Mr. Vliet personally so I can’t give any tribute to him. But I was a classmate of his bassist, Rick Snyder, at Pasadena City College in 1984. Rick is a very nice man and great musician. He may not remember me but I enjoyed his stories about his times with C.B.

Hi there! I’m interested in the Captain’s influence by Literature. 1. James Joyce: I read parts of “Finnegans wake” and I think I found some paralels in the working with words. Is the Captain influenced by Joyce (fast ‘n’ boulbous)? Are the lyrics of “Grow Fins” a hommage to the great James? 2. In Elman’s Oscar Wild biography he describes his closing on one special occasion: A high head (6 inches?!?) an a green coat with fur around the neck. It reminds me a bit of the Trout Mask fashion of the Captain. Was that a satirical hommage to estheticism? Maybe somebody can cure my curiosity.

I and my friends have been fans of the Captain for many years. We are musicians and enjoyed the wild humour and the way the captian could put together seemingly unrelated words and phrases and yet they would make sense. His music also seemed to be an attempt to express emotion unbounded by the rules of music and we appreciated that also. He was so kind at the concert where we saw him in about 1972 and we have never forgotten that. Wail on good Captain!

Great site..The captain’s music and art has always entertained me. a break from the generic, mundane and ordinary. Good job. Step out of a triangle and into striped light

Just wanted to say hello and congratulate you on a really neat web site.

Man.. I’m playing Safe As Milk again, played it yesterday too… Autumn’s Child just gets me onto that air!! It sends me away.. just so far away!! Genius. Regards from Scotland, Chupa. (Thats right The Mascara Snake!!)

I love your site! I was at Shepherds Bush to witness the WONDERFUL Magic Band gig, thanks so much to these glorious men and Matt Groening et al for the most exciting evening possible (and I was at the Albert Hall way back in ’73). You made me feel 17 again. Bless you guys! xxx

If you were the girl with the dyed red hair and stolen Magic Band gig poster that i saw on the train coming back from the 7/4/03 gig at Shepherds Bush, please reply, i think you’re absolutely lovely.

Last time I saw the Magic Band was 31 years ago in Southampton University with Pete, Rob (Right Said Fred) and Mark… we met up last night. To say that my consciousness shifted to rare and beautiful places by the music is just an oversimplification. For some moments it was like a recap of my adult life, I have always remained loyal to the Captain, it was not only a testament to this but also shifted my mind continuum in a strange and undescribable way. Bless you guys and I hope you come back and see us again. A real honour to have witnessed this event.

This is a great site. Zappa is great but Beefheart is the real thing, love his music

Hey, good stuff guys. I spend a lot of hours on my computer…. and a little nonobtrusive background is good. I have found myself saying….THAT IS VERY UNIQUE MUSIC…AND WHERE CAN I GET IT. ( I am 55 years old…and have already turned on a few teenagers to your site. They of course didn’t believe me….but apparently some kids are looking for some relaxation…..they told me about sites that feature running water and etc. On your site…after a couple of predictable cuts you come up with some gem. Good work guys.

I hope ’03 is swimming straight & narrow for all of y’all…spring is at the foot of the stairs…a great time to listen to Mr. Vliet’s music, soak up his quantum verbfish and stare into his artwork… Loaf, peas & hominy.

Beautiful Site. I look forward to exploring the world of Beefheart. If anyone is web radio surfing Saturday nights, check out my show at waer.org. Saturdays 9pm-1am est. It’s modern jazz, fusion, r&b etc.

keep up the good work…im proud of you

Just wanted to tell ya that I think you’ve done a GREAT job with this web site and that I enjoyed my visit. Thanks

The other day my friend says, “hey man, you ever hear Tom Waits” with which he puts on a CD. I say gee that sounds like a band I used to listen to when I was a teen (I’m 46 now) I pulled out all my old albums and have been re-diggin’ Captain Beefheart for the last few days. Feels like I came home.

Well, I went there once and it was a real thing. I wasn’t sure if the door would open so I used the bedroom and came out a different person

It was my extreme good fortune this past weekend to attend a rehearsal of The Magic Band in preparation for their upcoming All Tomorrow’s Parties musicfest gig. The band, John French, Mak Boston, Denny Wally, and Gary Lucas played with a firey intenstity that brought tears of joy to the eyes, like reuniting with a beloved family member after a long separation. They played Circumstances, Moonlight On Vermont, Steal Softly Through Snow, Hair Pie, and My Human Gets Me Blues with such rocking abandon that it knocked the top of my head off! This is not a `Beatlemania’ robotic recreation, but an extension served up as a loving tribute to the man Van Vliet. I can’t wait till these gentlemen take the stage later this year! GET READY! HERE THEY COME!!!

I am 46 an unwavering devotee of the Captain since age 15. Every note sounds better today than in 1972. Critics said then that he was 20 years ahead of is time. It was more like 30 or 40. This website is the most significant reason for the internet to exist that I, personally, can imagine.

Whilst delivering mail one day (postal worker), I climbed the stairs of an old victorian home on E Street and noticed, much to my astonishment, an authentic Bat Chain Puller!!!!!!!!

Anyone else think Electric 6 sound a little …..familiar

I just heard on the radio that it was the Captain’s birthday. It reminded me of the time I saw him play in my hometown, Liverpool England in the late 70s I can still hear it in my head. Big Eyed Beans from Venus. Happy birthday Don and thanks for the music.

HapPy BiRthDaY CaPtaIn! thaks for making my time in this earthly realm more enjoyable!

Happy 62nd Birthday Don!!! It’s great to share a planet with you!

Trout Mask Replica is on offer in Tower Records in London. I picked one up not knowing anything about Captain Beefheart other than his name. It is one of the wierdest things I have ever listened to but I sort of like it. I hope other people are encouraged to experiment!

Just want to celabrate Don. His music broke my mind and gave me a heart.