(aka Zoot Horn Rollo)

Originally from Palmdale Bill soon hooked up with other hot shot players and future Magic Band members from nearby Lancaster. As a child he'd had accordion lessons but switched to the guitar in his early teens playing in local bands. One of these bands, B.C & The Cavemen, included Mark Boston on bass, another, Blues In A Bottle was with Mark again as well as Jeff Cotton.

Bill hung around the Magic Band and occasionally jammed with them until finally joining the band in late June 1968 when Alex St Claire left. He stayed until 1974 when the whole band walked out on Don just before a tour. Bill had taken over the transcribing and arranging duties when John French left the band and he provided some of the finest guitar moments ever committed to vinyl.

After his attempts with Mallard failed he all but left the music business concentrating on developing his technique and retreating into drink and drugs for a time. He now manages a record store in Eugene, Oregon and teaches guitar. His book 'Lunar Notes' finally helped him come to terms with his experiences in the Magic Band and he is recording again.

There are a couple of interesting interviews with Bill available on the web:-

HiFi Mundo Interview 1997

Mats Agren Interview 1999 for a Swedish music magazine

• Trout Mask Replica
• Lick My Decals Off Baby
• The Spotlight Kid
• Clear Spot
• Unconditionally Guaranteed

• 1992 US CD Slide Crazy on Sky Ranch/Rykodisc RCD 10346. Bill has a track called "Mid Mashie" on this compilation

• 1992 French CD Slide Crazy on Sky Ranch SR 652324

• 1994 CD John French : Waiting on the Flame on Demon Records Fiend 759. Bill plays lead guitar on four tracks.

• 1997 UK CD Institute of Formal Research Volume One: File Under Subconscious on Bubblehead Records BH005. Bit of a curiousity this one, Bill plays on three tracks - 'Resonator', 'The Navigator', 'In This Episode...'. Put together by UK film composer Steve Parsons, a long-time Magic Band fan, who apparently just telephoned Bill asking him to play on the CD and he said 'Sure'! Also includes other well known guitarists Mick Taylor and Chris Spedding.
  
  

• 2000 US CD issued with book Cucamonga (Émigré Books 2000) A collection of photographs of the High Desert area associated with Beefheart. Short CD has one track by Bill called "Don's Secret" (which would later appear on Bill's solo album), also single track contributions from John French and Gary Lucas plus a recording of the ambience around the Woodland Hills Trout Mask house.
  

• 2001 US CD We Saw A Bozo Under The Sea Bill's first solo album, and he's released it as Zoot Horn Rollo. Rush over to his website www.zoothornrollo.com to get a copy. If you've got the Cucamonga book you will have heard one track already but there is a diversity of styles here with Bill showing his versatility and maturity as a fine guitarist.
  
  

• 2003 CD Rockette Morton : Love Space on Bomark Studios BS8981. Bill makes 'a special appearance' on one track of his former Magic Bandmate's solo album.