Click for the music info archive index

Zoot Horn Rollo chat session

Zoot Horn Rollo

On Sunday 6th December, 1998, Mr Zoot Horn Rollo appeared in the Radar Station's chat room to answer a few questions, dispel a few myths, and talk about his new book Lunar Notes. To coincide with this, visitors could listen to an hour of Zoot's finest Magic Band moments in a special edition of the Tromblown Orchestra Radio Experiment.

Despite severe problems with a crashed chat room just three minutes before kick off, most people managed to find their way back into a substitute room.

Sadly many were left out in the cold, unable to enter because the room was full. For those of you that couldn't get inside, or were elsewhere altogether, here is a transcript of the session.

The first section is taken from the original chat-room which went down shortly after Bill appeared and refused entry to many new comers. The second section is the resumed chat in the substitute room. In the first section, Zoot appears as 'ZOOT' and in the second as 'billh'. Originally a hefty chunk was missing from this transcript; lost when my computer crashed; however Detlef Juergens very kindly sent me a copy of his transcript, so here is the complete (though slightly edited) version. Many thanks to Detlef for his trouble.

The transcript is very disjointed - like all chat room converstaions - but still reads well when you get used to it and contains many interesting tidbits of information.

Many thanks to Zoot for his patience and willingness to get involved, and also to Bob Harkleroad, Zoot's brother for his wonderful job helping to keep things going in Zoot's absence. We salute you both!

Buy Lunar Notes from Amazon or get an autographed copy direct from the author by sending $25 (U.S. currency only please) in the form of cash, check or money order (with your name and address) to:

Bill Harkleroad P.O. box 51106 Eugene OR. 97405 USA.

(see below for competition results)

[Flambo] I really loved the stuff from Mallard, and of course, all of the Magic Band instrumentals.
>> brickbat has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[harklbob] all much appreciated I'm sure
[Flambo] What is the lineup of the new combo?
[harklbob] Still a bit in the air
[Flambo] Trout Mask and Lick My Decals Off hit us when we were teenagers and we thought that it was the greatest stuff
[VootZombo] here here
>> Marco has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
>> Mats has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[harklbob] still living those albums
[Flambo] Are you still in touch with Rockette, Mascara, the Captain and the rest of the gang?
[harklbob] not me
[Flambo] Trout Mask is playing here as we speak.
[harklbob] last I saw Rockette was in the late 70
[Wid] What's your favourite Beef track
[harklbob] too many
[Flambo] What did you think of Don's post original Magic Band stuff?
[harklbob] it sucked
[GreenTorino] I'm in Seattle...and get this...I work in a RADAR station
[VootZombo] How can you choose one favorite?
[Wid] There aint no Santa Claus is current
>> brickbat has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[Flambo] I cannot comment, I stopped listening after Unconditionally, but I hear that Radar Station had some good moments
[Wid] all brilliant
[lphunter1] listen to Moonlight On Vermont right now can hear some great guitar
[Flambo] hey, so am I!!
[Wid] did old time religion play a part?
[lphunter1] great tune
[GreenTorino] Moonlight...Veteran's Day Poppy is the one that gets me.
[harklbob] hello Charlow????
>> ZOOT has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[VootZombo] Hello Zoot
[Flambo] Zoot, on the track Vetran's Day, there is a change during the instrumental where there is a timing change. Was that done live or was that overdubbing by Mr. Z?
[lphunter1] hi zoot
>> laughner has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[ZOOT] it was tape cutting
[harklbob] hi charlow
[ZOOT] hi harklebob
[GreenTorino] SoOo....
[Flambo] Time to flip the album over to listen to one of my favoirites: Hair Pie
[harklbob] sorry
[GreenTorino] Bake 1
>> bobbyc has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[lphunter1] who owns the right rights to the Mallard recordings?
[ZOOT] Are we just burbling or what? Any Questions?
[VootZombo] Zoot, I saw the Magic Band in Long Beach. THANKS for a great show!
[Mats] Zoot, was the Magic Band's stage act choreographed in any way?
[ZOOT] No choreography
[Flambo] Tell us a little about the chatting that goes on in the Trout Mask disc.
[ZOOT] but Don let us know when he didn't like us
[laughner] how?
[ZOOT] Two kids walked up on us during the actual recording. They were on bikes and everything happened just as it was recorded
>> brickbat has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[Flambo] You were recording outside?
[ZOOT] I don't know what Mark is up to
[ZOOT] Yes we were recording inside and outside at the same time
[laughner] About the TV appearence you made in '71 when you performed Big Joan Sets Up and others. Don is seen reading a cartoon - were the lyrics taken from that?
[ZOOT] and Don told us he didn't like us in many ways
[GreenTorino] Zappa's biography said you recorded in various places on the premises
>> Marco has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[ZOOT] No, Don was reading the lyrics, cause he couldn't remember them
[Flambo] What is Fast and Bulbous anyway.
>> Marco has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[harklbob] I am
[laughner] ok
[GreenTorino] lol
[lphunter1] you wish
[ZOOT] Bob is fast and bulbous
[harklbob] hahahah
[VootZombo] How is that?
[ZOOT] It's always been open to interpretation
[VootZombo] Bob resembles a squid eating dough?
[harklbob] in the morning
[ZOOT] Only sometimes
[laughner] How was it really with Zappa's alleged producing of The Blimp?
[ZOOT] All he did was turn on the tape deck while he was working in the studio
[Flambo] I am still mystified as to how Don conveyed his vision of the music to the band to end up with the final product.
>> Wid has left channel #Yellow_Yap
>> ZOOT has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[lphunter1] was zappa all work?
[harklbob] and now a word from our sponser
[laughner] and was it true Don sang in the vocals by listening through the studio window and he had no phones nor monitors?
[Flambo] Did he arrange the syncopatoin between the various instruments? The music is quite complex
[harklbob] technical difficulties
[GreenTorino] It's visual, I don't know what neurons need to be cross referenced...It is like tightly woven nonsense that I thoroughly enjoyed
[Mats] Boring equipment question: how'd you get the great sound on Clear Spot? Did you have a good rapport with Ted Templeman personally?
[harklbob] it's easy. write 4 songs. play them all at once.
[harklbob] help
[lphunter1] hey Bob, where's your brother?
[VootZombo] trouble, Bob?
[harklbob] yeah. I lost my bro'
[harklbob] possible finger cramps
[harklbob] eat a banana bill
[GreenTorino] Which one of youse is da Mascara Snake???
[VootZombo] maybe he lost interest
[harklbob] hmmm
[Flambo] Harklbob, you're Zoot's brother? What was your role in the old band?
>> Wid has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[lphunter1] maybe he lost his connection!!!
[harklbob] brother idolization and general memorization of lyrics
[Flambo] So was Pamela Des Barr a groupie for the band?
>> PJ has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[harklbob] I was 14. what's a groupie?
[Flambo] What is Artie Tripp doing these days?
[GreenTorino] Maybe if we all place hands on the formaheap, he will come back
[harklbob] good one
[Flambo] Or the merc montclair
[harklbob] Artie is a chiropractor
[harklbob] different bones
[VootZombo] massages with drum sticks?
[Flambo] get outta here!! no kidding? he was the best drummer of the world. I dig the drum solos in Ant Man Bee
>> PJ has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[harklbob] Drumbo Disconnected:
[Flambo] Is Zoot on friendly terms with Don?
[VootZombo] Last I heard he was in Trinidad Calif.
[harklbob] not particularly
[Flambo] why?
[harklbob] hate to put words in Bill's mouth
[GreenTorino] Oh, great... are the record companies loosening their tentacles?
[VootZombo] So basically Don was a user of people?
[lphunter1] I wonder if he's read the book
[harklbob] youza
>> bobbyc has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[harklbob] graham?
[Flambo] So Harkl, do you play music also?
[lphunter1] maybe we should all play a long lunar note
[harklbob] cabinetmaker cum guitarist
[VootZombo] Did Bill think the band would ever get REALLY popular and make some money?
[harklbob] we started lessons at about the same time
[Flambo] We are about the same age, outside of CB and MB, who are your influences?
[harklbob] of course he did
>> laughner has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[GreenTorino] MB?...Milton Bradley?
[Flambo] Magic Band
[GreenTorino] oOh duh.
[VootZombo] Sad that the promotion just wasen't there for them.
[harklbob] I went into a fusion spell and as always a blues based rocker phase
[Flambo] Same here
[Flambo] where is Trinidad, isn't that up by Eureka?
[harklbob] carlton ritnour mcglaughlin
[VootZombo] on the coast
>> Mats has left channel #Yellow_Yap
[GreenTorino] so he can watch the whales go by...
>> Mats has joined channel #Yellow_Yap
[lphunter1] mahavishnu orchestra
[VootZombo] and sing with them
[Flambo] and spend some interesting hours
[GreenTorino] yeah, Winterland
[Flambo] time for side three of trout mask
[GreenTorino] 72...Mahavishnu...verrrry loud
[GreenTorino] Some asshole in the audience gave the Capt. crap about Peon
[harklbob] Bill got pushed off the chat and can't get back in. Let us all take a 2 min break and see if - he can get back on.
[harklbob] logging off
>> all leave, and all come back....
[VootZombo] Still no Zoot
[Flambo] Is it safe (as milk)?
[VootZombo] Hey kids! Here's a message I just got from Graham... the venue has changed and Zoot should be on his way in. Try refreshing the page and you should get a new chat room appearing. Tell anyone else that is in there to do the same, cheers!

Welcome to Yellow Yap, The Radar Station's Captain Beefheart chat room. Today we are very pleased to present a live chat with the legendary guitarist from the Magic Band, Mr Zoot Horn Rollo.

** GrahamJ enters.
** Guest127 enters.
GrahamJ: good evening
** Guest190 enters.
GrahamJ: Were either of you in the original chat room just a few moments ago when it crashed?
GrahamJ: we appear to be having very bad luck here tonight
Guest190: I think I was just entering
** Guest163 enters.
GrahamJ: let's hope everyone else finds their way back into here
Guest163: Hi, Steve Froy here ... finally ! Makes me feel real dim trying to figure these things out !
** brickbat enters.
GrahamJ: Steve, hello
Guest163: Just call me 163 for short ! Has Bill made it here yet ?
GrahamJ: The regular chat room went down three minutes before 9
GrahamJ: there were a few people in there who have possibly given up, and it took me about 10 minutes to get this new room up so we may have lost him, or he may still be here, I don't know
Guest163: The music's good anyway !!!!!!!
GrahamJ: phew - we salvaged something from the wreckage!!
Guest163: Anyone know any jokes ? Where's Bill Haines when you need him ?
GrahamJ: I'm crap at jokes when I'm as pissed off as I am at the moment!!
Guest190: As I just entered, what did I miss?
Guest163: Can't say as I blame you ... seems like lightning struck twice
GrahamJ: it certainly has
** Guest304 enters.
Guest304: is Zoot here yet?
Guest163: Hi 304, I'm 163 hahahaha
GrahamJ: you haven't missed anything just yet, we're waiting to see if Bill / Zoot makes his way in here after the confusion of the original chat room crashing
Guest304: ohh glad I missed the crash
GrahamJ: I feel a bit conspicuous with a proper name, I think I'd prefer a number under these circumstances
Guest304: naw I wish I had a real nickname not a number
GrahamJ: a nice anonymous number like 272
GrahamJ: if you exit the chat room and register, you can have a real name
Guest163: This is going to get confusing .. but I think 163 is growing on me
** brickbat exits.
Guest163: well, lets try a bit of Bill related chat ... I've just managed to get a copy of the 'Slide Crazy' CD
** Guest342 enters.
GrahamJ: I've just had a message from Bill / Zoot and he should be on his way
Guest163: I think I'll try to register .. see ya again soon (I hope)
** Guest163 exits.
Guest304: yah I want to register too
** Guest304 exits.
** Guest342 exits.
** Animalunar enters.
** Guest190 exits.
** harklbob enters.
harklbob: help
GrahamJ: hello bob
harklbob: wow this is weird
** Guest389 enters.
harklbob: new interface
** Redetutu enters.
harklbob: bill is on the phone with me
Redetutu: I am back, no longer 304
harklbob: ask slowly and I will tell all
Animalunar: Hello, is Zootie here yet???
harklbob: graham what happened?
** SteveFroy enters.
Animalunar: and it's FINALLY working
Animalunar: Hi Stevie
Animalunar: it's Djurvall here
** Guest389 exits.
GrahamJ: The room went down at three minutes to nine, complete with occupants who are probably very confused at the moment
Redetutu: you finally got it huh
harklbob: again Bill can't log in
GrahamJ: did he say what the problem was exactly?
** Guest11 enters.
GrahamJ: it should be working fine now
harklbob: trying again now
Animalunar: So I got some explaining to do for all ya beefpeople I think
harklbob: go for it
Animalunar: I've been VERY quiet in The Fire Party
Animalunar: and on the newsgroup
** GreenTorino enters.
Animalunar: but it's all because of my illness
GrahamJ: are you better now?
Animalunar: so to all you waiting mails from me ...hang in there
harklbob: so now you are better?
Animalunar: I've spent the last 4 months at hospital
Animalunar: no I'm not that much better
harklbob: whoa
GreenTorino: Hey everybody, this applet is pretty damn spiffy
harklbob: luck to you
Animalunar: but I at least got access to the CPU tonight
Animalunar: Yihaww
Animalunar: not missing Zootie for the world
GrahamJ: hope you feel better soon
** Redetutu exits.
** VootZombo enters.
Animalunar: so is he in here yet?
harklbob: trying
GrahamJ: aha Voot! you made it!
GrahamJ: well done
harklbob: java poo poo
Animalunar: VootZombo, could you be 'The One'?
GrahamJ: now all we need is Zoot
harklbob: here zoot zoot zzooottt
** oletiger enters.
harklbob: here zoot zoot zzooottt
VootZombo: Sheesh! Graham. I was just getting used to the old format. hehe
** billh enters.
** JooDee enters.
harklbob: hey bill
SteveFroy: This is like Zoot's legendary Albert Hall entrance
GrahamJ: Turn the amp on, Bill
** Voltface enters.
billh: Okay, Zoot is back. Yes. Just like in Albert Hall.
GrahamJ: welcome
harklbob: ok
GrahamJ: how are things?
** oletiger exits.
SteveFroy: Great you could spend some time with us bill
Animalunar: You there Zootie?
billh: Amp is on full blast
GrahamJ: mine too, now
** lphunter1 enters.
billh: I am fine. a little frustrated with being kicked out earlier.
GrahamJ: that was such bad luck, I am sorry
harklbob: let's do the time warp
GrahamJ: but welcome back, perhaps we should get underway
Animalunar: so I'm I the only one desperately looking for a copy of Lunar Notes
billh: Okay shoot some questions.
Animalunar: (signed preferably :))
** Mohelmot enters.
** Mercmontclair enters.
VootZombo: So Bill, you were saying Don didn't like you?
harklbob: how is it that you got all the talent?
billh: Yeah, people think I'm a nice guy and lucky to have been with a genius
Animalunar: Okiedokie, I'm curious about the Boxset, any unreleased 68/69 tracks appearing there from...say your archives?
billh: No he didn't like a lot of thing a lot of the time. Apparently random.
VootZombo: Do you agree with him being called a genius?
billh: Nothing from my archives on the box set. I don't know where the tapes actually came from
** Guest120 enters.
Animalunar: well some come from me :)
billh: I don't like the word genius, but he was smart as hell
** JooDee exits.
SteveFroy: Bill, When are you going to be releasing some music for us ?
VootZombo: and funny as hell as well
GrahamJ: I understand you are working on an album at the moment - is that correct? what can we expect?
GreenTorino: that is exactly it...
billh: I am currently buying gear to do the recordings
Animalunar: Greatie
billh: yes funny as hell, too
GreenTorino: visual, comedic lyrics...
Animalunar: I'm not familiar with any of your solo stuff
Animalunar: how does it compare, anything similar to the Mallard? Where should one begin etc.?
Mercmontclair: Lineup?
** Guest120 exits.
billh: There isn't any solo stuff available. it's in my bedroom
lphunter1: who owns the rights to the Mallard recordings?
** GreenTorino exits.
Mercmontclair: who won the contest?
billh: Mallard is owned by tricky contract thievery by Virgin Records
harklbob: bastards
lphunter1: that sucks
** Guest148 enters.
billh: contest winner later
Animalunar: Damn I missed that contest...
** Voltface exits.
Animalunar: but I guess you're watching my nick now if it ain't too late
GrahamJ: what are Virgin planning to do with them? any idea?
billh: As far as comparing to mallard material, more aggressive, closer to my earlier life
billh: Virgin owns them
Animalunar: Sounds niceyy
** SteveFroy exits.
Mercmontclair: that is great news, loved the early stuff
billh: Who is the niceyyy guy with the extra yyyy's
Animalunar: so is it true you jammed with them Magics back in 68 doing early versions of Moonlight On Vermont etc.?
Animalunar: if so, are there recordings of this?
billh: yes and back as far as '65
Animalunar: Wow
billh: No recordings
** brizz enters.
Animalunar: you sure!!!! :)
billh: Noyyy
Mercmontclair: so what do you do for a living up in Oregon?
billh: My wife gives me money and types for me
lphunter1: What's life like now for you?
harklbob: good one
billh: a hell of a lot better
Mercmontclair: sounds good
lphunter1: enjoy teaching the guitar
Animalunar: so you been visiting Don anything in the recent years?
harklbob: what's your handicap
billh: I am teaching and resurrecting ZOOT HORN ROLLO
Mercmontclair: what prompted the long overdue book Lunar Notes?
** JooDee enters.
Animalunar: or any other Magics?
GrahamJ: yes, what made you decide to write the book?
** Guest148 exits.
billh: Yes I enjoy teaching the guitar.
billh: Nobody has visited Don recently
billh: I am a 3 handicap
Mercmontclair: Viva Zoot!!
billh: Billy James prompted the book
brizz: Thanks for the book!
VootZombo: Is Don still in Trinidad?
GrahamJ: was it his idea?
billh: Don is still in Trinidad in his wheelchair
Guest11: I understand you have worked in record retail. Have you ever suspected that "Trout" may have sold far in excess of it's supposed 100,000 or so?
** SteveFroy enters.
billh: Yes, it was BJ's idea
** Mikloz enters.
** JooDee exits.
SteveFroy: Hi again managed to get myself thrown out !
billh: Yes it probably has sold more than that
GrahamJ: I'm surprised that more of the insiders haven't written a book - do you have any idea why they haven't?
harklbob: I bought it twice
billh: Steve so did I
lphunter1: why did you slip the picture of Harrison Ford in your book
VootZombo: 3 times here
Mercmontclair: I still have my original discs in the original, if not dog eared, cover.
billh: It's a hell of a lot of work and I know John French is doing one currently
GrahamJ: he is writing a book about the Magic Band?
billh: Because I want to get laid
** greeneyedguy_99 enters.
Mercmontclair: It is playing now. Too much for my mirror
Animalunar: yeah, isn't he writing a major Beef essay in the boxset?
** greeneyedguy_99 exits.
harklbob: charlow!!!!
Guest11: I bought it twice as well. And it's always in those polls.
billh: Yes about the band
Animalunar: I'm digging a show from Town Hall, NYC -72 (Thanks STEVE!!!!)
billh: Yes he is doing the liner notes for the box set. I turned it down
brizz: Have you heard any other guitarists play similarly to the style you and Jeff Cotton had on "Trout Mask"?
GrahamJ: how do you feel about the box-set ? are you glad that these tunes are seeing the light of day?
Animalunar: ok, btw, in this concert you actually do Too Much Time
Animalunar: that didn't happened too much did it??
billh: I never heard anybody play like that.
SteveFroy: Hey Djurvall glad you like the tape!
** Guest230 enters.
brizz: You haven't played that way yourself in a while, per your book - why not?
Animalunar: Hey I LOVE it :)
** Guest230 exits.
billh: I'm glad the tunes are out there for fans but it's very strange having 30 years ago constantly relived.
** JooDee enters.
brizz: Was it just a one-time aberration, then?
billh: Because I took studying guitar very serious and one way isn't the only way
VootZombo: At least did you have FUN when you were in the band?
SteveFroy: We'd really like some new stuff too, Bill
GrahamJ: it must be very odd to hear that stuff again billh: Everything is a one time aberration, but this is an extreme example of it. billh: sometimes fun, sometimes horror.
VootZombo: how horror?
brizz: Is it wrong to think of it as advancing the genre, aberration or not?
Mercmontclair: When you say constantly, what do you mean. I am sure that this stuff must have been on the shelf for a long time.
billh: Actually it stands up so well, it surprises me
billh: Voot, didn't you read the book???
Mohelmot: it stands up very well
VootZombo: Mine is on order
Mercmontclair: So is mine
** Guest252 enters.
billh: Ah - just signed it today :)
VootZombo: Thanks!
Animalunar: so Vootie won eh?
billh: I can't remember what I said.
billh: No, Vootie didn't win
Animalunar: it's no use trying to bribe you to sign another copy? :)
VootZombo: :(
Mercmontclair: I am listening to TMR for the first time in years and I definitely agree that it has stood up remarkably well. And I use to play it to death.
GrahamJ: it's an album that I could never get bored with
Animalunar: so how about some classic questions...
billh: I went 20 years without listening to it and died laughing
** ede enters.
Animalunar: What's your favourite album/tune Zootie?
brizz: What was so funny?
Mohelmot: hehe that's funny
Mercmontclair: The black paper between a mirror breaks my heart
billh: Steal softly through snow
GrahamJ: I loved the bits in the book where you talk us through all the albums that you played on
brizz: Yes, that's wonderful
Mercmontclair: I cannot wait to read it
GrahamJ: it was like having you round for an evening, digging out the old favourites
SteveFroy: Why SSTS any particular reason ?
billh: yes going through the albums and analyzing them now was really different from playing them then
** Guest276 enters.
Mercmontclair: On occasion I would have a TMR party, invite one or two musician friends over and give it a deep listening
billh: I just watched 4 tunes on a video with big joan and it was fucking great
brizz: What comes to mind first as you hear them now
** JooDee exits.
Animalunar: YEah I watched that too (I think) just the other day
** Guest279 enters.
billh: the overall power.
Animalunar: I played it to my nurses
** Guest276 exits.
Animalunar: here at the hospital and they were all stunned
brizz: Where does it come from?
billh: You're a doctoryyy??
Animalunar: one commented on your Wonderful trousers!
** Guest183 enters.
Animalunar: no I'm a sicko :(
** toehold enters.
Mercmontclair: excellent
brizz: It's impossible
billh: yes
Guest279: which one of you is the Man?
harklbob: my human gets me
Guest252: noodles
harklbob: bill h
brizz: Before time runs out: thanks for all the enjoyment your work has brought.
Animalunar: btw whatever happened to the Mascara Snake?
billh: I'm the man, I couldn't log on as Zoot for some reason
VootZombo: I agree
Guest11: yes thank you
Animalunar: seems like he was quite a wiled charachter!
** GrahamJ exits.
harklbob: he's marilyn manson
Guest252: which one of youse guys is the Mascara Snake???
Guest279: hello billh - you are the Man
Animalunar: heh yea
billh: you're welcome. As far as the mascara snake, not much ever happened with him
SteveFroy: The Mascara Snake is painting .. he has a website
** Nosferatu enters.
Animalunar: really
Guest252: great
Animalunar: you got the URL Steve?
VootZombo: what's the url?
Mercmontclair: So, was Pamela des Bar your groupie?
billh: she tried.
SteveFroy: Somewhere I have the URL .. I'll email you later
lphunter1: do you like being called Zoot?
Mercmontclair: You mean it was either you or Don Johnson?
** ombowstring enters.
** Nosferatu exits.
SteveFroy: She had a thing for the Mascara Snake
billh: graham, is it time for the winner?
** GrahamJ enters.
VootZombo: he stepped out
billh: Of course I like being called ZOOT. I am ZOOT.
brizz: Your book makes it clear the Magic Band creative process was less than fun, yet you've noted there's been nothing like it since - was it worth it to you?
harklbob: drum roll please
billh: of course it was worth it.
Guest252: Listen, I've got to go everybody...my entry was Stoinker Apparatus...I assume I did not win...
Guest252: Thank you Zoot
brizz: NO argument here - just wondered how you felt
Animalunar: You got any recollections of any song that was EXTREMELY difficult to learn?
Mercmontclair: thank you ZOOT
billh: half of them were.
brizz: Your half or Jeff's?
billh: You are all very welcome. thanks for your support
brizz: hehe
billh: Jeff's and mine were interchangeable
brizz: and equally impossible
SteveFroy: Zoot, did Jeff teach you much when you first joined the Band
Guest11: where's Jeff now?
billh: Winner ... drum rollllll .... Crab-Nebula Cake (the hyphen is silent)
Guest279: hey Graham
brizz: What's he play?
Guest252: damn
billh: Jeff's in Hawaii
harklbob: ta da
Animalunar: Congrats Crab!
SteveFroy: Good choice .. the hyphen did it , I'm sure !
Guest252: congrats
billh: Jeff taught me some basic delta blues things
Animalunar: seems a bit Burroughs-ish that name
billh: Yes, the hyphen did it!
SteveFroy: Delta blues .. can you be more specific ?
billh: Just the basic rhythm of electricity
Animalunar: and what a rhythm that IS!
billh: no shit
Mercmontclair: What was meant on TMR about not having to worry about rockette morton and any of those girls?
billh: it's a square dance
Animalunar: So what you listen to these days Zoot?
billh: A lot of jazz and classical
Animalunar: no Residents?
billh: nope
billh: heard of them though
** Guest11 exits.
Guest279: take it easy brother
Animalunar: ok, heard Donnie didn't like them, but I think you should like the Snakefinger stuff
Guest279: how's the Man?
billh: what man?
** Guest252 exits.
Guest279: that man
JooDee: Bill, did you have a good rapport with Ted Templeman on Clear Spot? The guitar sound is great.
Animalunar: How do you feel about Gary Lucas guitar stuff, I find that pretty amazing
lphunter1: ever listen to the guitar player who played with Miles Davis, Foley?
billh: yes and I'm not that familiar with Gary Lucas
Guest279: billh, you smoke a lot of gear still?
billh: Just cigars ...
Guest279: Blunts you mean!!!
Animalunar: you still hungry after that TMR starvation of 8 months? :)
billh: Yes Ted was extremely professional
Mercmontclair: Are you considering playing locally where you live?
brizz: Could the TMR creative process ever be replicated?
billh: I'm not considering playing anywhere except in my studio.
Guest279: feel it you bastard
harklbob: shucks
Guest279: oops - sorry
billh: The process could be replicated with a totally different outcome
billh: is 279 talking to me?
brizz: How much was the sheer force of Mr. Van Vliet's ego?
billh: Mt Everest
** Guest279 exits.
brizz: How much of the process, I meant
billh: Bye 279
brizz: indeed
billh: I'm still not sure what you mean
Animalunar: You know how The Blimp came about?
Animalunar: was it a Mothers tape lying around like the legend says
Animalunar: or was it something Don composed?
billh: The Good Year Blimp?
brizz: Your book, again, makes it clear there was collaboration, credited or not - how much of the output - what percent - was pure Don?
billh: It was a Mothers tape
Animalunar: Yeah, flying across The Golden Gate
Mercmontclair: I read in your interview that your work on TMR and LMDOBaby was very structured and non-improvizational. Were these licks yours or were they somehow dictated by Don?
Mikloz: Who came up with the idea of combining flatpick with fingerpicks?
billh: The licks were always overseen by don but were ours a lot of the time to start with
JooDee: Was that Roy Estrada and Art Tripp playing on the tape?
billh: Hi Tomas
billh: Don came up with the idea of the picks
billh: Yes it was Roy and Art
SteveFroy: Zoot, If you're in the studio .. have you anything ready to release yet
billh: Nothing to release yet
brizz: Interesting that music driven by such a strong ego could only be realized by group synergy
Mercmontclair: I agree. The Magic Band made the sound.
billh: it had to be. He had no physical musical skills
GrahamJ: but he did have a lot of ideas
billh: More than a lot
lphunter1: he played a mean harp
** Fred-Flintstone enters.
billh: He played a fucking mean harp
brizz: But it's a paradox - self-expression via a group
Fred-Flintstone: beefheart?
Animalunar: How do you feel about the later Magic Band?
Mercmontclair: I was very ecstatic when I found out that the Magic Band came out with a solo (Mallard) The vocals though were too nice. I was hoping for an all instrumental album.
Fred-Flintstone: what kinda room is this?
billh: We were his lowly little tools
Animalunar: does it compare to the early stuff you think?
** Mohelmot exits.
Fred-Flintstone: any Zelda players here?
** Fred-Flintstone exits.
harklbob: get out
** maker enters.
Mikloz: Do you know what Mark's up to?
billh: Fred, where did you come from?
brizz: You felt like that - but this chat would indicate otherwise
billh: Mikloz, I don't
brizz: I think he slipped in from AOL
billh: brizz, I felt like what?
brizz: like lowly little tools
billh: Every time I answer it comes across a little different
Mercmontclair: Are you working on an instrumental venue or will you have lyrics and a singer?
billh: instrumental
lphunter1: but Bob wants to sing
billh: I am just trying to say that don used people past a normal connection
harklbob: shucks
Mikloz: How come you're fed up with playing bottleneck?
billh: Bob gets to sing of course (charlow)
Mercmontclair: You are the master of the instrumental.
harklbob: la la la
billh: I'm not fed up with playing the bottle neck. I'm playing a lot of slide
Mercmontclair: Jazz influenced?
** maker exits.
billh: Yeah, sort of
harklbob: jazz slide?
** Guest77 enters.
billh: Not normal jazz
lphunter1: trombone
Animalunar: So how did the name Zoot Horn Rollo came about?
billh: Blow your own horn
billh: it existed before I got there
Animalunar: you Magic guys just playing around, or Don dictating?
Mikloz: Quote: "I don't play much slide unless someone hires me to do it..."
Mercmontclair: If you need a master harp player, drop me a line. I would make the trip and do it for free.
** brizz exits.
JooDee: What guitar are you using these days?
billh: Tomas, you caught me
** potshuvit enters.
billh: All kinds of guitars. Borrowed and the like
harklbob: strat with emg es-175
Mercmontclair: What is a Mercmontclair?
Mikloz: MB-Tunings: regular, dropped D, open G and D. Any other?
billh: Good question
** potshuvit exits.
billh: tunings I'm not sure of at this point
harklbob: pastry
billh: pie
harklbob: oooooo
SteveFroy: Mercmontclair was a car, wasn't it ? Pretty rare one now
billh: bob, we'll talk later
billh: yes, it was
Mercmontclair: Out of reach
** ombowstring exits.
VootZombo: The back window could be rolled up and down
Mikloz: Did you tour with Fred McDowell?
** brizz enters.
billh: No, he just opened up for us.
** Guest139 enters
billh: a couple of times
brizz: Did the way Beefheart use musicians, in retrospect, make him more jerk or genius?
Mercmontclair: Where did you get those clothes for the cover of TMR?
billh: both
** DOOGad enters.
Mikloz: Did any other old timer open up for you?
billh: The clothes came from all over Western costumes, the cape came form a girl friend
billh: I don't think so, tomas
brizz: Both Art Tripp and Elliot Ingber said words to the effect they'd worked for the two biggest jerks in the business - does that go hand in hand with greatness?
Mercmontclair: Nice touch
Animalunar: You still got them clothes?
billh: Got no clothes no more
Animalunar: Wouldn't mind seeing some poses with them on these days!
brizz: you still got the clothes YOU wore 30 years ago?
Mercmontclair: Jerks or not, the final product has influenced us all and we must pay them their due
Animalunar: aha I see
Guest139: Billh you got any plans to play over here?
billh: Merc, I totally agree
** ombowstring enters.
billh: play over where
JooDee: Were you wearing lipstick on the TMR cover? Sorry for asking.
Guest139: In England, Brighton to be exact.
** Guest77 exits.
Mikloz: What was the reaction in the local press after the book was released?
billh: Yes, and finger nail polish
brizz: Any opinion on the Fripp/Belew guitar interplay in King Crimson?
Mercmontclair: It matched the cape beautifully
billh: I need to record an album before I think about playing anywhere
billh: the local press doesn't know about it. it was just released
Guest139: Any recording in the near future?
Animalunar: So can one get copies from you?
billh: Fripp/Belew are not my particular style
brizz: ah
Animalunar: Just sending you cash I mean?
Animalunar: (me don't have any of those american economics cards)
billh: I'm not sure how I'm going to sell the CD just yet
lphunter1: Why does all the good stuff get released from Europe?
** Guest139 exits.
billh: They are all art dudes over there
brizz: Mr. Zoot Horn Rollo, thanks again, and God bless you.
Animalunar: Cause it's a damn fine place!
SteveFroy: John French's latest was on a Japanese label
Mercmontclair: what is the latest from John French? Clue me in.
billh: I have to pee real bad. Can I leave now?
Animalunar: heh NO
Mercmontclair: you're the man.
billh: Ouch
SteveFroy: The O Solo Drumbo CD .. great drum solos ...many magic Band tunes
JooDee: Did you read what Ian Anderson had to say about Don and the band in "Minstrels In The Gallery".
lphunter1: Local guy's on foreign labels, says something about the U.S.
Animalunar: you have to let me know how to obtain a copy of the book first
harklbob: thanks Bill
GrahamJ: pee away, my friend.
Animalunar: Well it's been a pleasure talking to you
Mikloz: Bye and thanks, Zoot. Got to go.
Animalunar: now hit that long lunar pee and let it floooowww
JooDee: Yeah, thanks, Bill.
harklbob: zoothornrollo.com
billh: You're welcome Zipper. Gotta go. Thanks for the chat everybody and talk to you soon
** billh exits.

Competition results

Entrants were asked a few questions about Zoot, and as a tie-breaker had to suggest what they would have been called had they been in the Magic Band. Out of the numerous entries, the six below were shortlisted, and a winner was hand-picked by Mr Zoot Horn Rollo:

  1. The Vaseline Deference - Jim Vernon
  2. Insect Hoof - Rob Deardon
  3. Cap Pop Open - Carl Berger
  4. Crab-Nebula Cake (the hyphen is silent) - Richard Mason
  5. Benjamin Horrendous - Ben Waters
  6. Quick Fingered Kazoo - Craig Nickerson

And the winner was Mr Crab-Nebula Cake (the hyphen is silent) aka Richard Mason. Congratulations, Richard, you've won a signed copy of Lunar Notes.

We had around 50 entries, mostly with correct answers though some were a little wide of the mark, but still highly entertaining. I don't think 'Stoinker Apparatus' was a Magic Band album, nor was 'Pack-rat-hat', though perhaps they both should have been. And Mallard are still yet to release the albums 'Zoo-Head' and 'Also Ribs'. Several people sent me their submittal, telling me how much they'd like to win but failed to answer any of the questions. Sorry folks, that was part of the deal.