Don Van Vliet / Magic Band News

The Radar Station has just launched it's own Beefheart weblog at this site. This page will continue to feature all the "big" news related to CD releases, live shows, books, etc. The weblog will contain a much broader range of Beefheart news, trivia, anything which we think may be of interest to a Beefheart admirer. All visitors can post their own comments about any of the items on the blog.

Have fun with it!

First posted: 01.08.05

A statement from OzIt Records

Advertisements for yet another Beefheart CD from OzIt Records are now appearing in music magazines. A few weeks ago I wrote to OzIt requesting advance information about this new CD. They did not reply. I then sent them a mail setting out one particular concern about their Beefheart catalogue which has been voiced by visitors to www.beefheart.com.

I wrote: "Do Don Van Vliet, and the other copyright holders of the Beefheart material which you release, receive payments from you for the use of this material? How are these payments made, and through whom?"

Here in its entirety is OzIt's reply, dated 19 May 2005:

"payments are made through the necessary licensing bodies to [appropriate parties] eg songwriting licensing bodies in the appropriate countries applications are made and paid for, and also made through. the necessary channels to original tape owners, licensors, copyright owners [where copyright owners can be traced agreements are put in place] This should then esure that payments then go through the system to the songwriters and musicians involved and especially Don Van Vliet"

OzIt's statement could hardly be less clear or more uninformative. If, like me, you are unimpressed and unreassured by this meaningless pseudo-legal jargon, consider some facts.

On OzIt's previous Beefheart CD three of the tracks are incorrectly titled. One is spelled as Suction Print, which is not a Don Van Vliet title, and so royalties presumably cannot be paid to Don Van Vliet for it. Another track is called Sheriff of Hong Kong although the music on it is Dropout Boogie. Dropout Boogie was co-written by Herb Bermann. Because it has been retitled, Herb Bermann can presumably not receive the royalties he is entitled to for the use of this song.

OzIt's new Beefheart CD contains the adjectives Prime and Quality in its title. OzIt's truthfulness, or it's cynicism, will be demonstrated when this latest mish-mash hits the record shops. One of the prime quality tracks is Sweet Georgia Brown as played by former members of a third-rate country band called Buckwheat. Need I say more?

Update: Our resident discographical expert Steve Froy points out that the content of the new OzIt CD is suspiciously similar to that of a bootleg issued in 1993. Steve's appraisal of that CD is here: http://www.beefheart.com/datharp/albums/boots/crazylittle.htm

I have been told that it is possible to download this album now, without waiting for OzIt's version to appear and without paying OzIt for it. While I cannot condone piracy in any form, I recognise that the moral and legal dilemma faced by visitors to http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=45415 is not mine to resolve.

If you have any information to add to this story, or any factual
corrections, please write in.

First posted: 07.06.05
Updated: 15.06.05

It's been a long wait but the Mama Kangaroos tribute album has finally been released. If you can remember this is a specially recorded selection of Don's songs covered by female vocalists from Philadelphia.

See the Radar Station page for more info track by track about the album.

Visit the Genus Records site - www.genusrecords.com
or buy it from http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mamakangaroos

First posted: 14.06.05
Updated: 07.04.05

A CD of The Magic Band playing live at various venues during 2003 and 2004 is being released on Proper Records to coincide with their UK tour.

Titled 21st Century Mirror Men this CD, with a bonus DVD of live peformances will be available from 16th May.

More information on the Magic Band discography pages

First posted: 06.05.05
Updated: 07.05.05

New CDs of Beefheart material are being released at an unprecedented rate. Most of them understandably concentrate on performances of lyrics and music which Don Van Vliet wrote.

A new CD recorded by Rosa Ensemble & Hans Dagelet seems set to break this mould. Their album 'Selling Hoovers in Mojave' features nine Beefheart classics whose titles and lyrics were translated into Dutch to accompany a dance theatre production in The Netherlands.

Don was very proud of his Dutch roots so perhaps the use of his ancestral language yields further insights into his work?

I wonder however whether the translations are quite up to the nuances of the original texts. Going by the titles alone (as I haven't yet heard the album) I notice that 'Frownland' becomes 'Somberland'. Somberland is also the translation given for Blunderland (as in 'Alice in Blunderland').

It gets curiouser and curiouser. Two never before recorded Don Van Vliet 'compositions' are on this album. Rosa Ensemble seem to have taken Don's words from the Anton Corbijn film 'Some Yo Yo Stuff', translated them into Dutch, and added their own music.

The other ten tracks on the album are music from Frank Zappa and two of the band (Daniel Cross and Floris van Bergeijk).

'Selling Hoovers in Mojave' (BKR 003) will be launched on May 6th at Theatre Kikker, Utrecht.

Further info can be found on these sites:-

http://www.rosaensemble.nl/#music
http://www.bontekoerecords.nl
http://www.theaterkikker.nl/muziek.php?id=376&agenda=detail

First posted: 03.05.05

The most useful, entertaining and accurate account of any of The Magic Band's 2004 UK gigs has just been published. It's about 27 pages of observation, reminiscence and association, one page for each of the numbers played, and a few other pages as well.

Just what is it to be a Beefheart fan in a world where Beefheart no longer plays? "POSTMAINSTREAMIST ROCKOLOGIST COLIN B MORTON WRITES about THE CARLING ACADEMY, BRISTOL……..June 27th 2004"

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/greatpopthings/FROMMARS.htm

First posted: 03.05.05

An excellent interview with John French has recently appeared on the Vanity Project fanzine website - http://vpinterviews.blogspot.com/2005/04/magic-band.html

First posted: 23.04.05

Fast 'N' Bulbous: The Captain Beefheart Project have just released their first CD of Don Van Vliet's music to an excellent review by David Fricke of Rolling Stone.

Fricke writes, "With bellowing horns arranged by saxophonist Phillip Johnston and pinpoint swordplay by ex-Magic Band guitarist Gary Lucas, Fast 'N' Bulbous ignite the R&B gunpowder inside the tangled surrealism of 'Suction Prints' and 'Pachuco Cadaver'. The group attacks Van Vliet's songs with the same idiosyncratic precision that he drilled into his own musicians. Fast 'N' Bulbous also reveal a vital truth about this music: You can dance to it."

The album title is a line from an extemporized song Don made up on the spot in Gary Lucas apartment after doing the second David Letterman show in the summer of 1983. Gary says, "I taped him in fine form for about an hour throwing out songs, 1 liners, aphorisms, impressions, children's gurgles--an incredible performance of total magic, Don in one of the rarest of moods."

Learn more and hear clips from the album at: http://www.phillipjohnston.com/ and http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/

An excellent 25 minute radio show in which Gary Lucas and Phillip Johnston talk about the album and play 4 tracks from it can be heard here: http://www.radio1.be/radio1_master/programmas/cuc/r1_cuc_home/index.html

First posted: 26.01.05
Updated: 18.02.05

Don turns 64 on Saturday 15 January and so we wish him many happy returns. Happy Birthday Don (and Happy Earthday too).

Moris Tepper talks with Don every week and says this about him, “I don’t think I’ve had a conversation with him in 20 years that he hasn’t written at least one, if not 18, songs while we’re on the phone. He’s constantly going. He doesn’t care if you’re on the phone or not, he’s just going."

In an interview with Robert Baird in January's Stereophile magazine, Tepper continues, “Since he quit music, but more important the last four or five years, he’s really gotten sweet and nurturing, and supportive of my work."

The song Ricochet Man was co-written with Don for Tepper's album Moth to Mouth. Moris explains that it was originally an instrumental track in progress which Don heard, along with other material intended for the album.

Moris had recently met Arthur Lee, the Love guitarist, who had been released after three years in jail, "for shooting a gun off in his apartment and there wasn’t anybody there." Moris says that when he told Don this story, "He (Don) goes [in a hipster whisper], 'Man, Ricochet Man’."

Don is constantly suggesting to Moris that he use some of his material, "but I’m trying to make my own work, my own statements." But, with Ricochet Man, "it felt so appropriate, so right for the record. So we got one together.”

Many thanks to Gene Hopstetter, Jr. for alerting us to this interview

First posted: 12.01.05

John Peel's Festive Fifty was broadcast in December. This was a selection of the best tracks from the previous years shows, voted for by the listeners.

The Magic Band's live session for Peel yielded two winning entries. 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus' made 34 and 'Electricity' was number 47 (just ahead of a band called Ella Guru.)

Congratulations to The Magic Band for such splendid playing and to John Peel's listeners for their excellent taste.

First posted: 12.01.05

Here is great news for anyone unable to see the current Magic Band perform live. A full-length concert DVD mixed in 5.1 surround and stereo is now available from Subdiva.

Please see our Magic Band Live in Concert / Crow's Milk page for more information. Full details of the DVD will appear soon. For reviews and comments about the concerts see the the Magic Band reunion news page.

First posted: 10.06.04
Updated: 04.01.05

Mike Barnes' Captain Beefheart: The Biography has just been re-published in a revised edition by Omnibus Press. Updates include information about Don's interview with Bono and material from legendary rock journalist Nick Kent and others.

About 8,000 words which were not in the first edition have been added. For ease of recognition the new book confusingly uses the same cover as the first edition. Publication date is of course changed to 2004 and the new ISBN is 1-84449-412-8. The price is £16.95.

We are giving away five copies as competition prizes for the answers to a few opaque questions that would bug most people. Alternatively you can order it now through amazon.co.uk.

First posted: 07.12.04
Updated: 04.01.2004

Gary Lucas has begun his own web-log.

The most recent entry at the time I'm writing is Gary's personal tribute to Kevin Coyne who died on December 2nd. Kevin's unique voice and talents will be sadly missed.

First posted: 07.12.04

An interview between Don Van Vliet and rock journalist Steven Rosen has been released as part of Chrome Dreams Classic Interviews series. The interview is 62 minutes long and is accompanied by a sixteen page booklet with an essay recently written by Rosen. Order it now through amazon.co.uk.

See Classic Interviews for more info

First posted: 04.09.04
Updated: 05.12.04

I have recently been playing a demo CD called 'Trout Mask Replica', a Replica replica, single-handedly made by Lewis Taylor, a professional musician best known for his soul albums and his music for feature films.

Find out more

First posted: 19.11.04

There are new albums available from two ex-Magic Band members:-

Eric Drew Feldman's new group project - kNIFE & fORK - have released their first album titled 'Miserycord'. Although EDF has appeared on numerous albums over the years this is his first full 'solo' release. Find out more at - www.knifeandforkmusic.com

And the ever prolific Gary Lucas has just released 'The Universe Of Absence'. This is his second collaboration with Dutch lute player Jozef van Wissem. Visit www.garylucas.com for more info

First posted: 03.10.04

In January Nick Hobbs gave a talk about Beefheart's voice and his reactions to it. Entitled 'Weirdo eccentrics of the margins & the curse of bel canto' it was Nick's contribution to an annual Parisian conference on theatrical arts. The text is now available here: www.voiceofshade.net/writingsfolder/writingspages/delcanto.html

'Trout Mask Replica: A Dagger in the Head of Mojo Man' is the title of Sean Bonney's talk, also in January, at ICE-Z (International Conference of Esemplastic Zappology) in London. (The conference was organised by Ben Watson, the noted writer on Poodle Play and essayist on Van Vliet's art.) Sean's text is available here: www.militantesthetix.co.uk/ice-z/sean.htm

First posted: 17.04.04

Former Beefheart co-writer Herb Bermann has had a new poem published in an anthology of poetry from Lower Topanga Canyon where until recently he lived in a small community of artists, musicians, writers and surfers.

The anthology 'Idlers of the Bamboo Grove' celebrates their former lifestyle and laments their relocation to make way for an extension to an existing State Park.

Herb's two and a half page poem is entitled 'Colophon' and is a reflection on a life lived "doing what I was put on this planet to do." There are references to the history of Lower Topanga, writing, nature, LSD, the power of the state and to various celebrities including Captain Beefheart.

Portraits of the ten poets represented are included in the 74 page book which costs $7.00 (including international postage). See http://www.geocities.com/brasstackspress/homepage.html or contact brasstackspress@yahoo.com

We intend to bring you our exclusive interview with Herb soon.

First posted: 17.04.04

The Radar Station has finally got their hands on a copy of this box set and takes a closer look...

Called 'Riding Some Kind of Unusual Skull Sleigh' it includes a signed print, a CD called "Riding Some Kind Of Unusual Skull Sleigh," a DVD "Some YoYo Stuff"; two hardbound art books - "Riding Some Kind Of..." 60 color plates of Van Vliet works; and "Splinter" photos, lyrics, artworks, cuttings etc. Published by Rhino/Artist Ink Editions...

See more info

First posted: 05.02.04
Update: 11.03.04

Stewart Osborne contacted the Radar Station to tell us he'd stumbled across a dvd of doubtful origin with the equally dubious name of Portable People. It contains a number of live performances by Don and the band plus the BBC's documentary. Visit the boots section of the site for more information.

First posted: 09.12.03

Okay, not strictly speaking 'news' but it slipped through the cracks when there was an hiatus with updating this page. So, if you missed it before here's your chance to find out about Mark Boston's first solo album Love Space, all songs are written by him and it was recorded and produced at his new studio. Even Bill Harkleroad puts in an appearance. See our page about Mark/Rockette for more information.

First posted: 24.11.03

Here's another piece of 'old' news. There has been information about the little booklet of Don's poems called Stunned Mirages. Poems & Other Infra Grams on the site for a while but I have only just found out where to get copies of it. So if you're interested here's more information.

First posted: 24.11.03

Yes, it's got all us Beefheart fans excited. A new recording!! It may only be a short piece but it's good to hear Don's still interested enough to do something for a benefit album.

See the Other Releases Discography for more detail about this release.

First posted: 23.10.03

Hurrah! This now classic and highly sought after gem will be released on 8th September 2003 in the UK on DVD.

Anton Corbijn's illuminating and charming short film Some Yo Yo Stuff is a highly recommended glimpse into the world of Don Van Vliet circa 1994 and is absolutely not to be missed.

UK / Europe region 2 version out on 8th September. Pre-order now from amazon.co.uk

US / Canada region 1 version is available now from amazon.com for $10, though even cheaper used copies are also available from Amazon at the time of writing.

A video is also available in PAL and NTSC format (state your preference when ordering) for a cheque for £9.99 plus postage, payable to State Ltd from State, 8 Poplar Mews, London, W12 7JS, UK.

Have a look at a few coloured stills from the black and white film while you are waiting for it to arrive.

Update: 30.07.03
First posted: 06.02

Visit Up Sifter for all that's new at The Radar Station website, and the news at it first appears.