There’s so many things to feel and see while you’re awake…

Don Van Vliet / Captain BeefheartCombining elements of free jazz, blues and rock, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band produced what is commonly regarded by critics and fans as one of rock’s few truly original bodies of work.

Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart) retired from the music industry after 1982’s Ice Cream For Crow album to concentrate on his primary love – paint.

The Radar Station is a purely fan-run site which aims to document every twist and turn in the tale of this unique individual.

Header photograph copyright Anton Corbijn, used with kind permission.

Don Van Vliet: 1941-2010 – tributes and fond farewells

Recent blog posts

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We are very pleased to announce that Moris Tepper has agreed to a series of exclusive interviews with the Radar Station about his time with Don and the Magic Band, his solo music career and his work as an artist. Moris was guitarist with the Magic Band from 1976 until 1982, the longest serving guitarist with the band under his full name of Jeff Moris Tepper. He later went on to record a number of solo albums, as well as working with P J Harvey, Tom Waits and Frank Black. These interviews will take place over the coming months and will be posted here onRead More →

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Well, we’re getting off to a great start this year with a couple of new releases planned. Bongo Fury 50th Anniversary Only a year late but welcome none the less, Bongo Fury gets a deluxe release on CD. This will be available from 20 March 2026. There will be 5 CDs of material (roughly 80% unreleased) including studio outtakes and live tracks plus the two Armadillo concerts complete and remixed from the original 16-Track Masters. Also includes unseen photos and liner notes from band member, Denny Walley, plus Vaultmeister Joe Travers. Blu-Ray features new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 mixes, and high-resolution stereo audio with bonus surroundRead More →

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In December 2025 Gerry Fialka interviewed bass player extraordinaire Greg Cohen for his podcast I’m Probably Wrong About Everything. Greg has played bass for a bewildering and diverse number of musicians over the years. During the interview he told this great story about how he came to be introduced to Don : Seven years younger than me is my little sister Jeannie who followed after my mom. She looked like a little Eskimo when she was born, full head of hair, black hair and from the very earliest age she was creative. From like the beginning. And she would sit by my mom and absorbRead More →