Captain Beefheart, a.k.a. Don Van Vliet, dies at 69

Entertainment Weekly ^ | 12/17/10 | Simon Vozick-Levinson

[Borges]

Avant-garde rock legend and visual artist Don Van Vliet, who performed under the name Captain Beefheart, passed away today at age 69. A representative of New York City’s Michael Werner Gallery, which hosted several shows of his paintings, confirms the sad news to EW. Van Vliet died of complications from multiple sclerosis at a hospital in Northern California this morning.

[Sto Zvirat]

Severely bummed, he was a great talent, and fun to listen to. I loved the stuff he did with Zappa “Willie the Pimp” and such. His last album and amazing video “Ice Cream for Crow” was great!

RIP Don Van Vilet, the world is worse without you.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I remember picking up my date and then stopping at the Shell station to fill up. In those days, gas stations gave away dinner ware with a fill. On this night, they had steak knives. I put my gift in the inside pocket of my Navy surplus peacoat and forgot about it.
The concert featured “festival seating,” (we sat on the floor.) When we got there, most of the floor space was taken. I decided the two of us would sit on my peacoat so I took it off and gave it a snap as I spread it out...
The steak knife came skittering out and about a dozen other nearby couples observed this. They all scooted away from us, giving us plenty of room to sit down to hear the good Capt.

[BikerTrash]

And now, Meatloaf remains as the only living rockstar named after edible flesh.

Angus.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Oh no! Another of my all-time faves gone!

"And the pantalooned duck, white goose-necked quacked . . . webcor,webcor."

[Chunga]

So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood.
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood.
So this was a drive-in restaurant in Hollywood.

[n230099]

"Capt. B. was really where rock’n’roll stepped out of bounds, perhaps for the last time."

Well put!!!

[frunobulax]

There are a few

My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains

[Rocko]

R.I.P., Don.

[The Comedian]

Angus.

Well played sir, kudos!

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Drumbo]

Thanks My, PFWPA is my favorite Bi-Centennial song. Say goodbye to a legend.
To the best of my knowledge, John French, the original Drumbo, is still around. I owe more than my nick-name to Don and the Magic Band.
21 drum salute Captain: You've earned your legacy.
God speed,
good rest;
in peace be blessed.

Here's the MP3 for the YouTube impaired.

Poofter's Froth Wyoming Plans Ahead
~ Frank Zappa & Captain Beefhart ~

---

[P.O.E.]

Me on long car trips: “You’d better behave, or I’ll play the Residents!!”

Kids in the back seat: “We’ll be good! We’ll be good!”

[dayglored]

>> RIP. Troutmaskreplica was one of the masterpieces of sonic art.

> "A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous!"

That album forever changed my outlook on music. As a lifelong improvisational musician, I owe Beefheart and Zappa a huge debt, for opening my mind and showing what is possible. They surely are in a class with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, and others who refused to be bound by preconceived notions.

Dan Van Vliet has returned to the Mothership. RIP, and say Hi to Frank when you see him...

[wardaddy]

What an odd cat....the critics loved him.

[SupplySider]

God bless him. I saw him and the Magic Band play in Alexandria, VA in the late sixties. Incredible music.

I had a friend who was a friend of Don's in LA. He said he was a wonderful guy, brilliant, funny, and, like Frank Zappa, actively opposed to drugs. Just a natural born eccentric genius.

[vimto]

Thanks for posting.

A tip of the hat and a fond farewell from the UK.

“the dust blows forward and the dust blows back...” Ain’t that the truth.

[frunobulax]

Antelope Valley High School 1958

[Eddie01]

Bongo Fury is at the top of my list as well.