Captain Beefheart was one of the most influential psychedelic musicians and true innovators. The core of Beefheart's music was his incredible voice, unique rhythms rooted in free jazz and outlandish lyrical content. HIs music recalled the Delta blues, and even spanned classical music all the way up to Rock 'n' Roll, creating a completely new sound. While he never came remotely close to mainstream success, Beefheart's impact was unprecedented, and his markings were left all over punk music, new wave, and 80's and 90's indie-rock movements.
Beefheart was born Don Vliet (later changed to Van Vilet) on January 15, 1941 in Glendale, California, and his family would eventually move to the Mojave Desert, where as a teen would befriend a young artist named Frank Zappa. Vilet would first perform as Captain Beefheart in 1964, assembling his first Magic Band in 1965. Many consider the 1969 album Trout Mask Replica as Beefheart's greatest triumph, an album that was produced by his teenage friend Frank Zappa. After a continuous lack of commercial success and seven studio albums later, The Magic Band would disband in 1974. Beefheart would reformed a new Magic Band with a group of younger musicians and produced three final albums from 1978-1982 that returned him to prominence through the eccentricities of his earlier work.
After his retirement from music Van Vilet would focus on visual art as his passion, only making a few public appearances as Captain Beefheart.
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