Don Van Vliet |
The world has lost another mad genius today. Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, passed away at the age of 69. Best known for his groundbreaking musical work that melded blues, free jazz and art-rock lunacy. Van Vliet's career included poetry and graphic art, as well. Sadly, Rolling Stone magazine and our sister paper LA Weekly both confirmed the news.My late brother Ray was mad for the Captain. Owing to that exposure, mostly, I slowly became a fan. With the Captain dead, it’s like Ray’s dead all over again.
Gotta listen to the Captain more often.
See also: Don Van Vliet dies at 69; avant-garde rock musician known as Captain Beefheart (LA Times, Dec. 18)
1 comment:
Thanks for the post about Captain Beefheart, BvT. I listened to "Sure 'Nuff Yes I Do" in Ray's honor. The guy *was* a genius---sounds like an old country blues-man in Mississippi.
Grieving for Captain B (in an abstract way, since I didn't know him) has brought back grieving (in a visceral, full-on, emotional way) for Ray. Loved that guy; always will.
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