r.i.p. don van vliet captain beefheart 1941-2010

I've nothing really to add to the masses of material out there from people who actually knew, worked with, or saw Captain Beefheart perform. The first time I heard him was probably mid-eighties on John Peel's show when he'd already retired from music and become just a rumour.

Apart from occasional tracks on Peel my next exposure was around 1990 when one of my brothers got hold of a copy of Zappa's Hot Rats with Beefheart on Willie The Pimp.

But you don't want my dreary third-hand anecdotes you want the music. Orange Claw Hammer is probably my favourite Beefheart track. Rollin' N Tumblin' is just an amazing song.