Who Were Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band?

Captain Beefheart was on of the most influential "underground" musicians in America in the late 1960s and 1970s.   A contemporary friends and some time rival of Frank Zappa Beefheart's music was avante-garde, and difficult to place into a single category.

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His band "The Magic Band" changed members frequently.  Captain Beefheart was the act and the Magic Band were always the backup.

While never a commercial hit, Captain Beefheart had a large cult following and his exploration into multiple genera from blues to spoken word, paved the way for future musicians.   

Captain Beefheart was born Don Van Vliet and was a multi-instrument musician and composer who penned hundreds of songs.  He passed away in 2010.