Exeter Phoenix, Tuesday 21 November 2017, 8pm, £19
Phonic FM presents one of the last chances to see the music of Captain Beefheart played by his official backing band. Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart was a visionary in the field of music. His backing group was called Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band and started out as a Blues outfit.
Drummer John French joined in 1966 to help record the album, Safe as Milk — referring to the strontium-90 content found in lactating mother’s milk.
A collection of classic albums followed, including Strictly Personal, Trout Mask Replica, Lick My Decals Off, Baby, Mirror Man, The Spotlight Kid and Bat Chain Puller. The personnel of the Magic Band constantly changed over time and the name came to refer to whoever was backing the legendary Captain Beefheart at the time.
Van Vliet retired in 1982, after a career of sixteen years and thirteen original albums plus many bootlegs. He became a painter, withdrawing more and more from the public, eventually succumbing to complications of MS in 2010.
John French re-formed The Magic Band back in 2003. They debuted at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival and have toured, mainly in the UK and Europe, irregularly ever since.
The lineup of The Magic Band who will be playing this final tour are:
- John “Drumbo” French / Lead Vocals, Harmonica, Sax, Drums
- Eric Klerks / Extended Ranch guitar, BKP Vocals
- Max Kutner / Guitar and Slide guitar
- Jonathan Sindelman / Keyboards
- Andy Niven / Drums
Tickets and information: http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/the-magic-band/
#PhonicMagic