One year later, he was playing on their seminal debut safe as milk featuring a certain ry cooder on guitar. The magic band play the music of captain beefheart. Seems to me beefhearts bullying did more to undermine his own. Were featuring millions of their reader ratings on our book pages to help you find your new favourite book. John french will be playing a show at threadgills in austin, tx, october 7th, 2017 as part of the austin corn lovers fiesta. Theres a new book just been published in french called captain beefheart and his magic band s written by benoit delaune. Through the eyes of magic by french, john 2010 hardcover. As the leader of captain beefheart and his magic band, a band with a constantly shifting membership, he released a dozen albums to highly varied. Through the eyes of magic by french, john 2010 hardcover john french on.
Through the eyes of magic john drumbo french tells his story from his birth in 1948 right up to the release of his solo album city of refuge in 2008. The lowest of the lows unquestionably occurred during the making of that celebrated oddity trout mask replica 1969, an album still disturbingly unlike anything else ever recorded. Captain beefheart and his magic band interview with drummer, john french john french is one of the most unique drummers, with his very own style, which reflects the music of captain beefhearts magic band. John french has interviewed dozens of close friends and musical collaborators and created a huge canvas of those 15 years, when he worked with don van vliet.
One year later, he was playing on their seminal debut safe as milk featuring a certain ry cooder on guitar, a record that john lennon would declare as one of his favourites. Trout mask replica is the third studio album by american rock band captain beefheart and his magic band, released as a double album on june 16, 1969, by straight records. The magic bands john drumbo french spoke to band on the wall ahead of his farewell tour with the magic band later this year. This very thick book has 864 pages of text in small font. A noholds barred account of working with beefheart featuring interviews with all key players inside and around the magic band and the mothers of invention. If i listen to it first thing in the morning, im assured of a day of.
In may 1976 the long association between zappa and his managerbusiness partner herb cohen ceased. Beefheart through the eyes of magic by french john for sale. John drumbo french of captains beefhearts magic band. Don van vliet or as he is better known captain beefheart was one of, if not, the worlds greatest artists of all time. In 1966, aged only seventeen, drummer john french joined captain beefheart and his magic band. Captain beefheart and his magic band don van vliet ry cooder jerry handley john drumbo french alex st clair he was the guy who started the band everyone should read drumbos book, beefheart. Members of an early lineup of the magic band who performed without vliet at blue lakes also formed the shortlived mallard.
Through the eyes of magic, don was already walking with a cane, and sometimes needed help getting off stage. The general consensus in rock circles has always been that captain beefheart was a musical genius. John frenchs 2010 book through the eyes of magic describes some of the talks. If youre a beefheart fan and are at all interested in the history of the band, then i strongly recommend you buy this book now. French does not drum on ice cream for crow, though he did coach new drummer, cliff martinez, who later played on the first two red hot chili peppers albums. Any beefheart fan would be amiss not to have john french s tome on their shelf. Please provide me with your latest book news, views and. Few names carry such formidable mystique and rabid cult status as captain. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Born don van vliet in 1941, captain beefheart is one of modern musics true innovators. The emotional backbone is the problematic relationship between vliet and his band. Captain beefheart and his magic band interview with drummer. Through eyes of magic by john french hardcover mint condition.
Vliets angular personality comes through in vivid detail. Captain beefhearts drummer john french has a new book out. Captain beefheart s drummer john french has a new book out and its awesome. Through the eyes of magic as group talks which resembled the kind of group therapy that used to happen at a facility in santa monica called. John french french, john used books, rare books and new books find all books by john french and compare prices. An indepth interview with the magic bands john drumbo.
Log in or sign up for facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Former captain beefheart musical director and drummer, john drumbo french leads out the latest version of the magic band for one final tour of the uk. John frenchs book covers a phenomenal amount of detail, and is a must for anyone interested in the story of beefheart and the band. The lowest of the lows unquestionably occurred during the making of that celebrated oddity trout mask replica 1969, an album still.
I just received my copy of john drumbo frenchs new book though the eyes of magic today and wow. Captain beefhearts drummer john french has a new book out and its awesome. Other beefheart books are out of print and extremely expensive. Jun 16, 2019 john french will be playing a show at threadgills in austin, tx, october 7th, 2017 as part of the austin corn lovers fiesta. After vliets retirement, in 1982, members of the the magic band were reformed in 2003 by drummer john french, who also took on the vocal role. Captain beefheart poetry reading taken from the cd published with the book stand up to be discontinued 1993 of interest because it reveals how frail don was even then. The book is packed with new revelations, many previouslyunseen photos and enough anecdotes to keep the beefheart faithful ruminating for years, french finally crystallising and bringing to life over 40 years of legend and speculation in what has to be the ultimate book on the mercurial genius of captain beefheart.
John drumbo french exclusive interview matt mead interviews drumbo about his fascinating time working with captain beefheart. Every page has a fish blowing bubbles on it there are two sections to the book. Captain beefheart fantasy fair magic mountain 1967 youtube. John french is better qualified than anyone to talk about beefheart. A credit to french, and one he didnt get on the all. John french was nicknamed drumbo by don van vliet, aka captain beefheart. John drumbo french of captains beefhearts magic band in. He played on captain beefheart s trout mask replica album and several other beefheart recordings. Former captain beefheart drummer john drumbo french. John and i spoke about his start as a musician, joining magic band, living, recording and touring with don van vliet and much more. Buy beefheart by john french from waterstones today. With various lineups of musicians called the magic band, beefheart released a total of studio albums recorded between 1967 and 1982, after which he left music to concentrate on a career in painting, as don van vliet. John stephen french born 29 september 1948 is an american drummer.
The public is invited to this engaging gerry fialka interview of john french, who will address the metaphysics of his callings and the nittygritty of his craft. According to peel, if there has ever been such a thing as a genius in the history of popular music, its beefheart. Both beefheart and frank zappa lived in the desert. John french musician news newspapers books scholar jstor may. Glass fingers big bad but beautiful book of beefheart bootlegs by glass finger book blimp over europe. John french is better qualified than anyone to talk about beefheart, joining the magic band in 1966 at the age of 17 just before recording their safe as milk debut album, finding himself plunged into a tyrannical regime which.
French does not drum on ice cream for crow, though he did coach new drummer, cliff martinez, who later. Will include dust jacket if it originally came with one. Beefheart through the eyes of magic by french john for. While other books about the magic band have come and gone i think what john has written could very well be considered the final word on the subject. This is a written transcript of the audio interview, which can be enjoyed here. Pdf captain beefheart the biography download full pdf. This is a great deal on a beautiful, sturdy hardcover version of a highly detailed book. Join facebook to connect with john french and others you may know. Captain beefheart and his magic band ice cream for crow. Explore books by john french with our selection at. It looks at how some of the most amazing free music ever made was produced under the most controlled of conditions. Captain beefhearts 10 commandments of guitar playing.
His catalogue has since been augmented with extra releases including an ep and various. Discussion in music corner started by urban spaceman, feb 9, 2010. Van vliet has been the subject of at least two documentaries, the bbcs 1997 the artist formerly known as captain beefheart narrated by john peel, and the 2006 independent production captain beefheart. John frenchs longawaited exhaustive account of his time working with. This will be sort of a celebration of beefheart music. Sep 23, 2014 captain beefheart and his magic band interview with drummer, john french john french is one of the most unique drummers, with his very own style, which reflects the music of captain beefhearts magic band. A 90 page album guide to the music of captain beefheart and the magic band, with words from art tripp, john drumbo french, robert williams, zoot horn rollo, cliff martinez and others. Much of the work on this album had been finalized and some demos had been circulated when fate once again struck the beefheart camp. Former captain beefheart drummer john drumbo french talks. Captain beefhearts 10 commandments of guitar playing wfmu.
Indeed, we took food and drinks because we knew they were starving and i relate the scene in my own book, freak out. Captain beefheart and his magic band interview with. In an october 1991 interview with guitar player magazine, when asked about his influences, guitarist john frusciante of red hot chili peppers said, the most important inspiration is undoubtedly zoot horn rollos playing on captain beefhearts trout mask replica. The band were john french drums, john thomas keyboards and jeff moris tepper and denny walley guitars. This is a tome designed to document for posterity he even carefully defines some basic terms that today are obvious to most of us, but may not be 50 or 100 years from now. John french was nicknamed drumbo by don van vliet, aka captain. I just received my copy of john drumbo french s new book though the eyes of magic today and wow. Charles mingus was a tyrant, but next to beefheart he was downright saintly. Jan 11, 2010 beefheart by john french, 9780956121219. In my presence, although beefheart was bewildering with his strange manner of speech, he was always charming, so i was as surprised as other readers to learn of his bullying and cruel ways, something that john french tells with unflinching honesty and since he was there and lived through those dreadful days while the band rehearsed and prepared for trout mask replica, i think his account is. An indepth interview with the magic bands john drumbo french. At a very young age french joined a local band that even made a record, but his eyes and ears were always tuned into what beefheart was doing with his music.
In early mid 2000 john french called on radar station visitors for some help writing his book, beefheart. Captain beefheart poetry reading taken from the cd published with the book stand up to be discontinued 1993 of. He played on captain beefhearts trout mask replica album and several. As drummer and musical director for the iconoclastic captain beefheart, john drumbo french was a key contributor to the many bands many groundbreaking albums included trout mask replica. Through the eyes of magic by french, john 2010 hardcover 9780956121219 by john french and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. John french suffered many ups and down during his onoff career as drummer and amanuensis for don van vliet aka captain beefheart. Beefheart through the eyes of magic john french 0956121217. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. John french a noholds barred account of working with beefheart featuring interviews with all key players inside and around the magic band and the mothers of invention. The lineup that made doc at the radar station, the penultimate studio album from captain beefheart and the magic band, recorded in june 1980.
In my presence, although beefheart was bewildering with his strange manner of speech, he was always charming, so i was as surprised as other readers to learn of his bullying and cruel ways, something that john french tells with unflinching honesty. Captain beefheart was the stage name of american avantgarde musician and painter don van vliet january 15, 1941 december 17, 2010. In 1982, he retired to concentrate on painting, leaving the mythology hed stoked himself to grow untamed over the years. Don started doing what i referred to in my book beefheart.
The following is a list of official releases by american musician captain beefheart. Captain beefheart and the magic band home facebook. The magic band monday 6th november 2017 the voodoo rooms. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. He revolutionized drumming with captain beefheart and recently authored the book entitled beefheart. John french has interviewed dozens of close friends and musical collaborators and created a huge canvas of those 15 years, when he worked with don van. The ultimate book about captain beefheart written by the man who spent more time with him than most. Beefheart by john french, 9780956121219, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
316 67 30 365 1405 1203 1559 15 745 21 224 562 1093 1559 1540 1165 1148 159 340 1210 891 459 48 1122 764 1238 495 919 444 247 680 1294 42 1498 1188 1223 100 408 592