The reunion of the legendary Magic Band was originally the brainchild of drummer extraordinaire John "Drumbo" French, whose tenure in the group is the longest for any one player -- spanning several different group incarnations from 1966 to 1980.

Since Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart)'s retirement from an active musical career in 1984 to successfully pursue his lifelong dream of recognition as a serious world class painter, there has been an overwhelming demand for more Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band music among the many thousands of folks all over the globe whose lives have been deeply touched by the singular beauty and unique vision of this earth-shaking, influential group -- a band that changed the course of music itself. more

magicband backtothefront

True Beefheart believers, rejoice! When you hear these brand-new Magic Band recordings of their classic songs, you're gonna be booglarized, baby! The music is as brilliant and complex and exhilarating as ever, and the Magic Band -- John "Drumbo" French on drums and vocals, Mark "Rockette Morton" Boston on bass, and Gary "Mantis" Lucas and Denny "Feelers Reebo" Walley on guitars -- will astound you with song after song of exuberant virtuosity.

Let's face it: we've been pummeled into numbness by the pedestrian rhythmic drudgery of 99% of all rock music of the last 20years. That's why it's such a relief to hear new versions of "My Human Gets Me Blues" and "Sun Zoom Spark" and "Moonlight on Vermont" and all the rest - entangled, interlocking compositions which are still amazing in their avant-garde-delta-blues originality.

And to think that these recordings are just live-to-tape rehearsals . . .simply unbelievable!
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">--Matt Groening

footer