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This book tells one of the most incredible sagas of 20th century music. --Mojo
Product Description
A no-holds barred account of working with Beefheart drawing on new reminiscences and interviews with all the key players from inside and around the Magic Band and the cross pollinated Mothers of Invention (masterminded by Frank Zappa). Among those interviewed are Jerry Handley, Jim Sherwood, Alex Snouffer, Art Tripp, Doug Moon, Mark Boston (Rockette Morton), Roy Estrada and Merrel Fankhauser. In depth, honest and full of remarkable revelations, Through the Eyes of Magic is also littered with startling, previously unreleased photos.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great book that explodes many of the myths perpetuated about Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band (most of which were spread by the Captain himself). It is a frank, illuminating and entertaining read of the formation and evolution of the group, containing interviews from many of the major players and several more obscure ones too, largely tied together from author/drummer/arranger John French's personal perspective. He pulls few punches and is extremely candid about his experiences and opinons, but it is all balanced with a sympathetic hindsight approach that makes this book much less of a bitter rant about the poor treatment and seemingly unending bad luck of a superb musician who deserves so much better, and more of a healing experience which doesn't fail to move the reader.
The main reason I've only given this four stars however is because it could have done with some thorough proofreading (there are a lot of typos and punctuation errors), and also possibly some textual editing - John's writing style is very conversational, which is great, but over the course of the book it seems that many sentences and recollections are repeated. This increases the further into the book you get, giving the disconcerting impression that you've read the book before. I would hope that maybe a second printing would address these issues.
Also, whereas John has gone into great detail about the background and roots of the group, shedding light on people not often mentioned in relation to The Magic Band (such as various contemporaries of the early/mid 60's Lancaster scene), it mentions almost nothing of the so-called 'Tragic Band' era, between the Magic Band splitting from The Captain in 1973 to Don joining Frank Zappa's band in 1975. It would have been interesting to get John's perspective on this much maligned era in the history of Don Van Vliet. However, John himself admits that as he wasn't involved with the group between leaving in 1972 and rejoining in 1975, he has little to say on the matter. But considering how much research he put into other aspects, it's a shame.
Nevertheless, this is a great read about one of the most fascinating, influential and unique groups to ever emerge in the big wide ocean of artistic expression called Rock Music, and along with Bill Harkleroad's book 'Lunar Notes' gives insight into the truth of the compositional aspects of this band's remarkable body of work, and how much of a collaborative process much of it actually was, thereby finally giving credit where credit has been long overdue.
Anybody remotely interested in Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band should read this book, and anybody who cares about great artistic achievements of the 20th century should be hailing John 'Drumbo' French as the wizard who did much to make the album 'Trout Mask Replica' the extraordinary, possibly unsurpassed musical statement that it is. And i haven't even mentioned his drumming. Please buy this book and help the man make some money - No one (excepting some of the other Magic Band members) has done more to earn it.
The main reason I've only given this four stars however is because it could have done with some thorough proofreading (there are a lot of typos and punctuation errors), and also possibly some textual editing - John's writing style is very conversational, which is great, but over the course of the book it seems that many sentences and recollections are repeated. This increases the further into the book you get, giving the disconcerting impression that you've read the book before. I would hope that maybe a second printing would address these issues.
Also, whereas John has gone into great detail about the background and roots of the group, shedding light on people not often mentioned in relation to The Magic Band (such as various contemporaries of the early/mid 60's Lancaster scene), it mentions almost nothing of the so-called 'Tragic Band' era, between the Magic Band splitting from The Captain in 1973 to Don joining Frank Zappa's band in 1975. It would have been interesting to get John's perspective on this much maligned era in the history of Don Van Vliet. However, John himself admits that as he wasn't involved with the group between leaving in 1972 and rejoining in 1975, he has little to say on the matter. But considering how much research he put into other aspects, it's a shame.
Nevertheless, this is a great read about one of the most fascinating, influential and unique groups to ever emerge in the big wide ocean of artistic expression called Rock Music, and along with Bill Harkleroad's book 'Lunar Notes' gives insight into the truth of the compositional aspects of this band's remarkable body of work, and how much of a collaborative process much of it actually was, thereby finally giving credit where credit has been long overdue.
Anybody remotely interested in Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band should read this book, and anybody who cares about great artistic achievements of the 20th century should be hailing John 'Drumbo' French as the wizard who did much to make the album 'Trout Mask Replica' the extraordinary, possibly unsurpassed musical statement that it is. And i haven't even mentioned his drumming. Please buy this book and help the man make some money - No one (excepting some of the other Magic Band members) has done more to earn it.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Exhaustive and concise is one way to describe this book, distressing and an exploder of myths is another. John French casts his mind's eye back, WAY BACK and valiantly records the birth of Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band right through to the incredible Trout Mask Replica and beyond.
Although there were many strange and hazy myths surrounding the birth of TMR, John blows away the smoke, literally, and reveals the cult like environment that eventually took over in the house. Don Van Vliet was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, probably brought on due to excessive LSD use, who would terrorise and intimidate the band members until they breathed, ate and slept the way way he wanted them to. It sounds insane, but they stuck with it and eventually they produced one of the most extraordinary albums of all time.
The book goes into to incredible detail and is a truly rewarding read. I would also recommend this to Zappa fans as there is a lot of entertaining facts about the birth of The Mothers and how Zappa grew up and eventually collaborated with Beefheart.
Overall an excellent book, definitely the DEFINITIVE Beefheart book to date.
Although there were many strange and hazy myths surrounding the birth of TMR, John blows away the smoke, literally, and reveals the cult like environment that eventually took over in the house. Don Van Vliet was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, probably brought on due to excessive LSD use, who would terrorise and intimidate the band members until they breathed, ate and slept the way way he wanted them to. It sounds insane, but they stuck with it and eventually they produced one of the most extraordinary albums of all time.
The book goes into to incredible detail and is a truly rewarding read. I would also recommend this to Zappa fans as there is a lot of entertaining facts about the birth of The Mothers and how Zappa grew up and eventually collaborated with Beefheart.
Overall an excellent book, definitely the DEFINITIVE Beefheart book to date.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I received Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica on CD for Christmas years back when I was about 14. Being long-haired and 'into music' I had written a list as long as an unrolled toilet roll with a list of albums I had never heard, but was aware were 'must haves'. It took me a long time to appreciate Trout Mask Replica but it now stands (along with their debut Safe as Milk, the follow-up Lick My Decals Off Baby, and Clear Spot) as one of my all time favourite, endlessly-listenable albums.
The responsibility for this album actually being made possible lies with the author of this book, drummer John French (who was, I think, nineteen at the time?).
Drumbo relates anecdotes of his own experiences working with the Captain, of tours and working odd-jobs, and his interests at the time, augmented by his position as author thirty years on. He interviews previous Magic Band members (from every version of the band) to fill in the gaps or add to his own memories. Needless to say its a well-researched and thoroughly honest work. At times there are a (very) few punctuation or grammatical errors that probably should have been picked by an editor, but these only attest to the authenticity of this tome.
The long cast of characters are portrayed as they presented themselves to John and to others (with the addition of hindsight) including Don Van Vliet himself, who comes across as both a raving, sometimes deluded, egomaniac, yet one the most charming, sweetest and talented human beings ever to grace the planet. French does not shy away from criticising or from praising anyone, including himself.
If you only own one Beefheart record, this is still a must have (and will no doubt encourage you to pick up more). Other fan(atics) already know that it is.
Through the Eyes of Magic takes the well-publicised Captain Beefheart mythology (81/2 hour compositions, teaching band members not only their parts but their instruments) and throws it out of the window, replacing it with an account that is honest, and in turns, educational, heartbreaking, laugh-out-loud funny, difficult to put down (and makes it difficult to listen to anything non Beefheart related for the duration of the reading) and downright more interesting than anything Rolling Stone has written about the Captain through the years.
As with everything else Drumbo has put his dexterous hands to, this is an essential purchase.
Got me?
The responsibility for this album actually being made possible lies with the author of this book, drummer John French (who was, I think, nineteen at the time?).
Drumbo relates anecdotes of his own experiences working with the Captain, of tours and working odd-jobs, and his interests at the time, augmented by his position as author thirty years on. He interviews previous Magic Band members (from every version of the band) to fill in the gaps or add to his own memories. Needless to say its a well-researched and thoroughly honest work. At times there are a (very) few punctuation or grammatical errors that probably should have been picked by an editor, but these only attest to the authenticity of this tome.
The long cast of characters are portrayed as they presented themselves to John and to others (with the addition of hindsight) including Don Van Vliet himself, who comes across as both a raving, sometimes deluded, egomaniac, yet one the most charming, sweetest and talented human beings ever to grace the planet. French does not shy away from criticising or from praising anyone, including himself.
If you only own one Beefheart record, this is still a must have (and will no doubt encourage you to pick up more). Other fan(atics) already know that it is.
Through the Eyes of Magic takes the well-publicised Captain Beefheart mythology (81/2 hour compositions, teaching band members not only their parts but their instruments) and throws it out of the window, replacing it with an account that is honest, and in turns, educational, heartbreaking, laugh-out-loud funny, difficult to put down (and makes it difficult to listen to anything non Beefheart related for the duration of the reading) and downright more interesting than anything Rolling Stone has written about the Captain through the years.
As with everything else Drumbo has put his dexterous hands to, this is an essential purchase.
Got me?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2nd Beefheart
This Beefheart no.2 book I purchased for my boyfriends birthday is in the balance. He is reading it and told me it was very funny full of personal anecdotes but a bit rambling you... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Alchemist
Interesting
There's a lot of info here. As others have mentioned, the book would definitely benefit from a critical editor as the amount of repetition is huge. Read more
Published 10 months ago by G. Titley
GREAT READ
When Captain Beefheart passed away i thought i should find out more about this much cited performer.I chose this door stop of a book and really enjoyed it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by mister joe
Comprehensive info, needs editing.
I have found this book at times frustrating due to the way it has been written. Mostly quotes from interviews held by John French. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Bring_back_the_60s
An Enlightening Treasure Trove
A fascinating book. Ideal reading for Beefheart/Magic Band/Zappa fans, or anyone interested in the creation of one of the finest bodies of work in contemporary music. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. S. Bush
Book in need of a good editor
This book has two messages in one: Don Vliet was a bad guy who has done John French wrong and JF is naive and innocent, and oh, he is christian. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Poeticbrain
But what about Don?
I find it surprising that most of the reviewers here unquestioningly accept John's views as to who really created Trout Mask Replica etc. This debate has been going on for decades. Read more
Published 17 months ago by CFT
The Big Dig
I have just finished the main text of the book this morning and most reviewers have already covered the main points. Read more
Published 17 months ago by marshlander
The Ulysses of rock books
I'll only add my praise to all that's been said already. With another round of proof-reading, with corrected punctuation, edited down some 20-30 pages, plus the addition of an... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Tempus F
amazing and cheap.
I'm not going to whine or harp on about the qualities of this book as whatever I say will not change your mind. Read more
Published 20 months ago by B. A. Magill
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