- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Quartet Books; First edition (July 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0704380730
- ISBN-13: 978-0704380738
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 13.6 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,386,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Captain Beefheart
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Product Description
Synopsis
This is the first fully researched in depth biography to appear of this seminal figure, and in it Mike Barnes gives equal weight to Don Van Vliet''s second career as a successful and highly collectable fine artist.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
indepth look @ a very deep subject,
By A Customer
This review is from: Captain Beefheart (Paperback)
Mike Barnes spent 5 years researching the life & art of Don Van Vliet & those associated w/ him thru various editions of Magic Bands & companions. He has done a good job in making something well worth reading, hard to put down, that compliments the best music ever made. He doesn't try to make Beefheart a saint or run him down either, just tries to paint a balanced even picture which is difficult since DVV was rarely balanced or even. Of course getting the facts staright is near impossible since Don would always speak laterally in another dimension in interviews, always wanting to make his story even more interesting than it already was. Normally song by song analyses don't work but here I think Mike's observations are well thought out & helpful, I never really understood Hobo Chang Ba for instance until now. There are a few pages of photos hidden in the middle & the cover photo by the great Cal Schenkel. Whislt Don himself did not collaborate on the book project, luminaries like Bill Harkleroad [Zoot], Gary Marker & Alex St Clair did & many opinions are presented. Overall, it's well done & it reminds of the greatness of the music, whilst the chapters about his temporary decline in 1974 were slightly depressing. A thorough enough discography is included @ the back too. If you are someone who is obsessed or curious about the poetry, painting & energy of DVV, I say "if you got eyes, you gotta read it!".
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating attempt to de-mythologise the Captain,
By
This review is from: Captain Beefheart (Paperback)
Barnes is to be admired for attempting to demolish some of the layers of myth surrounding Don van Vliet - admittedly, Beefheart built most of them himself!His biography is strongest on Vliet's early years, his curious friendship with Zappa, and the early albums - it starts to fall apart a little after the two "commercial" albums and treats the later recordings as being little more than a coda made up of existing material. There is some interesting and rather moving content on van Vliet's post-retirement life as a painter. All in all, a biography that doesn't fawn over van Vliet, that tries to be reasonably objective, that tries to debunk some of the more absurd myths and treats his words and music seriously. Pretty much mandatory reading for any real Beefheart fans.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent summary of the life and arts of Don Van Vliet.,
By
This review is from: Captain Beefheart (Paperback)
A must have for Don Van Vliet fans. This book does an excellent job exploring, explaining and questioning the legend of Captain Beefheart. No easy task, given all of the colorful exaggerations and off the wall statements Van Vliet has thrown at the press, or anyone else interested or inquiring about his life or art(s), over the years. Wonderfully compliled, and interesting throughout. It is also carefully compassionate towards Van Vliet's reclusiveness, and his painting career. There is an obvious respect for Van Vliet and the decisions he has made. Don Van Vliet is a true artist in every respect, and this book is a wonderful document of his life and accomplishements as a musician, poet, painter, and legend.
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