Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band were a revolutionary and innovative rock and roll group, founded in the Mojave Desert-area by Captain Beefheart (b. Don Vliet in 1941), a good friend of Frank Zappa. Beefheart had previously worked with local groups such as The Omens and The Blackouts and formed the Magic Band with Alex St. Clair (guitarist), Doug Moon (guitarist), Jerry Handley (bassist) and Paul Blakely (drummer) in 1964.
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band signed to A&M Records and released a successful single, "Diddy Wah Diddy". Their first LP, however, was rejected by the label as being too negative and uncommercial. Moon and Blakely were replaced by Antennae Jimmy Semens and John Dumbo French respectively, as well as adding Ry Cooder (guitarist) and released their remixed album, Safe as Milk. Meanwhile, Beefheart's childhood friend, Frank Zappa, formed Straight Records and signed Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, which had added Zoot Horn Rollo (guitarist), Rockette Morton (bassist) and Mascara Snake (bass clarinetist), resulting in the landmark 1969 album Trout Mask Replica. After Lick My Decals Off, Baby (1970) and the more commercial 1972 albums, The Spotlight Kid and Clear Spot, the Magic Band left Beefheart and formed Mallard. Beefheart formed a new Magic Band and released Unconditionally Guaranteed and Bluejeans & Moonbeams. Shiny Beast (1978) brought group back to the innovative and eccentric style of the earlier albums. After Ice Cream for Crow (1982), Beefheart retired from music and became a critically acclaimed painter.
