The Captain has sailed.

[Hell and High Water]

Captain Beefheart has died at age 69, from complications due to multiple sclerosis. He was a huge influence on our Polly.

http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/12/17/capt ... eart-dies/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Teclo25]

Very sad news. He was one of my favs.

[Pollyphoniac]

one of my top favorites too, it really grieves me that he is gone.

what can I say now, wanting to comment on the sad news. I'm at a loss for words here.

tomorrow I'm going to play Beefheart on high volume, in commemoration of the Captain. (I wish I could start immediately but it probably would arouse the unfavorable attitude of my neighbors, as it is midnight here right now.)

[megique]

oh no, such a sad news, i didn't expect that at all

[Pocket Knife]

Aww. Coincidentally, I was just thinking earlier today that I needed to download some of his work and give it a try. Such a unique persona, sad news indeed.

[cat on the wall]

Wow, I'm very sorry terrible news. For the longest time I know what an deep influence he's been on pj & have really been interested in hearing his music. Words fail me, It's a huge loss & my deepest thoughts are with him & his family.

[Skinned]

Terrible news. I am so sad.

[DrDark]

"Once you've heard Beefheart, it's hard to wash him out of your clothes. It stains, like coffee or blood" - Tom Waits

"There was humour in there, but you could tell that it wasn't [intended as] a joke" - John Parish

""that it was the worst thing I'd ever heard. I said to myself, they're not even trying! It was just a sloppy cacophony. Then I listened to it a couple more times, because I couldn't believe Frank Zappa could do this to me - and because a double album cost a lot of money. About the third time, I realized they were doing it on purpose; they meant it to sound exactly this way. About the sixth or seventh time, it clicked in, and I thought it was the greatest album I'd ever heard." - Matt Groening remembering the first time he listened to TMR at age 15

RIP Don.

[Polly_Jean_Cave]

Oh My God! What a loss! What a tragedy! What an artist! What an icon! One of the very few rock figures you could actually refer to as a genius! I'll be playing "Trout Mask Replica", "Safe As Milk" and "Lick My Decals off Baby" all day long. Polly must be incredibly upset. Rest in peace Mr Don Van Vliet.

[Polly_Jean_Cave]

I'll just add (not that this isn't obvious) "Butthole Surfers" owe their whole career to Captain & The magic Band. I think its pretty obvious who they were listening to when they made "BBQ Pope"

[DrDark]

"I feel very fortunate in my life, for many reasons. One of these reasons is coming across such a man as Don Van Vliet, through his music, his art and as a friend.

So rarely have I come into contact with extraordinarily special human beings; human-beings that operate on a different level than most. That have a certain 'other-ness' about them and a wisdom that I can only aspire to, breathless. People that I would drop everything for, and sit at their feet, to hang on every word.

Don is such a human-being. In everything he does. In his words, his creations and in himself.

Thank you Don. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.

Polly Jean Harvey"

- front matter from "Don Van Vliet", published by Aton Kern Gallery, New York on the occasion of the exhibition "Don Van Vliet Paintings" May 31 through June 29, 2007.

[Polly_Jean_Cave]

"I feel very fortunate in my life, for many reasons. One of these reasons is coming across such a man as Don Van Vliet, through his music, his art and as a friend.

So rarely have I come into contact with extraordinarily special human beings; human-beings that operate on a different level than most. That have a certain 'other-ness' about them and a wisdom that I can only aspire to, breathless. People that I would drop everything for, and sit at their feet, to hang on every word.

Don is such a human-being. In everything he does. In his words, his creations and in himself.

Thank you Don. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.

Polly Jean Harvey"

- front matter from "Don Van Vliet", published by Aton Kern Gallery, New York on the occasion of the exhibition "Don Van Vliet Paintings" May 31 through June 29, 2007.

Beautiful words.

[Shadowboxer]

That's so sad. RIP. :,(

[bruise]

I'm unable to add anything to what has already been said... hope you rest in peace, genius

[bluesman]

Strange, my brother was by last weekend & brought up Don's name. We were discussing his health. He was certainly a genius and has left behind a historically important body of work. Nice to know he's no longer suffering. Farewell Don.