December 17, 2010

R.I.P. Don Van Vliet (a//k/a Captain Beefheart)

Don Van Vliet, also known as Captain Beefheart, died today at the age of 69 from complications from multiple sclerosis. Popularly known as a musician/poet/auteur whose 1969 album, Trout Mask Replica (produced by Frank Zappa) is a masterpiece of avant-rock, he later abandoned music only to find financial success as a painter, represented by the prestigious Michael Werner Gallery in New York. MS is an insidious disease and 69 is too young for such talent to die. RIP, Mr. Van Vliet.

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