John French Eric Drew Feldman Mark Marcellino Del Simmons Gary Lucas Gary "Magic" Marker Milt Holland Elliot Ingber Denny Walley Bob West Jeff Moris Tepper Victor Hayden Gene Pello Mark Gibbons Jimmy Caravan Alex St. Clair Snouffer Ty Grimes Ira Ingber Richard Redus Robert Arthur Williams John Thomas Richard Snyder Rich Hepner Mark Boston Jeff Bruchell Paul Uhrig Paul Blakeley Fuzzy Fuscaldo Mary Jane Eisenberg Bruce Fowler
ex Ry Cooder, Cliff Martinez, Dean Smith, Art Tripp, Roy Estrada, Jimmy Carl Black, Jeff Cotton, Jerry Handley, Micheal Smotherman, Bill Harkleroad, Michael Traylor, Jim Sloan A rotating assembly of musicians dedicated to interpreting, recording or performing the concepts and works of songwriter
Don Van Vliet, both in support of his performing persona
Captain Beefheart and as a solo unit. Members of an early line-up of The Magic Band (who performed without Vliet at Blue Lakes) also formed the short-lived
Mallard. After Vliet’s retirement, in 1982, members of the The Magic Band were reformed in 2003 by drummer
John French, who also took on the vocal role. As such they released :
- [m1061559] (ATP 2003)
-
21st Century Mirror Men (Proper 2005)
- [m935792] (Sundazed 2011)
- [m1626041] (Proper 2014)
and a number of live DVDs.
The original Magic Band, formed by guitarist
Alexis Snouffer in the mid-sixties, had become a popular rhythm n’ blues group Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band. By the release of their debut album Safe As Milk there was much conflict within the group, leading to dramatic changes in its musical direction. With the founder members gone and a troubled trail of label-changes and contract disputes, Don Van Vliet emerged to take control in new directions with his
Frank Zappa produced opus Trout Mask Replica. This was followed by eight further official albums, released under his Beefheart persona, until his retirement in 1982.
On completion of the album Unconditionally Guaranteed, on which Magic Band founder Snouffer reappeared, the entire band once again had disputes with Vliet and departed. A replacement ensemble was quickly formed for the album’s 1974 tour. Lacking full understanding or rehearsals of the Beefheart catalog, this line-up is often cuttingly referred to by passionate followers as ’The Tragic Band’.