Friday, January 15, 2010

Happy Birthday, Captain Beefheart

A lot of great people were born on January 15. Martin Luther King, Jr. comes to mind. So does Grover Lowdermilk-- a member of the infamous Chicago Black Sox and owner of the greatest name in baseball history.

But the name that's most synonymous with this date in my mind is Captain Beefheart-- a singer, composer, artist and harmonica player extraordinaire. When I finally get around to ranking the San Fernando Valley's all-time best contributions to culture at large, Captain Beefheart is going to be on that list.

I can still remember the first time I heard Trout Mask Replica when it came out in June 1969. As those first crashing chords pummeled through the hi-fi, it was like being transported to a magical world where the lava lamps glowed the color of mud, and when the birds opened their beaks to chirp, experimental noise-rock came out instead. It was incredible-- enough to make you no longer care that the tabs of acid you bought on Vineland Avenue turned out to be Guatemalan postage stamps.

Although it would be 8 more years before I left Earth for the Lost Moon of Jupiter, I'd like to think that in some small way, Captain Beefheart inspired that journey.

And if not... well I do know his name inspired me to enter a Slim Jim-eating contest later that summer.