Fan Request: Captain Beefheart's Last Appearance With Dave | Letterman

[@ralphbrainard4207]

Thanks Dave for being cool enough to get this particular art turtle out of his shell. This is great.

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

Dave showed total respect. A wonderful interview, with a multi level mind. Text book tough interview.

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

A multi level mind. We should all be so free. Dave showed respect, great interview.

[@lorip.1110]

"The stars are matter, we're matter, but it doesn't matter." - Cpt. Beefheart

[@JKTube]

+@lorip. 1110: "Everybody's colored or else you wouldn't be able to see them."

[@GreenManalishiUSA]

"There are only forty people in the world, and five of them are hamburgers."

[@bob733333]

Except it does matter. Oh, well, still kinda clever and quirky.

[@michaelzuccaro1]

I got to meet Don and Jan at one of his concerts and interview him in his hotel room. When I ask for his autograph he draw a sketch of Rockette Morton which I framed. I was so blessed.

[@liammcgonigle9594]

Oh but it really does matter ….. me

[@gilwood7530]

He left us with SO MUCH to enjoy ...Music , Art , poetry etc ...I still feel I WANT MORE !!! Very cool guy

[@Rupert14]

I am so grateful that Dave was so fascinated by the Captain. He is a genius musician and quite a character. I can tell through my own interactions with similar folks that he is very high on the autistic spectrum...one of the keys is to watch when he asked a question...he seems puzzled and then offers an answer which may be germane but often he will find an "item" which in his mind is relevant but will not appear to be, to everyone else. I love that Dave is able to roll with him as that is something most interviewers would not be able to handle...even going along with his fanciful tale of his upbringing. He went to high school.

[@Talentedtadpole]

It's both an oversimplification and a misunderstanding to talk about levels of autism and many object to the term spectrum. Many creative folks are autistic it's true. It's way past time that non auts tried to listen and comprehend what autistic people say rather than continuing to force erroneous and harmful theories which are decades out of date.

[@sydbarret1973]

The most original human being in the history of mankind

[@jamesabrams6908]

The woman who laughs at 8:20 in this video....I love you. I think it's heartfelt for a genuinely nice person, Don Van Vliet. I love this clip and he's a unique guy, eccentric, and I'd have loved to have met him.

[@sirgilmour]

I would hope to see all the existing footage of this man Peter Jackson style, 9 hours of him doing his magic in great quality. This man is truly fascinating.

[@JustK009]

Captain Beefheart is a Legend’s Legend

[@remeyrune6009]

1:36 "You want to be a different fish you have to jump out of the school" I get it, school of fish! Thank you again Captain for your words of wisdom.

[@markpower9081]

I've never seen him being interviewed before. I like him even more. He's as mercurial as I'd expect him to be, but cheerful and friendly.

[@JayYarbroughMusic]

I love how genuinely respectful Dave was.

[@lanceash]

Poor old Don. Shafted by Frank. Shafted by Gail. His music was great. His paintings were great. His poetry/lyrics were great. In the UK he'd have been given a knighthood. Here, he rotted away in the Mojave. I'd like to see an interview with his wife, Jan. Whatever happened to her?

[@tonymostromable]

I heard she died.

[@RegisWilkins]

As Jimmy Carl Black (Mothers of Invention), Zappa was great but Captain Beefheart was the real deal.

[@maplelafe7671]

I met mr Black in the Netherlands. He toured with the MuffinMan. Talked with him about a our and thats what he also told me with a big smile on his face😊

[@vicente8705]

Don was so ahead of his time, he’s like Andy Kauffman except he was 100% the real deal !!

[@colinwilliams553]

This man deserves to be in the ROCK &ROLL HALL of FAME a.s.a.p!!!!

[@Rupert14]

The only hall of fame that matters is yours. The "Hall" is just politics and who you know. That is why Mary J Blige is in and, l don't know...Styx isn't. It's a farce.

[@BakedRBeans]

@@Rupert14 Absolutely! "The Hall" is not important. The best artists are the ones that you like.

[@iainneville7137]

That's a heartfelt and respectful opinion. Everyone here loves the Captain. Its kind of good that he's not on the catwalk. I don't think he would have wanted that. He would have probably seen it as a pretentious stunt and his disconnection to it. I'm sure he enjoyed being the 'underground hero' and the attention that brought with it. You don't need to worry mate, he won't be forgotten. He is a legend.

[@SorendeSelbyBowen]

Van Vliet! Awesome. I wish he hadn't retired from music in the early eighties.

[@zappa4ever]

Want to really know Beefheart's music? Check out tunes like: Odd Jobs Floppy Boot Stomp Owed T'Alex Dirty Blue Gene Harry Irene Golden Birdies Bat Chain Puller Ashtray Heart 1010th Day of the Human Totem Pole Big Eyed Beans From Venus Sun Zoom Spark Click Clack Grow Fins Love Lies Tropical Hot Dog Night Abba Zabba When Big Joan Sets Up Well China Pig When I See Mommy That's 20 great tunes that are pretty accessible, he's got another 20 that are in the same realm, then the more avant-garde and odd stuff which can take more time to appreciate (or not ;) ) Great artist who forged his own path and never strayed R.I.P. Don

[@trevor9917]

If it's ok, I would like to add - "Gimme Dat Harp Boy" and "25th Century Quaker". Go Captain!

[@BreezyandtheBlazers-vd3xw]

@@trevor991725’th Quaker for sure

[@brucenator]

Thanks for this list!

[@gilwood7530]

You cant leave the BONGO FURY sessions out ...Beefheart and Zappa had a great groove ...And I didnt see ZIG ZAG WANDERER on yer list , but I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW ya wantedta...SUE EGYPT and ELLA GURU are lookin for you !

[@LetsAllDrinkToTheDeathOfAClown]

ZIG ZAG WANDERER

[@mcbillygoat]

Nobody slays the Captain. Even now, Captain Beefheart is well ahead of his time.

[@craigmurdock4740]

Hes the type of artist that doesnt take a time into account. Ever timeless.

[@aakkoin]

​@@craigmurdock4740He was well rooted in the blues, and the great painters from the Netherlands and stuff, he was rooted in tradition and history, unlike all other post-modern artists who make just random garbage and think they are unique

[@adamfindlay7091]

You got it.😻

[@MrFreedomGotAnAK]

In my book, Beefheart was the most important musical figure in the United States in the 20th century. Trout Mask Replica is possibly the greatest rock album of all time, but Mirror Man is up there as well for me and it is very underrated. He had the blues in his bones but as a true artist he was able to transcend it even further. Mad, but genius.

[@BreezyandtheBlazers-vd3xw]

Ice Cream for Crow! And Bongo Fury 😏

[@jakechat2716]

I love Trout Mask Replica. Safe As Milk was also the first and only time I listened to an album 10 times within the first week of getting a copy.

[@PatrickJLynch2654]

Loved Safe As Milk. I really like the Shiny Beast album as well.@@jakechat2716

[@tompine2738]

mirror man is crazy underrated due to it being released 4 years later and being terribly mixed until 1999. but mirror man and tmr stand far above the rest of his work, which is all good

[@zootsoot2006]

Clear Spot

[@Mrsilenciobackgammon]

Great, great post! Thank you! ❤

[@cullenbrownmusic]

turn myself inside out! what a beutiful way of describing art. i love this guy!

[@johncornell3665]

Interesting fellow, thanks Dave!

[@Crazyfeline]

A truly uncomfortable interview done without shopping bags.

[@alexfletcher5192]

Don's artistic audience was in Europe, where he knew he would be taken seriously. 'This is a song from.... Doc at the Radar Station...' - he didn't always know. His paintings were about the inside coming out. And that's why he remains an inspiration.

[@canobenitez]

what does he say after "This a song from... Doc at the Radar Station?" I can't understand .

[@Qwacked8999]

his parents knew how Europeans are Floozies when it comes to art-isms... could've developed an unwanted lifestyle for Mr. Vliet.

[@PatrickJLynch2654]

I saw Captain Beefheart with Frank Zappa sometime in the mid 1970's. I saw him again around 1981 at a place called Center Stage in East Providence Rhode Island (where I'm origin]ally from). I think it was the tour for The Shiny Beast Album. The music was great. His music is very creative and a bit strange but very cool. The band played great and it was a different experience hearing them play his music live and also his voice was perfect.

[@alexfletcher5192]

It is still difficult to tell how much of Don's innocence was real or deliberate. I do suspect he was playing at this point.

[@Warp75]

He was brilliant. Nowadays it’s the tyranny of the talentless

[@SorendeSelbyBowen]

Chew mustache wetly, pound cane! Too bad that you lost interest for living.

[@KungEMuller]

You can't get stuff like this anywhere else anymore, can you?

[@Boomblast57]

Yes

[@ColterHarris]

0:27 - I recognize that hand!

[@Max.J.H.]

great! thanks!

[@gongqi67]

Look at that Beefheart.

[@Atisbodeley]

The guy is in another f’cking planet. I love it.

[@public.public]

Thanks for posting that.

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

THIS MAN COULD SING THE BIRDS FROM THE TREES !

[@JerzyBorowski-ot3ie]

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART'S GENIUSZ GENIUSZ GENIUSZ nad GENIUSZAMI KOSMOS KOCHANI na zawsze dziękuję BARDZO

[@petemccarry2326]

He started out as an Howlin’ Wolf acolyte, then went avant garde when Ry Cooder quit The Magic Band.

[@roccon1338]

What a facsinating guy.

[@andrewjohnstone963]

Uncomplicated beauty 🎉❤

[@kevvymetal666]

They threw to commercial very quickly after the intro. I think this was a time out to asses the situation haha

[@Draxtor]

THANK YOU!!!!!!

[@GamesWithBrainz]

What does that mean exactly? Don: exactly? I dont know, i had fun doing it though. 👌

[@adamfindlay7091]

He's quite sane. Artists are the true leaders.

[@vertyisprobablydead]

Imagine living with this guy and he makes you play guitar for 13 hours a day.

[@kld5617]

Disnt he keep them from leaving the rehearsal room and threatened them from leaving if they didn't get the music right

[@Qwacked8999]

yeah cus you either get it right, or get out.

[@B3yblademaster]

That was my brother’s life with my dad. A regular joe Jackson he was…

[@petemccarry2326]

Don lived for a time in Oakdale, in the San Joaquin Valley.

[@dianeandersen4106]

I miss you Dave

[@A_to_Zappa]

Don is a genius... Trout Mask Replica

[@lanceash]

You know, I'd seen him on Letterman as a teenager, but didn't know who the hell he was. Then one day when I was about 22, I was out shoplifting at Kmart and saw Trout Mask among the CDs. I didn't know anything about it, but I saw "Produced by Frank Zappa" on the back and I knew I had to have it. I think most people would have recoiled on first hearing that album, but when I played it, I knew, I KNEW, this was exactly what I needed. And the cover! The front, the back, the pictures of the band inside. Reminded me of the pictures included in Hot Rats. That picture of Don holding the space age vacuum cleaner. Some have made the claim that Don was a bigger influence on Frank than the other way around and I think that's true. I think Frank had these artistic/aesthetic leanings, but he didn't know how far you could push it until he met Don. But Frank had a head for business and Don didn't.

[@turnerlotter3011]

bulbous…also tapered

[@TheElectricBallroom]

Excellent. Captain Beefheart was a true original. We have Frank Zappa to thank for pulling him out of obscurity.

[@sayeager5559]

Fast and bulbous.

[@tylerrae2018]

That's right, The Mascara Snake

[@BrettBorovic]

@@tylerrae2018 Bulbous also tapered?

[@KaijuInvadesNYC]

@@BrettBorovic Also, a tin teardrop.

[@JKTube]

+@sayeager5559: Electric black shadow run cross the sun

[@gobuns2]

wow thanks for the upload

[@panwu6602]

What an interesting man.

[@DdossAttacks]

Beef❤ a true legend

[@rockbottomrhythm_blues]

I am the biggest fan of the Late Show with Dave. Went twice. Greatest broadcaster of the last 30 years.

[@evancodsworth2]

Please give him back to us. We need The Captain back. 😢

[@franzllattner]

Only on Letterman !!!!!!!!!

[@aakkoin]

Don Van Vliet in HQ (Don Van Vliet caught in 4K)

[@S1L3NTG4M3R]

Hey David

[@AwesomenessOnToast21]

“Do you always have the hat on?” “No, no… I take it off… ah, quite a bit…”

[@gerald_legerdemain]

We used to put paintings on TV in this country… what happened………..

[@wallybeery4058]

Well, I think that difference of today is that It's hard to keep paintings from falling over when you put them on flat-screen TV's! 😅

[@robertomarinus4615]

Captain Beefheart the man from the dessert hot sun full moon

[@wimvaughdan7032]

If Daniel Plainview from There will be Blood was played by Norm McDonald, he would sound like this.

[@blakejohnson7148]

Seems like a very nice guy.

[@liammcooper]

I still don't know what the war is a pimple on the pope's pet dragon means

[@lubernaut]

I’m still allergic to chapstick 😢

[@rsgabrys----]

---------------------- fully functional eccentricity .....thanks4sharing

[@troutmask6800]

His parents didn’t want Don to become an artist because they were afraid it would make him gay; his parents weren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. I guess they never heard of Picasso.

[@SecretFriend]

That musta been some good acid :D

[@vicente8705]

He stopped doing acid around ‘74-‘75

[@Ron_Leonard]

Man Van.

[@jjryoungjr]

Beefheart & Zappa is what inspired the band PHISH the most. This is exactly why nobody understands PHISH.

[@dalegriffin6768]

Ice cream for Crow

[@tomjohnston1220]

Dave could never handle true eccentrics.

[@lowe-quay-shush]

Did he do a lot of acid?

[@maplelafe7671]

Don van Vliet the best the Dutch has to offer to America.

[@mawangdwei3866]

The Parkinson's disease is already apparent.

[@KaijuInvadesNYC]

I noticed that too. I think it's because we are looking for it, but if you are you can definitely see it.

[@Emlizardo]

Yes, at the time I wouldn't have thought of it, but in hindsight we can see it.

[@DieGroteske]

It was Multiple Sclerosis

[@lanceash]

He had multiple sclerosis, not Parkinson's.

[@Rupert14]

Nope. Autism. MS has nothing to do with the mind.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

BEEF❤ > Zappa

[@DJhostiletonewexperiences]

what's a matter, is he acoustic?

[@DistantLights]

It's wild this interview happened

[@karlmadsen3179]

That guy was nuts.

[@billjohnson7904]

He is lying about his voice folks.

[@amjh4lah809]

10th minute 😊

[@LorenStClair]

Alcohol is the Devil

[@jahuti5065]

Don was not drunk here. He was beginning to show the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It was this illness that forced him to retire from music.

[@aok777]

“Oriental Americans”? Canceled.

[@midlifemotox]

Awful.. Being extrinsic isn't art.

[@gcangur1]

learn english before writing in english now get the funk out of my face

[@lanceash]

But being intrinsic is?

[@kstepko]

How could anyone have watched this late at night? 😴

[@dianeandersen4106]

I watched this show every night it was on.I even watched when he was on daytime TV. I love Dave so much.

[@kstepko]

I was implying that this particular guest/interview was exceedingly boring - although Dave was doing everything that he could.

[@lanceash]

Oh, my dear, you just don't understand...

[@racebaker4361]

Because it was awesome.

[@muffinman4353]

What the hell was Frank doing with this clown???

[@Emlizardo]

Zappa's music was to Beefheart's as a novel by Harold Robbins was to Melville.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Lmao. 😂😂 if BEEF was a clown then I don't know what Zappa was

[@muffinman4353]

@@MENFUSSMIKE Zappa gave FART that nickname. When Zappa had him sing on the,"Bongo Fury" Album, FART sang so out of key that Frank purposely have to over sing to drown him out....look it up. FART was so overrated... it's pathetic.

[@Rupert14]

...said all the clowns who don't get the complexity in his music. Try again.

[@mozboywi]

what, not enough clever, sexual innuendo, high school lyrics for ya?

[@troykelso]

Captain Bee Fart was a pain in the ears.

[@lanceash]

Boo.

[@Rupert14]

Why did you watch it? Are you embarrassed you don't get it?

[@Ingramdumpkiss]

He always comes across a quite a shy man - it's like he wants his performances to do all the talking so he doesn't have to.

[@thomastrochesset917]

Muffin Man