John "Drumbo" French Reunites Captain Beefheart

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

2/2/2009 - LOS ANGELES, CA - John "Drumbo" French has reunited fellow
Magic Band alumni Bill Harkelroad (aka "Zoot Horn Rollo"), Mark Boston
(aka "Rockette Morton"), Greg Davidson (aka "Ella Guru"), and John
Thomas for a solo recording of all new compositions entitled City of
Refuge. The self-produced album was recorded in London and at various
locations in the U.S., and lands stateside November 18th on Proper
Records.

"I think City of Refuge is important because it
re-visits a style of music that was founded by Don Van Vliet (Captain
Beefheart) and developed by various Magic Bands over the years. The
music on this album came to me as total inspiration from being involved
in The Magic Band reunion project. Listening to the music of Don Van
Vliet and singing with the band, I realized that I was re-visiting my
musical roots and wondered about how I had strayed so far away," French
says. 

As the drummer and music director for revered
iconoclasts Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, Drumbo made central
contributions to a handful of LPs – notably 1969's mind-altering,
revered masterpiece "Trout Mask Replica," on which French first
acquired the antic stage-name "Drumbo" – that vastly expanded the
parameters of contemporary music. French's influential contributions
can also be found on projects with Frank Zappa, Mallard, Crazy
Backwards Alphabet, Henry Kaiser and Richard Thompson, among others. 

French
plans a U.S. tour in conjunction with his upcoming book, Captain
Beefheart: Through The Eyes Of Magic, to be released early next year. 
BASIC RELEASE INFORMATION: 

Drumbo/City of Refuge Catalog: PRPCD024 Release Date: November 18, 2008 
Track
Listing: 1. Bogeyman 2. Bus Ticket Outta Town 3. Blood on a Porcupine
Quill 4. City of Refuge 5. Abandon 6. Get So Mean 7. Maybe That’ll
Teach Ya 8. To The Loft of Ravenscroft 9. The Shirt Off My Back 10. The
Wicked Witch of War 11. Whose Side Ya On 12. The Withered Hand of Time 

On The Web: 
http://www.myspace.com/drumbojohnfrench

http://www.proper-records.co.uk

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR - [email protected]

ABOUT PROPER RECORDS 
Proper
Records is a London-based independent roots music label founded by
Malcolm Mills in 1995. Over the past decade Proper has released more
than 300 records and spawned several new imprints, including its
signature box sets featuring vintage and specialty titles. Recent
releases include offerings from Joan Baez, Richard Thompson, Little
Feat, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Art Garfunkel, and Nick Lowe. Proper
Records Ltd. is part of the Proper Music Group of Companies that
includes Proper Music Distribution—the largest distributor of
independent music in the United Kingdom.

Source: www.progshine.com

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
ProgShine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 04 2005 Location: Kalisz, Poland Status: Offline Points: 1256	Topic: John "Drumbo" French Reunites Captain Beefheart Posted: February 03 2009 at 20:16
	2/2/2009 - LOS ANGELES, CA - John "Drumbo" French has reunited fellow Magic Band alumni Bill Harkelroad (aka "Zoot Horn Rollo"), Mark Boston (aka "Rockette Morton"), Greg Davidson (aka "Ella Guru"), and John Thomas for a solo recording of all new compositions entitled City of Refuge. The self-produced album was recorded in London and at various locations in the U.S., and lands stateside November 18th on Proper Records. "I think City of Refuge is important because it re-visits a style of music that was founded by Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) and developed by various Magic Bands over the years. The music on this album came to me as total inspiration from being involved in The Magic Band reunion project. Listening to the music of Don Van Vliet and singing with the band, I realized that I was re-visiting my musical roots and wondered about how I had strayed so far away," French says. As the drummer and music director for revered iconoclasts Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band, Drumbo made central contributions to a handful of LPs – notably 1969's mind-altering, revered masterpiece "Trout Mask Replica," on which French first acquired the antic stage-name "Drumbo" – that vastly expanded the parameters of contemporary music. French's influential contributions can also be found on projects with Frank Zappa, Mallard, Crazy Backwards Alphabet, Henry Kaiser and Richard Thompson, among others. French plans a U.S. tour in conjunction with his upcoming book, Captain Beefheart: Through The Eyes Of Magic, to be released early next year. BASIC RELEASE INFORMATION: Drumbo/City of Refuge Catalog: PRPCD024 Release Date: November 18, 2008 Track Listing: 1. Bogeyman 2. Bus Ticket Outta Town 3. Blood on a Porcupine Quill 4. City of Refuge 5. Abandon 6. Get So Mean 7. Maybe That’ll Teach Ya 8. To The Loft of Ravenscroft 9. The Shirt Off My Back 10. The Wicked Witch of War 11. Whose Side Ya On 12. The Withered Hand of Time On The Web: http://www.myspace.com/drumbojohnfrench http://www.proper-records.co.uk Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR - [email protected] ABOUT PROPER RECORDS Proper Records is a London-based independent roots music label founded by Malcolm Mills in 1995. Over the past decade Proper has released more than 300 records and spawned several new imprints, including its signature box sets featuring vintage and specialty titles. Recent releases include offerings from Joan Baez, Richard Thompson, Little Feat, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Art Garfunkel, and Nick Lowe. Proper Records Ltd. is part of the Proper Music Group of Companies that includes Proper Music Distribution—the largest distributor of independent music in the United Kingdom. Source: www.progshine.com
	https://progshinerecords.bandcamp.com

Easy Livin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: February 21 2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 15585	Posted: February 04 2009 at 02:56
	I see it's actually a solo recording with members of the Magic Band contributing. I guess they have earned the right to use the "Beefheart" reference for promotion.

fuxi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: March 08 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2486	Posted: February 04 2009 at 03:04
	Has anyone seen the reunited band live? What kind of vocalist(s) do they use? How do they compare to the Magic Band in their heyday? (I never experienced THAT!) And who's writing their new lyrics?

Run Home Slow Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 20 2007 Location: Montreal Status: Offline Points: 265	Posted: February 04 2009 at 19:59
	Thit is a great news and they rare with Beefheart and co. The Magic Band without Beefheart... can't go wrong!! wish the Captain could be there too! Montréal please :-)
	If you got ears, you gotta listen — Captain Beefheart

ProgShine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 04 2005 Location: Kalisz, Poland Status: Offline Points: 1256	Posted: February 04 2009 at 22:56
	I will not ask for Brazil, cause, none of the prog groups come here
	https://progshinerecords.bandcamp.com

Dick Heath Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12818	Posted: February 05 2009 at 06:09
	Gary Lucas is not involved here, but had been integral to previous Van Vliet-free (but otherwise approved) recent Magic Band activities. Lucas told me this isn't strictly the Magic Band rather a Drumbo's project. By the way the second Gary Lucas lead Fast'n'Bulbous album - more jazzed up Beefheart - is issued by Cuneiform Records very soon.
	The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath.