Shelved Captain Beefheart album to finally be released

Written for The Print (NUI Maynooth's student paper) for the 31st of January 2012 issue.

            In 1976 Captain Beefheart (known to some as Don Van Vliet, known to less as Don Vliet, and known to fewer still by his birth name Don Glen Vliet) recorded the album Bat Chain Puller with the involvement of friend and fellow psychedeliac Frank Zappa, much to the albums demise. The album unfortunately got shelved after getting wrapped up in Zappa’s legal issues with co-founder of his record label Herb Cohen. However, after 35 years, the much bootlegged LP Bat Chain Puller was announced to be released on what would be Beefheart’s 71^st birthday, the 15^th of January 2012.

            Set to be his 13^th studio album, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band recorded Bat Chain Puller with Frank Zappa’s DiscReet Records and planned to release it under Virgin Records. Enthusiastic over his latest studio effort, the Captain had sent copies of tapes to publications for it to be reviewed before issues started to surface between the DiscReet founders. Zappa discovered that partner Herb Cohen had in fact funded production on Bat Chain Puller using royalty cheques earned by Frank. The partnership was ended between the two, and demanding to be paid in advance by Virgin who were to take on the record, Zappa withheld the master tapes from the record company. This meant that Cohen could not then receive pay himself, causing him to sue Zappa. The court case that ensued forced Beefheart to ditch  Bat Chain Puller and re-record many of the tracks for 1978’s Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) instead.

            Some tracks from the original Bat Chain Puller made it on to Shiny Beast, some even got onto 1980’s Doc At the Radar Station, however Zappa refused to allow Beefheart to use the remaining tracks on 1982’s Ice Cream For Crow. After his troublesome attempts with this record, Beefheart was so disillusioned he subsequently insisted this album never see the light of day during his lifetime. The album has seen many bootleg copies, though production had not been completed until recently, when Magic Band drummer John French and guitarist Denny Walley mixed it for release. Now, just over a year after Don Van Vliet’s life ended, Bat Chain Puller shall finally be released through Zappa Records.

            Due to manufacturing issues, the record will now see its official release on the 13^th of February instead.

 

http://issuu.com/MSUVPSEC/docs/the_print_volume_3_issue_7/13

Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Reunion

Written for The Print (NUI Maynooth's student paper) for the 31st of January 2012 issue.

            Fifty years after they first entered the music scene, surf rock legends The Beach Boys shall embark on a 50 show reunion tour including chief songwriter and leader Brian Wilson. The reunion was declared in mid-December, hushing the months of speculation and rumours about their return. Beginning in late April at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the tour will include 50 shows around the world. The line-up will include three original members - Brian Wilson (the only remaining Wilson brother of three in the band), his cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine, alongside Bruce Johnston and David Marks. Their backing band shall consist mainly of a band pieced together by Wilson.

            After breaking through to the mainstream with their radio hit Surfin’ in 1961, The Beach Boys became famous for laid back close vocal harmonies and the depiction of 60’s teen Americana in their lyrics. They achieved huge acclaim, they played under such acts as Ike & Tina Turner, feeling out of place, but paid all the same. In 1966, they released their most famous and influential LP, Pet Sounds. Thought to be one of the forerunners of the psychedelic era, it perhaps had it’s most important influence on The Beatles - in particular, John and Paul, who claimed to be influenced directly by this album more than anything else in the world. After this record, Wilson started to feel extreme pressure and his dependence on drugs started to take effect. After shelving what was to be the album Smile, he stepped back, no longer as big a force in the Beach Boys until his return in 1976.

            Since the 80’s, the Beach Boys have toured regularly without Brian Wilson, though in 2011, they recorded a charity single to aid the victims of the earthquake in Japan called Don’t Fight The Sea. The amount of time since the public could watch the Beach Boys play with Wilson is one of the reasons this tour is so highly anticipated. In a statement released by the band, Wilson said “This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys, and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again”. The excitement is not solely belonging to Wilson; the rest of the band share his enthusiasm, Mike Love also calling it a “thrill”. This tour is expected to exceed any others the band have embarked on for years, though no tour of theirs has ever been unsuccessful. This is mainly due to Wilson’s involvement and word of a new album to emerge, which the band have already entered the studio to start recording.

            So far the only dates to announced of the tour are in New Orleans and Germany. However, 50 shows in all are to be announced throughout the world. 

http://issuu.com/MSUVPSEC/docs/the_print_volume_3_issue_7/13