We were sad to read that Don Van Vliet, once known as Captain Beefheart, passed away recently. He was a complete original, a rare being in any era. Coilhouse described him as “one of the most singularly strange, goading, galvanizing musicians of the 20th century”. His band broke every rule in the ’70s and laid the groundwork for much that came after. His music, epitomized by the epic album Trout Mask ReplicaTrout Mask Replica, would at first seem impossible to listen to, and then suddenly illuminating. It is still wild stuff.

The guy was sui generis, big time.

If you want to hear more, here’s Safe as Milk:

via Coilhouse.