About
The Magic Band was the backing band of American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Captain Beefheart between 1967 and 1982. The band was formed by guitarist Alex St. Clair with Beefheart as the lead singer; eventually, they morphed into a backing band for him. The rotating lineup featured dozens of performers, many of whom became known by nicknames given to them by Beefheart. In 1974, several members left to form the short-lived group Mallard. In 2003, the Magic Band reformed without Beefheart, who died in 2010, and continued until 2017.
Members
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Captain Beefheart eponymous
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John “Drumbo” French drums (drum set), eponymous
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Jerry Handley bass
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Rockette Morton bass
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John "J.T." Thomas keyboard
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Art Tripp drums (drum set)
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Zoot Horn Rollo guitar
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Doug Moon guitar
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Antennae Jimmy Semens slide guitar
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The Mascara Snake bass clarinet
Discography
Albums
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Safe as Milk Apple Music
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Strictly Personal
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Trout Mask Replica
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Lick My Decals Off, Baby Apple Music
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Mirror Man
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Clear Spot Apple Music
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Bluejeans & Moonbeams Apple Music
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Unconditionally Guaranteed
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Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) Apple Music
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Doc at the Radar Station Apple Music
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Ice Cream for Crow Apple Music
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Son of Dust Sucker Apple Music
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Trout Mask House Sessions 1969
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Trout Mask Replica [Ant 2 Man Bee Remixes]
Singles
Live
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Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band: An Ashtray Heart Live Toronto Broadcast 1981
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Somebody in My Home: Live American Radio Broadcast
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Transmission Blast (Live Radio Sessions)
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Toronto 1980: Live American Radio Broadcast
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First Train Smokin' (Live '67)
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Doctor Dawn Sunshine (Kansas City, Missouri Live '74)
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Magneticism III: The Best of Captain Beefheart & His Magic Bands (Live in Canada 1973–81) Apple Music
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Weird On Top (Live 1981)
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Magneticism II the Best of Captain Beefheart & His Magic Bands Live in the USA 1966 - 81
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Live at the Garage Apple Music
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My Father's Place, Roslyn, '78
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Live at Knebworth Park
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Easy Teeth
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Somewhere Over Detroit (Live from Harpos Concert Theatre, Detroit, 11/12/1980) Apple Music
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Somewhere Over Vancouver (Live From The Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, 3/3/1973) Apple Music
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Live 1966–67
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Live From Paris 1977
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The Nan True’s Hole Tapes, Volume 3 (live)
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Magneticism: The Best of Captain Beefheart & His Magic Bands (Live 72-81) Apple Music
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CB & MB in GB Apple Music
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Live at Bickershaw Festival - North West England 1972
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Amsterdam ’80 Apple Music
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Live ’n’ Rare Apple Music
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Nan True’s Hole Tapes, Volume 2
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Railroadism: Live in the USA 72-81 Apple Music
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Magnetic Hands: Live in the UK 72-80 Apple Music
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I'm Going to Do What I Wanna Do (live at My Fathers Place 1978) Apple Music
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London 1974
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Don's Birthday Party
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1981-01-29: Country Club, Reseda, CA
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1980-11-01: The Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
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Live at My Father's Place
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Broadcasts, 1968-1980
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The New York Hot Dog Night
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1968-05-06: Peel Session, 201 Piccadilly, Studio 1, London, UK
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1977-07-15: Golden Bear, Huntington Beach, CA, USA
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1977-11-03: Red Creek, Rochester, NY, USA
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1977-11-03: Red Creek Inn, Rochester, NY, USA
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1977-11-03: Red Creek, Rochester, NY, USA
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1968-01-24: Peel Session, Maida Vale 4, London, UK
Compilations
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Warner Bros. Outtakes
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The Mirror Man Sessions Apple Music
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Dichotomy Apple Music
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The Buddah Years
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Prime Quality Beef Apple Music
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Hot Head - Introduction... Captain Beefheart (The Liberty and Virgin Recordings)
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Dust Sucker Apple Music
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The Best of Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band: The Virgin & Liberty Years
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The Mirror Man Sessions Apple Music
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The Dust Blows Forward: An Anthology
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Grow Fins: Rarities (1965-1982)
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Electricity
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If You Got Ears
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The Spotlight Kid / Clear Spot
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At His Best
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Top Secret
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Best Batch Yet
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Puller Man
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Brown Star Sessions
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The Spotlight Kid Outtakes
Links
Social
Concerts
Also known as
Capt. Beefheart · Captain Beefhart and His Magic Band · Captain Beefheart · Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band · Captain Beefheart and His Magi · Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band · Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band · Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 8dcd04e4-7695-4d80-bae9-1d7d680a38ef
- ISNI
- 0000000121692534
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 11 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.