Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

American delta-blues style group from Lancaster, California, formed by Alexis Snouffer. After two singles, in the vein of 'popular rhythm n' blues', they underwent traumatic musical changes - culminating in the Zappa-produced "Trout Mask Replica", a work conceived and directed by frontman Don Van Vliet.
In the beginning: The nucleus of this blues-oriented group was created by guitarist Snouffer, known to close friends as 'Butch'. In late 1964 Snouffer returned to his desert hometown of Lancaster, after working in a casino club at Lake Tahoe. During his time in Tahoe he shared experiences with Motorhead Sherwood, who had previously returned to the desert scene in Cucamonga and met up with Frank Zappa & Paul Buff. Upon his return Snouffer also met up with them, reuniting with old Antelope Valley schoolfriends and music acquaintances, to form the blues group of his vision. The line-up was Snouffer on lead guitar, Jerry Handley on bass (whom Snouffer had weaned from guitar), P.G. Blakely on drums and Doug Moon, recruited on guitar. It was now evident that a vocalist was needed and Snouffer called on Don Vliet to join them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Beefheart#The_Magic_Band
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