Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band 5th April 1972 Newcastle City Hall
Support from Foghat
The Magic Band: Rockette Morton; Winged Eel Fingerling; Ed Marimba; Zoot Horn Rollo; Orejon
It was very cool to be into Captain Beefheart in the early 70s. Me, I got into him through Frank Zappa, and his vocals on “Willie the Pimip”, on the “Hot Rats” album. I then heard “Safe as Milk” and “Trout Mask Replica”. I was fascinated by the very strange sounds they made, so when he came to play at Newcastle City Hall, I bought a ticket straight away. It was one of the oddest, and best gigs, I have attended. I was sitting pretty close to the front, and I was surrounded by some of the wierdest looking hippy types that I’d seen at any gig. A guy sitting a few seats away from me had white hair down to his waste and spent the entire set rocking back and forth in his seat, swinging his long hair about. There was a strong smell of dope in the air. 
Beefheart’s show started with a performance from a ballerina and then a belly dancer. Rockette Morton took to the stage and played a manic extended bass solo. Soon he was joined by the rest of the Magic Band, and the Captain wearing a massive cloak, and singing in the deepest voice I had ever heard. The whole show was one of the most amazing things I have seen to this day. The band were all dressed outrageously, the music was amazing, and it was totally unlike anything I had heard before. And the Captain was just unbelievable. The set was pretty unfamiliar to me; it was by no means a greatest hits set. However, that didn’t matter. The whole show was just incredible: I was blown away by it all, and became a committed Beefheart fan that night. I was to see Beefheart on three further occasions, and he was great each time, but none of those gigs matched this first encounter with the Captain. Setlist: Bass Solo; When It Blows Its Stacks; Grow Fins; Click Clack; Hobo Chang Ba; I’m Gonna Booglarize You Baby; Black Snake; Peon; Abba Zaba; Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop; Alice in Blunderland; Spitball Scalped a Baby. Encore: More. Support came from Foghat, who grew out of Savoy Brown and played some nice blues/rock/boogie. Although they were a UK band, they found success in the USA, and toured extensively in the States throughout the 70s, coming home only occasionally.
8 Aug
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Allan Orrick on August 8, 2012 at 8:25 am
I remember standing in a huge queue to buy a ticket for this gig, and thinking that it could well be a sell out when I got to the front. In actual fact I was standing in a queue for a “pop” band and they hadn’t sold any Beefheart tickets, and I was the first buyer!!!
The gig was great and afterwards I got to spend some time backstage and get my programme autographed by all the band – another prized possession.
Posted by vintagerock on August 8, 2012 at 8:32 am
Great stuff! Very jealous of the autographs.
Posted by Malcolm G Allan. on December 22, 2023 at 6:25 pm
I cant remember the exact year 1972/3 I know it was about the time of Spotlight Kid. In the City Tavern Don Van Vliet tapped me on my shoulder and said “Excuse me you are sitting on my seat as I have just been to the John” I apologised and said sorry Don he said “You who I am” I replied yes your Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart here with your Magic Band to entertain us North-East Freaks. He laughed bought me a bottle of Brown Ale and talked to me for half an hour he was very nice and pleasant in nature called me an afficiado as I knew a lot about his music. Took me around to shake hands with the band introduced me to his wife Jan and John Peel as well as Richard Neville from the Oz magazine the gig as you can imagine was strange and as we used to say in the day Far-Out.
Posted by vintagerock on December 23, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Hi Malcolm many thanks for sharing. Wonderful story and a great memory for you to treasure. I was not aware that John Peel and Richard Neville were at the concert. Amazing. Happy days Peter
Posted by Malcolm G Allan. on December 23, 2023 at 6:47 pm
Thanks for your comments Peter, the Captain was very hospitable towards a young fan, it’s the Blimp Frank. Keep well Peter.
Posted by David Graham on April 10, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Am I right in saying it was John Peel that spoke on stage before each performance on the 72 tour . That’s right the Mascara Snake Fasten Boulves .
Posted by vintagerock on April 10, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Can’t remember David but it could well be possible. He seemed to pop up at many concerts and festivals in those days. Does anyone know? Happy days and the Captain was magical Peter