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Gary to Join in Magic Band Reunion Concerts and Album
Following is the official press release announcing the reunion and the upcoming UK and UCLA concerts. (See ticket information below.) Keep watching this space for info on a special Magic Band reunion NYC gig next fall:
Captain Beefheart's Legendary Magic Band Reunites After 20 Years!
Band is Slated to Record in Winter 2002 and Perform at 2 Upcoming All Tomorrow's Parties Festivals and at The Shepherd's Bush Empire in London
After 20 over years dormant, Captain Beefheart's legendary group, the Magic Band is slated to reunite this year. The news comes after the members' decision to accept a request to perform at the upcoming All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the UK, which will be curated by notable experimental/electronic group Autechre April 6th, at London's Shepherds Bush Empire on April 7th and yet another All Tomorrow's Parties festival, this time in Los Angeles. The L.A. show, which will be curated this year by visionary animator/producer Matt Groening and was curated last year by Sonic Youth, will take place on the campus of UCLA but also at other selected venues in downtown Los Angeles. For Beefheart/Magic Band fans these are momentous occasions. For those unexposed to their genius, the shows will be a rare chance to experience the wildly influential and seminal group first hand.
Tickets for ATP LA are likely to go on sale in before the end of the year. Go to www.atpfestival.com for the details. The first order of biz will see the Magic Band (sans much-celebrated leader Captain Beefheart, aka Don Van Vliet who retired from music altogether over twenty years ago) re-enter the recording studio. The unexpected "next" record will essentially be a recorded rehearsal with the band playing numbers live-to-tape from heralded records like Trout Mask Replica, Safe As Milk and Lick My Decals Off, Baby at a secret studio location. The new record will be available for purchase, among other points, at the UK All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the Spring and will be widely available in early summer.
The formative lineup is expected to be in place and will include Mark "Rockette Morton" Boston on bass, John "Drumbo" French on drums, Gary "Mantis" Lucas and Denny "Feelers Reebo" Walley on Guitars.
Ticket, date and venue details:
UK All Tomorrow's Parties, Camber Sands, East Sussex
4th-6th April 2003, ON SALE NOW from www.atpfestival.com
£110 for the weekend, Magic Band playing on Sunday night.
UK Shepherds Bush Empire, London
7th April 2003, ON SALE NOW from www.ticketweb.co.uk
£20 plus booking fee.
LA All Tomorrow's Parties, Los Angeles, The Palladium (3000-seat venue)
Closing Night, June 22nd 2003, on sale soon from www.atpfestival.com
$100 plus booking fee for the entire festival.
More details from the ATP web site:
"After months of speculation ATP [LA] is now confirmed for June 20, 21 & 22, 2003 at three Hollywood Venues. Tickets will go on sale next week for definite. Tickets cost $100 + booking fee per person and are available from the Buy Tickets button on the menu bar.
The event will be hosted at three venues including The Palace (Hollywood), The Henry Fonda Theater and the Palladium. Wristbands issued to ticket holders will allow them to flow freely between each theater whilst the event is happening. Please note the proposed Magic Band show is now happening as part of the three-day affair and not at UCLA as first reported. Also note Captain Beefheart himself will NOT be appearing at this show. But after being fortunate enough to witness the Magic Band rehearsing last week I can happily say they are on fire and will be something you cannot afford to miss!"