No doubt that this is the essential Captain Beefheart biography book, reissued several times. Here in detail we describe the 3rd UK edition from 2009. The newest revised edition was published in 2011 following Don Van Vliet's death, containing some new material.

This book starts with a quote from Frank Zappa:

Without being kicked in the butt he would never have started singing, he was too shy. (International Times, March 1977)

Overview of different editions

	2000 Quartet Books Paperback 396 pp ISBN 9780704380738	First UK edition.
	2002 Cooper Square Press Hardcover 393 pp ISBN 9780815411901	First American edition. New material and new photos added.
	2004 Music Sales Limited Paperback 400 pp ISBN 9781844494125	2nd UK edition.
	2009 Omnibus Press Paperback 408 pp ISBN 9780711941342	3rd UK edition
	2011 Omnibus Press Paperback 415 pp ISBN 9781780380766	Revised edition! 4th UK edition Following Don Van Vliet's death Mike Barnes will look to reassess his legacy through new interview material and with reference to reports and eulogies that appeared in the media. He will also be putting Van Vliet's reclusiveness over the last two decades in context, now that it has been officially revealed that he was suffering from MS - his friends and representatives has always denied that he had a long term illness.

Reviews

Review by Julian Cowley (The Wire)
Goodreads reviews

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