I’m not sure why they tarted up the final version; maybe to make it less sharp around the rusted edges? But I'm not surprised he went off to pursue visual art (he met the La's in the early 80s doing it at a Liverpool art gallery! The April 1999 issue of The Wire featured a two-page special about the box-set written by Mike Barnes.

All 3 of these vinyl volumes were eventually rolled out on the combined labels of 'Xeric' and 'Table Of The Elements'. I probably end up only listening to these instrumental tracks, rehearsals, field recordings and Trout House / studio chit-chats once every couple of years but it’s always an experience. Not to mention that this box has the best packaging of any music collection ever- beautiful design and lengthy liner notes by Drumbo himself (featuring interviews with other band members).I should dip myself into that coca-cola This box set is subject to the box set-curse more than any other I'm aware of.

Disc 3 - House rehearsals for 'trout mask replica' as the band suddenly make some of the most out there music ever put to tape.This release was shortly followed by the first part of the content of the CD set on vinyl, as 'Vol I' of three.

Please note that if you register to bid and/or bid at auction this signifies that you agree to and will comply with these Terms of Sale. The fifth and final disc contains a number of short segments of varying quality, from live recordings to radio spots. More than any other artist, Don Van Vliet – aka Captain Beefheart – defined Surrealism in rock ‘n’ roll. The Woodland Hills house on Ensenada Drive was the venue for the Magic Band’s endless rehearsals of Trout Mask Replica, and also where the Trout Mask Sessions on Grow Fins were recorded. The Trout Mask Sessions discs are fascinating, but perhaps suited more to rare special occasions than regular listening.This retrospective project, thanks to Revenant's John Fahey, has enabled John 'Drumbo' French to dig deep among band member's memories to provide a fascinating historical document. Disc 5 is a hodgepodge of live material (including audio versions of some of the video from disc 4), radio recordings, and demos- too much of a hodgepodge to actually be very interesting to listen to in sequence.