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I have to admit I was a latecomer to the world of Captain Beefheart although I knew the name. You couldn't forget a name like that, even if your musical tastes were confined to what you saw on Top Of The Pops in 1973. When it came to names and titles, you can see where Mark E Smith of the Fall learned his trade. The titles of the Captain's records are works of art on their own. 'Safe As Milk' , 'Trout Mask Replica' 'Ice Cream For Crow'. Regular listeners to After Midnight will suspect correctly that I'm only familiar with his debut 'Safe As Milk' – I do like a bit of accessibility – and that came from hearing That Petrol Emotion's version of Zig Zag Wanderer. Another great title, which deserves the great song that is attached. He was, of course, a hero of John Peel not just because of the music but (I suspect) because of the Captain's attitude to the music industry. He abandoned making records to concentrate on painting. If only more people would do the same. Our homes would be much better looking.

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