CD reissue. Zappa granted Beefheart unrestrained artistic freedom in making 1969's Trout Mask Replica, which ranked 58th in Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Van Vliet has been described as '... one of modern music's true innovators' with '... a singular body of work virtually unrivalled in it's daring and fluid creativity.' Although he achieved little commercial or mainstream critical success, he sustained a cult following as a 'highly significant' and 'incalculable' influence on an array of New Wave, punk, post-punk, experimental and alternative rock musicians. Known for his enigmatic personality and relationship with the public, Van Vliet made few public appearances after his retirement from music (and from his Beefheart persona) in 1982. He pursued a career in art, an interest that originated in his childhood talent for sculpture, and a venture that proved to be his most financially secure. His expressionist paintings and drawings command high prices and have been exhibited in art galleries and museums across the world. Van Vliet died in 2010, having suffered from multiple sclerosis for many years. The Captain had a notoriously sadomasochistic with some of his musicians especially during the recording of the album usually considered to be his greatest work Trout Mask Replica. Here, you can listen to some of those peculiar sessions for yourself!