Captain Beefheart's “Trout Mask Replica” album and his other landmark recordings were powered by John French’s unique drumming, earning him the eternal name of Drumbo from the man himself. John was born in the California desert community of Lancaster, also home to Frank Zappa and Don VanVliet. Drumbo’s work exploded on “Trout Mask Replica,” an album immediately hailed as a milestone. Beyond mastering the jagged rhythms, multiple time-signatures and unprecedented intensity that marked the record, French’s playing reconceived the drums as equal partners in the electric ensemble. No longer merely laying down time, French’s playing offered vastly creative counterpoints and counter-melodies, giving the record a punch and vitality that, to many, is still unmatched. Later collaborations include, rench, Frith, Kaiser and Thompson, which included and ex-Fairport Convention guitar virtuoso Richard Thompson. In 2003, Drumbo spearheaded a long-sought reunion of The Magic Band and as drummer, arranger, and de-facto manager, and in 2008, Drumbo’s a solo album, “City of Refuge” featured all of his own material, and a band comprising Beefheart alumni Rockette Morton, Zoot Horn Rollo, Ella Guru Davidson and John Thomas.