Cucamonga: In Search of Captain Beefheart

Cucamonga, VanderLans’s second book of photographs in a series that began with Palm Desert, is a tribute to Don Van Vliet, the founder and leader of the cult outfit, Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. VanderLans retraces their trail, photographing the places and neighborhoods frequented by the Magic Band in the late 60's and early 70's. What emerges is a bittersweet picture of Southern California that blends a sense of nostalgia with the cold reality of passing time and urban development. The photographs show the suburban Southern California landscape as it is today – a land of lush vegetation, concrete, deserts and subdivisions, all under the same vast blue sky. The book includes a bonus CD containing three musical tributes to Don Van Vliet created specifically for this publication by original Magic Band members Bill Harkleroad (Zoot Horn Rollo), John French (Drumbo) and Gary Lucas. Playing time 17 minutes. 96 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 inches, 36 full color photographs, cloth cover with blind emboss, sewn and case bound, with a CD attached in the back.

Rudy VanderLans is the editor and designer of the quarterly design journal "Emigre." He is also the co-founder, with his wife Zuzana Licko, of the type foundry Emigre Fonts, and he runs Emigre Music, a small record label. "Cucamonga" is the second book of photographs in a series that brings together his love for music, photography and typography.