PENGUINS IN BONDAGE

This is recorded thru uh flies ear ’n you have t’ have uh flies eye t’ see it It’s the thing that’s gonna make Captain Beefheart

And his magic band fat Frank it’s the big hit It’s the blimp It’s the blimp Frank It’s the blimp

(from “The Blimp” by Don Van Vliet on Trout Mask Replica)

The radio programmer has his nose pressed flat against the glass which separates his padded cell from our

studio recording booth. Kids are wandering outside our room, waiting for the release of Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa so they can smother them with hostile affection (and receive the usual cold snub).

Lights dot the interviewing/production studio of this New England college radio station (one helluva tiny box). At this point, the conversation is mostly small talk about the technical aspects of getting this taping down pat. It isn’t a live broadcast, insuring against the possibilities of malicious outbreaks (or more likely, monotonous tirades) from this weirdo tag team.

Besides, the interview is expected to fizzle. Just one quick glance at the