Paul Blakely

Paul Blakeley (drummer)

Original (1964) drummer with Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. He left to join the US Army, but rejoined the band in 1966; his place having been taken successively by Vic Mortensen and Alex St Claire (taking a break from lead guitar). He plays on the Avalon Ballroom recordings heard on the Grow Fins anthology, and was on the Magic Band's first TV appearance playing Diddy Wah Diddy on 'Where The Action Is'

According to an interview with me, Paul advised that he left the music scene after the first album Safe As Milk because he di not want to be a part of the San Francisco drug scene which is where the band was headed at the time.