You know, I had forgotten that Bozzio was drumming then, but you're right. Saw Zappa on the Bongo Fury tour twice. I had seen the Mothers a few times in SLC , but I had to drive down to Phoenix to see them with Beefheart. A funny anecdote; after singing one of the songs on which he was featured, I think it was Debra Katabra, during the long solos, Beefheart sat down on his stool, his ever-present brown paper bag at his feet, and just glared out into the audience, both middle fingers raised in salute, as the slowly rotating stage of the Celebrity Theater revolved around its full 180 degrees and back to us. I had only remembered the concerts featuring Bozzio that came later. I guess it was the Sheik Yerbouti and Joe's Garage era. Thanks for the memory jog.

I read somewhere that during the auditions for drummers for Zappa's band, after Bozzio did his thing, all the drummers that were behind him waiting for their turns , just left. The guy was a virtuoso for sure.

Sadly, yes…it is "was" for the good Captain. Van Vliet died about 5 years ago. One of a kind, he was.