Zoot Horn Rollo

Zoot Horn Rollo

With Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
Leeds University May, 1973
Photo: Alastair Thompson
Background information
Birth name Bill Harkleroad
Also known as Zoot Horn Rollo
Born 8 January 1949
Palmdale, California
United States
Genres Alternative rock, rock, blues
Occupation(s) Musician, instructor, producer
Instruments Guitar, mandolin, accordion
Years active 1968–present
Labels Straight, Reprise, Proper
Associated acts Captain Beefheart, The Magic Band, Mallard, Blues in a Bottle, Drumbo
Website Home page

Bill Harkleroad, known professionally as Zoot Horn Rollo (born December 12, 1948),[1] is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work with Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band. In 2003 he was ranked #62 in a Rolling Stone Magazine list of "the 100 greatest guitarists of all time".[2]

Biography

Born in Hawthorne, California, Harkleroad was trained as an accordionist as a child but switched to guitar in his teens. In nearby Lancaster, California, he became involved in local bands. He joined up with future member of the Magic Band, Mark Boston, in a band named B.C. & The Cavemen. Later the two played in the group Blues in a Bottle along with future Magic Band guitarist Jeff Cotton. He joined the Magic Band in 1968 after the departure of Alex St. Clair. After recording Trout Mask Replica and several further albums, he left in 1974, with several other band members, to form Mallard. His book Lunar Notes describes some of the tensions that contributed to the split between Captain Beefheart and the other band members.

After the disbanding of Mallard, he had a limited involvement with the music community as a performer. He continued his involvement in another capacity, however, as a record store manager and guitar instructor in Eugene, Oregon.

On November 27, 2001, he released We Saw a Bozo Under the Sea. In 2008 John French (a.k.a. Drumbo) released an album City of Refuge in which Harkleroad was featured playing guitar on all twelve tracks. In 2013, Harkleroad contributed lead guitar to a psychobilly track on the Eugene-based band Cherry Poppin' Daddies‍ '​ album White Teeth, Black Thoughts.

Discography

with Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

with Mallard

Solo

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Rollo, Zoot Horn
  2. ↑ "62: Zoot Horn Rollo". The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2010-09-28.

External links