Eric Drew Feldman

Eric Drew Feldman (born April 16, 1955) is an American musician. Feldman has worked with Captain Beefheart, Fear, Snakefinger, The Residents, Pere Ubu, Pixies, dEUS, Katell Keineg, Frank Black, The Polyphonic Spree, Tripping Daisy, Reid Paley, Charlotte Hatherley, Custard and PJ Harvey. Biography In the 1970s, Feldman studied at UCLA under Philip Springer, a pop songwriter and early pioneer of electronic music and synthesizers. The Magic Band (1976 - 1982) When Feldman joined Captain Beefheart's Magic Band in 1976 as keyboardist and bassist, he was already an experienced musician. Like other members of the band, Feldman was expected to capture (on tape or notepad) Beefheart's musical ideas. Once instrumental parts had been created, the band members had to play them exactly as composed: "I never had a problem with that. I felt like I was getting parts dictated to me from one of the best, especially when they were designed for me. You just feel like a model in a fashion show wearing a really nice dress, I guess." During his time in the Magic Band, he was also given a nickname by Don, Black Jew Kitabu. Feldman worked on the acclaimed trio of Beefheart albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (1978), Doc at the Radar Station (1980), and Ice Cream for Crow (1982). Snakefinger's Vestal Virgins (1982 - 1987) Feldman first became aware of Snakefinger and The Residents in 1979 whilst living in Los Angeles. He was given a mixtape (likely the compilation album Nibbles) which featured The Spot by Snakefinger and Ship's A Going Down by The Residents, which he became interested in. Shortly afterwards he moved to San Francisco, just four blocks away from the Ralph Records headquarters. Aware of the address' significance, Feldman visited out of curiosity. The Residents were familiar with Feldman's work with Captain Beefheart and, although he came to work with The Residents, introduced him to Snakefinger. Having produced Snakefinger's first two albums, The Residents wanted Snakefinger to branch out, and saw Feldman as the perfect collaborator. Feldman worked with Snakefinger on two studio albums before his death in 1987.