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Fact #155125

When:

Short story:

During a visit to Europe, Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band are refused entry into the United Kingdom, on the grounds that they "had come to this country to take unauthorized employment and with insufficient funds."

Full article:

EXCERPT FROM A 'REFUSAL OF LEAVE TO LAND' REPORT, DETAILING WHY CAPTAIN BEEFHEART WAS REFUSED ENTRY INTO THE UK ON THIS DATE

Mr. Vliet (Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart) is the leader of an American 'pop group' known as Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, which specializes in so-called psychedelic music and is currently very popular with a certain section of the population of the west coast of the United States.

The group arrived together and presented a very strange appearance, being attired in clothing ranging from 'jeans' to purple trousers, with shirts of various hues, and wearing headgear varying from conical witches' hats to a brilliant yellow safety helmet of the type worn by construction engineers.

Like some of his friends, Mr. Vliet sported a bushy beard.

Officers on the control were given ample opportunity to form an initial assessment of the group, as they took fully ten minutes to complete the relatively simple operation of filling in their landing cards. when they eventually approached the desks, it proved somewhat difficult to interview them, as they appeared to think on a completely different mental plane and found it difficult to grasp the rudiments of a passport control. However, it was eventually established that they had gone to Hanover (Germany) from the United States to attend a musical convention and that they were now en route to a similar festival in Nice (France).

All five members of the group possessed tickets from London to Nice and on to Los Angeles and they said that they merely wished to spend up to a week in this country on the way to France, Europe. None of them appeared very certain what the purpose of the visit to this country was, some saying that it was purely for a rest and others saying that they were to meet representatives of the press. However, all of them denied emphatically that they had any intention of taking any form of employment during their stay. Examination of the funds carried by the group showed that they had very little money, Mr. Vliet having £2.10.0 and 20 German marks.

At this stage, a gentleman dressed in the American style, with long unkempt hair and with a cigarette dangling from his lower lip, approached the control and introduced himself as Mr. Peter Alexander Edwin Meaden, (Editorial Note - usually known at Pete Meaden) born 11.11.41, British and described in his passport as an artistes manager. Mr. Meaden said that he represented New Wave Records Ltd., 17-19 Stratford Place, London, which firm was sponsoring the group's visit to the United Kingdom, in conjunction with the group's American recording company, Kama Sutra / Buddha Records Ltd., New York.

He offered to give any guarantees that might be required to facilitate the group's entry into the country but, when asked to establish his authority to do so, he was unable to prove his connection with these companies beyond producing a press handout and some blank headed notepaper. Mr Meaden denied vehemently that the group would be taking any form of work during their stay here and said that he had only brought them over for press appearances.

At this stage, all five members of the group were escorted to the baggage hall, where their luggage was examined by Her Majesty's Customs. However, despite the fact that one member of the group had a large number of patent medicines in his case, nothing of interest was found. A search of the group's instruments and their cases was also negative.

On return to the arrivals hall, I was informed by an officer of the Special Branch that Mr. Meaden was known to have convictions for illegal possession of a Bren gun, taking and driving away a motor vehicle and selling intoxicating liquor without a licence. In view of this, it was felt that any assurances given by the gentleman would have to be treated with considerable reservations.

It was strongly suspected that the group was going to take engagements in this country and reference to the 'New Musical Express' showed that they were billed to appear at two establishments the next weekend, namely the Middle Earth club and The Speakeasy club, both in the West End of London, England, UK, Europe. These clubs were telephoned and confirmed that the group would be playing on stage as a professional engagement.

Reference to the Ministry of Labour showed that Mr. Meaden had applied for Ministry of Labour permits for the Middle Earth club engagement but that none had been issued, as he had claimed that the group was only to meet the press at the club and would not be playing - denied by the club which was expecting a full show. Faced with this, Mr. Meaden at first protested his innocence but, finally, both he and the group admitted that the engagements had been arranged. Mr. Meaden then pleaded for clemency on the grounds of his own stupidity, a plea which was rejected.

The case was referred to Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Armstrong, who directed that the group was refused leave to land on the grounds that they had come to this country to take unauthorized employment and with insufficient funds. They were informed that they were at liberty to contact whomsoever they wished and spent some time on the telephone before going to the detention suite, where they were given a meal.

As it seemed that the group was to a considerable extent the innocents in what was by now a very tangled web woven largely by Mr. Meaden, it was decided to make some effort on their behalf beyond the call of duty. To this end, Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. R. A. MacDowall, spent some four hours on the telephone liaising with the Home Office, the Ministry of Labour, Pye Records and Equity.

Pye came into the picture because the president of Kama Sutra records, Mr Artie Ripp, an American, was with the company negotiating some form of takeover bid by Pye for his company. Mr. MacDowall spoke with Mr. Ripp and with Mr. Wise of Pye and advised them that they should contact the Ministry of Labour and Equity and apply for permits. Should they be issued, then the position would be reconsidered in a favourable light.

Mr. Noreiko, Chief Immigration Officer, Headquarters, was informed of the case, lest there should be any representations. These soon materialized, from Mr. Meaden's solicitor, who asked that the group was admitted for a visit. This proposal was rejected. Later in the afternoon, Her Majesty's Assistant Chief Inspector Mr. T.W.E. Roche telephoned for details of the case, as the press officer had approached him for information.

Despite all their efforts, which were considerable, Mr. Ripp and Mr. Wise were unable to secure the issue of Ministry of Labour permits and the group was therefore returned to Hanover as directed. Mr. Meaden, on whose shoulders the blame for the whole incident must rest, was told by Mr. Ripp that his association with Kama Sutra ceased forthwith, and he was a dejected man as he departed, muttering under his breath.