bibliography
NNDB
This is a beta version of NNDB
Search: for

Arthur Dyer Tripp III

Arthur Dyer Tripp IIIBorn: 10-Sep-1944
Birthplace: Athens, OH

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Musician

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Percussionist for Zappa and Beefheart

An accomplished and classically-trained percussionist, Arthur Tripp entered music school in 1962 and eventually became a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. During his two-year tenure with the orchestra, Tripp was given the opportunity to tour the world, occasionally performing solo pieces by avant-garde composers such as John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen. After moving to New York City he made the acquaintance of Frank Zappa and subsequently joined The Mothers of Invention; in the brief but productive period that followed, Tripp toured and recorded extensively with the Mothers, his contributions appearing on some of their most compelling releases: Uncle Meat (1969), Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1970), and Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970) among them.

Through this association with the Mothers, Tripp became involved with several other Zappa-produced projects, including Jean-Luc Ponty's 1970 solo effort King Kong and Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band's groundbreaking Trout Mask Replica (1969). Using the stage name Ed Marimba, he became a full-time member of the Magic Band during Trout Mask and continued with them until 1974, appearing on Lick My Decals Off Baby (1970), The Spotlight Kid (1972), Clear Spot (1972), and Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974) (as well as briefly returning in 1978 to add his skills to Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)). Having been raised around a tough, gambling crowd in Pittsburg, Tripp fared better against the domineering personality of the Captain (Don Van Vliet) than many of his younger, less experienced bandmates.

Having had his fill of difficult bandleaders, Arthur Tripp retired from the music scene in the 1980's, working briefly for his father's insurance business back in Pittsburgh before moving to California and becoming a chiropractor in 1983. In 2000 he relocated his practice to Gulfport, Florida, in order to get away from the stifling regulations endemic to Northern California.

    The Mothers of Invention Drummer/Percussionist (1968-69)
    Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band Drummer/Percussionist (1969-74)

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Uncle Meat (1987) · Himself


New!
NNDB MAPPER
Create a map starting with Arthur Dyer Tripp III
Requires Flash 7+ and Javascript.

Do you know something we don't?
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile



Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications