PJ Harvey performed Captain Beefheart’s poem about her cat in a recent event. During her speech at London’s Michael Werner Gallery, where an exhibition of the cult musician’s paintings was opening, Harvey decided to recite the poem written about her cat, Garden by Captain Beefheart (real name Don Van Vliet) before his death in 2010. Harvey has previously cited Beefheart as an inspiration to her music and eventually befriended him.
The poem, titled “Man Can’t Anticipate Cat,” was written in 2001. Harvey revealed the backstory behind the poem, saying that it was inspired by photographs she had sent him of Garden. The cat’s unusual name was born in homage to legendary actress Judy Garland as the cat moved in with Harvey unexpectedly while she was living in Bristol. Don loved talking about Garden and “loved looking at pictures of him,” as Harvey claimed in her speech.
PJ Harvey is due to perform at Gunnersbury Park this August, where she will be joined by Big Thief, Tirzah, and Shida Shahabi. Harvey commented on choosing support acts that are some of the most exciting artists working today, and “With them, I hope to be able to give the audience an emotional, heartening, and uplifting experience.”
Earlier this year, PJ Harvey released her first album in seven years, “I Inside The Old Year Dying.” During an interview, Harvey said that she believes the album is about searching, looking, and seeking meaning, and in NME’s four-star review, the album is called “an immersive return from a modern master.” The acclaimed singer also recently released a new concert film, Live from L’olympia in Paris
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