Bill Harkleroad (aka Zoot Horn Rollo) was guitarist for Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. After recording "some of the most unusual music ever committed to vinyl," he left in 1973 with several other band members to form Mallard. His book, Lunar Notes, describes some of the tensions between Captain Beefheart and band members, which contributed to the split. He was born in Palmdale, California. Trained as an accordionist during childhood, he switched to guitar in his teen years.