Cliff Martinez

Cliff got the Magic Band job after Robert Williams had left the band to record a solo album. Unfortunately he only played on the Ice Cream For Crow album and appeared in the ICFC video before Don ended the band.

In 1983 he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers and recorded two albums before leaving in 1985 or 86. He has also played drums with Lydia Lunch, The Dickies and The Weirdos.

He now makes a steady living composing film scores.

Check out his website.

A short piece with audio interview from September 2011 is available on the Film Music Magazine website

Magic Band Albums

Lydia Lunch

  • 1982 US vinyl 13:13 on Line Records
  • 1986 US vinyl Stinkfist (with Clint Ruin)

Red Hot Chili Peppers

  • 1984 Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • 1985 Freakey Styley
  • 1998 Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers: Under The Covers on EMI – Capitol 94139. This is part of EMI Records’ Essential Limited Edition series. Cliff plays only on track #6

The Dickies

  • 1989 US CD Second Coming on Enigma
  • 1990 US CD Locked ‘n’ Loaded Greatest Hits Live on Taang! Records

Traffic (DVD)

  • US 2 DVD set on Criterion (Region 1)

This particular double disc set of Steven Soderbergh’s film includes an audio option to isolate the music with a commentary by Cliff Martinez. Cliff describes composing the ambient score for the film and talks for a couple minutes about his time with Beefheart and Don’s enduring influential legacy. Be warned though not all releases of the dvd offer this option.

Thanks to Bob in Colorado for spotting this for us.

Filmography

  • Contagion (2011)
  • Drive (2011)
  • The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
  • A L’Origine [In The Beginning] (2009)
  • Severe Clear (2009 – documentary)
  • Espion(s) [Spy(ies)] (2009)
  • Stiletto (2008)
  • Vice (2008)
  • Luck Number Slevin (2006 – “In Dreams, Perhaps”
  • First Snow (2006)
  • Havoc (2005)
  • Koppel on Discovery (2004 – documentary)
  • Wicker Park (2004)
  • Wonderland (2003)
  • Narc: Shooting Up (2003 – video documentary short)
  • Narc (2002)
  • Solaris (2002)
  • Traffic (2000)
  • G-String Divas (2000 – TV series)
  • The Limey (1999)
  • Wicked (1998)
  • The Fifth Element (1997 – incidental music)
  • Schizopolis (1996 – uncredited)
  • Gray’s Anatomy (1996)
  • The Underneath (1995)
  • Black Magic (1992)
  • King of The Hill (1991)
  • Kafka (1991)
  • Pump Up the Volume (1990)
  • Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
  • Pee Wee’s Playhouse (1987)
  • Thrashin’ (1986 song “Black Eyed Blonde” – uncredited)
  • Tough Guys (1986 song “Set It Straight” – uncredited)

Help us out

If anyone is able to complete or update any of the information above, then please do get in touch.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *