Hawkwind are an English
rockRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, one of the earliest
space rockSpace rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
groups. Their lyrics favour urban and
science fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
themes. They are also a noted precursor to
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and now are considered a link between the
hippieThe hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
and
punkThe punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
cultures.
Formed in November 1969 by
singer-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and
guitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist
Dave BrockDavid Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and styles of music. Critic Jim Green describes their trademark sound as characterised by "that gargantuan and impenetrable pre-metal/hardcore drone, those great riffs, that inexorable drive to destinations unknown". Dozens of musicians have worked with the group; fantasy and science fiction writer
Michael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
was an occasional collaborator.
1969: Formation
Dave BrockDavid Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
and Mick Slattery had been in the London-based
psychedelicThe term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
band Famous Cure, and a meeting with bassist John Harrison revealed a mutual interest in
electronic musicElectronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
that kicked off this new venture. Seventeen year old drummer Terry Ollis replied to an advert in one of the music weeklies, while
Nik TurnerNik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
and Michael 'Dik Mik' Davies, old acquaintances of Brock, offered help with transport and gear, but were soon pulled into the band.
Gatecrashing a local talent night at the All Saints Hall,
Notting HillNotting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, they were so untogether as to not even have a name, plumping for "Group X" at the last minute, nor any songs, choosing to play an extended 20-minute jam on
The ByrdsThe Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
"
Eight Miles High"Eight Miles High" is a song by the American rock band The Byrds, written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn, and David Crosby and first released as a single on March 14, 1966 . The single managed to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Top 30 of the UK Singles Chart...
".
BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ
John PeelJohn Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
was in the audience and was impressed enough to tell event organiser, Douglas Smith, to keep an eye on them. Smith signed them up and got them a deal with
Liberty RecordsLiberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
on the back of a deal he was setting up for
CochiseCochise was an English country rock band that performed in the 1970s.This band is more significant for who they included than what they produced. Singer Stewart Brown had grown up with Reggie Dwight, later Elton John, and co-founded the band Bluesology with him. After the demise of Cochise, Mick...
.
The band settled on the name Hawkwind after briefly being billed as
Hawkwind Zoo, Hawkwind being the nickname of Turner derived from his unappealing habit of clearing his throat (hawking) and excessive flatulence (wind). Another version of the origin of their name says they took it from one of
Michael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
's stories. An Abbey Road session took place recording demos of "Hurry on Sundown" and others (included on the remasters version of
HawkwindHawkwind is the self-titled debut album by Hawkwind, released in 1970, originally on Liberty Records.-Recording:Pretty Things guitarist Dick Taylor, who was looking for a new venture after leaving the band, was pulled into Hawkwind playing some gigs and producing this album...
), after which Slattery left to be replaced by
Huw Lloyd-LangtonHuw Lloyd-Langton is an English guitarist, best known as the guitarist for Hawkwind. He also had his own band, the Lloyd Langton Group with bass player Kenny Wilson and drummer John Clark , and is the session lead guitarist for UK band The Meads of Asphodel.As a member of Hawkwind he appeared on...
, who had known Brock from his days working in a music shop selling guitar strings to Brock, then a
buskerStreet performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
.
1970-75: United Artists era
Pretty ThingsThe Pretty Things are an English rock and roll band from London, who originally formed in 1963. They took their name from Bo Diddley's 1955 song "Pretty Thing" and, in their early days, were dubbed by the British press the "uglier cousins of the Rolling Stones". Their most commercially successful...
guitarist
Dick TaylorRichard Clifford 'Dick' Taylor is an English musician who was an early bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones. He left to become an art student at Sidcup Art College and while there formed The Pretty Things in September 1963...
was brought in to produce the 1970 debut album
HawkwindHawkwind is the self-titled debut album by Hawkwind, released in 1970, originally on Liberty Records.-Recording:Pretty Things guitarist Dick Taylor, who was looking for a new venture after leaving the band, was pulled into Hawkwind playing some gigs and producing this album...
. Although it was not a commercial success, it did bring them to the attention of the
UK undergroundThe Underground was a countercultural movement in the United Kingdom linked to the underground culture in the United States and associated with the hippie phenomenon. Its primary focus was around Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill in London...
scene finding them playing free concerts, benefit gigs and festivals. Playing free outside the
Bath FestivalThe Bath International Music Festival, also known as the Bath Music Fest, is held each summer in Bath, South West England. Inaugurated in 1948, the festival includes many genres such as orchestral, contemporary jazz, folk and electronica...
, they encountered another
Ladbroke GroveLadbroke Grove is a road in west London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is also sometimes the name given informally to the immediate area surrounding the road. Running from Notting Hill in the south to Kensal Green in the north, it is located in North Kensington and straddles...
based band, the
Pink FairiesPink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...
, who shared similar interests in music and recreational activities, a friendship developed which led to the two bands becoming running partners and performing as "Pinkwind". Their use of drugs, however, led to the departure of Harrison, who did not imbibe, to be replaced briefly by Thomas Crimble (about July '70 - March '71) who played on
a few BBC sessionsThe Text of Festival is an archive album by Hawkwind consisting of BBC sessions and live performances between 1970 and 1971. It was originally released in 1983 after the band had exited their Active Records contract, and has continuously been repackaged and retitled ever since.The copyright of the...
, leaving to help organise the Glastonbury Free Festival 1971 and standing in during the band's performance there. Lloyd-Langton also quit, after a bad
LSDLysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
trip at the
Isle of Wight FestivalThe 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held between 26 and 31 August 1970 at East Afton Farm an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970 and widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of...
led to his having a
nervous breakdownMental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
.
Their follow up album, 1971's
X in Search of Space, brought greater commercial success, reaching number 18 on the UK album charts, and also saw the band's image and philosophy take shape, courtesy of graphic artist
Barney BubblesColin Fulcher aka Barney Bubbles was a radical English graphic artist, whose work primarily encompassed the disciplines of graphic design, painting and music video direction. He is most renowned for his distinctive contribution to the graphic design associated with the British independent music...
and underground press writer
Robert CalvertRobert Calvert was a writer, poet, and musician.-Biography:Born Robert Newton Calvert in Pretoria, South Africa, Calvert's parents moved to England when he was two years of age and later attended school in London and Margate. He began his career by writing poetry and in 1967 formed a Street...
, as depicted in the accompanying
Hawklog booklet which would further be developed into the
Space Ritual stage show. Science fiction author
Michael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
and dancer
StaciaStacia , born 26 December 1952 in Ireland, was a dancer for the English rock group Hawkwind. She is now a professional artist.-With Hawkwind:...
also started contributing to the band. Dik Mik had left the band, replaced by sound engineer
Del DettmarDel Dettmar is best known as synthesizer and keyboard player with the English space rock band Hawkwind from 1971 to 1974....
, but chose to return for this album giving the band two electronics players. Bass player Dave Anderson, who had been in the German band
Amon Düül II-Studio Albums:-Live Albums:-Compilations:-Singles:-External links:*...
, had also joined and played on the album but departed before its release because of personal tensions with some other members of the band. Anderson and Lloyd-Langton then formed the short-lived band Amon Din. Meanwhile, Ollis quit, unhappy with the commercial direction the band were heading in.
The addition of bassist Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister and drummer
Simon KingSimon King is an English drummer most noted for his work with Hawkwind. He was described in 1985 by British rock magazine 'Sounds' as 'definitive rock drummer.'...
propelled the band to greater heights. One of the early gigs this band played was a benefit for the Greasy Truckers at
The RoundhouseThe Roundhouse is a Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England, which has been converted into a performing arts and concert venue. It was originally built in 1847 as a roundhouse , a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was only used for railway...
on 13 February 1972. A live album of the concert
Greasy Truckers PartyGreasy Truckers Party is a 1972 live album by various artists recorded at a February 1972 Greasy Truckers concert at the Roundhouse in London. The concert featured three bands, Man, Brinsley Schwarz and Hawkwind, and musician Magic Michael...
was released, and after re-recording the vocal, a single "
Silver MachineSilver Machine is a 1972 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single on 9 June 1972, reaching #3 on the UK singles chart. The single was re-issued in 1976, 1978 reaching #34 on the UK singles charts, and in 1983 reaching #67 on the UK singles charts...
" was also released, reaching number 3 in the UK charts. This generated sufficient funds for the subsequent album
Doremi Fasol LatidoDoremi Fasol Latido is the third studio album from Hawkwind, released in 1972. It reached #14 on the UK album charts.-New Members:The rhythm section of Dave Anderson and Terry Ollis was replaced by Lemmy and Simon King, both of whose style differed notably from their predecessors. This changed the...
Space Ritual tour. The show featured dancers
StaciaStacia , born 26 December 1952 in Ireland, was a dancer for the English rock group Hawkwind. She is now a professional artist.-With Hawkwind:...
and Miss Renee, mime artist Tony Carrera and a light show by
Liquid LenJonathan Smeeton is a British lighting designer who has also worked under the name of Liquid Len.Smeeton was the creator of "Liquid Len and the Lensmen" who provided lightshows for the band Hawkwind in the 1970s.He has also worked for groups such as The Rolling Stones, Jane's Addiction, Marilyn...
and is immortalised on the elaborate package
Space RitualThe Space Ritual Alive in Liverpool and London is a 1973 live double album recorded in 1972 by UK rock band Hawkwind. It is their fourth album, reached #9 in the UK album charts and briefly dented the Billboard Top 200, peaking at #179....
. At the height of their success in 1973, the band released the single "Urban Guerrilla" which coincided with an
IRAThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bombing campaign in London, so the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
refused to play it and the band's management reluctantly decided to withdraw it fearing accusations of opportunism, despite the disc having already climbed to number 39 in the UK chart.
Dik Mik departed during 1973 and Calvert ended his association with the band to concentrate on solo projects. Dettmar also indicated that he was to leave the band, so
Simon HouseSimon House is a composer and classically trained violinist and keyboard player, perhaps best known for his work with space rock band Hawkwind. His arrival in 1974 introduced a new element to the band's style...
was recruited as keyboardist and violinist playing live shows, a North America tour and recording the 1974 album
Hall of the Mountain GrillHall of the Mountain Grill is the fourth studio album by space rock band Hawkwind, released in 1974. It is regarded by many critics and fans as a career highlight.-Overview:...
. Dettmar left after a European tour, emigrating to Canada, whilst
Alan PowellAlan Powell is a drummer who was mainly active during the 1970s.In 1964 Alan joined Manchester R&B band Ivans Meads who released their first single for EMI label "Sins of a Family" followed in 1965 with "We'll Talk about it Tomorrow"...
deputised for an incapacitated King on that European tour, but remained giving the band two drummers.
At the beginning of 1975, the band recorded the album
Warrior on the Edge of TimeWarrior on the Edge of Time is Hawkwind's fifth studio album. It reached #13 on the UK album charts and was their third and last album to make the US Billboard chart, where it peaked at #150...
in collaboration with
Michael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
loosely based on his
Eternal ChampionThe Eternal Champion is a fictional creation of the author Michael Moorcock and is a recurrent feature in many of his novels.-About the Eternal Champion:...
figure. However, during a North America tour in May, Lemmy was caught in possession of
amphetamineAmphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
crossing the border from the USA into Canada. The border police mistook the powder for cocaine and he was jailed, forcing the band to cancel some shows. Fed up with his erratic behaviour, the band fired the bass player replacing him with their long standing friend and former Pink Fairies guitarist
Paul RudolphPaul Fraser Rudolph is a guitarist,bassist, singer, and cyclist. He made his mark in the UK underground music scene, and then as a session musician, before returning to Canada to indulge his passion for cycling...
. Lemmy then teamed up with another Pink Fairies guitarist, Larry Wallis, to form
Motörhead, named after the
last song he had written for HawkwindMotörhead recorded a live version, which was released as a 7" vinyl single in 1981. It fared much better than the original single and reached number six in the UK Singles Charts. Whereas the previous recording plays in E major, this recording plays in E♭...
.
1976-78: Charisma era
Robert Calvert made a guest appearance with band for their headline set at the Reading Festival in August 1975, after which he chose to rejoin the band as a full-time vocalist and front man.
StaciaStacia , born 26 December 1952 in Ireland, was a dancer for the English rock group Hawkwind. She is now a professional artist.-With Hawkwind:...
, on the other hand, chose to relinquish her dancing duties and settle down to family life. The band changed record company to Tony Stratton-Smith's
Charisma RecordsCharisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
and, on Tony's suggestion, band management from Douglas Smith to Tony Howard.
1976's
Astounding Sounds, Amazing MusicAstounding Sounds, Amazing Music is the sixth studio album by the British rock band Hawkwind, released in 1976. It reached #33 on the UK album charts....
is the first album of this era and highlights both Calvert's well crafted lyrics written with stage performance in mind and a greater proficiency and scope in the music. But on the eve of recording the follow-up
Back on the StreetsBack on the Streets is a 1976 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single in the UK on 28 January 1977 and has been included on some North American versions of the album Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music. It featured on Spirit of the Age - a 1988 compilation album...
single, Turner was sacked for his erratic live playing and Powell was deemed surplus to requirements. After a tour to promote the single and during rehearsals for the next album, Rudolph was also sacked for allegedly trying to steer the band into a musical direction at odds with Calvert and Brock's vision.
Adrian "Ade" Shaw, who as the bass player for Magic Muscle had supported Hawkwind on the
Space Ritual tour, came in for the 1977 album
Quark, Strangeness and CharmQuark, Strangeness And Charm is the seventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1977. It spent 6 weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #30....
. The band continued to enjoy moderate commercial success, but Calvert's mental illness often caused problems. A manic phase saw the band abandon a European tour in France, while a depression phase during a 1978 North American tour convinced Brock to disband the group. In between these two tours, the band had recorded the album
PXR5PXR5 is the ninth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1979. It reached #59 on the UK album charts.-Overview:The album was recorded and mixed at Rockfield Studios in January and February 1978. "Uncle Sam's On Mars", "Robot" and "High Rise" were originally recorded on the preceding UK tour but were...
in January 1978, but its release was delayed until 1979.
On 23 December 1977 in
BarnstapleBarnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, Brock and Calvert had performed a one-off gig with Devon band
Ark as the
Sonic AssassinsSonic Assassins were a UK band formed in 1977, composed of members from Hawkwind and local Devon band Ark.-Formation:Hawkwind main writers Robert Calvert and Dave Brock were living in Devon towards the end of 1977 and had befriended local band Ark, who had often supported Hawkwind at some of...
, and looking for a new project in 1978, bassist
Harvey BainbridgeHarvey Frederick Bainbridge is an English bass and keyboard player. He is best known as the bass player and keyboard player in Hawkwind....
and drummer Martin Griffin were recruited from this event.
Steve SwindellsSteve Swindells is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organiser, club promoter and journalist.Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his...
was recruited as keyboard player. The band was named
Hawklords, probably for legal reasons having recently split with their management, and recording took place on a farm in Devon using a mobile studio resulting in the album
25 Years OnHawklords is the eighth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1978. It released under the name Hawklords for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name "Hawkwind" at the time. It reached #48 on the UK album charts. It was originally titled 25 Years On and the first 25000 were...
. King had originally been the drummer for the project but quit during recording sessions to return to London, while House, who had temporarily left the band to join a
David BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
tour, elected to remain with Bowie full-time, but nevertheless did contribute violin to these sessions. At the end of the album's UK tour, Calvert, wanting King back in the band, fired Griffin, then promptly resigned himself, choosing to pursue a career in literature. Swindells left to record a solo album after an offer had been made to him by the record company
ATCOATCO Ltd. is an Alberta based corporation with more than 7,000 employees operating across three main business divisions: Power Generation; Utilities and Global Enterprises, with companies active in industrial manufacturing, technology, logistics and energy services.ATCO Ltd...
.
1980s
In late 1979, Hawkwind reformed with Brock, Bainbridge and King being joined by
Huw Lloyd-LangtonHuw Lloyd-Langton is an English guitarist, best known as the guitarist for Hawkwind. He also had his own band, the Lloyd Langton Group with bass player Kenny Wilson and drummer John Clark , and is the session lead guitarist for UK band The Meads of Asphodel.As a member of Hawkwind he appeared on...
(who had played on the debut album) and
Tim BlakeTimothy 'Tim' Blake , keyboards, vocalist instrumentalist and composer with both Gong, and Hawkwind. Blake is best known for his Synthesizer and Light performances as Crystal Machine, with the French Light Artist Patrice Warrener...
(formerly of
GongGong is a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen. Their music has also been described as space rock. Other notable band members include Allan Holdsworth, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Pip Pyle, Gilli Smyth, Steve Hillage, Francis Moze, Mike Howlett...
), embarking upon a UK tour despite not having a record deal or any product to promote. Some shows were recorded and a deal was made with
Bronze RecordsBronze Records is an independent English record label set up in 1971 by record producer Gerry Bron, and based in Chalk Farm, London.Bron had been producing Uriah Heep for Vertigo Records, and he set up this new label for future Uriah Heep releases, along with Juicy Lucy, Richard Barnes and Colosseum...
resulting in the
Live Seventy Nine album, quickly followed by the studio album
LevitationLevitation is the tenth studio album by English rock group Hawkwind, released in 1980. It peaked at #21 on the UK Albums Chart.At the time of its release, band leader Dave Brock stated: "with Levitation we’ve come full circle back to the style of our debut album...
. However, during the recording of
Levitation King quit and
Ginger BakerPeter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
was drafted in for the sessions, but he chose to stay with the band for the tour, during which
Tim BlakeTimothy 'Tim' Blake , keyboards, vocalist instrumentalist and composer with both Gong, and Hawkwind. Blake is best known for his Synthesizer and Light performances as Crystal Machine, with the French Light Artist Patrice Warrener...
left to be replaced by Keith Hale.
In 1981 Baker and Hale left after their insistence that Bainbridge should be sacked was declined, and Brock and Bainbridge elected to handle synthesizers and sequencers themselves with drummer Griffin from the Hawklords rejoining. Three albums, which again saw Michael Moorcock contributing lyrics and vocals, were recorded for
RCA/ActiveActive Records is a record sublabel of RCA. Label focuses mainly in heavy metal music.-Bands:* Atheist* Budgie* Candlemass* Therion* Destiny...
:
Sonic AttackSonic Attack is the eleventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1981. It spent five weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #19....
, the electronic
Church of HawkwindChurch of Hawkwind is the twelfth studio album by Hawkwind, released under the band name Church of Hawkwind in 1982. The name change reflects the fact that this was a musical departure for the band, being a more experimental electronic offering rather than the usual heavy rock that the band were...
and
Choose Your MasquesChoose Your Masques is the thirteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1982. It spent five weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #29....
. This band headlined the 1981
Glastonbury FestivalThe Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
and made an appearance at the 1982
Donington Monsters of Rock FestivalMonsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
, as well as continuing to play the summer
solsticeA solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the Sun's apparent position in the sky, as viewed from Earth, reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes...
at
Stonehenge Free FestivalThe Stonehenge Free Festival was a British free festival from 1972 to 1984 held at Stonehenge in England during the month of June, and culminating on the summer solstice on June 21. The festival was a celebration of various alternative cultures...
.
In the early 80s Brock had started using drum machines for his home demos and became increasingly frustrated at the inability of drummers to keep perfect time, leading to a succession of drummers coming and going. First, Griffin was ousted and the band tried Simon King again, but unhappy with his playing at that time, he was rejected. Andy Anderson filled in while he was also playing for
The CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, as did
Robert HeatonRobert Charles Heaton was the drummer in the English rock band New Model Army. With Justin Sullivan, Heaton was the core of the Bradford based band, originally alongside Stuart Morrow on bass and then later with Jason 'Moose' Harris. He wrote many of NMA's best known compositions, which are still...
prior to the rise of
New Model ArmyNew Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...
. Lloyd Langton Group drummer John Clark did some recording sessions, Rik Martinez started the
Earth Ritual tour but failed to end it, being replaced by Clive Deamer.
Nik Turner had returned as a guest for the 1982
Choose Your Masques tour and was invited back permanently. Further tours ensued with Phil "
Dead FredDead Fred is mainly known as the keyboard player in 1980 space rock / hard rock bands Inner City Unit and Hawkwind.Prior to ICU/Hawkwind he had a long and varied career in the UK music scene....
" Reeves augmenting the line-up on keyboards and violin, but neither Turner nor Reeves would appear on the only recording of 1983/84,
The Earth Ritual PreviewThe Earth Ritual Preview is a 1984 EP by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It spent two weeks on the UK singles chart peaking at #86...
, but there was a guest spot for Lemmy. The
Earth Ritual tour was filmed for Hawkwind's first ever video release,
Night of the Hawk.
Alan DaveyAlan Davey is best known as the former bassist with Hawkwind. He is now the bass player and vocalist for Gunslinger as well as Hawklords, Meads of Asphodel, and Thunor.-Early musical career:...
was a young fan of the band who had sent a tape of his playing to Brock, and Brock chose to oust Reeves moving Bainbridge from bass to keyboards in order to accommodate Davey. This experimental line-up played at the Stonehenge Free Festival in 1984, which was filmed and release as
Stonehenge 84. Subsequent personal and professional tensions between Brock and Turner led to the latter's expulsion at the beginning of 1985. Clive Deamer, who was deemed "too professional" for the band. was eventually replaced in 1985 by Danny Thompson Jr, a friend of bassist Alan Davey, and remained almost to the end of the decade.
Hawkwind's association with Moorcock climaxed in their most ambitious project,
The Chronicle of the Black Sword, based loosely around the Elric series of books and theatrically staged with Tony Crerar as the central character. Moorcock contributed lyrics, but only performed some spoken pieces on some live dates. The tour was recorded and issued as an album
Live ChroniclesLive Chronicles is a 1986 album by Hawkwind recorded of a live performance of their The Chronicle of the Black Sword concept album based on the Michael Moorcock character Elric of Melniboné.-Overview:...
and video
The Chronicle of the Black Sword. A headline appearance at the 1986 Reading Festival was followed by a UK tour to promote the
Live Chronicles album which was filmed and released as
Chaos. In 1988 the band recorded the album
The Xenon Codex-External links:*...
with Guy Bidmead, but all was not well in the band and soon after, both Lloyd-Langton and Thompson departed.
1990s
Drummer Richard Chadwick, who joined in the summer of '88, had been playing in small alternative free festival bands, most notably Bath's Smart Pils, for a decade and had frequently crossed paths with Hawkwind and Brock. He was initially invited simply to play with the band, but eventually replaced stand in drummer Mick Kirton to become the band's drummer to the present day.
Bridget WishartBridget Wishart is a vocalist and performance artist who performed with Hawkwind from 1989 to 1991, appearing on the albums Space Bandits, Palace Springs, California Brainstorm and Take Me to Your Future and, among others, the Nottingham 1990 video.She obtained BA in Fine Art from Newport Art...
, an associate of Chadwick's from the festival circuit, also joined to become the band's one and only frontwoman, and this new lineup was rounded off by the return of Simon House playing lead violin. This band produced two albums, 1990s
Space BanditsSpace Bandits is the sixteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1990. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #70....
and 1991's
Palace SpringsPalace Springs is a 1991 live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.Although released in 1991, this album was recorded in 1989 prior to the previous album Space Bandits...
and also filmed a 1-hour appearance for the
Bedrock TV series.
In 1991 Bainbridge,House and Wishart departed and the band continued as a three piece relying heavily on synthesizers and sequencers to create a wall-of-sound. The 1992 album
Electric TepeeElectric Tepee is the seventeenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1992. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #53....
combined hard rock and light ambient pieces, while
It is the Business of the Future to be DangerousIt Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous is the eighteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1993. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #75....
is almost devoid of the rock leanings.
The Business TripThe Business Trip is a 1994 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It was recorded during the group's 1992 tour to promote the It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous album....
is a record of the previous album's tour, but rockier as would be expected from a live outing. The
White ZoneWhite Zone is the nineteenth studio album by Hawkwind released under the band name Psychedelic Warriors in 1995. The name change reflects the fact that this was a musical departure for the band, being a more experimental electronic offering rather than rock, the album is completely instrumental ...
album was released under the alias Psychedelic Warriors to distance itself entirely from the rock expectancy of Hawkwind.
A general criticism of techno music at that time was its facelessness and lack of personality, which the band were coming to feel also plagued them. Ron Tree had known the band on the festival circuit and offered his services as a frontman, and the band duly employed him for the album
Alien 4Alien 4 is the twentieth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1995. At the end of 1994, with the group established as a three piece of guitarist Dave Brock, bassist Alan Davey and drummer Richard Chadwick, they felt they were lacking visually in terms of showmanship...
and its accompanying tour which resulted in the album
Love in SpaceLove in Space is a 1996 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It was recorded during the group's 1995 tour to promote the Alien 4 album.It was re-issued in 2009 with bonus tracks taken from the Love in Space EP.-CD1:...
and video
Love in Space.
In 1996, unhappy with the musical direction of the band, bassist Davey left, forming his own Middle-Eastern flavoured hard-rock group Bedouin and a Motörhead tribute act named Ace of Spades. His bass playing role was reluctantly picked up by singer Tree and the band were joined full-time by lead guitarist Jerry Richards (another stalwart of the festival scene, playing for Tubilah Dog who had merged with Brock's Agents of Chaos during 1988) for the albums
Distant HorizonsDistant Horizons is the twenty-first studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1997.Towards the end of 1996, Jerry Richards, who had been contributing lead guitar to some live dates and recording sessions, joined the group permanently. Disatisfied with the musical direction...
and
In Your AreaHawkwind in Your Area is the twenty-second live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.The live side was recorded during the group's 1997 tour to promote the Distant Horizons album...
. Rasta chanter Captain Rizz also joined the band for guest spots during live shows.
2000s
The concept of a
Hawkestra, a reunion event featuring appearances from all past and present members, had originally been intended to coincide with the band's 30th anniversary and the release of the career spanning
Epocheclipse – 30 Year AnthologyEpocheclipse is a 1999 compilation set by Hawkwind covering their entire career. It was released in two formats, a triple CD box set 30 Year Anthology and a single disc The Ultimate Best of....
set, but logistical problems delayed it until 21 October 2000. It took place at the Brixton Academy with about 20 members taking part in a 3+ hour set which was filmed and recorded. Guests included
Samantha FoxSamantha Karen "Sam" Fox is an English dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modeling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl...
who sang Master of the Universe. However, arguments and disputes over financial recompense and musical input resulted in the prospect of the event being restaged unlikely, and any album or DVD release being indefinitely shelved.
The Hawkestra had set a template for Brock to assemble a core band of Tree, Brock, Richards, Davey, Chadwick and for the use of former members as guests on live shows and studio recordings. The 2000 Christmas Astoria show was recorded with contributions from House, Blake, Rizz, Moorcock, Jez Huggett and Keith Kniveton and released as
Yule RitualYule Ritual is a 2001 live album by Hawkwind.-Track listing:#"Electronic Intro" – 4:27#"Levitation" – 8:47#"Spacebrock" – 6:08#"Space Is Deep" – 5:45...
the following year. In 2001, Davey agreed to rejoin the band permanently, but only after the departure of Tree and Richards.
Meanwhile, having rekindled relationships with old friends at the Hawkestra, Turner organised further Hawkestra gigs resulting in the formation of xhawkwind.com, a band consisting mainly of ex-Hawkwind members and playing old Hawkwind songs. An appearance at Guilfest in 2002 led to confusion as to whether this actually was Hawkwind, sufficiently irking Brock into taking legal action to prohibit Turner from trading under the name Hawkwind. Turner lost the case and the band now perform as
Space RitualSpace Ritual are a British space rock band, formed in 2000 fronted by Nik Turner, and composed principally of former Hawkwind members. They play a mix of early Hawkwind material and their own compositions.-History:...
.
An appearance at the Canterbury Sound Festival in August 2001, resulting in another live album
Canterbury Fayre 2001Canterbury Fayre 2001 is a 2001 live album by Hawkwind.-Track listing:#"5th Second of Forever" – 3:52#"Levitation" – 9:18#"Spiral Galaxy" – 3:16...
, saw guest appearances from Lloyd-Langton, House, Kniveton with
Arthur BrownArthur Brown is an English rock and roll musician best known for his flamboyant, theatrical style and significant influence on Alice Cooper, Peter Gabriel, Marilyn Manson, George Clinton, Kiss, King Diamond, and Bruce Dickinson, among others, and for his number one hit in the UK Singles Chart and...
on "Silver Machine". The band organised the first of their own weekend festivals, named
HawkfestHawkfest is 3 day outdoor weekend Festival organised and centered around Hawkwind. The event is open only to members of their fanclub and is limited to around 1000 attendees....
, in Devon in the summer of 2002. Brown joined the band in 2002 for a Winter tour which featured some
Kingdom ComeKingdom Come were a British band of the 1970s, that played psychedelic, experimental progressive rock music. They were fronted by Arthur Brown, who gave them his theatrical style and voice...
songs and saw appearances from Blake and Lloyd-Langton, the Newcastle show being released on DVD as
Out of the Shadows and the London show on CD as
Spaced Out in LondonSpaced Out in London is a 2004 live album by Hawkwind of a 2002 gig.-Track listing:#"Earth Calling" #"Aerospaceage Inferno" #"Angels Of Death" #"Out Of The Shadows"...
.
In 2005 the long anticipated new album
Take Me to Your LeaderTake Me To Your Leader is the twenty-third studio album by UK rock group Hawkwind. Released in 2005, it was their first studio album in 8 years. It featured guest appearances by Arthur Brown, Lene Lovich, the TV presenter Matthew Wright and past member Lemmy...
was released. Recorded by the core band of Brock/Davey/Chadwick, contributors included new keyboardist Jason Stuart, Arthur Brown, tabloid writer and TV personality Matthew Wright, 1970s New Wave singer
Lene LovichLene Lovich is an American singer based in England, who first gained attention as part of the New Wave music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her most popular hit single was "Lucky Number", first released in 1979.-Early years:...
, Simon House and Jez Huggett. This was followed in 2006 by the CD/DVD
Take Me to Your FutureTake Me to Your Future is a 2006 dual disc of new studio audio and archive live videos by Hawkwind.-Audio side:#"Uncle Sam’s on Mars" - 8:18 - new version...
.
The band were the subject of an hour-long television documentary entitled
Hawkwind: Do Not Panic that aired on
BBC FourBBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
as part of the
Originals series. It was broadcast on 30 March 2007 and repeated on 10 August 2007. Although Brock participated in its making he did not appear in the programme, it is alleged that he requested all footage of himself be removed after he was denied any artistic control over the documentary. In one of the documentary's opening narratives regarding Brock, it is stated that he declined to be interviewed for the programme because of Nik Turner's involvement, indicating that the two men have still not been reconciled over the xhawkwind.com incident.
June 2007 saw the official departure of Alan Davey, who left to perform and record with two new bands: Gunslinger and Thunor. He was replaced by "Mr Dibs", a long-standing member of the road crew and bassist for the bands Spacehead and Krel (who had supported Hawkwind during 1992). The band performed at their annual Hawkfest festival and headlined the US festival NEARfest and played gigs in PA and NY. At the end of 2007,
Tim BlakeTimothy 'Tim' Blake , keyboards, vocalist instrumentalist and composer with both Gong, and Hawkwind. Blake is best known for his Synthesizer and Light performances as Crystal Machine, with the French Light Artist Patrice Warrener...
once again joined the band filling the lead role playing keyboards and
thereminThe theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
. The band played 5 Christmas dates, the London show being released as an audio CD and video DVD under the title
Knights of SpaceKnights of Space is a live album by Hawkwind recorded at their annual London Christmas gig at the Astoria on 19 December 2007 and released in August 2008...
.
In January 2008 the band reversed its anti-taping policy, long a sore-point with many fans, announcing that it would allow audio recording and non-commercial distribution of such recordings, provided there was no competing official release. At the end of 2008, Atomhenge Records (a subsidiary of Cherry Red Records) commenced the re-issuing of Hawkwind's back catalogue from the years 1976 through to 1997 with the release of two triple CD anthologies
Spirit of the Age (anthology 1976-84)Spirit of the Age and The Dream Goes On are two triple CD anthologies released in 2008 covering the periods 1976-84 and 1985-97 of the British rock group Hawkwind....
and
The Dream Goes On (anthology 1985-97)Spirit of the Age and The Dream Goes On are two triple CD anthologies released in 2008 covering the periods 1976-84 and 1985-97 of the British rock group Hawkwind....
.
On 8 September 2008 keyboard player Jason Stuart died due to a brain haemorrhage. In October 2008, guitarist Niall Hone (former Tribe of Cro) joined Hawkwind for their Winter 2008 tour, along with returning synth/theremin player Tim Blake. Niall also plays bass guitar alongside Mr Dibs in the live set, on tracks such as Angels of Death and Magnu. Niall's bass sound (
Music Man StingRayMusic Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
bass with a Marshall guitar stack) and style is very different to Mr Dibs, as he uses heavy distortion and psychedelic effects to complement the already heavy bass sound of Mr. Dibs, often playing lead bass. Mr. Dibs has a very solid heavy punky style, using an Ovation Magnum Bass, and an Eastwood Magnum copy, with a Marshall VB400 amp with 8x10 stack. Niall and Mr. Dibs also use Macbook Pros for live electronic improvisation running
Ableton LiveAbleton Live is a loop-based software music sequencer and DAW for Mac OS and Windows by Ableton. The latest major release of Live, Version 8, was released in April 2009. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for...
software, allowing them to manipulate, mix and effect a vast array of sounds and samples in with the overall sound.
In 2009, the band began occasionally featuring Jon Sevink, from The Levellers as guest violinist at some shows. Later that year, Hawkwind embarked on a winter tour to celebrate the bands 40th anniversary including two sold out gigs on 28 and 29 August to mark the date of the first ever Hawkwind gig, and in 2010, held Hawkfest on the Isle Of Wight on the site of the original IOW Festival, on the 40th anniversary of their first ever festival appearance.
On the 21st of June 2010 Hawkwind released their latest studio album entitled
Blood of the EarthBlood of the Earth is the twenty-fourth studio album by the British space rock group Hawkwind, released in July 2010.Although it is a new studio album, there are some new versions of older songs...
. In December 2010, Hawkwind embarked on a UK tour to support the album.
Since May 2011, Niall has played bass for most of the live shows giving the band a more aggressive sound, with Mr. Dibs changing role to lead singer whilst playing occasional dual bass alongside Niall.
2011 has seen the band tour Australia for a second time, and play a series of festivals in Europe, including
Sweden Rock FestivalSweden Rock Festival is an annual rock/metal festival held in Sweden since 6 June 1992. While having a clear rock/metal focus, the festival is noted for its diversity across these genres, having featured southern rock bands such as Molly Hatchet to death metal legends like Obituary.The first...
. A small UK tour is booked for December.
Influence & legacy
Hawkwind have been cited as an influence by artists such as
Al JourgensenAlain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
of
MinistryMinistry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
,
Monster MagnetMonster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
, the
Sex PistolsThe Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
(who covered "
Silver MachineSilver Machine is a 1972 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single on 9 June 1972, reaching #3 on the UK singles chart. The single was re-issued in 1976, 1978 reaching #34 on the UK singles charts, and in 1983 reaching #67 on the UK singles charts...
"),
Henry RollinsHenry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ....
of
Black FlagBlack Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, and
Ozric TentaclesOzric Tentacles are an instrumental rock band from Somerset, England, whose music can loosely be described as psychedelic or space rock. Formed in 1983, the band has released 28 albums as of 2011, and become a cottage industry selling over a million albums worldwide despite never having major...
.
Discography
Studio albums
1970
HawkwindHawkwind is the self-titled debut album by Hawkwind, released in 1970, originally on Liberty Records.-Recording:Pretty Things guitarist Dick Taylor, who was looking for a new venture after leaving the band, was pulled into Hawkwind playing some gigs and producing this album...
1971
X In Search of Space
1972
Doremi Fasol LatidoDoremi Fasol Latido is the third studio album from Hawkwind, released in 1972. It reached #14 on the UK album charts.-New Members:The rhythm section of Dave Anderson and Terry Ollis was replaced by Lemmy and Simon King, both of whose style differed notably from their predecessors. This changed the...
1974
Hall of the Mountain GrillHall of the Mountain Grill is the fourth studio album by space rock band Hawkwind, released in 1974. It is regarded by many critics and fans as a career highlight.-Overview:...
1975
Warrior on the Edge of TimeWarrior on the Edge of Time is Hawkwind's fifth studio album. It reached #13 on the UK album charts and was their third and last album to make the US Billboard chart, where it peaked at #150...
1976
Astounding Sounds, Amazing MusicAstounding Sounds, Amazing Music is the sixth studio album by the British rock band Hawkwind, released in 1976. It reached #33 on the UK album charts....
1977
Quark, Strangeness and CharmQuark, Strangeness And Charm is the seventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1977. It spent 6 weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #30....
1978
25 Years OnHawklords is the eighth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1978. It released under the name Hawklords for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name "Hawkwind" at the time. It reached #48 on the UK album charts. It was originally titled 25 Years On and the first 25000 were...
— Hawklords
1979
PXR5PXR5 is the ninth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1979. It reached #59 on the UK album charts.-Overview:The album was recorded and mixed at Rockfield Studios in January and February 1978. "Uncle Sam's On Mars", "Robot" and "High Rise" were originally recorded on the preceding UK tour but were...
1980
LevitationLevitation is the tenth studio album by English rock group Hawkwind, released in 1980. It peaked at #21 on the UK Albums Chart.At the time of its release, band leader Dave Brock stated: "with Levitation we’ve come full circle back to the style of our debut album...
1981
Sonic AttackSonic Attack is the eleventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1981. It spent five weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #19....
1982
Church of HawkwindChurch of Hawkwind is the twelfth studio album by Hawkwind, released under the band name Church of Hawkwind in 1982. The name change reflects the fact that this was a musical departure for the band, being a more experimental electronic offering rather than the usual heavy rock that the band were...
1982
Choose Your MasquesChoose Your Masques is the thirteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1982. It spent five weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #29....
1985
The Chronicle of the Black Sword
1988
The Xenon Codex-External links:*...
1990
Space BanditsSpace Bandits is the sixteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1990. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #70....
1992
Electric TepeeElectric Tepee is the seventeenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1992. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #53....
1993
It Is the Business of the Future to Be DangerousIt Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous is the eighteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1993. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #75....
1995
White ZoneWhite Zone is the nineteenth studio album by Hawkwind released under the band name Psychedelic Warriors in 1995. The name change reflects the fact that this was a musical departure for the band, being a more experimental electronic offering rather than rock, the album is completely instrumental ...
— Psychedelic Warriors
1995
Alien 4Alien 4 is the twentieth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1995. At the end of 1994, with the group established as a three piece of guitarist Dave Brock, bassist Alan Davey and drummer Richard Chadwick, they felt they were lacking visually in terms of showmanship...
1997
Distant HorizonsDistant Horizons is the twenty-first studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1997.Towards the end of 1996, Jerry Richards, who had been contributing lead guitar to some live dates and recording sessions, joined the group permanently. Disatisfied with the musical direction...
1999
In Your AreaHawkwind in Your Area is the twenty-second live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.The live side was recorded during the group's 1997 tour to promote the Distant Horizons album...
— live and studio
2000
SpacebrockSpacebrock, is a studio album released by Hawkwind in 2000, although the lack of contributors suggests that it is in fact a Dave Brock solo album.-Track listing:#"Life Form" - 1:42 - previously released on PXR5...
— Dave Brock solo
2005
Take Me to Your LeaderTake Me To Your Leader is the twenty-third studio album by UK rock group Hawkwind. Released in 2005, it was their first studio album in 8 years. It featured guest appearances by Arthur Brown, Lene Lovich, the TV presenter Matthew Wright and past member Lemmy...
2006
Take Me to Your FutureTake Me to Your Future is a 2006 dual disc of new studio audio and archive live videos by Hawkwind.-Audio side:#"Uncle Sam’s on Mars" - 8:18 - new version...
2010
Blood of the EarthBlood of the Earth is the twenty-fourth studio album by the British space rock group Hawkwind, released in July 2010.Although it is a new studio album, there are some new versions of older songs...
Live albums
1973
Space RitualThe Space Ritual Alive in Liverpool and London is a 1973 live double album recorded in 1972 by UK rock band Hawkwind. It is their fourth album, reached #9 in the UK album charts and briefly dented the Billboard Top 200, peaking at #179....
1980
Live Seventy Nine
1986
Live ChroniclesLive Chronicles is a 1986 album by Hawkwind recorded of a live performance of their The Chronicle of the Black Sword concept album based on the Michael Moorcock character Elric of Melniboné.-Overview:...
1991
Palace SpringsPalace Springs is a 1991 live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.Although released in 1991, this album was recorded in 1989 prior to the previous album Space Bandits...
1994
The Business TripThe Business Trip is a 1994 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It was recorded during the group's 1992 tour to promote the It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous album....
1996
Love in SpaceLove in Space is a 1996 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It was recorded during the group's 1995 tour to promote the Alien 4 album.It was re-issued in 2009 with bonus tracks taken from the Love in Space EP.-CD1:...
1999
Hawkwind 1997Live 1997 is a 1998 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.It was recorded at various shows during the group's 1997 tour to promote the Distant Horizons album.-Track listing:...
2001
Yule RitualYule Ritual is a 2001 live album by Hawkwind.-Track listing:#"Electronic Intro" – 4:27#"Levitation" – 8:47#"Spacebrock" – 6:08#"Space Is Deep" – 5:45...
2002
Canterbury Fayre 2001Canterbury Fayre 2001 is a 2001 live album by Hawkwind.-Track listing:#"5th Second of Forever" – 3:52#"Levitation" – 9:18#"Spiral Galaxy" – 3:16...
2004
Spaced Out in LondonSpaced Out in London is a 2004 live album by Hawkwind of a 2002 gig.-Track listing:#"Earth Calling" #"Aerospaceage Inferno" #"Angels Of Death" #"Out Of The Shadows"...
2008
Knights of SpaceKnights of Space is a live album by Hawkwind recorded at their annual London Christmas gig at the Astoria on 19 December 2007 and released in August 2008...
Archive albums
1980
The Weird Tapes (1966–1983)
1983
The Text of FestivalThe Text of Festival is an archive album by Hawkwind consisting of BBC sessions and live performances between 1970 and 1971. It was originally released in 1983 after the band had exited their Active Records contract, and has continuously been repackaged and retitled ever since.The copyright of the...
(1970–1971)
1983
ZonesZones is an album by Hawkwind released in 1983 consisting of studio demos from 1981 and live performances between 1980 and 1982.The tracks on side 1 have been included on the 2009 3CD re-issue of Levitation in expanded form.-Side 1:...
(1980 and 1982)
1984
This Is Hawkwind, Do Not PanicThis is Hawkwind, Do Not Panic is a 1984 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. The album consisted of two discs: an LP which was recorded during the group's 1980 Levitation tour; and a 12" EP recorded on at their June 1984 appearance at the Stonehenge Free Festival.The group's...
(1980 and 1984)
1984
Bring Me the Head of Yuri GagarinBring Me the Head of Yuri Gagarin is an live album by English rock group Hawkwind released in 1985 consisting of a performance at the Empire Pool, Wembley on 27 May 1973.This is a poor sound quality audience recording licensed by Nik Turner...
(1973)
1984
Space Ritual Volume 2 (1972)
1985
Hawkwind AnthologyThe Hawkwind Anthology series of records were originally issued mid-1980s containing live and outtake material from Hawkwind's career to that date....
(1967–1982)
1987
Out & IntakeOut and Intake is a 1987 live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. The album is compiled from various sources: studio out-takes from 1982; live recordings from 1982's Choose Your Masques tour; studio out-takes from 1987. Dave Brock stated of the release that "it was bits and...
(1982 and 1986)
1991
BBC Radio 1 Live in ConcertBBC Radio One Live in Concert is a 1991 live album of a 1972 concert by Hawkwind."It was recorded straight to quarter inch tape - there were no overdubs and no possibility of remixing...
(1972)
1992
The Friday Rock Show SessionsThe Friday Rock Show Sessions is a 1992 live album release of Hawkwind's headline set at the Reading Festival, August 24, 1986.The set was recorded by the BBC and transmitted soon after on Tommy Vance's Friday Rock Show. The broadcast excluded performances of "Paradox", "Shade Gate", "Choose Your...
(1985)
1992
Hawklords Live (1978)
1992
California BrainstormCalifornia Brainstorm is a live album by the British space rock group Hawkwind, recorded during their North America tour in 1990, and released in 1992 in the USA on the Iloki label....
(1990)
1995
Undisclosed Files AddendumUndisclosed Files Addendum is a 1995 live album release by Hawkwind, composed of highlights from two concerts in 1984 and 1988.Tracks 7-11 were re-released in May 2010 as bonus tracks on The Xenon Codex.-Track listing:...
(1984 and 1988)
1997
The 1999 PartyThe '1999' Party is a live album by Hawkwind recorded at the Chicago Auditorium Theatre on 21 March 1974 released retrospectively in November 1997 by EMI. It was issued for the first time as part of EMI's re-releasing re-mastered versions of the Hawkwind back catalogue...
(1974)
1999
Glastonbury 90-Track listing:#"Black Elk Speaks" [listed as "Magic of the Earth"] – 1:05#"Angels of Death" – 6:06#"Golden Void" – 7:13#"Brainstorm" – 4:50#"The Door" – 2:57#"Ejection" – 5:53...
(1990)
1999
Choose Your Masques: Collectors Series Volume 2Choose Your Masques: Collectors Series Volume 2 is a 1999 live album release of part of a 1982 concert by Hawkwind. Recorded over both nights of the winter 1982 tour, at London's Hammersmith Odeon...
(1982)
1999
Complete '79: Collectors Series Volume 1 (1979)
2000
Atomhenge 76Atomhenge 76 is a 2000 live album release of part of a 1976 concert by Hawkwind.Part of this set was also issued in North America on a single CD as Thrilling Hawkwind Adventures .-Track listing:CD1...
(1976)
2002
Live 1990Live 1990 is a 2002 live album release of two 1990 concerts by Hawkwind.The first concert, making up CD1 and the first three tracks from CD2, was recorded on their Winter 1990 tour, 30 minutes of which had previously been issued in Italy as a CD accompanying the Never Ending Story of the...
(1990)
2008
Minneapolis, 4 October 1989 (1989)
2008
Reading University, 19 May 1992 (1992)
2009
Live '78 (1978)
Videography
- 1984 – Night of the Hawks – 60min concert
- 1984 – Stonehenge (Various Artists video)
Stonehenge [Various Artists] is a 1984 video release by Hawkwind, The Enid and Roy Harper.-Tracks lists:#Roy Harper - One Man Rock'n'Roll Band#Roy Harper - Commune#Roy Harper - I Hate The White Man#Roy Harper - Highway Blues...
– 60min concert with The EnidThe Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
and Roy HarperRoy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
- 1984 – Stonehenge - 60min concert
- 1985 – The Chronicle of the Black Sword – 60min concert
- 1986 – Bristol Custom Bike Show – 15min concert with Voodoo Child
- 1986 – Chaos - 60min concert
- 1989 – Treworgey Tree Fayre – 90min concert
- 1990 – Nottingham – 60min TV concert
- 1990 – Bournemouth Academy – 90min concert
- 1992 – Brixton Academy – 123min concert
- 1995 – Love in Space
Love in Space is a 1996 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It was recorded during the group's 1995 tour to promote the Alien 4 album.It was re-issued in 2009 with bonus tracks taken from the Love in Space EP.-CD1:...
– 90min concert
- 2002 – Out of the Shadows – 90min concert
- 2008 – Knights of Space
Knights of Space is a live album by Hawkwind recorded at their annual London Christmas gig at the Astoria on 19 December 2007 and released in August 2008...
– 90min concert
Remixes
- 1993 - Remixes - Spirit Of The Age - Solstice Mixes (4-Real Records, 4R1) 12" & CD single
- 1996 - Remixes - Future Reconstructions - Ritual Of The Solstice
Future Reconstructions - Ritual Of The Solstice is a 1996 album featuring remixes of Hawkwind tracks.-Track listing:vinyl#Sonic Destruction - The Advent#You Shouldn't Do That - Translucent#Master Of The Universe - Salt Tank...
(Emergency Broadcast System RecordsEmergency Broadcast System Records was a record label setup in UK in the early 1990s by Hawkwind and Doug Smith.-External links:* - full catalogue...
, EBS117) 2x12" & CD album
- 1999 - Remixes - Silver Machine - Infected By The Scourge Of The Earth
Epocheclipse is a 1999 compilation set by Hawkwind covering their entire career. It was released in two formats, a triple CD box set 30 Year Anthology and a single disc The Ultimate Best of....
(EMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, DECLIPSE1999) 12" & CD single
- 2000 - Remixes - The Hawkwind Remix Project
The Hawkwind Remix Project is a 2000 album featuring remixes of Hawkwind tracks.-Track listing:#Golden Void - Future Loop Foundation#Sonic Attack - John Avery#Brainstorm - Speedranch#Earth Ritual - Hawkwind...
(Unknown,WARLORD777CD) CD album
Members
- Dave Brock
David Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
– vocalsSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, electric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, keyboardsA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1969–present)
- Niall Hone – bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, electric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, sampling, synthesis and keyboards (2008–present)
- Tim Blake
Timothy 'Tim' Blake , keyboards, vocalist instrumentalist and composer with both Gong, and Hawkwind. Blake is best known for his Synthesizer and Light performances as Crystal Machine, with the French Light Artist Patrice Warrener...
– keyboards, vocals (1979–80; 2000–02; 2007–present)
- Richard Chadwick – drums
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals (1988–present)
- Mr Dibs – vocals, bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2007–present)
Quotation
Former member,
Nik TurnerNik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
, stated in 1972 -
NMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
- September 1972
Book references
Further reading
There are three biographies of Hawkwind.
- Kris Tait This is Hawkwind: Do Not Panic (1984, published by the band and now only available second hand)
- Ian Abrahams Sonic Assassins (Published by SAF publishing; ISBN 0-946719-69-1)
- Carol Clerk's Saga of Hawkwind (Publisher: Music Sales Limited ISBN 1-84449-101-3)
External links