Sonic Assassins
Encyclopedia
Sonic Assassins were a UK band formed in 1977, composed of members from Hawkwind
and local Devon
band Ark.
(vocals) and Dave Brock
(guitar) were living in Devon towards the end of 1977 and had befriended local band Ark, who had often supported Hawkwind at some of their West Country
gigs. Brock and Calvert instigated the formation of the Sonic Assassins with Ark members Harvey Bainbridge
(bass), Paul Hayles (keyboards) and Martin Griffin (drums). The name Sonic Assassins had originally been coined by Michael Moorcock
to describe Hawkwind.
Queens Hall on December 23, 1977, with a day of overdubs being added some time later at Griffin's studio. During the rehearsals in the run-up to the gig, it was uncertain whether Calvert would be taking part and the set on the night deviated from the one Calvert was expecting which resulted in some improvisations from the front man, as can be heard on "Over The Top" when he expected the band to launch into a version of "Master of the Universe". The set was to be released as an album, but it was eventually released only on various EPs and compilations:
left to join a David Bowie
tour and Paul Hayles filled in as his replacement. On returning to the UK, Hawkwind were dissolved and resurrected as the Hawklords, with Bainbridge and Griffin forming the rhythm section.
"Death Trap" was recorded a month later for Hawkwind's PXR5
album, while "Free Fall" was recorded for the Hawklords' 1978 25 Years On
album. Although "Angels of Life" has a "We're angels of life, we're angels of death" vocal, it bears no musical similarity to the "Angels of Death
" song from the 1981 Hawkwind album Sonic Attack
.
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
and local Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
band Ark.
Formation
Hawkwind main writers Robert CalvertRobert Calvert
Robert 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...
(vocals) and Dave Brock
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...
(guitar) were living in Devon towards the end of 1977 and had befriended local band Ark, who had often supported Hawkwind at some of their West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
gigs. Brock and Calvert instigated the formation of the Sonic Assassins with Ark members Harvey Bainbridge
Harvey Bainbridge
Harvey Frederick Bainbridge is an English bass and keyboard player. He is best known as the bass player and keyboard player in Hawkwind....
(bass), Paul Hayles (keyboards) and Martin Griffin (drums). The name Sonic Assassins had originally been coined by Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
to describe Hawkwind.
Recording
This band played one gig, at the BarnstapleBarnstaple
Barnstaple 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...
Queens Hall on December 23, 1977, with a day of overdubs being added some time later at Griffin's studio. During the rehearsals in the run-up to the gig, it was uncertain whether Calvert would be taking part and the set on the night deviated from the one Calvert was expecting which resulted in some improvisations from the front man, as can be heard on "Over The Top" when he expected the band to launch into a version of "Master of the Universe". The set was to be released as an album, but it was eventually released only on various EPs and compilations:
- "Over The Top" (Calvert/Brock) 7:53 — from The Weird Tapes Volume 1 and Sonic Assassins EP
- "Magnu" / "Angels of Life" (Brock) 4:23 — from The Weird Tapes Volumes 1 and Hawkwind AnthologyHawkwind AnthologyThe Hawkwind Anthology series of records were originally issued mid-1980s containing live and outtake material from Hawkwind's career to that date....
- "Free Fall" (Calvert/Bainbridge) 7:54 — from The Weird Tapes Volumes 1 and Sonic Assassins EP
- "Death Trap" (Calvert/Brock) 4:30 — from The Weird Tapes Volumes 1 and Sonic Assassins EP
- "The Golden Void" (Brock) 4:43 — from Hawkwind, Friends and RelationsHawkwind, Friends and RelationsThe Hawkwind, Friends and Relations series of albums was released in the early 1980s containing live and studio performances by Hawkwind and related bands....
Volume 1 and The Best Of...
Post
During Hawkwind's tour of the USA in early 1978, Simon HouseSimon House
Simon 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...
left to join a David Bowie
David Bowie
David 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 and Paul Hayles filled in as his replacement. On returning to the UK, Hawkwind were dissolved and resurrected as the Hawklords, with Bainbridge and Griffin forming the rhythm section.
"Death Trap" was recorded a month later for Hawkwind's PXR5
PXR5
PXR5 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...
album, while "Free Fall" was recorded for the Hawklords' 1978 25 Years On
25 Years On
Hawklords 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...
album. Although "Angels of Life" has a "We're angels of life, we're angels of death" vocal, it bears no musical similarity to the "Angels of Death
Angels of Death (single)
Angels of Death is a 1981 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single in the UK on 18 October 1981, being an edit from the one on the album Sonic Attack....
" song from the 1981 Hawkwind album Sonic Attack
Sonic Attack (album)
Sonic 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....
.