(Artist Report)

Written by: Jake Beach  

Hawkwind, the pioneering English rock band, has etched its name in music history as one of the earliest proponents of space rock since its inception in November 1969. With a dynamic lineup and a diverse sound, the band has seamlessly blended hard rock, progressive rock, and psychedelic rock throughout their careers. Often recognized as a seminal proto-punk group, Hawkwind's lyrical content frequently explores the intricacies of urban life and delves into the realms of science fiction, showcasing their innovative approach to music and storytelling. Their enduring influence on subsequent genres and artists solidifies their status as true underground legends.

Since its inception, Hawkwind has been a collaborative force in the music industry, engaging numerous musicians, dancers, and writers along their journey. Among the ensemble's notable members are Nik Turner, Huw Lloyd-Langton, Del Dettmar, Lemmy, Simon King, Robert Calvert, Simon House, and Ginger Baker. However, the band is predominantly identified with its founder, Dave Brock, who serves as the singer, songwriter, and guitarist. As the sole remaining original member, Brock's influence has shaped the band's identity over the decades.

Hawkwind rose to prominence with their hit single "Silver Machine," which captured the attention of UK audiences, reaching number three on the charts in 1972. The group continued to make waves in the music scene with additional top 40 singles, including "Urban Guerrilla" and "Shot Down in the Night." Over the years, their discography has proven remarkably successful, with 22 albums charting in the UK from 1971 to 1993 and another nine expected to follow between 2012 and 2024, solidifying their legacy in the rock genre.
In the heart of London's vibrant music scene, Dave Brock and Mick Slattery, former members of the psychedelic band Famous Cure, ventured into electronic music. Their collaboration solidified with bassist John Harrison and seventeen-year-old drummer Terry Ollis, who replied to a music ad.

Key figures from the psychedelic era, Nik Turner and Michael "Dik Mik" Davies, joined, providing support with transportation and equipment, which laid the foundation for an influential band.

Their chaotic debut at a talent night in Notting Hill saw them perform a 20-minute improvisation of the Byrds' "Eight Miles High," capturing the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel. Event organizer Douglas Smith soon signed them to Liberty Records, changing the name from "Group X" to "Hawkwind."

They recorded demos at Abbey Road Studios, including "Hurry on Sundown," featured in their debut album. After Slattery's departure, guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton joined, helping to shape Hawkwind's dynamic sound as they became pioneers in the psychedelic rock genre.

In 1970, Dick Taylor, the guitarist from the legendary band Pretty Things, took on the role of producer for Hawkwind's debut album. Although the record did not achieve commercial success, it did manage to capture the attention of the UK underground music scene. This exposure led the band to participate in free concerts, benefit performances, and various festivals.

Hawkwind, a fellow Ladbroke Grove band, encountered the Pink Fairies during the Bath Festival, leading to a creative collaboration known as "Pinkwind." However, heavy drug use within Hawkwind took a toll. Guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton left after a traumatic LSD experience at the Isle of Wight Festival, resulting in a nervous breakdown. Drummer Barry "Forge" Smith also departed, replaced briefly by Thomas Crimble, who contributed to several BBC sessions before leaving to help organize the first Glastonbury Free Festival.

Hawkwind's 1971 album In Search of Space marked a turning point for the band, achieving commercial success by reaching number 18 on the UK album charts. The album's image was shaped by graphic artist Barney Bubbles and writer Robert Calvert, with contributions from science fiction author Michael Moorcock and dancer Stacia. Sound engineer Del Dettmar rejoined, adding two electronic players, while bassist Dave Anderson and drummer Ollis left due to tensions over the band's direction.

The early 1970s saw the addition of bassist Lemmy Kilmister and drummer Simon King. This was highlighted by a landmark performance on February 13, 1972, at The Roundhouse, which led to the live album Greasy Truckers Party and the hit single "Silver Machine." This success financed their next album, Doremi Fasol Latido, and the Space Ritual tour, which featured elaborate performances and visuals.

In 1973, the single "Urban Guerrilla" reached number 39 but faced BBC censorship due to an IRA bombing campaign. The band experienced lineup changes, with guitarist Dik Mik leaving and frontman Calvert focusing on solo work. Keyboardist Simon House joined, but complications arose when Lemmy was arrested for possession of amphetamines, leading to the cancellation of shows. Disillusioned with Lemmy's behaviour, the band dismissed him, prompting him to form Motörhead with former Pink Fairies guitarist Larry Wallis.
In August 1975, Bob Calvert rejoined Hawkwind as lead vocalist after a guest appearance at the Reading Festival. His return coincided with the departure of dancer Stacia, who opted for family life. The band transitioned to Tony Stratton-Smith's Charisma Records and changed management to Tony Howard.

Their first release in this era, Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music, was followed by the "Back on the Streets" single, which led to the dismissal of drummer Turner due to inconsistent performances. Guitarist Powell was deemed unnecessary, and Rudolph was let go after disagreements about the band's musical direction.

In 1977, Ade Shaw joined the lineup for Quark, Strangeness and Charm. However, Calvert's mental health issues began affecting the band, leading to the abandonment of a European tour and prompting Brock to contemplate disbanding. Although they recorded PXR5 in January 1978, its release was delayed until 1979.

On December 23, 1977, Brock and Calvert performed with the Devon band Ark as Sonic Assassins. This led to the recruitment of bassist Harvey Bainbridge and drummer Martin Griffin, along with keyboardist Steve Swindells, in 1978. The new project, Hawklords, recorded 25 Years On on a farm in Devon.

During recordings, drummer King left the project, while violinist House opted to stay with David Bowie's tour. After their UK tour, Calvert dismissed Griffin to bring King back, ultimately resigning himself to pursue a writing career. Swindells soon departed to record a solo album after receiving an offer from ATCO.

In late 1979, Hawkwind reformed with Brock, Bainbridge, and King, joined by Huw Lloyd-Langton and Tim Blake. They debuted at the first Futurama festival on September 9 in Leeds and went on a UK tour despite lacking a record deal. Their performances led to a contract with Bronze Records, resulting in the live album Live Seventy Nine and the studio album Levitation. During the recording of Levitation, King left, and Ginger Baker joined, staying on for the tour as Blake departed, with Keith Hale replacing him.

By 1981, Baker and Hale had left after their request to dismiss Bainbridge had been ignored. Brock and Bainbridge began managing synthesizers, bringing back drummer Griffin from the Hawklords. They recorded three albums for RCA/Active: Sonic Attack, Church of Hawkwind, and Choose Your Masques, featuring Moorcock. This lineup headlined the 1981 Glastonbury Festival and played at the 1982 Donington Monsters of Rock.

In the early '80s, frustrated with drummers, Brock saw a series of members come and go, including Griffin, King, Andy Anderson, and Robert Heaton. Rick Martinez joined for the Earth Ritual tour but was replaced by Clive Deamer. Turner returned as a permanent member, but neither he nor keyboardist Phil "Dead Fred" Reeves appeared on 1983-84's The Earth Ritual Preview, which featured a guest spot from Lemmy.

Alan Davey, a young fan, replaced Reeves after sending Brock a demo. This experimental lineup played at the Stonehenge Free Festival in 1984. Tensions between Brock and Turner led to Turner's exit in 1985. Deamer, considered "too professional," was eventually replaced by Danny Thompson Jr., a friend of Davey.

Hawkwind's collaboration with Moorcock peaked with The Chronicle of the Black Sword, based on the Elric series featuring Tony Crerar. The tour resulted in the album Live Chronicles and the video The Chronicle of the Black Sword. They also performed at the Worldcon in Brighton. On August 24, 1985, they played at Crystal Palace Bowl for a benefit concert for Pete Townshend's anti-heroin charity, where Lemmy and Stacia reunited with the band, and the show closed with Vera Lynn.

Hawkwind made a notable comeback in 1986 with a headline performance at the Reading Festival. This was followed by a UK tour for their album Live Chronicles, later released as Chaos. Internal struggles arose soon after, leading to the departure of key members Lloyd-Langton and Thompson post-The Xenon Codex in 1988.

Drummer Richard Chadwick joined that summer, replacing temporary drummer Mick Kirton. Violinist House rejoined in 1989 as the band toured North America for the first time in over a decade, though he was absent during the tour. Bridget Wishart became the band's first female vocalist, releasing two albums: Space Bandits (1990) and Palace Springs (1991).

Another North American tour in 1990 aimed to revitalize their US presence, but ex-member Nik Turner's simultaneous tour complicated matters. In 1991, Steve Bemand filled in for Dave Brock during a European tour of 24 dates. By the year's end, Bainbridge, House, and Wishart left, leading to a trio formation that created the albums Electric Tepee and It is the Business of the Future to be Dangerous.

Hawkwind expressed concerns about techno music's facelessness, enlisting Ron Tree as the new frontman for Alien 4. In 1996, bassist Davey departed, prompting Tree to take on bass while Jerry Richards joined as lead guitarist.

In 2000, a reunion event, Hawkestra, celebrated the band's 30th anniversary, featuring around 20 past and present members. Despite logistical challenges and disputes over finances, this reunion solidified a core band structure and helped secure Hawkwind's legacy in rock history. Despite Nurmous's lineup changes, Hawkwind continues to be prolific, releasing 14 studio albums since 2000 and numerous live albums. They continue to attract a dedicated following and will always be considered the kings of the psychedelic rock underground.

My colleagues at Soundwave Music Media and I remain committed to delivering comprehensive rock music reports to our audience. We encourage you to support our initiative by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and engaging with our sponsors. Your support is invaluable as we continue our mission to bring you the best in rock music coverage. Stay tuned for our next update.

ATTENTION ALL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS!

If you're passionate about your music and you're ready to take your career to the next level, you need to reading this. In today's world, getting your music out there isn't just a dream; it's a reality. You don't need a big record label holding you back. You need freedom, control, and the tools to succeed. Soundwave Music Media has a special deal just for you. Use this link and code below to receive  20% off your DistroKid membership. Get your music out there and you maybe the next artist we report on.