Hawkwind

Hawkwind was the seminal British 1970s acid-rock band. An unrepentant bunch of hippies, their music is fundamentally driving psychedelic rock, cosmic orchestral pieces and even some humorous dance music. Their music usually deals with urban and science fiction themes.

Formed in the summer of 1969 as Hawkwind Zoo, they were offered a record deal by [Liberty Records]? in November of that year and immediately shortened the band name to Hawkwind. Their live performances quickly gathered them a cult following, and their second album [/In Search of Space]? was very successful.

They achieved chart status with the release of the single [/Silver Machine]? in 1972. Their follow up single [/Urban Guerilla]? had to be widthdrawn after increased terrorist activity by the Provisional IRA.

Hawkwind have had a long-standing connection with the [Stonehenge free festival]?, which was considered such a cultural threat that Margaret Thatcher sought to close it down in 1988.

On October 21 2000 the Hawkestra, a band formed by virtually all former members of Hawkwind, played at the [Brixton Academy]?.

Over the years they have had many line-up changes, however [Dave Brock]? has been at the heart of the band since they formed. Other members have included Lemmy? (who went on to front Motorhead?), [Nik Turner]?, [Harvey Bainbridge]?, [Del Dettmar]?, [Hugh Lloyd-Langton]? and Robert Calvert.

Also Hawkwind have been known for giving credit to non-musician members of their crew, such as [Liquid Len]?, a lighting engineer, and Stacia?, a dancer.

The science fiction writer Michael Moorcock has a long association with the band. One of Hawkwind's albums [/Chronicle of the Black Sword]? was based largely on his Elric? book series.

Hawkwind should be credited with the genesis of Lemmy's Motorhead [speed metal]? style of music.

List of Original Albums

People are recommend to buy the original albums and avoid the repackaged greatest hits. Fortunately these albums are starting to be re-released on CD.

The [/Space Ritual]? concept album and [/Warrior on the Edge of Time]? in particular are representative of Hawkwind's style at the peak of their success. Their 1980s work is well represented by /Levitation? and [/Chronicle of the Black Sword]?.

The 1990s saw the band moving towards a world music approach.

Year Title

• 1970 /Hawkwind?
• 1971 [/In Search of Space]?
• 1972 [/Doremi Fasol Latido]?
• 1973 [/Space Ritual]?
• 1974 [/Hall of the Mountain Grill]?
• 1975 [/Warrior on the Edge of Time]?
• 1976 [/Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music]?
• 1976 /Roadhawks?
• 1977 [/Quark, Strangeness and Charm]?
• 1978 [/25 Years On]?
• 1979 /PXR5?
• 1980 [/Live Seventy-Nine]?
• 1980 /Levitation?
• 1981 [/Sonic Attack]?
• 1982 [/Church of Hawkwind]?
• 1982 [/Choose Your Masques]?
• 1983 /Zones?
• 1984 [[/Stonehenge? / Do Not Panic]]
• 1985 [/Chronicle of the Black Sword]?
• 1986 [/Live Chronicles]?
• 1987 [/Out and Intake]?
• 1988 [/The Xenon Codex]?
• 1990 [/Space Bandits]?
• 1991 [/Palace Springs]?
• 1992 [/Electric Tepee]?
• 1993 [/It is the Business of the Future to be Dangerous]?
• 1994 [/The Business Trip]?
• 1995 [/Alien 4]?
• 1996 [/Love in Space]?
• 1997 [/The 1999 Party]?
• 1997 [/Distant Horizons]?
• 1999 [/In Your Area]?
• 2000 /Spacebrock?
• 2001 [/Yule Ritual]?

External links:

• [Hawkwind Mission Control] - The Official Band Website
• [Scot Heller's Review of the Hawkestra Concert]