Originally perceived as a “people’s band”, regularly playing free concerts and festivals, Hawkwind were the first outfit to commit themselves completely and permanently to science-fiction subject matter, with music swamped in spacey synthesizer sounds and albums bearing titles such as In Search of Space (1971) and Space Ritual (1973).
After playing for a few years around the British circuit, Hawkwind made the Top 20 with their single Silver Machine (1972).
Their albums were barely coherent celebrations of acid, space flight, time travel, Marvel comics and UFO culture while their live shows were loud, raucous assaults that made full use of electronically generated sounds, pre-recorded tapes, light shows and, of course, Stacia – their amply-endowed stripper.
Hawkwind’s lyrics were liberally sprinkled with androids, time machines, and aliens, so it was perhaps no surprise that they forged a lengthy professional association with science fiction/fantasy author Michael Moorcock.
When Lemmy was sacked from Hawkwind in 1975 while in prison in Canada on drugs charges, he went on to form Motörhead.
Repairing to his Devon farm in 1978, leader Dave Brock and frontman Robert Calvert jettisoned line-up and management to create a new musical identity. The result was Hawklords, an outfit inspired by the nihilism of punk.
In late 1979, Hawkwind reformed with Brock, Bainbridge and King being joined by Huw Lloyd-Langton (who had played on the debut album) and Tim Blake (formerly of Gong).
DaveBrock Guitar, keyboards, vocals Robert Calvert Vocals Nik Turner
Flute, sax, vocals Huw Lloyd-Langton Guitar John Harrison Bass Terry Ollis Drums Dik Mik Audio generator, synthesizers Thomas Crimble Bass DelDettmar Oscillators, synthesizers Dave Anderson Bass Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister Bass, vocals Simon King Drums Stacia
Dancer Alan Powell Drums Paul Rudolph Bass, guitar Adrian Shaw Bass Paul Hayles Keyboards Tim Blake Keyboards Ginger Baker Drums Martin Griffin Drums Keith Hale Keyboards Alan Davey Bass, vocals Clive Deamer Drums
Danny Thompson Drums
Simon House Violin, keyboards
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