The eminence of Hawkwind

There's the famous story of Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, the son of a Vicar - who also formed a band called The Rockin' Vicars. He started as a roadie - for Jimi Hendrix, and got his nickname because he was hooked on fruit machines and was always asking to borrow money for the next spin, ie; "Lemmy a fiver..."

He was left behind by Hawkwind when he got busted for possessing speed on the road - a bit harsh, given Hawkwind's reputation, but this is a whirlwind trek through his story, missing out all the detail

Lemmy then met up with guys from the Pink Fairies, who were on the same circuits as Hawkwind - teaming up for gigs called "Pink Wind". The offspring of this meeting could have taken the thunder out of the entire punk rock "movement" - check out "On Parole". Made pre-punk in 1975, it's the world-changing album that never was.

The band that arose from the ashes of the early Motorhead, ie Lemmy and some new band members, wrote the rule book for heavy metal proper - not the prim, preening made-up glammy hair rock, but loud, greasy, obnoxious, smoking, drinking, rock of the street - or, more accurately, the road.

Lemmy-era Hawkwind has plenty of that attitude, and Hawkwind have always been the stalwarts of the "great" Free festivals - early Glastonbury, Stonehenge - and I believe they performed for "free" outside of the major festivals, like I-O-W. I say "free", because they always passed round a colloection bucket for "donations". Most of the buckets I saw contained enough "donations" to keep an elephant tripped out for a month

Hawkwind are unique, and one of the greats alright

Hawkwind are amazing and still going strong too, I saw them on their last tour in May this year and although the stage show was a little downgraded from their hey day they still rocked!

Hawkwind is surely a unique band, as they play EVERYTHING in the span of Rock. Many good people keep them responsable for the beginning of Punk Rock. Warriors Of the Edge Of Time, Levitation, Master Of the Universe, Space Ritual and many other albums have a dear place in my collection.

________

Lunar

Certif1ed wrote: There's the famous story of Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, the son of a Vicar - who also formed a band called The Rockin' Vicars. He started as a roadie - for Jimi Hendrix, and got his nickname because he was hooked on fruit machines and was always asking to borrow money for the next spin, ie; "Lemmy a fiver..." He was left behind by Hawkwind when he got busted for possessing speed on the road - a bit harsh, given Hawkwind's reputation, but this is a whirlwind trek through his story, missing out all the detail Lemmy then met up with guys from the Pink Fairies, who were on the same circuits as Hawkwind - teaming up for gigs called "Pink Wind". The offspring of this meeting could have taken the thunder out of the entire punk rock "movement" - check out "On Parole". Made pre-punk in 1975, it's the world-changing album that never was. The band that arose from the ashes of the early Motorhead, ie Lemmy and some new band members, wrote the rule book for heavy metal proper - not the prim, preening made-up glammy hair rock, but loud, greasy, obnoxious, smoking, drinking, rock of the street - or, more accurately, the road. Lemmy-era Hawkwind has plenty of that attitude, and Hawkwind have always been the stalwarts of the "great" Free festivals - early Glastonbury, Stonehenge - and I believe they performed for "free" outside of the major festivals, like I-O-W. I say "free", because they always passed round a colloection bucket for "donations". Most of the buckets I saw contained enough "donations" to keep an elephant tripped out for a month Hawkwind are unique, and one of the greats alright

Actually Lemmy wasn't Jimmy's roadie... He was Keith Emerson's roadie with the Nice... but they were on the Jimmy Hendrix tour...  Lemmy is also the one who started Keith Emerson with the knife stabbing the organ bit...  Keith was using Lemmy's anitque Hitler youth daggers..

I have to say that Hawkwind was pretty punk... pretty crazy.. and not as much fun after Simon King left...

But atleast they are still around today..in one form or another and still give one heck of a Christmas bash at the Astoria in London every year....

Psychwarlord wrote: As you can tell by my screen name, I am a huge fan.  While I hold Gong and Magma to be the pinnacle of "prog rock," I believe Hawkwind to be the most enduring and admirable underground rock band of all time.

Hi and welcome!

Always a pleasure to hear from other Hawkfans

I've been into the Hawks for about 20 years or so, They are a classic alternative band, and should be credited as such alot more than they are. They were musical terrorists, and were treated as such in about 1973 when they released their single 'Urban Guerilla' right in the middle of an IRA bombing campaign  Saxophonist, Nik Turner said the bomb squad raided his house taring up his floor boards looking for explosives. The record was pulled and commercially things plummeted, and the Hawks returned to the underground.

One of their best eras, for me was with Rob Calvert in the mid seventies. After Lemmys sacking, the band changed direction with Calvert at the helm. He tried to revolutionise their sound, with better production, and better musicianship. He banned cannabis from the recording studio for the recording of 'Astounding Sounds Amazing music' in 1976. He was not popular. The band ditched Calvert whilst on tour in France, leaving him stranded at a rural petrol station with no money and a very poor grasp of French. He made it to Paris where he busked for his fare home. He eventually left in 1979 after 'PXR5' was released, another brilliant album.

Without Calvert the Hawks did have some success. Ex Cream drummer Ginger Baker joined, and the brilliant 'Levitation' album was released in 1980. A few good albums followed, 'Sonic attack' and 'The Chronicle of the Blacksword' but there also followed alot of dross. The Hawks have over 120 albums to their name, including compilations, live albums and bootlegs. Some good, some not so good. Tommy Vance, on Radio 1, once described them as a 'British institution' who were good even when they were crap. That about sums it up as far as I'm concerned.

Liege wrote: I would love to see the 'wind live, they had/have a really great sound. I really dig the 'Master of the Universe' sound.

G'day Liege..

I've no idea how many times I've seen the Hawks play (never heard them called "the 'wind" before) but I can tell you this: They're always either brilliant or utter crap, never mediocre, and (paradoxically) consistantly superb.

Best seen in their natural habitat, ie. a hot muddy moonlit field on midsummers eve somewhere on Salisbury Plain; and through a haze of blue, sweet, aromatic smoke. 

SPACE RITUAL

DOREMI FASOL LATIDO

LEVITATION

Note; None of Hawkwind's albums are strictly proggy - they're more the utlimate psychedelic space-jam rock band - but the three I've listed above will give you the best "taste" of the mighty 'Wind. Actually, you could probably substitute "Doremi..." with "Warrior On the Edge of Time", or possible "Hall of the Mountain Grill" - all 3 are brilliant as they feature the meandering bass of Lemmy. I would also say that if you like "Levitation", then "Sonic Attack" and "Chronicles of the Black Sword" may be right up your street.

You'll also be relieved to know that Hawkwind never made any "stinky good selling popish albums" - they never sold out