Bands and musicians BANDS

Hawkwind

  1. Home
    2. >
  2. Bands and musicians
    3. >
  3. Hawkwind

At one time, I was a huge Hawkwind fan, having seen them some 37 times between 1976 and 1980, so it's only right that I should be the one to write this.

Hawkwind are a post flower-power psychedelic prog-rock band that would always turn up and play for an anti-establishment cause. They have never really been brilliant but have always been good, with the ironic exception of their best-known song, "Silver Machine" (pants sez me).

It was the live performance where they would come to life, a curious spectacle of special effects and electronica which often featured some of the cr?me de la cr?me of the Portobello Road underground; writers, lighting engineers, dancers and so on... Although it has to be said, if you can remember a Hawkwind gig, you weren't really there ? if you know what I mean ;-)

Recommended listening for those wishing to delve, "Quark", "Strangeness and Charm", "Hawklords" and "Space Ritual". Also look out for solo stuff, which is often better than Hawkwind's own material!

Suggest an update

Author of this article:



Contributors to this article:

  • There are no contributors yet

Message boards

Discuss Hawkwind on the message boards

Do You Remember Hawkwind?

Do You Remember Hawkwind?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    Saw Hawkwind many a time,they WERE great but changed their style a bit TOO much after about "Church of Hawkwind" era.Still listen to their earlier stuff.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    saw then at Harlow Town Park in the early 70s. Stacia had to keep her clothes on due to it being a free council gig. Excellent gig in the Space Ritual era. Saw again twice in the 1980s (St Albans and Dunstable) and again in 2008 at Preston. Still good, but now the crowd are not so obviously off their heads. Ecstacy is not as obvious as weed and acid. The excitement is gone.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    seen hawkwind for the first time 85 rock city notts,what i can remember ,fantastic ,but i think i had other thinks on my mind,lol,seen bob calvert at acid daze ,leeds starfighters ,a classic,seen hawkwind earlier this year still knocking out great sounds,something was missing ,but still apprieciated them.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I saw Hawkwind about 50 or so times between 1982 and 1990. Lucky enough to see them once with Lemmy but sadly never with my favourite frontman, the late Bob Calvert. The shows always varied wildly between spectacular, state-of-the-art effects and rather ropey affairs, depending on how much cash they had at the time. Stonehenge in 1984 was an awesome show. I was going to see them last month on their 40th anniversary tour, but there was so much negativity on various forums about the quality of the shows that I thought I'd better let my memories remain intact. I agree with the above recommendations and I'd probably also add 'Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music' to the list of stuff worth exploring. Bob Calvert and Nik Turner's solo works are worth a listen.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Seen Hawkwind live but unfortunately without Lemmy my hero Great band love silver machine

Do you remember these?