The Saga Of Hawkwind

[Foxbat]

The Saga Of Hawkwind

By Carol Clerk

I suppose the obvious question is – why do I waste my time writing a book review for a rock band on a Science Fiction and Fantasy site? Well my friend, if you need an answer to that question, you’ve obviously never heard the ‘Wind.

In the seventies, Hawkwind was the only band that I made an effort to see every single time they came to Edinburgh…..hell…it was an annual pilgrimage…….in fact, it was more than that…..it was my youth.

Close to 600 pages, this book covers the rise (and sometimes the fall) of all those characters and supernova imaginations that fell into the crucible to be crushed, melded and reshaped into the substance that became Hawkwind. From the drug addled days of busking, living rough and playing their first gigs as Group X to the heady peaks of purveyors of Science Fiction welded to audio generators, liquid light shows and mind blowing rock music that sent you spiralling towards the edge of time with its audio-visual feast.

Hawkwind became a craft in which the lovely Stacia could take off her clothes, paint her body and dance to the thrumming chords …….all for the sake of art. A corner of creativity where the late great Bob Calvert and his friend Michael Moorcock (yes the Michael Moorcock) collaborated frequently with the band to give us such classics as Sonic Attack and Seven By Seven. And it’s all here in this finely written and intriguing account of the spaced out band of very average musicians who proved that the sum of its parts can be a thing that transcends all obstacles.

So, if you are wondering what impressed Jimi Hendrix so much when he heard them, this book is a fine place to start. It’s all very Spinal Tap and a very entertaining read.

But after that, you really need to listen to the music
Recommended listening Hawkwind, X: In Search Of Space, Warrior On The Edge Of Time (warning – very rare on CD and very expensive), Space Ritual (one of the finest live albums ever).

[Ian Whates]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

The Saga Of Hawkwind

By Carol Clerk

But after that, you really need to listen to the music
Recommended listening Hawkwind, X: In Search Of Space, Warrior On The Edge Of Time (warning – very rare on CD and very expensive), Space Ritual (one of the finest live albums ever).

You forgot "In the Hall of the Mountain Grill"... and "Doremi Farsol Latido"!

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by Ian Whates

You forgot "In the Hall of the Mountain Grill"... and "Doremi Farsol Latido"!

I shall slap myself right now! How could I forget such classics?

[Who's Wee Dug]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I shall slap myself right now! How could I forget such classics?

Too much Whisky added to the Haggis methinks.

[Harpo]

I haven't got the special edition Space Ritual yet. Anyone have it? recommend it?

The ordinary' version is easily their best album, and one of the best live albums ever.

[j. d. worthington]

The problem with picking a "recommended listening" with Hawkwind is that they didn't stay still, as it were -- they experimented and changed their sound frequently, so it depends on what you're looking for. In addition to those mentioned above, I'd also suggest Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music; Quark, Strangeness, and Charm; Levitation; Choose Your Masques; and the Live Chronicles of the Black Sword (and possibly The Xenon Codex)... though I am particularly partial to Space Ritual, Doremi Fasol Latido, and Warrior on the Edge of Time.....

And thanks for the head's-up, Foxbat... I'll have to see if I can't track this down....