Hawkwind

[geordierussell]

Does anyone know how much of an influence Hawkwind have been on over the years?

The reason I ask is because I was just listening to Hawkwind - The Right To Decide, and couldn't believe how much is sounded like a Ginger/WH track. Actually would be a great track for the upcoming covers album

[lob]

Well one former Hawkwind member certainly has had an influence (I assume you mean on Ginger/Wildhearts as Hawkwind have influenced music in all sorts of ways, space rock, punk, jazz, rave etc) and that would be dear old Lemmy. As I am so old I can proudly boast that I first saw them in a field at the end of the CND march in 1972 for free. They were great up until the generator broke.

Anyway, Hawkwind were very influential but not always the best gig you ever went to, some members lacked the sense of purpose that Lemmy brought to the proceedings so when he left perhaps their preference for mind expanding chemicals, rather than pacier therapeutics he favours, made it that much harder for them to concentrate on a tune!

[my3dtvtan]

Ooh, Hawkwind!

Even though Im just 17, the one song that reminds me most of my 'childhood' is "Spirit Of the Age" by Hawkwind. I must have played it every single day between the ages of 6 and 11

Anyone whose not herd it just check out the lyrics - I seriously think you can get intoxicated just reading the words to this song...

"i would have like you
to have been
deep frozen too
and waiting still
as fresh in your flesh
for my return to earth
but your father refused
to sign the forms
to freeze you
let's see
you'd bee
about sixty now
and long dead
by the the time i return
to earth
my time held dreams
were full of you
as you were
when i left:
still under-age

your android replica
is playing up again
it's no joke
when she comes
she moans
another's name

that's the spirit of the age
(spirit of the age)
it's just the spirit of the age
(spirit of the age)
and that's the spirit of the age
(spirit of the age)
that is the spirit of the age

i am a clone
i am not alone
every fibre of my flesh
and bone
is identical to ther others'
everything i say
is in the same tone
as my test-tube brothers'
voice.
there is no choice
between us
if you had ever seen us
you'd rejoice
in your uniqueness
and consider every weakness
something special
of your own
being a clone
i have no flaws to identify
even this doggerel
that pours from my pen
has just been written by
another twenty
telepathic men
it says:
o for the wings
of any bird
other than a battery hen.

but that's the spirit of the age
(spirit of the age)"

Sorry, slight tanjent....

As far as influence, I remember a fantastic Hawkwind documentry on bbc 4 not long ago that has everything you could want to know about them and their music - Should be on Youtube or around the internet if you do a bit of searching...

Classic band. My dad used to tell me storys of following them arround the country on the tour van in the early days like they where some religious thing. I would have loved to have been arround then when music was a dangerous movement of expression (even if it was just the LSD speaking ) and risks that spoke to the openminded minority rather than the masses. I got a lotta good memorys that go with that band...

[Col]

First band I ever saw, somewhere around or prior to 1979

[jayvee]

The documentary is called "Hawkwind Do Not Panic" and was "upped" on UKnova a coupla weeks ago. I got a copy of it and it is very good - altho', Dave Brock refused to have anything to do with it, because of Nik Turners involvement.....

[jayvee]

First band I ever saw, somewhere around or prior to 1979

They were one of the first I saw too...in '83 or '84 (I think) at The Crystal Palace Bowl, supporting Dame Vera Lynne. Seriously..........

I've seen 'em dozens of times since, but, I'd never go again! As much as I love HW - they have been going through the motions as a live band for 10 years now (but, then Dave Brock is 66 now). Nik Turners "Space Ritual" are a much more enjoyable live band and are more HW sounding than HW...........