HAWKWIND - SONIC ASSASSINS
BY IAN ABRAHAMS
THE REVIEW
I'm sure they'll be few regular visitors to the museum who were not well aware of this publication in the last few months as I've been actively promoting, both via the site, part of which was with an exclusive interview with the author but also I handed out flyers for the book at a couple of Hawkwind's spring tour dates. However other than being privy to to seeing one chapter well in advance of publication and also having a couple of longish chats with Ian over the phone I really had no more idea of what to expect from this project than the rest of you until my copy arrived last week. In the intervening time I've had a chance to read it and below are my thoughts.
First off and purely from a cosmetic point of view it's a finely produced book and for this full credit should go to the publishers SAF, it's hard backed and well bound, it could be me as I predominantly read paperbacks but also the pages have a feel of real luxury to them as though a superior grade of paper has been used in the production. There's no "blurb" on the cover, to the rear is a picture of Dave and Lemmy on what looks like one of Mr Kilmisters not infrequent guest appearances with the band whilst the front depicts the well known Pete Pracownik painting that been doing the rounds . Personally speaking I'd have liked to have seen something else for no other reason than it's really not my kind of thing (the whole sci-fi fantasy art work trip) but I wouldn't mind betting that I'm in a minority as far as that's concerned so I can understand it's inclusion. Pictures feature heavily throughout the book but rather than "bundled" into one or two sections they appear regularly on pages of text. Again it's only my preference but I prefer the grouped together format so as I can study them separately from the written work. I realise that these points might come across as a bit "nit picky" but seeing as reviews so far have been a bit few and far between and on this occasion I've managed to sneak in before fellow web master Steve Starfarer so I really want to do an in depth job!
Now appearances are fine and in some cases deceptive so I'm sure what most folks want to know is what's the book actually like. Well I for one found it a pretty enjoyable read. As you would expect it's basically the story of the band from it's very beginnings, and for Brock and Turner a bit before that right up until now and indeed the future as it mentions the yet to be released "Take Me To Your Leader" album which I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping sees the light of day sooner rather than later. The first half of the book covers the same period of time that made up Kris Tait's 1984 publication, "This Is Hawkwind Do Not Panic" and so for people who've already read that this part part of the story will be more familiar to them. That said it's in no way a facsimile of that aforementioned book as not only has Ian managed to speak to a lot more of those characters from the early years with Dave Anderson, Thomas Crimble, Del Dettmar and Mick Slattery all getting the chance to go "on the record" with their interpretation of events as well as the likes of Brock, Turner and Lloyd Langton who also played pivotal roles in the bands early days, but he's also managed to research additional information that also adds to what was in Kris's book. It's also no bad thing that on occasions the same ground is covered, without giving anything away, Tim Blakes account of his leaving the band does differ somewhat to what has for many years been considered the definitive explanation that's done the rounds, and whilst the basic scenario remains intact you can now for the first time see the awful predicament that Tim was in.
For me though the book really comes into it's own when Ian starts charting the ground that "Do Not Panic" couldn't, i.e - from the early 80's onwards, a period of some 20 plus years that up till now has not been documented. Well fear not as Ian's more than put that right with a detailed account of the bands later years, although all that said I'd have been more than happy for the book to have another 100 page from this era as it's the time that I've followed the band as a fan.
One thing I've noticed from the huge number of articles that I've transcribed for the site is how much writers, journalists call them what you like, like to hear the sound of their own voices. Often I'll be copying a piece for inclusion only to find in reality that a full page article is made up from 3 or 4 quotes from the band themselves, the rest of it is often frankly irrelevant stuff that shows how supposedly articulate the journo is but in reality is nothing more than a way of padding out the piece to an acceptable length for the publication. This is however something that Ian certainly cannot be accused of doing as he really lets the text breath (see, even I can write this pompous rubbish!) and allows those who are telling the story to do just that. Often I find that his job is to tie all the pieces together and move the tale on to it's next logical destination and I for one really like this approach, it also allows those involved, the band members to see things from slightly and sometimes very different perspectives but at the end leaves it up to the reader to make their own minds up regarding who's right and wrong in any particular instance and as we all know none of us are either 100% right or 100% wrong all of the time.
A couple of my favourite parts of the book are right towards it's end, the coverage of the Hawkestra gig makes for fascinating reading with plenty of less than complementary views regarding this show and also some interesting insight into some of the different characters involved and the way they approach the lifestyle that we call "rock 'n' roll" and obviously no book on Hawkwind would be complete without arguably the two biggest personalities in the band - Brock and Turner ( and no I haven't forgotten Lemmy but he actually left nearly 30 years ago and sometimes I feel his contribution as important as it is has been blown out of proportion over time ) having their say on each other, and I think it's fair to say many will be surprised about their thoughts on their opposite number as the book comes to an end. Don't expect a reunion anytime soon, personally I don't think they will grace the same stage together ever again but you do get the impression that if you could in some way take Hawkwind completely out of the equation there's every chance the two of them could actually still get on.
So in conclusion I'd say that as a Hawkwind fan you MUST own a copy of this book and whilst I've had an albeit very slight involvement in this publication I've tried to be constructive with this review. I think the thing we all have to understand that Ian took on an extremely big project when he decided to undertake the writing of this book. Hawkwind are unique, in more ways than one! few bands have lasted the 30 plus years that the Hawks have and for most of that period they've been active in some shape or form and even fewer have had as many members over such a period of time. But if I can be critical it's that I feel that at times a lot of the material is skimmed over and I for one would have happily received a 500 page book that went into further detail. However I will counter balance that by saying that it is very readable not only for the hard core amongst us but also the rock fan in general who enjoys music biographies and I think from a commercial point of view this is something that has to be taken into account. Sometimes I think it's really hard for someone like myself to be totally objective about these things. Since starting the museum over 18 months ago I've gained so much knowledge and insight into the band that I often end up living and breathing Hawkwind and sometimes this can blur your judgement.
Anyway I really need to bring this to an end, hopefully those of you who haven't read or ordered the book yet this this will be useful and for those who have already done so I'm sure you my have some opinions on both what I've had to say and also the book in general so if you'd like to drop us a line then as always please feel free to
GOOD FRIEND OF THE MUSEUM, AND IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT CONTRIBUTOR OF MANY A FINE PICTURE TO SAID PUBLICATION, OZ HARDWICK HAS HIS SAY
‘It’s a bit out of date, but volume II will follow soon.’ I read these words early in the morning of what looks like 17th February 1984, according to the train ticket that’s still slipped inside my copy of Kris Tait’s This is Hawkwind: Do Not Panic. I’d picked it up at a gig in Birmingham, after which I’d spent the night reading it on the station as I waited for the first morning train. Well, the train came but volume II didn’t, so here we are some twenty years later with Ian Abrahams taking up the challenge. And a challenge it is, with a couple more decades of the increasingly complex tapestry to unravel. Kris’ book ended on a neat note of unity, with Moorcock, Turner & Calvert all showing up for a triumphant blast at the close of 1981’s Sonic Attack tour… but a lot has happened since then. Is Ian brave or foolish to take on such a task? You decide.
Kris, of course, has been at the heart of the Hawkwind crew for a long time, which undoubtedly gives her account the ‘official’ stamp. Whilst this may at first suggest that the new book is less authoritative, Ian has in fact turned his outsider status to advantage. For whilst he is undoubtedly a fan, he has no particular viewpoint to push, and thus can offer a broader and perhaps more objective view. The aforementioned Sonic Attack finale, for example – which occurs mid-way through the new book – is less idealised, filling in details of Nik’s antipathy to the occasion and the now legendary account of Bob and Mike’s scuffle in the wings.
Aside from revealing the bigger picture, Ian is also able to reveal that there is, in fact, no single picture, with participants sometimes recalling events in strikingly different ways. This is done by the author taking a back seat and allowing his subjects – diligently researched from major players to minor observers – to tell their own stories. Tim Blake’s dismissal, for example, seen in the pages of Do Not Panic as solely due to his unreasonable behaviour, can be taken in a much different light once he is able to explain his personal circumstances of the time. And this difference between participants’ views is perhaps the key to the magnitude of the task that Ian has undertaken. For in a way there is not just one Hawkwind, but many – not only in terms of differeing line-ups and styles (Acid Hawkwind, Prog Hawkwind, Metal Hawkwind, Trance Hawkwind… even Pop Hawkwind), but also in the visions of the individuals involved.
This multiplicity, of course, is nowhere more prominent than in the schism that has arisen in recent years between the Brock camp and the Turner camp, which has even had a divisive influence amongst many fans. It is to Ian’s credit that at the close of the book I still don’t know to which faction – if either – he adheres. Instead, he gives both Dave and Nick their own space to express themselves. In so doing, what emerges for the reader, beyond the rumours and lawsuits, is a picture of two men for whom Hawkwind still matters. The disagreements seem to be less about money, as frequently cited, and much more about the commitment and passion of two men who still care; a commitment and passion that has been responsible for both triumphs and disasters, but which has kept the band and its offshoots running into their fifth decade.
And as with the band, so with the fans. Hawkwind can be both inspiring and, on occasions, infuriating – a fact which Ian does not dodge in his assessment of Distant Horizons or the ‘Hawkestra’, for example. Yet I think we’d all go along with his conclusion that there is still ‘a relevance and a need for a band like Hawkwind’… whichever Hawkwind this may be. And, in spite of the magnitude (some may say impossibility) of the task, this book does justice to the prismatic, sometimes even fractured, entity that is Hawkwind. A few quibbles aside – most seriously the spanner being once again heaved into the works regarding Lemmy’s surname – this is a fine volume. Solidly bound in a beautiful jacket by Pete Pracownik (himself pictured with Nik in an early photo inside), this boasts a host of previously unpublished photographs and items of memorabilia which act as a perfect foil for the unfolding narrative.
In short, a must for all Hawkfans.
and have your say. Also just to let you know that in the next couple of days I will be putting up a printable order form on the site so you can order the book direct from the author, which hopefully will be useful to those of you who may have issues with ordering via the internet direct, for further details on this please contact me via the e-mail link above.