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PRESENTS
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH -
BRIDGET WISHART
Many thanks must go to Bridget who kindly agreed to the museum fielding her some questions (via e-mail) regarding her time in Hawkwind. Being my first attempt at this sort of thing I doubt I'll be ruffling too many feathers in Fleet Street when it comes to my interview techniques, but all the same I feel that it makes for interesting reading, hope you agree!!!!
How would you describe yourself - singer or dancer first and foremost, or a combination of the two ?
At the time I was with Hawkwind I would have described myself as a Performance Artist. That was what I studied at Art College and University. I had always wanted the chance to combine Art and Music in the ‘real’ world as opposed to art galleries. Up to the point where I joined Hawkwind my singing and my ‘performing’ had stayed as separate careers.
How did you end up getting involved with Hawkwind?
The Hippy Slags had quite a few connections with Hawkwind…
Angie our drummer was Rich’s girlfriend and Claire, our bassist, Rich and myself had all been in bands together and Claire had done the lettering to a Hawkwind Lyric book many years before and knew them all from then.
The Hippy Slags played a lot of Festivals and when Hawkwind did the Travellers Aid Trust album we were asked to do a couple of tracks. Only Cat’s Mother ended up on the record as the other track didn’t get recorded properly or got recorded over. When they toured they asked the bands on the record to support them on a couple of dates. We played Nottingham Rock City and were all invited to sing on a jam they were getting together called Back in the Box. We all said yes and arranged to meet back stage but when I got there my band mates had chickened out and never one for being shy I went for it …I was drunk and haven’t a clue what I sang but enjoyed it immensely, and it can’t have been that bad as when they were recording the track they invited me to sing on it. I then went on to sing with them at other gigs and festivals.
Give a brief account of what life was like as a member of Hawkwind?
There was always a lot of ‘Hurry up and wait’ with Hawkwind. It drove me mad sometimes. Touring was very different to writing and rehearsing and is what I think of most when I look back on my time with the band.
Touring was very tiring and after a few weeks the only time that we were really focussed was when we were on stage the rest was a blur of meeting people, driving from place to place and setting up and taking down.
Doing interviews was always very strange ….I was often asked questions about the band’s past and could never answer them. I did a few record signings, which were good fun but made me feel self conscious, as usually people didn’t see me without my costumes. It was good to meet people who were into the current line up and the record.
When we were in Devon for rehearsals I shared a room with Rich…he would draw an invisible line down the room and forbid any of my junk to cross it…I did try…When we were'nt’t rehearsing there was a lot of flying of polystyrene aeroplanes…
How did you contribute to songs?
I wrote lyrics and melodies; usually for the spacey sections of existing songs…also for Back in the Box and Images, but my major contributions were visual. I designed all my outfits and linked them to specific songs. I felt the costume and movement added another dimension to the songs. I also worked on videos for Back in the Box and Images.
What's your opinion of space bandits, were you pleased with how it turned out?
It’s hard to be realistic about it…I was really proud at the time but. It’s not my favourite kind of music and it’s not the best Hawkwind record
Were you a fan of Hawkwind before you joined, if so what's your favourite album?
No…. don’t have one.
How did things differ from life with the Hippy Slags, I would presume things were a little more "comfortable" (i.e - the trappings of being in a successful band)?
I really enjoyed being with the Hippy Slags…everything was really relaxed we all got on and no one had ego problems…we got to gigs in the slagmobile….a trusty Bedford CA….Mostly it was all a good laugh.
When I was with Hawkwind it was more professional in a chaotic kind of way. I didn’t feel close to them as people although I got on with Rich okay as we’d been in bands since I was 18.
Touring on buses and staying in hotels was ‘doing it all properly’…and that felt good… it was also very lonely and the first thing I’d do on entering my hotel room would be to empty my rucksack all around the room…to give it a bit of mess.
Did you leave, or in typical Hawkwind style did you just drift off into new projects?
I was asked to go…someone said they’d go if I didn’t…
What’s your best memory from those days?
That’s hard; I don’t really have best memories …it wasn’t that kind of life….
I remember…
….feeling chuffed to bits to be playing the Hammersmith Odeon.
….a gig being cancelled in Italy and having a wild party on a beach somewhere when every last bit of alcohol stashed on the bus was drunk plus all the wine in the local café and the driver making an unwanted pass and the t-shirt seller burning Andy’s foot and Andy up all night trying not to cry out in pain sitting about three inches away from my bunk.
…story boarding and directing a video for Images and Pogle creating a great light show in his garden for us to work with.
…..Tripping over Harvey’s monitor at a gig on the British Tour and going flying….it really hurt but I had to jump up and pretend nothing was amiss…..ow !
….Doug…Harvey’s roadie in America, falling off stage just as I was coming on…bowling me over into my flight case knocking it over and shutting me inside……..!!!!!!
Do you still see or keep in touch with any of the band?
Not really. I do hear about Richard every now and again through mutual friends and he phoned me to tell me to get in touch with Rock Music over royalties to a couple of trax released from the Bedrock Gig.
How come you never made it to Hawkestra in 2000?
I was abroad with Martin.
Have you followed the band since you left?
No, although when I was with Temple Décor our U.V. drapes decorated a few of their gigs.
Anything you'd like to add?
Hawkwind is really a male world…..I worked hard when I was with them and enjoyed the creative opportunities. There was a hierarchy that I didn’t agree with and a sense of humour that was all ‘boy’ and it wasn’t really my thing. I don’t regret the time I spent with them, I was very proud to be in the band but I guess I was a little disappointed that it didn't work out the way I imagined it would.
And having been on the web looking at recent reviews of stuff that I did years ago it feels strange to think that people might be seeing/hearing it for the first time and I don't know what they're listening to cos I haven't got a copy and I'm sure I could do it better now AND why do reviewers call me Wishart?
So there
you go, hope you enjoyed it. With any luck there's at least one more of these
"exclusive" interviews in the pipeline for the near future, and if you happen to
be a member of Hawkwind past or present and fancy doing something similar then please feel
free to
E-MAIL HERE
I promise that I'll keep questions regarding naked dancers, recreational drug use and line up changes to a minimum :-)