micro articles

The idea of this page is to put together all the small press clipping that I have come into possession of thanks to the recent donation from Gavin Wilson. I intend to do another page of larger articles and full blown pieces will get a page of their own.

1971	1972	1973	1974

You may have seen little stickers plastered around the place saying 'Hawkwind Lives' and wondered who they were if they weren't alive before. conversely you may have seen the band playing and knew they lived in the first place.

Anyhow, Hawkwind do live, but rather precariously of late - gigs have been decreasing and they've been busy recording their first album - due out in May. A motley six piece group consisting mainly of self confessed buskers, lay abouts and general wanderers, Hawkwind make a noise that they describe as "a mixture of electronic music, heavy beat and simple chords and incorporating avant garde jazz sounds."

They are Nick Turner on soprano sax; Dave Brock - singer, guitarist, composer arranger; Dick Mick - electronics; Hugh Lloyd Langton on lead guitar; John Harrison, bass; and Terry Ollis on drums.

they've only been together about six months, but have some incredible ideas for a visual and a really freaky sounding act which centres around a Moog Synthesiser costing around £500.

"If we don't get it together soon" says Dick Mick, "We'll be left behind. We've had these ideas for months and now Keith Emerson and that King Crimson bloke are going to get one. Unless we're careful they'll do what we've been wanting to do."

One of the most interesting and up to date labels around these days is Liberty, who in the last few months have released a string of albums by exciting new talent.

High Tide, Cochise, Clover - and so the list goes on. And their latest addition is to my mind their best offering to date - Hawkwind.

Comparisons may be invidious, but they are usually inevitable, and many people who hear Hawkwind for the first time are bound to raise the name of the Pink Floyd.

Similarities are certainly there. Like the Floyd, Hawkwind feature electronics - constructively, not just as a gimmick.

Like the Floyd they vary considerably during the life of their album - sometimes warm and gentle, sometimes soaring, sometimes pounding.

But they are not just a copy. Their music is unique, in my experience at least. A record I think you'll enjoy listening to.

There are so many good records coming out at the moment that it's impossible to lend an ear to all of them. Hawkwind's album and this single are just two of the sounds that I've missed out on.

Hawkwind are a strange band, indeed. They rarely seem to appear down this neck of the woods so it's extremely difficult to judge just how much of their impact on record really comes across on stage.

At the South Sea Bubble they were good, but perhaps just a little too self indulgent. However, since then the band's line up appears to have changed considerably, with two members of Skin Alley joining them.

Hurry On Sundown is a nice enough single and shows their imaginative use of electronics. Few bands I've heard have successfully mixed rock with electronics - Hawkwind may well prove to be the most successful yet.

Is a promising debut album from a group who use an audio generator, which fuses the sounds from the instruments played by the group. Contrary to what one might expect, the result is not cacophony, but a highly original and entertaining sequence of sounds.

Hawkwind are a group who use electronics as a musical instrument. And it's a very successful utilisation. Their talents are amply displayed on an album entitled "Hawkwind" on the Liberty label (LBS83349).

The group say they are trying to "levitate peoples minds in a nice way, without acid, with ultimately a complete audio visual thing. Using a complex of electronics and lights and environmental experiences". So now you know where it's at! you'll get a better idea by listening to the album as a whole with electronics held tightly under control, merging with guitars, drums and saxophone. The whole exercise has a slightly Floydish feel about it, but the group have sufficient individuality to make them a potent force in the music business. And the album is only the beginning. I liked it immensely.

In the past two years here, we have experienced gigs from such bands as Free, East Of Eden, Hawkwind, Skin alley, High Tide and Trees and have had brilliant performances from them all for not much bread.

But now we are finding it increasingly difficult to get gigs of the same standard as bands are charging extortionate prices for gigs when they turn up late and play for only a short time.

It should be in a bands own interests to keep prices for gigs down until they make good breaks, so Colleges like ours can afford to have good gigs. We booked free only one year ago and look where they are now!

What harmonica did Dave Brock of Hawkwind use on "Hurry On Sundown"? I have heard that he made some LP's of this sort a few years ago. If this is true, where can I get hold of them?

I used a Hohner Echo Super Vamper in F Sharp on "Hurry On Sundown". Yes I did take part in a collective album of such music some years ago. It came out on Immediate and was called "Blues Anytime, Volume 2"

It featured people like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Tony McPhee, Savoy Brown, Johnne Kelly etc and I contributed four tracks with the Dharma Blues Band, which consisted of myself on harmonica and vocals, boogie pianist Mick King and Luke Francis on harmonica and guitar. Luke was originally with the animals and has become a popular entertainer in Finland. When Immediate collapsed the tapes were brought by RCA, who re-issued them as a double album called "An Anthology Of British Blues Artists". But these records are no longer available - DAVE BROCK Hawkwind

What was Nenoferkaptah's grim warning? Why was a compressed cardboard box found floating in the Arctic? What is the great seal of Abydos? Where are the coral shores of the cortex? Who is Dik - mik and what is the grisly dwarf Del? Thrill to the android replicas. share the cruel sounds of limitless space. Co-pilots of space ship Earth, experts in astral travel with all channels through to the void and fill your heads with peace and fire your flesh rockets with the liquid fuel of love. and let us ride together on orgasmic engines to the stars." All this and more can be found in HAWKWIND'S latest record XIN SEARCH OF SPACE. niftily packaged in a full colour fold out pack - plus a spiffy 20 page book.

POET AND lyricist Bob Calvert, who created the accompanying booklet for Hawkwind's second album "In Search Of Space" has joined the band on a permanent basis.

THE COVER, IN BRILLIANT colours, shows these creatures that seem to be part reptile, part human, and part falling leaves. The songs have titles like 'The Reason Is?' and 'Seeing It As You Really Are' and 'Mirror of Illusion'. Says Hawkwind: 'We started out trying to freak people (trippers) and now we are trying to levitate their minds in nice way, without acid...'

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe that what we have here is an album of psychedelic music, the real stuff, right here in the middle of 1971, and a good one at that. Hawkwind tries to levitate your mind in the same way all those bands did a few years ago. Take a basic rock unit and augment it with something like an alto sax. Most of the vocals are non-verbal. Lots of electronic sound effects. Lots of echo and studio tricks. Lots of percussion and, most of all, repetition – play a line, then play it again faster and louder, play it again, then play it still faster and louder.

The crazy thing is, it all works with Hawkwind. They're not just experimenting, they obviously know that they're doing. This album works as a complete package, and is fun and captivating from beginning to end. The repetition and rhythmic edge creates the desired other-worldly effect, instead of just batting away at your ears. Plus there isn't a hint of pretension here, as is often the case with Pink Floyd, the only other group I can think of, off hand, still doing anything like this. Hawkwind reminds me of Steve Miller's Song For Our Ancestors, and that music sounds as good now as it did then.

A couple final notes: the album is co-produced by Dick Taylor; is that the same Dick Taylor who was the original bassist in the Rolling Stones and later formed the Pretty Things?

And don't flip out towards the end of side one, when it sounds like somebody pulled the plug and your turntable is grinding to a halt. That's part of the show, too!

Not to be outdone, United Artists have issues a release on some problems Hawkwind encountered when playing the Winter Gardens, Malvern. Malvern, you may not realise, is in the heart of Wiltshire (?) where quite a few magnates have their country retreats, and falls in the constituency of Gerald Nabarro, who is not noted for his indulgent attitude towards sedition, blasphemy and obscenity.

BLACKED
Apparently it's a local government regulation that no printed literature should be distributed at "teenage dances" held in council controlled halls, so when Hawkwind brought in a pile of the magazine "Friends" and placed them on the stage, the management confiscated them and called the Police. The Police checked out the mag and okayed it from the obscenity angle, but reminded members of the band that they weren't in any case, permitted to distribute them in the hall, and promised that the mags would be returned at the end of the evening.

At this point the story put out by UA diverges from that of the hall management. Somehow copies were obtained by some of the kids, "deliberately distributed" say UA. What is undeniable it that a fracas ensued in which Hawkwind were forcibly ejected and told not to return.

The band have now been blacked by the areas theatres and dance halls, who will refuse to deal with any package on which Hawkwind are playing. This seems rather an over-reaction to what is, after all, only a breach of dance-hall regulations, but at least the kids in Wiltshire will remain pure in heart, even if they ain't got any music or reading matter. Maybe the "Readers Digest" next time?

For me, the group to make it in 1972 must be Hawkwind. An ethereal search for cosmic consciousness - that is one way of putting where they're at. The medium of sci-fi musical projection being the message - that's another.

There roots are in what the overground used to call the underground, but their common ideal based on a commune concept has been finding snowballing acceptance on the campus circuit. and it's about to break even bigger.

In some ways, they're just a band of roadies. Certainly toting gear has been a background common to sax man Nik Turner; to Dik Mik who plays synthesizer and Del Dettmar who plays oscillators. And guitarist - singer Dave Brock, drummer Terry Ollis and bassist Lenny complete the line up. My view is that without detracting from their individuality, Hawkwind's musical identity uses space and time as the backdrop for their odyssey.

What's more they are unorthodox to the point of being unique. And the scope of their developments at musical level is free from pre-conceptions. Since their heads have already seen the turn of the next century, 1972 to them is just another year in the present past, get the idea?

But for the rest of us, I reckon Hawkwind could well be the shape and sound of things to come.

IMAGINE....
You are a band rushing about the country trying to do benefits and helping people and in between fitting in the gigs that make ends meet - and your van breaks down in the middle of nowhere.

We can imagine how it felt for you when we didn't turn up at Dagenham. Can you imagine how well feel? signed HAWKWIND

Hawkwind will be appearing at Dagenham Roundhouse on Saturday March 25th. All those present last Saturday will be admitted free with the tickets they were given.

HAWKWIND MAY have to disband this year unless their valuable van equipment - stolen over the weekend - is returned.

The bands white transit van with £10,000 worth of equipment was stolen from Russell Road, Palmers Green and the band are offering a £500 reward for information leading to it's recovery.

Hawkwind have been forced to cancel their forthcoming tour of Ireland and all further British dates. The only date they are able to honour is Bickershaw this weekend - using the festival sound system.

Said a spokesman for the band: "the equipment will not be easy to dispose of, it was brightly painted and stencilled with the bands name. For a band that have done so much work for charity and donated £4000 to charitable organisations over the last year they've had a really rough time lately."

HAWKWIND, WHO were in danger of having to break up after the theft of £10,000 worth of equipment last week, have been saved by the intervention of two leading British equipment manufacturers.

AKG and Vox read about the bands bad luck last week and have offered to completely re-equip them with a new sound system for nothing. "This means that all the original dates in danger of being cancelled are now on again." said a spokesman for the band.

HAWKWIND, WHO have suffered a series of thefts, accidents and illness this year - crashed their van last weekend in Germany. The crash occurred between Dusseldorf and Berlin and Sunday when the band were going to a gig in Berlin as part of a very successful European tour. "The band were lucky to escape with only minor injuries and shock." a spokesman told SOUNDS, "because of the forethought of their road manager who was driving at the time and managed to keep the van on the road."

HAWKWIND, Playing a free festival at Germany's Essen Sports Stadium last Friday, got showered with stink bombs, waterbags and bottles. They hadn't realised the festival proceeds were to go to a Right Wing political organisation, and a Left Wing protest was staged and aimed at them. After explaining they weren't involved Hawkwind and audience enjoyed a good set.

More extra - terrestrial stoned rock 'n' roll from those astral travellers Hawkwind, recorded live at a recent Chalk Farm Roundhouse gig and subsequently titvated up by Dr Technical at Morgan studios. On the whole 'tis very basic stuff which for the most part sounds as though it was recorded in an R.A.F windtunnel. Nevertheless, it has a most appealing quality and gives an indication as to why Hawkwind enjoy a cultish following. The flip cut at the Rockfield hermitage, is again smothered in waves of cosmic star dust that immediately decorate the mood. Should be a strong seller.

HAWKWIND - Silver Machine (United Artists) (International Times (IT) #134 27/07/72)

Now that the Pink Fairies are no more, Hawkwind remain the only prominent recording band to represent, in some form, our culture. Consequently any recorded effort is of instant interest.

OK. So come on, all you spooga-chewing, swollen-jawed speed freaks, you creepy hippies, you totally collapsed mandy brothers, you beer swilling, swaying crowd of acidulated mishaps, this record was made with you in mind.

This fine band of demented citizens want you to cop an earful of significantly sonic sounds, to freak out that good ole rock 'n' roll, wop you through time warps, lock you onto Brock's typical guitar, make your guts vibrate on the floor when pounded by Lemmy's bass, get beaten to a pulp from start to finish by the drums of extra terrestrial force, have every nerve in your body stripped to shreds by means of Turner's wah waned saxophone and become a totally obliterated lump of protoplasm after experiencing Dik and Del's drugen pulsating electric's. When you finally find yerself in this condition, then you know it's time to get yourself a silver machine....yer know what I mean?

Who cares if the vocals are a little strained in parts. I don't even care about the appalling production job of one Doctor Technical, it's the vibe that counts, and there's thousands of very crazed kids who are getting off on Hawkwind's special delivery.

In all, a crazed record for all you nutters to buy, I mean wouldn't you really dig to see these boys on "Top Of The Pops"? (God what a horrid thought!!!)

(Ed note. This review was in fact written before Hawkwind had actually appeared on "Top Of The Pops"!)

Hawkwind were playing an encore of their latest single "Silver Machine" when King King collapsed and was taken off for treatment by St John Ambulance men. He has been advised to rest for a week. A spokesman for the group's record company said: "He is probably suffering from exhaustion and over-work."

HAWKWIND - ST GEORGES HALL BRADFORD (sounds Live Review by Simon Orrell 06/01/73)_

Fortunately for Hawkwind the majority of their audience are under 16 - or appear so.

The group kept them waiting with the news "Blast Off" time was near. Yet it was not until a mediocre support act and a poor excuse for a mine artist (depraved at that) had wasted two hours that they decided to make an appearance.

It's true to say that the 2000 plus audience at St Georges Hall, Bradford, were more than annoyed at a bomb hoax - the building had to be evacuated for half an hour, but I think they behaved remarkably well towards Hawkwind under the circumstances.

Eventually a voice through the slow handclaps said "Adjust your minds this is Hawkwind" and all seemed forgiven. Their "Space Ritual" as it is called though appeared childish to me. The build up to it probably impressed the younger fans in the audience but surely on one else.

it baffled me that a rather fat lady carrying a bull whip prancing about the stage, represented for the group - but the special effects man certainly deserves a medal.

Hawkwind like plenty of weird effects plus a dammed annoying strobe light which has me reaching for the aspirins.

their journey into the mind did not appeal to me but I was so fed up waiting for them they would have had to have been something special to get a good word - believe me they were not.

WITH TWENTY YARDS of empty floor between the front row and the stage and the only spare seats at the very back of the hall, the temptation was too great. So I sat in the middle of the empty floor and was immediately followed by other late-comers, back rowers who had caught the scent of a possible better view and front rowers disappointed after smugly thinking that their early arrival had landed them with a first class view of the journey into space.

Whether it was due to the aching seats of the excitement caused by Hawkwind's music I do not know, but after the first two sections of the space composition everyone was on their feet.

With the progression from one pulsating bass riff to the next, enlaced by Bob Calvert's poetry, Hawkwind were slowly building their audience up to a climax of excitement and bottled up anticipation. The simple basis of each passage was gripped by Lemmy's incessant bass lines and Simon King's immaculate drumming, while improvised ideas were poured in endlessly by Nick Turner, Dave Brock, Dik Mik and Del Dettmar on sax or flute, guitars, oscillators and synthesizer respectively.

As Lemmy later told Me "Silver Machine has opened Hawkwind's music up to everyone. we were hoping that our new listeners will get into our material after the curiosity caused by Silver Machine". they certainly did.

After the Ritual they left the stage and the inevitable return made way for a not so obvious encore choice. "The Watcher" was performed for the first time in public when everyone was expecting their hit single. They could hardly go wrong at this stage though and having probably been through the "SILVER MACH-INE - SILVER MACH-INE" routine 100 times before, one can hardly fault them for skipping it.

the game of "passy" with a paper aeroplane made from a pre concert Doremi Fasol Latido handout between Nick Turner and various members of the audience along with the desperate but friendly scuffle for drumsticks thrown into the remaining group of youngsters by roadies at 11 PM were nice gestures. But it was Hawkwind's music and stage act which pulled them through to success with this audience.

At Hammersmith Lemmy's lead kept coming out of the amp and he kept playing. He's so deaf he didn't even realise. He plays so loud man, he can't hear a thing we're playing. And we were all shouting to him. Then somebody plugged it in. "You c___ I said, If you do that again I'll f______ kill you" And sure enough he did it again - DAVE BROCK of HAWKWIND, February 22.

Hawkwind's space Ritual on it's next to last British date before going on a tour of Germany and the USA, lurched into motion at Cambridge Corn Exchange last Friday.

The abscence of poet Bob Calvert and dancer Stacia, Dave Brock's flu, the Corn Exchanges lousy acoustics and the lack of an adequate screen for the ever improving Hawkwind lights all took their toll from the normally brain pounding presentation.

But a capacity crowd of over 1500 people, some of whom had been turned away twice by fire authorities enforcing regulations before actually getting in, seemed to make allowances for the handicaps - after all, maybe one should expect gremlins on Friday the 13th at Hawkwind's gig - and greeted the group even more vigorously than usual.

Nik Turner and bass player Lemmy were pushed to the front more, Nik to read Calvert's poetry and Lemmy to take on some of Dave's vocals, and both showed that six months in a big group has lent an authority and charisma to their stage presence absent in the beginning, Lemmy positively glowing in the ultra violet stage lights.

Hawkwind blitzed through a familiar set without "Silver Machine" but including favourites like "Born To Go", "Master Of The Universe", "Brainstorm" and "Welcome To The Future". Highlight of the night for me was Dave Brock's sensitive treatment of his own haunting song "Down down and Down" which sounded lyrical and moving even when played at the groups normal thundering energy level.

indeed there is a quality about many of Dave Brocks numbers that suggest that were he to be free some of his writing from the necessary structural limitations of Hawkwind's material he could come up with some much more varied and versatile songs.

Norwich group Zoe opened the show with an hour long set of self written material which was unusually interesting and despite struggling with Hawkwind's unfamiliar p.a came over as satisfying both visually and aurally and was after a slow start well received by a predominantly teenage audience.

The NME understands their is considerable upheaval within the Hawkwind ranks at present, although no official confirmation could be obtained from their management. The groups recording company, United Artists, admitted that they were "having their problems" and intimated that a line up change was imminent.

Bassist Lemmy is believed to have left Hawkwind before they departed for their self promoted German tour, from which they have recently returned. And it is understood that electronics man Dik Mik has either left or is about to depart from the bands line-up.

Speaking of lead guitarist Dave Brock, a U-A spokesperson told the NME:- "I'm told he has taken himself off somewhere, and is getting uptight and refusing to play with the band. Plans may be afoot to make his departure a reality, as the group have had to play several gigs without him." Brock has recently been recording a solo album.

It is not thought that there is any question of Hawkwind splitting as they are scheduled to play Wembley Empire Pool for promoter Peter Bowyer on May 27, and an American tour is subsequently being lined up for them. But, if current reports are substantiated, it appears they have certain internal problems to resolve before undertaking these commitments.

STAR TREK REVISITED (Review of the Space Ritual album, Sounds - Date unknown)

HAWKWIND: "SPACE RITUAL" (UNITED ARTISTS UAD 600377/8) OK CAPTAIN wind up the audio generator, switch on the synthesiser, push the lever for the throb of rhythmic energy, and off we go. I fear I find myself remarkably out of sympathy with Hawkwind's ideas - I would presume that to criticise either them or the bands execution of them, but listening to their albums or or seeing their gigs I feel completely the outsider. This presumably constitutes the objectivity which reviewers are always being urged to adopt, but in practice such an attitude - feeling little or no involvement with the music - makes comment virtually impossible. To me, these live recordings of their "Space Ritual" show seem not unlike the rock and roll equivalent of a couple of episodes of "Star Trek" without Dr Spock. There is jargon , there is atmosphere, there is technology, and there is consistency - admitable in their own way, but not really things that I can feel a part of. On a purely technical level the albums have been recorded fairly well, the band obviously achieved what they set out to do, and the bass has been mixed to a prominence which it deserves. The basic approach of tight, driving rhythm section with guitar and bass occasionally sparring riffs, overlaid with electronic effects, sax lines and vocals works well. There are a couple of moments that I found quite stirring, more than a couple that reminded me unfortunately of the Pink Floyd in certain models and many that sound well in the mould of "Silver Machine" Doubtless,

Untitled piece (date and publication unknown, possibly NME, could relate to 12/05/73 article above!)

HAWKWIND HAVE been going through a few changes of late, Not as was once believed, involving personnel; more to do with image and musical policy.

The band are currently recording a new single - "Urban Guerrilla" - which Robert Calvert claims to be a "definitive statement".

It's other significant feature is that it veers away from the old space image, something that the band are at the moment trying to overhaul while the same time marshalling their resources for a plunge in new directions.

Calvert's own upcoming "Captain Lockheed And The Starfighters" album is a formidable achievement, utilising the talents of most of Hawkwind, plus ex- Pink Fairies Blackie and the infamous Twink.

A Ladbroke Grove special indeed, with a taster in the form of a single - "Ejection" / "Catch A Falling Starfighter" - appearing at your local friendly record store soon.

Q. what equipment does Nik Turner use to amplify his flute? (Kevin Murray, Blackburn.

A. The equipment used by Nik to amplify his flute is 100 watt H/H amplifier, one Binson echo unit, one Maestro, 4 x 12 inch Electrovoice speakers in cabinet built by Hawkwind, one 15 inch speaker, Fender with fuzz pedal. The "bug" for the saxophone is a sound setter and for the flute is a hearing aid pick up produced by Selmar for Maestro.

HAWKWIND'S new single "Urban Guerrilla" has been withdrawn from the market with immediate effect by United Artists, at the special request of the group themselves - despite the fact that the Hawks are currently undertaking a tour to promote the record, which is on the verge of chart entry. Reason for the withdrawal is the current spate of bombings in central London.

A spokesman for the group commented; "Although the record was selling very well, we didn't want to feel that any sales might be gained by association with recent events - even though the song was written by Bob Calvert two years ago as a satirical comment, and was recorded three months ago."

At the groups suggestion, United Artists now plan to release the "B" side of "Urban Guerrilla" as a new single. It is "Brainbox Pollution" and will be out as soon as possible.

Shortages - Hawkwind hit (Sounds 1973, note also included notes on Man which I have left out)

Hawkwind and Man are just two of the road bands who have suffered from the energy and resources shortage.

Hawkwind, whose Ridiculous Roadshow has also suffered from transport problems were unable to put into action some of the ideas planned for audience participation. 10,000 tin cans containing dried peas and Frisbees were to have been given away during the course of the shows - but all tin cans being manufactured are being retained for foodstuffs due to steel production shortages, and Frisbee production too is down as all plastics are petroleum bi-products.

HAWKWIND - For a group that hasn't released a record here and haven't been here before, are doing surprisingly well with their audiences so far in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. They haven't received the same enthusiastic response from the critics, however, most finding them a bit too "sixties psychedelic."

HAWKWIND were involved in an altercation with the Police at Blackburn on Sunday, the final date of their two month British tour, because they had featured a six year old girl dancer on stage during their set. And this, claimed the Police, contravened the laws relating to juvenile performers.

A spokesman for the band explained; "Hawkwind had invited mime artist Tony Carreras to appear with them at Leeds on Saturday and Blackburn on Sunday, and he took along his wife and daughter to both shows. It seems that Stacia brought the youngster a party dress, to celebrate the end of the tour. The girl was sitting at the side of the stage and apparently she wanted to show off her new dress, so she did an involuntary little dance to the groups music."

"Someone reported this to the police after the Leeds show, and they were already waiting for the band at Blackburn, where the same thing happened. But Hawkwind explained to the that the girl was not officially working with them, and that her dance was purely spontaneous. The police appeared to accept this and we gather that no action is planned.

ARE HAWKWIND in danger of getting caught up in their own nostalgia boom? there's something disturbingly conservative about the way the band come on like a moth-balled slice of 1967. Maybe all that soft-core sci-fi has locked them permanently into a time zone.

Still 1967 is a better vintage than most, and you can't say that Hawkwind are all bouquet and no body.

If cynics might dismiss Hawkwind as no more than an acid-rock revival band, there's no denying their musical energy. the sonic molesters eager audience in King Georges Hall Blackburn, home of Sargent Peppers 4000 holes, Aural orifices gaped excitedly for the bands thrusting riffs. Eustachian orgasms were widespread.

The Hawkwind line-up seems to go through more metamorphoses than a randy amoeba, so unless you're in two way radio contact with their press office, it's hard to know exactly who is responsible for which musical inputs. There's a studied anonymity about the players, anyway that befits modest hippies.

A guitarist somewhere in the rich rocket fuel mix was jerking off power chords like Keith Richard on a health farm. A percussionist was laying launch pads like Werner Von Braum, and someone with a musical soldering iron was scaring the shit out of a synthesiser. A bearded fellow wearing a world war one aviators helmet trebled delightfully on orbiting sax, hippie monologues and head tambourine. He smashed the tambourine over his head with panache.

Hawkwind apparently bemused and confused the Americans with their insistence on light shows. The lights are a bit like the interference on a colour TV at times, but mainly they're beautifully effective, with images flashing at strobe speed. Dan Dare graphics are tastefully used.

The bands professional idiot dancers are occasionally lost amongst lantern slides. There's an Ian Anderson look-a-like from the ministry of funny walks, and the splendid Stacia, the first cosmic principle boy, who's much given to dramatic gestures. Hawkwind were joined for two nights only by an enthusiastic lady amateur, aged six, dressed straight out of Mrs Miniver.

"Silver Machine" was saved for the encore ritual, which followed the "Space Ritual", as though the band were pessimistic about their song writing potential.

But the audience were pleasantly bombarded with musical meteorites throughout. If there were no great suprises, you got what you paid for. Edgar Rice Burroughs Martians - would have been well pleased. There wasn't a dry brain in the house.

HAWKWIND HAVE sold ou their Edmonton Sundown date on January 25, and will now play an extra date there on January 26. The band will run a unique competition at the first of these concerts, as part of their Ridiculous Roadshow. It is hoped that members of the audience will come to the concert wearing masks of their own design, based on those used in press adverts or else cut out the masks in the ads, colour it, mount it on card and come wearing it.

Prizes for the best two, one of each sex, will be warded by Simon King after the concert. The winners will get an all expenses paid weekend with the band on the road, probably when they play Lancaster and Leeds on February 8 and 9.

This Friday (11) Hawkwind become the first major rock group to help the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, when they donate all profits from the concert at Clacton Town hall. Stacia, who collapsed after the Leicester De Montford Hall gig last week, has been ordered to rest for 10 days.

STARSEED, the same folks that gave us the celebration for Comet Kohoutek back in January, will be presenting a tribute to Dr. Timothy Leary - now imprisoned after being extradited from Afghanistan.

The show will take place at the University Of California's acoustically perfect Zellerbach Auditorium in Berkeley and will star those heroes of the cosmos, Hawkwind and Man.

Also there will be the film at Folsom prison with Dr. Timothy Leary and Joanna Leary will speak.

According to Joanna, both she and Dr Leary consider Hawkwind to be the most highly evolved band on the planet, Hawkwind has done two other benefits for Leary in England and still more in the States.

United Artists, Hawkwind's label concedes that the reviews for Hawkwind on this tour have been abominable but that the fans are constantly screaming in the aisles and demanding encores.

WELL KNOWN entrepreneur Douglas Smith rang up the other day to inform the Thrills desk that he's been mis-quoted in the Man/Hawkwind piece last week. He denied having said that Hawkwind made more bread off British gigs last year than any other band - what he actually said was was that 'Wind had played to more people than any other band. "we take especial pains" emphasised Sir Doug "to keep our prices as low as practically possible".

What guitar does Dave Brock play in Hawkwind and what effects does he use? Are any of the Hawkwind songs published? (Tony Mottram, Essex)
Who was the violinist with Hawkwind at Leeds university on February? Do the band still live in Notting Hill? (John Roberts, Leeds)

Dave Brock uses a Dick Knight custom guitar and a Hawkwind Industries custom foot board containing switches and pedals enabling him to achieve various effects. Barney Bubbles is working on some ideas about an illustrated book on Hawkwind generally, and we think it will contain lyrics, but as Barney likes to play around with several ideas before committing himself, we are waiting to see what he comes up with. The violinist at Leeds University was Simon House, late of High Tide and the Third Ear Band, who is a friend of ours. Although the band have moved away from Notting Hill proper Simon King, Lemmy, "Nik" Turner and Del Dettmar are still within striking distance of the "Gate". Dave Brock has moved to Devon. - DOUG SMITH, manager of Hawkwind.

What type of synthesiser and equipment does Del Dettmar of Hawkwind use? Can he advise what synthesiser is easy to start on? - Glynn Amos, Kettering.

Del uses an EMS VCS3 synthesiser and keyboard, and as far as I know this is the easiest one to start on, but since this machine comprises several ring oscillators and filter/envelope shapers, it may be advisable to start with just one ring oscillator. Basically the idea is to feed any given frequency into whatever synthesiser is being used and bend/shape it to your requirements. However the main problem is still originality - what sounds you feed into the synthesiser. - MIKE SUCH, Hawkwind, 15 Great Western Road, London W9.

DANGEROUS business this rock 'n' roll. Take poor old Doug Smith, Hawkwind's manager. There he was on hols in Ibiza getting away from Stacia and the gang when he went to open a window. He missed, stuck his arm through the glass.

Here's a weird one: y'know a bout a US band having to come to Britain under M.U rules? Well Hawkwind's exchange band for their impending stateside tour is, uh, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Fair exchange is no what? (that's what it says, Dave)

Talking 'bout the Hawk, their new drummer Alan Powell used to play in Chicken Shack (2 1/2 years), Vinegar Joe and the US band Pacific Gas and Gas (2 months in '71 actually), Freddie King (1 night), Dave Berry and the Cruisers, Paul Jones in post Manfred days and did two tours with Del Shannon. Sound like he deserves Hawkwind!

AT THE Hawkwind concerts, Edmonton Sundown at the beginning of the year, we, the audience, were promised a live album of the evenings events.

It has now been eight months since then, and all that we've had so far is one track on the 'B' side of their new single.

When, if ever, are we going to get the rest? - R Clement, Enfield, Middlesex.

A fair question, and when we spoke to Richard Ogden from Hawkwind's management he gave us an equally fair answer, which was: "The tapes from that gig didn't turn out at all well enough for a complete album. But there are two tracks from it on their new LP 'Hall Of The Mountain Grill'. These are 'You'd Better Believe It' and 'Paradox'. Richard added that the bands 'traditional' Dec/Jan tour opens at Manchester Free Trade Hall on December 9th.

This is gruesome. One moment I was sitting quite contentedly munching raw carrots when this horrific wall of sound comes trundling along, demolishing all before it.

It's the King Kong of the recording studio frantically bashing out the same riff, the same ugly chorus line and the same glut of guitars and wailing voices in an attempt to devour the nations youth.

Flee for your lives, the nations youth, there's no knowing what horrors this mob might achieve. Even Status quo sound advanced alongside this. Miss, Miss, Miss

LEMMY, Hawkwind's bassist since 1971 and the vocalist on their hit recording of "Silver Machine" has quit the band. He has flown back from America, where Hawkwind are currently on tour, and is having discussions with management and recording companies regarding the formation of his own group Motorhead.

The personnel for Lemmy's band, have for contractual reasons, not yet been announced, But the line-up will include two guitars, bass and drums - with Lemmy himself featured on lead vocals, bass and some lead gtr.

Motorhead have already started work on a debut single, to be rushed out as soon as a record deal in concluded. And they will be undertaking their debut British tour in the late summer, covering a three week period in August and September.

Meanwhile, Hawkwind have not yet announced a replacement for Lemmy. They are continuing with their US tour with a stand in.

HAWKWIND HAVE a lot of ground to cover between now and the end of the year. Their globetrotting begins again on August 30 with a trip to Norway, then Sweden, France, Germany and Holland before the states in October for a month. They fly from there to Australia for two weeks.

Keyboards / Violinist Simon House told JOHN ANDERSON in Edinburgh: "We'll be taking five days off from all the travelling to go into the studio on September 10. We've no idea what we'll be doing this album but since some of us haven't played together before in a studio it might well take a new shape."

Asked why so little of Hawkwind has been seem on television, House said: " We probably pose problems in that we've got so much of a light show. Last time we were on TV was three years ago when "Silver Machine" got us onto 'Top Of The Pops'. The 'Whistle Test'? We've heard that Bob Harris isn't that keen on Hawkwind."