HW: Tubby Tour '98

[Keith Henderson]

Hi Folks...

I'd like to apologise in advance for this....Keith H. (FAA)

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Space Rock Pioneers to become kinder, gentler, and tubbier

LONDON, April 23 (AFP)  Legendary underground cosmic rockers Hawkwind have
announced
plans for a major world tour to commence this summer, beginning in July with
shows across the UK.   The band will perform a selection of classic tracks
spanning their storied 30-year history, but with a new twist.  Long known
for transforming conceptual ideas into visual extravaganzas, Hawkwind is in
the process of developing a new stage set based entirely on the popular BBC
children's show, 'Teletubbies.'  The backdrop of the set will resemble the
Tubbies' own Tubbytronic Superdome, an astroturf-covered habitat constructed
for the TV show by Ragdoll Productions in the rolling hills beyond the town
limits of Stratford-upon-Avon.  Hawkwind will actually be performing under
the moniker 'Telehawkies' during Tubby Tour '98, forwarning concert-goers of
the sights and sounds to be offered.  Band members will be appropriately
attired in officially-licenced Tubby suits, with specially-designed aerials
that will transmit signals from their instruments to the telephone-shaped
loudspeakers on either side of the stage.  The personas of the four
Teletubbies as depicted in the BBC show will be adopted by the four
musicians, under the pseudonyms Bricky Brocky, Jerry, Cha-Cha, and Tree.

When asked about the peculiar merging of preschool entertainment with
high-volume rock and roll, bandleader Dave Brock responded with, "Well, if
you've ever seen the (TV) show, you'd know it's quite repetitive in nature,
and some would argue that our music is also quite repetitive.  And you know
we're all getting 'on' a bit, and we figure our fans are likewise.  So, you
know how it is when you begin to experience life through your children's
activities?  We know that out there are a whole generation of Hawkwind fans
that are now raising their kids and end up watching programmes like
Teletubbies, whether they want to or not.  So it should be familiar to them
at least.  Also, I've heard some people complain that they can't see me or
(drummer) Richard (Chadwick) on stage, so these giant aerials on our heads
should make it easier for fans in the audience to actually locate us."

"We've just gotten finished with another alien encounter-type tour," Brock
continues, "so this just seemed like a natural progression.  After all,
these Tubby crestures are certainly mutant aliens of some sort, and
communicate in a language that noone seems to comprehend.  It actually ties
in quite well with a lot of the science fiction-related songs in our past,
and present for that matter."  Much like when Hawkwind put forth their
memorable 1986 UK tour, 'Chronicle of the Black Sword,'
based on the characters and events from the series of sci-fi novels by
Michael Moorcock (also a part-time rock music lyricist) best known as the
Elric saga, Brock and company will redefine older songs in the current Tubby
image.  "Well, we see things like 'Coded Languages' not really needing any
adaptation at all.  You know, 'Question the nature of your orders.'  That
sort of thing is perfectly suited as it is.  Other songs will need a bit of
a rehash.  I wrote this song about 10 years
back called 'Treadmill,' which has the right sense to it for a Tubby
version, although it will now have to be called 'Windmill' instead for
obvious reasons."

Once the UK leg (details below) of the tour is finished, the band will play
a few festival shows on the mainland, and then head for the states for more
shows there.  Since American public television has recently begun showing
Teletubbies, Brock
feels that the concept won't be lost on most fans, even overseas.  Plans are
also in the works for a first-ever trip to Australia, and with the pop
culture there already fully engrossed in Tubbymania, it's bound to be a success.

Tubby Tour '98                                  Tubby Tunes

Royal Tubby Wells, Kent                         Hurry On Sunrise
Windmillton Keynes, Bucks.                      Toast & Buttery
Teleford, Shropshire                            Choose Your Antennae
Dipsy, Dipsyshire                               Coded Languages
Huggersfield, W. Yorkshire                      Tubbytoid Vision
Stockton-on-Toast, Cleveland                    Circles
Lytham St. Aerials, Lancashire                  Windmill
Eh-Ohburgh, Scooterland                         Tubbyslide Skyway
Noo-noocastle-upon-Tyne, T&W                    Green-skinned Dipsy
Custardfield, Dipsyshire                        Tele Tubby Dome Exists
Weston-super-Dome, Avon                         Reject your Human Touch
Lla-Llanelli, Wales                             Noo-noo Accumulator
Custyrd Tybbyfill, Wales                        Pobot
Newcastle-under-Ground, Staffords.              Fable of a Furry Race
Tinky Hinckley, Leics.
Tubbysmith Podeon, London