HW: Recent v Old / Poll

[david hall]

Having caught every tour since 1979 (numerous gigs on some tours) and bought
every official release, and having nothing better to do, here's my potted
history (dates approximate) and opinion of Hawkwind 1979 - 1999. Discussion
and responses welcome!

The band functions best with a larger line-up. Therefore the ultimate
re-union line-up.

Dave Brock   (guitar, vox)
Huw LLoyd-Langton (guitar)
Lemmy (bass, vox)
Adrian Shaw (bass, vox)
Nik Turner (flute, vox, no sax, no theatrics)
Simon House (violin, organ, mellotron)
Tim Blake (synths, vox)
Simon King (drums, percussion)
Richard Chadwick (drums, percussion)
Mike Moorcock (poetry)
Ron Tree (vox for those nippy Calvert numbers)

1979
Spanking return to form. Simon King sums it up in an interview "this time
without the prima donnas".
Gigs were a full on sonic assault. Two guitars, DB out the front, Simon K.
on the tubs, Tim Blake - cosmic.

1980
Live 79 (superb but, did we need Silver Machine on it - no, did we need it
shortened by an explosion - no) released, Shot Down In The Night looks like
a top 5 cert.
Implosion alert! Simon King booted out-why?
Levitation released, superb. Ginger Baker now on the drums. not right for HW
say many letters to Sounds Rock mag. Implosion Alert! number two - Tim Blake
out.
Tour okay ace slideshow
High point - HL-L guitar work
Lows - no Tim Blake (synths were never as good again), no Simon King and a
frigging drum solo during Brainstorm. Ginger not powerful enough for HW.
'tis a pity the Live 79 line-up did not continue.

1981 - 1982
The RCA years, studio output failed to match the band live. You might be
able to get one good LP out of Sonic Attack, Masques, and Church. Highs:
Angel Of Death, Fahrenheit 451, Rocky Paths, Living On A Knife Edge. Martin
Griffin on drums on short term basis. Although many suspect it is Dave
banging the biscuit tins
in the studio, because that's what it sounds like. Simon King almost
rejoins, a photo with him and the band from 1982? features in Hawkfan.
Various rumours as to why this didn't happen.
Live - the band are storming, although a keyboard player was required. Nik T
guests on Masques tour. Sonic Attack tour sees the projections blossoming.
The dancers return for the Masques tour.

1983 - 1984
Studio output - dodgy.
Nik T back in the band.
Live the band are storming when Nik plays at being part of a band and not
the front man. Flute playing - ace, spoken word - okay. Sax and theatrics -
sonic farting (fans pissed off in droves). Lemmy rumoured to be joining for
the Earth Ritual tour - but is a no-show. Dead Fred (ex ICU) on organ and
violin.
Alan Davey arrives at a later point.

(Early to mid '80s sees the advent of the Dave Brock chug-a-chug keyboard
bass line; still in use in 1999!)

1985
The Black Sword Tour
Return to form in studio and live. Moorcock guests at Hammersmith. Band on
form.

1986
Live LP released -spiffing.

1986 - 1989
The Curse Of The Blacksword methinks. Mess with Elric's mighty blade and it
will suck your soul. Lack of quality control on all fronts. Dave and Alan
start to hide behind stacks of keyboard. Huw leaves....or rather fades away,
or was he faded out?

1989
The return of Simon House. Gigs are fantastic - get these shows out on CD
now!!!!!

1990
Space Bandits - apart from "Out Of The Shadows" - crap. Sorry, but there it
is. Bridgett doesn't cut it in the studio, and live isn't just irritating,
is in fact dreadful
(nothing this bad is seen until Rizz).
1990/1? Tim Blake guests.

1991 - 1994
The trio years.
Palace Springs (live with Bridgett, Simon H and Harvey) - average; although
Treadmill excellent.
1992 Electric Tepee released generally good. Best LP since Black Sword,
would have been excellent with a bit of editing (Right To Decide and Secret
Agent HW classics).
1993 "It Is The Business....." studio released, patchy but interesting.
1994 "The Business Trip" live set released. Good
Live the band are good, when they let it rip (Dave especially when he
decides to leave the keys for the guitar). Have a habit of letting the
synths chug away which breaks the momentum. But Richard gives it welly in an
attempt to retain balance!! Continue the habit of keyboard versions of old
songs (Golden Void)...stop it, and insist on playing a truely awful 'reggae'
thing, ditchthat too (Lee 'Scratch' Perry it isn't)!
Alan and Dave, especially Dave, now almost static behind the keyboard
high-rise.
Alert: stagnation possible!
Time for a change (line-up expansion required).

1995 - 1996
Ron Tree arrives. Alien gigs excellent.
Alien 4 and Love In Space better than Electric Tepee.
Alan Davey leaves.

1997
Distant Horizons released. Disappointing, or maybe expctations were too
high, to say the least.
Live it is a mixed affair; Dave invisible at the back. A friend says to me
after the gig "I thought Dave Brock was still in the band". Rizz; get him to
****!!! Is the general opinion. Line-up review required.

1999
??????



-----Original Message-----
From: Bernhard Pospiech <bernhard.pospiech at HOME.INS.DE>
To: Multiple recipients of list BOC-L <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
Date: 20 November 1999 14:02
Subject: HW: Recent v Old / Poll


>Hi there,
>
>let's start a poll with the question:
>
>What is your favorite HAWKWIND period/year ?
>
>
>
>My favorite HW year is: 1989
>
>
>Bernhard
>