FAO Hawkwind Band: NikWar Spam

[Mark Von Bargen]

First reaction is that this is so sad. I will have to read it several times
before I can fully understand what is really being said within the note.
It doesn't seem like the Hewitt/OZ-IT style, it is too far over the edge
with emotion and invective. It seems more like the work of a crazed lunatic
who wants to start a fight.
Whoever has written the note that Mike received should really have the
courage to identify themselves but I don't think that it will happen.
Of course the Moorcock messages are transcripts of spoken conversations -
ref: {said "without prejudice"} but probably spoken within a wider context
conversation.

Anyway, when is the new album due out - with or without any of the golden
boys.

Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: "M Holmes" <fofp at HOLYROOD.ED.AC.UK>
To: <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 11:42 AM
Subject: FAO Hawkwind Band: NikWar Spam


> I received this rather depressing mail 9/8/2002.  The gist of it is that
> Nik seems to be suing to prevent Dave from using the name Hawkwind or
> any of the songs featuring various ex-members including Moorcock,
> Calvert and Lemmy.  I guess the war isn't survived quite yet.  Could Nik
> really prevent Hawkwind from playing classic numbers? That's be quite
> depressing to me.  Also I guess Moorcock is off the latest project.
>
> Note that the text I received was rather badly formatted, punctuated,
> and CAPITALISED. I've tidied it up to save the sensibilities of delicate
> souls here but have been careful not to alter the language lest any
> lawyers need to feed on it.
>
> FoFP
>
>
>
> --- Start of Forwarded Text ---
>
> Press Release 08/08/2002 "without prejudice".
>
> Original Hawkwind members including Lemmy from Motorhead,
> science-fiction writer Mike Moorcock[see message from mike moorcock to
> hawkwind fans further down], Nik Turner and a score of others line up in
> court case against Dave Brock - About Brock's Destruction of the
> Hawkwind Reputation and Brock's issuing of cd albums featuring early
> members of Hawkwind and not paying royalties to or seeking permission of
> those "Golden Years Of Hawkwind" members.
>
> It started at Glastonbury Festival 2002- Thursday 27th June 2002 Nik
> Turner and his eight month old band Xhawkwind.com [now had to change it
> temporarily to spaceritual.net] (Featuring original members from the
> 1970's: - Mick Slattery - Guitar, Thomas Crimble - Bass, Terry Ollis -
> Drums,[the band also often features other original 70s members Del
> Dettmar noise generators/synths, Dave Anderson - Bass + Guitar and Ron
> Tree- 90's Hawkwind member - Bass + Poetry/Vocals) are just sound
> checking as the first band to play on a stage at Glastonbury 2002[they
> played in a big top crammed with around 1000 people and more were
> listening outside the big top] and Nik receives an injunction from Dave
> Brock trying to force Nik not to use any variation of the word Hawkwind
> - Niks original Nickname from before the band was called that!!!!!.
>
> Dave Brock also bombarded the internet asking people to ask for their
> ticket money back if they had bought tickets thinking it was Hawkwind at
> Guildford Festival and not Nik Turner's XHawkwind.com-after the
> Guildford Festival had finished a journalist rang up Guildford Festival
> and asked how many people had asked for refunds because XHawkwind.com
> had been substituted for Hawkwind [owing to Dave Brock insisting on more
> costs to the Festival as the event drew nearer]THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
> PEOPLE WHO ASKED GUILFORD FESTIVAL FOR A REFUND ON THEIR TICKETS AS PER
> DAVE BROCK'S MASSIVE INTERNET CAMPAIGN WAS -NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> By the 5th of August 2002 this had turned into a legal battle between
> all the Hawkwind 70's Stalwarts on one side and Dave Brock (Who had
> registered Hawkwind as a trade mark without telling all the golden years
> members of the band) so the following ex- Hawkwind members are now
> pursuing Dave Brock about "Dave Brock "Related" Bootlegs" and
> non-payments of royalties:
>
> Lemmy, Michael Moorcock, Nik Turner, the estate of the Late Barney
> Bubbles, the estate of the late Robert Calvert, Terry Ollis, Steve
> Swindells, Harvey Bainbridge, Paul Rudolph, Alan Powell, Adrian Shaw,
> Dave Anderson, Thomas Crimble, Mick Slattery, Dik Mik and Del Dettmar.
>
> Space Ritual.Net Featuring Original Ex-Hawkwind members
>
> Nik Turner-sax,flute,vocals, Terry Ollis-drums,Thomas Crimble-bass
> guitar,Dave Anderson-bass guitar and guitar,Mick Slattery-guitar plus
> various special guests appear at Canterbury
> Festival[www.canterburyfayre.com] on Friday 23rd August 5pm also on that
> day are Ozric Tentacles ,Fish,and Kevin Ayers
>
> For those of you who missed this band at Glastonbury or Guildford
> Festivals in the last month or two or who are disappointed at Dave
> Brock's Hawkwind pulling their gig at War Of The Worlds Heaton Park
> Manchester here is an opportunity to see a band of Ex-Hawkwind members
> performing classic Hawkwind material at a great festival.  For more info
> on Canterbury Fayre visit their website at www.canterburyfayre.com
> Please note the band "Space Ritual.Net" is not Dave Brock's Hawkwind but
> does create on stage the spirit of the 70's Hawkwind ethos and invokes
> the spirit of Barney Bubbles and Robert Calvert.
>
> Also a fund raising benefit for the legal action by Nik Turner is to be
> held on Friday 8th November at the Mean Fiddler Charing Cross Road
> London. Doors open at 7pm and will feature Space Ritual.Net and ex
> members of Hawkwind and members of the Hawkestra and Inner City Unit and
> Tractor plus compere mothership control Andy Dunkley and other special
> guests to be announced .the event is to be known as one of the legendary
> Greasy Truckers Party. In fact it is the 30th anniversary Greasy Truckers
> Party.
>
> >> Messages from Michael Moorcock about the dispute with Dave Brock
> >> [said"without prejudice"]:
>
> >> This is to confirm that I have not received any royalties or payments
> >> from any of the Hawkwind albums issued by Dave Brock.  It has been
> >> very obvious for some years that Dave has, wherever possible, removed
> >> the work of writers like myself and Bob Calvert from reissued albums
> >> and has generally behaved in a an unethical way.  While I have been
> >> generally silent on these matters, since I have respected the idealism
> >> of the fans, for instance, it has been obvious for many years that
> >> Dave has been as it were feathering his own nest at the expense of the
> >> other members of the band, especially the best known members of
> >> Hawkwind.  He has continued to put bands together which he has called
> >> 'Hawkwind' which are in fact only him and various new musicians
> >> (though I know this has not always been the case) and has clearly run
> >> the band as his own property, without reference to other founder
> >> members or, indeed, holders of copyright material.  The reason I am
> >> speaking now is because I believe Dave has behaved unethically in
> >> bringing an injunction against you for using the name xhawkwind --
> >> which, it is well known, is not an attempt to pose as Hawkwind but to
> >> let audiences know that a band comprised of many ex-members of the
> >> band, several of whom I have worked with, is making an appearance.
> >> Given Dave's own behaviour in these matters, I write to assure that
> >> any kind words I might have used many years ago about Dave Brock are
> >> no longer verified by his more recent actions.  Please use this letter
> >> however it suits you and, should you need further help or confirmation
> >> in this matter, please let me know how I can help.
>
> >> With all best wishes,
>
> >> Mike Moorcock
>
>
> >> 2nd message from Mike Moorcock "Without Prejudice"To Nik Turner and
> >> The Xhawkwind members:
>
> >> Fuck Dave, then.  He'd sent me something to do with him, a record for
> >> some lyrics, but he can fuck himself.  You know that I'll always side
> >> with you when things get to this point.  If you want to include me in
> >> the band formerly known as xhawkwind.com/spaceritual.net as some sort
> >> of member.  Whatever you think, pard.  I have not just extolled Dave's
> >> virtues.  I've said elsewhere that he was manipulative and greedy.  So
> >> you can always pull those references, should it go that way.  Sod the
> >> bastard.  He has also, of course, removed almost everything by me and
> >> Calvert from reissues, Seems wicked to pull Calvert, Bottom line is
> >> pard, if it's between you[Nik Turner] and Dave Brock- Mr Greed, I'm on
> >> your side Nik.
>
> >> Mike Moorcock
>
> --- End of Forwarded Text ---
>