FAO Hawkwind Band: NikWar Spam

[mark cotton]

Extremely well put! In my opinion, Nik's creative ability disappeared after
the release of 'Xitintoday'

>From: Nick Medford <nick at HERMIT0.DEMON.CO.UK>
>Reply-To: BOC/Hawkwind Discussion List <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
>To: BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU
>Subject: Re: FAO Hawkwind Band: NikWar Spam
>Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 16:32:47 +0100
>
>In message <001901c23fd8$7db20620$f064073e at oemcomputer>,
>Mark Von Bargen <mark.von-bargen at O2.CO.UK> writes
> >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.
>
>Indeed. Much of it is actually irrelevant to the issues at stake e.g. the
>fact
>that "XHawkwind" drew a good crowd at Glasto- bully for them, but
>what's the relevance of that? Much of the message is just thinly-disguised
>advertising for XHawkwind, or spaceritual.net or whatever they're
>calling themselves now.
>
> >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 -
>
>Not sure about that actually. The second one might be, but the first one
>doesn't have the "feel" of a spoken conversation, it reads like a letter.
>
>Thoughts, for what they're worth if anything- I suppose the issues here
>divide into the Artistic and the Financial. As far as the Artistic goes, I
>don't think Nik has a leg to stand on. He wrote a handful of great HW
>songs a very long time ago, and he did some good work with ICU more
>recently- but still a long time ago. But ever since then he has survived by
>guesting with minor space bands and putting together "XHawkwind" and
>rehashing the same set of old HW songs over and over. He's shown
>absolutely no sign of having the wherewithal to do anything really new
>or to move on with his life, for years now.
>
>Meanwhile Dave Brock has kept HW afloat all this time, and had he not
>done so there'd be no Hawkwind legend for Nik and co. to exploit. Nik
>hugely exaggerates his own role in HW, claiming to have been the
>founder, the spokesman, the "conscience" and guiding spirit, and all-
>round counter-cultural guru, hero and saint. I don't doubt that there was
>a
>time when Nik had a strong role in the band's ethos, but he has never
>been a major creative force in the band, a handful of great tracks
>notwithstanding. The strongest impression that comes across is that Nik,
>and maybe certain others, are intensely jealous of Dave and the rest of
>the current line-up. Maybe because Dave has the talent, determination
>and self-discipline that Nik so blatantly lacks these days. It does make
>me really sad to see the once mighty Thunder Rider reduced to this. I
>fully agree with Colm that it's become nauseating to see Nik Turner
>constantly invoking the "spirit of HW" and the names of people who are
>no longer with us, when in the end this is mainly about money.
>
>Moorcock's comments are pretty unconvincing too- re. Dave putting
>together new line-ups: fluid line-ups, with new people coming in and old
>hands returning intermittently- have been part of HW ever since its
>inception, indeed Moorcock himself would never have been involved
>were this not the case. Also, I think many people who have received
>XHawkwind flyers and publicity would dispute the claim that there
>hasn't been a deliberate attempt to pass the band off as HW. I personally
>feel that material I received was deliberately ambiguous in this regard,
>but I accept that's a subjective view that can't be proved either way.
>
>It remains to be seen whether Lemmy is really siding with Nik- his
>comments in the recent Record Collector HW feature suggest he's not
>overly sympathetic to Nik, but we'll see.
>
>OK, so that's the Artistic. As far as the Financial goes, we all know there
>are a welter of dodgy HW comps and live albums on the market. My
>impression is that many of these emanate from Nik and Dave Anderson,
>although Nik claims that royalties are paid out to all who merit them on
>these releases. He seems to be saying that there are other albums- maybe
>the Weird CDs, maybe more recent live albums like "Business Trip" and
>"Yule Ritual", I really don't know what he's referring to- where royalties
>aren't going to those who should get them. None of us really know
>whether this is true, so maybe we should refrain from comment on that
>part. What we *do* know, though, is that writing credits on some albums
>have been changed, seemingly to favour Brock and other current
>members, and I must admit, I have always wondered what is going on
>there. Maybe there is an innocent explanation, I really don't know.
>
>Actually, I don't doubt that Dave Brock can be completely ruthless when
>he deems it necessary. And I have no problem with that. Were it not so,
>HW would have imploded about 28 years ago.
>
>Just out of interest, how can Mick Slattery be pursuing Dave for non-
>payment of royalties? Does he actually appear on any HW releases?
>
>All in all, another sorry saga. At least this one's on-topic. Hope they
>sort
>it out, preferably in private- the tactic of spamming fans anonymously
>strikes me as desperate and underhand, and if Nik think he's gonna win
>over the fanbase by doing so, I suspect he's in for a nasty shock.
>
>Nick
>
>
> >> --- 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 ---
> >>
>
>--
>Nick Medford




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