FAO Hawkwind Band: NikWar Spam

[Ian Stirzaker]

Having lurked on the list some time I feel moved to add my comments on the
current situation.

I saw Nik and his boys at Glasto this year. Now there is no getting away
from the fact I enjoyed the gig enormously. I admit my brain was slightly
muddled at the time – hey it was Glastonbury! – but I remember being
surprised at how tight the band sounded.

But lets face it Xhawkwind/Spaceritual just came on and jammed for 2 and a
half hours, not that there is anything wrong with that - and this being the
first time I’d seen them, It was a great trip. A perfect way to start a
festival or a great one off night out, but there is nothing new to what they
do, no innovation or creativity. As a one off Nik’s band are fantastic, but
I suspect they are going to keep on re-hashing the same show – how long they
can get away with that is anyone’s guess and whether I would find a
Xhawkwind/Spaceritual gig as enjoyable on the 5th or 6th hearing is
doubtful.
I remember Nik being somewhat emotional at the gig (not surprising since
he’d just been presented with an injunction) and he did keep going on about
how Dave was suing them and wouldn’t let them play any Brock numbers etc.
etc. One thing I remember clearly though was Nik telling the crowd to write
to the music press in support of him and - perhaps tellingly after the
recent anonymous emails people have received - to email and post on Hawkwind
message boards on the subject.

It seems to me that the dispute has been running for many years, was greatly
fuelled by the Hawkestra tapes debacle and has come to a head with Nik’s
recent escapades.
I don’t think Nik has any right to use the Hawkwind name but then I don’t
agree with Dave using the courts to settle matters either!
I find the whole saga too depressing to further comment on, from what I can
see both parties have legitimate grounds to be pissed off with each other.
Come on guys sort it out. With legal action taking place I can only see
EVERYBODY being a loser – Dave, Nik ,the too many to mention ex Hawks and
the fans are all part of the same thing, the spirit we are all Hawkwind – I
thought that was the WHOLE POINT of it all, don’t tell me I have been
labouring with such a misunderstanding all these years.
The only good thing I can see at the moment is that Moorcock has said he
will never work with Brock again - Hurray! ;o) - but maybe (trying
desperately to be positive) this bust up has been going to happen for a long
time now, so perhaps the boys can finally thrash something out and get back
to what they do best.
And Finally…..
I know Chris Hewitt and OZ-It are not exactly flavour of the month in these
parts but I have to add a final (musical) note. Tractor/The Way We Live who
played just before Nik’s boys at Glasto really were GREAT. Jim Milne and
Steve Clayton put on a storming set, good work guys and good to see after
all these years :o).

Ian




>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: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 08:44:16 -0400
>
>On Mon, 12 Aug 2002 12:47:43 +0100, M Holmes <fofp at HOLYROOD.ED.AC.UK>
>wrote:
>
> >Whenever I've met Nik, I've liked the guy. It's also clear from his work
> >with many bands and festivals that he still has a lot of energy. He also
> >seems to be pretty good at organisation where getting various ex-hawks
> >together is concerned.
>
>Yes, that's all very fair. I haven't met him but I'm sure he's a lovely
>bloke in many ways. And you're right in saying he's had numerous other
>projects, which I've had no problem supporting- I've been to see his
>Fantastic Allstars a few times for example. And one thing he will always
>deserve credit for is his role in the old free festivals.
>
>Problem is that none of these other projects allow him to make a good
>living apparently, which is why we get this kind of thing happening now.
>
>Anyway I don't think there's any point in speculating further until we have
>more facts. The accuracy of what we've been told so far is very
>questionable. I think Brock is taking the right approach by keeping quiet,
>at least until things are resolved in some way.
>
>Nick




_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com