HW: Official Post From Hawkwind

[Bryan Young]

Some bands actually sell their boots online.  Nazareth has a website where
you can order a few.  Not much, but the price is halfway-decent and it's
nice that they're making the effort.

So, maybe this is another reason why the announcement was made.  Since we're
in "speculation mode", how about this scenario?

---incoming transmission received----
<<<<<decoding>>>>>
------message begins----
Hawkwind Announces Fan-Based Program To Sell Bootlegs Online

   by Lou Zehr, Assimilated Press

The world was taken by storm earlier today with announcements by the mighty
Hawkwind that fan-taping and cdr-trading of live shows was requested to
cease.

All tapers are asked not to record any further Hawkwind concerts.  All fans
are asked not to trade any such "bootlegs" amongst themselves.

In place of this, a new structure will be created.  A fan-based program will
now sell these recordings online.  One designated taper has been officially
contracted to travel with the band and serve as official "fan-taper".  His
works will be submitted to the quality control experts at the Neo-Quark
Institute, who will master the recording to cdr and produce tasty artwork to
accompany the piece of music history.  Then, a fan-based cdr network will
create cdr copies "on demand" each time the Hawkwind Mission Control
receives a Galactic Transfer for a cdr order.  The price will be quite low,
as no excess copies need to sit around in a warehouse.  And the band will
receive a tangible benefit from the distribution of these recordings.

However, for this initiative to work properly, all trading must be
completely stamped out.  Since it does NOT result in fewer live recordings
available (rather, it results in a more reliable source and better quality),
it's expected that all fans will buy into the new system.

---end of transmission---

Now, that's a GOOD reason that I would stand behind.  And Colin's the guy to
swing such a deal.  So, Colin, is that the secretive news that you've got?
Or is the speculation train of thought on the wrong tracks once again?

Cheers,

Bryan



----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Mather" <paul at GROMIT.DLIB.VT.EDU>
To: <BOC-L at LISTSERV.SPC.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 5:36 PM
Subject: Re: HW: Official Post From Hawkwind


> On Wed, Dec 11, 2002 at 10:48:19PM -0000, Colin J Allen wrote:
>
> => This decision has nothing to do with protecting (or increasing) sales
of
> => legitimate releases.  It is a decsion that has been reached for sound
> => reasons which involve the future viability of the band.
>
> I have to admit that this whole thing grows more mysterious by the minute
> (in a potboiler-ish sort of way:). :-)
>
> So, was it because Alan said he'd quit the band unless they issued
> an edict telling those mofos in the audience to stop taping? >;-)
>
> (Next crackpot theory, please...:)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Paul.
>
> e-mail: paul at gromit.dlib.vt.edu
>
> "Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production
>  deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid."
>         --- Frank Vincent Zappa