HW: New Hawkwind Biography Confirmed

[Ian Abrahams]

Folks,

With apologies to everybody who has got this message twice, here's the news I've been waiting to confirm regarding the Hawkwind biography that I've been working on this year.

I signed a contract last weekend with SAF Publishing Ltd to deliver, for publication we anticipate in September 2004, a biography of Hawkwind entitled "Sonic Assassins". Subtitle is to be confirmed, but provisionally "The Hawkwind Cosmos".

110,000 words plus photographs and other illustrations (if half of the items we have been promised come to fruition, the illustrative content will be terrific). Hardback edition.

The text is based on a substantial number of new interviews with current "core" members, past members, friends & relations and also contains a detailed appendices with a "tracks & references" section that has references, allusions, inspirations and anecdotes.

SAF Publishing Ltd are a terrific little company who appear very excited about this project. They have a passion for rock music, and for good quality rock books. I think there is a great synergy between this book and SAF's back catalogue which includes editions on Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Alex Harvey, Mountain and a host of other subjects. They have good distribution into UK bookstores like Borders, Waterstones & Ottakars and an on-line shop in association with London's Helter Skelter bookshop. Visit them at http://www.safpublishing.com/ - they haven't starting listing next year's projects yet but its well worth having a look at their current list. I'm extremely pleased to be working with them, I'm sure together we are going to produce the book that Hawkwind deserve to have written about them, and that members of our discussion groups will be pleased with the end result. 

I am open to donations of photographs etc for the interior - if you have anything you'd like to offer please drop me a note off-list. It *must*, however, be something you have the copyright for!

I'm also scouting around for contemporary reviews of albums from Hawklords onwards, if anyone can do any scans or photocopies, again a note off list would be appreciated.

Finally, many apologies to anybody who has been waiting on e-mails from me over recent months - this is why!

Wish us luck, folks - I think this'll be good!

Ian