HW:Another HW Book?

[Ian Abrahams]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Siegerman" <erics at TELEPRES.COM>
>
> Really, why is it that "indie" bands are considered gutsy and
> enterprising, but "self-published" authors merely desperate?
>
> Let's hear it for independent book publishing!

Well, I think its because indie labels came out of the punk-era "DIY" ethic
whereas authors self-publishing smacks of vanity press so the two things
appear to be poles apart.

I'm quite chuffed that Omnibus are publishing a Hawkwind book. Its good news
that such a big publishing company think there is marketability in the band.
I hope its going to be a great book - I also hope that come September mine
will already be around (whether through a smaller publishing house or
through my own financial commitment to the project) and I can put them side
by side and say "hey, I didn't do so bad"... My fear is that the Omnibus
book will be "Ladbroke Grove, Lots of Drugs, Silver Machine, Space Ritual,
Lemmy gets sacked, and oh, the band is still going today" - but thats an
unfair pre-judgement really. But I've a hunch that if you want that, the
Omnibus is the one to get, if you want Ron Tree's honest and touching
appraisal of why he's not in Hawkwind today, then mine is the version to go
for. But we'll all buy both,surely!

Hey, its good news that there is this increased interest in the band. There
*should* be a book .. there can be more than one and the market will stand
it, I'm sure. I've kept relatively quiet on list (though its not been a
secret by any means) about what I've been upto - mainly because I wanted a
publisher first. I have quite an amount of interviews conducted with past
and current members, associated musicians and views from members of this
list (any anybody who has recollections, views to offer, we're out in the
open now, drop me a note off-list). I also have my old friend Keith Topping
acting as editor on the project (watch for his book "The Complete Clash" due
in October for the sort of standard I've got to be aiming at) so its a
little more than a glorified fanzine project (though theres nowt wrong with
that, of course).

Ian