HW: Hawkwind - Sonic Assassins

[Ian Abrahams]

With apologies for those getting this message more than once, here's an update on the Hawkwind biography that I've been working on:

Title is Hawkwind - Sonic Assassins, publisher SAF Publishing Ltd, release date 31st July 2004, UK £25, US $40, hardcover.

Amazon are now listing the book on their UK site (I understand it will be on their US site really soon) with a pretty generous pre-publication discount offer running. SAF will have it on their own website in the next few days: www.safpublishing.com - that's well worth a visit anyway, their current list has books on Morrissey, Mountain, Coil, Devo, Focus and many others - they've also published works on Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream.

As it stands, it's 115,000 words of biography, anecdote, critique, song inspirations etc. There's been over 40 new interviews conducted with the current band, past members, "friends & relations", and other associates. We also have a great selection of photographs, many of which have been rarely - if ever - published before, and we have a cover image licensed from Peter Pracownik. 

SAF's publicity sheet describes the book as an "authoritative, high quality biography ... loaded with new interviews and rare illustrations", about a band that "have successfully existed outside the traditional music business... space hippies, proto punks and music cybernauts".

Whilst the book is unofficial, over the last year I've greatly appreciated the support of the band, of Kris, Keith K, Colin & Rik - and of the discussion group members who have helped with news cuttings, memories and encouragement.

So, I think it's going to be a terrific package, from a specialist music publisher run by people who love their music and produce really good quality books. 

Regards
Ian Abrahams