Hawkwind was the seminal British 1970s acid-rock/UK Underground band. Along with the Pink Fairies they were key 'community bands' in Ladbroke Grove home of the Mountain Grill cafe. Their music is fundamentally driving psychedelic rock, cosmic orchestral pieces and even some humorous dance music. Their music usually deals with urban and science fiction themes and in many ways they were the inventors of Space rock.

Formed in the summer of 1969 as Hawkwind Zoo, they were offered a record deal by Liberty Records in November of that year and immediately shortened the band name to Hawkwind. Their live performances quickly gathered them a cult following, partly because they were seen as a 'community' Of the People - For the People group. Their second album In Search of Space was very successful.

During the early 1970s Hawkwind played a number of benefit gigs along with other 'community' bands/artists including The Pink Fairies and Steve Took who, as a key member of the UK Underground went on to work with a number of Hawkwind members.

Hawkwind achieved chart status with the release of the single "Silver Machine" in 1972 (Vocals by Lemmy). Their follow up single "Urban Guerrilla" was withdrawn after increased terrorist activity by the Provisional IRA.

Hawkwind have had a long-standing connection with many free festivals including the Stonehenge free festival that ran from the mid 1970s until banned in 1985. The spirit of these festivals has been reawakened by their last two "Hawkfest" weekends.

On October 21 2001 the Hawkestra, a band formed by virtually all former members of Hawkwind, played a sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy.

Over the years they have had many line-up changes, however Dave Brock has been at the heart of the band since they formed. Other members have included Lemmy Kilmister (who went on to front Motörhead - originally with ex-Pink Fairies guitarist Larry Wallis), Nik Turner, Harvey Bainbridge, Del Dettmar, Huw Lloyd Langton, Robert Calvert, Paul Rudolph (former Pink Fairies/Deviants member) and Twink (another Pinks member!) and more recently, Ron Tree as bassist and frontman.

Also Hawkwind have been known for giving credit to non-musician members of their crew, such as Liquid Len, a lighting engineer, and Stacia, a dancer. Their distinctive graphic design was created by Barney Bubbles, who would later create the graphic identity for Stiff Records, where, due to it being a small world Larry Wallis (Pink Fairies and Motorhead with Lemmy) was an in-house Producer.

The science fiction writer Michael Moorcock has a long association with the band. One of Hawkwind's albums Chronicle of the Black Sword was based largely on his Elric book series. The cover for this album was designed by John Coulthart.

Hawkwind should be credited in part with the genesis of Lemmy's Motörhead speed metal style of music (so named because of the slang name Speed for Amphetamines which the members of Motorhead consumed with relish). Lemmy was sacked from Hawkwind after being arrested at customs with suspected Cocaine, although analysis revealed it was Speed.

Hawkwind also had an influence on some Punk rock and grunge: Former Black Flag and current Rollins Band singer Henry Rollins is a fan, as is Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten, and Jello Biafra.

Hawkwind founder member Nik Turner formed the relatively successful Punk orientated Inner City Unit with former Steve Took's Horns members Judge Trev Thoms and Dino Ferari. Recently, after loosing a court battle over the Hawkwind copyright name has launched SpaceRitual.net (AKA Space Ritual) showcasing new songs and old 70's Hawkwind favorites.

Two recent biographies of Hawkwind have been issued to suppliment Kris Tait's outstanding "This is Hawkwind: Do not Panic". These are Ian Abrams' "Sonic Assassins" (Published by SAF publishing; ISBN: 0946719691) and Carol Clerk's "Saga of Hawkwind" (Publisher: Music Sales Limited ISBN: 1844491013)

Discography

People are recommended to buy the original albums and avoid the repackaged greatest hits. Fortunately these albums are starting to be re-released on CD.

The Space Ritual concept album and Warrior on the Edge of Time in particular are representative of Hawkwind's style at the peak of their success. Their 1980s work is well represented by Levitation and Chronicle of the Black Sword.

The 1990s saw the band moving towards a world music approach.

The first use of the word "psychedelic" in a rock music context is usually credited to the 13th Floor Elevators and their 1966 album The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators.