Pioneers of the space-rock sound, Hawkwind are probably best known for the track “Silver Machine”. Their regular sci-fi themes featured dystopian futures, a fascination that resulted in occasional collaborations with sci-fi writer Michael Moorcock. They regularly positioned themselves outside of the establishment – and even outside of the Isle of Wight festival when they played on the other side of the fence – and were also known for performing overnight during the solstice at Stonehenge.
The band first entered the British public consciousness in 1972 when "Silver Machine" reached the Top 5 of the singles chart. The heavy space-rock sound has been their trademark ever since, and although they never troubled the charts again, they gathered enough of an album-focussed fanbase to release over 30 studio LPs through the next four decades.
Even though myriad players would come and go and come back through the ranks of the band, each member of the group brought something with them that helped the band’s sound evolve, from their blues-rock beginnings to the heavy space-rock of the mid-70s, and even on to a new wave phase in the late 70s when the group took a detour as ‘the Hawklords’. One-time bassist Lemmy would go on to form classic heavy metal group Motorhead, while ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker played with Hawkwind during the early 80s. The only constant member has been Dave Brock, who still remains with the band after forming them nearly 40 years ago. Hawkwind remain a touring act today, and recently featured crazy Arthur Brown as their stand-in singer.
