#63 - Dave Brock of Hawkwind Interview: remembering busking in London

[@Baduil]

I can't believe we're going to loose him at some point. He's inmortal in my imagination.

[@utkuatas5191]

This is exactly what I've been thinking about for years. We lost important members of Hawkwind and many other space rock legends. I'm seriously worried about Dave's turn. He gives me a different impression from the others, in my eyes he is identified with space rock.

[@waynesilverman3048]

HE is very thin but better then over weight as more unhealthy.

[@ianwilkinson4602]

What a great man Dave is, so unassuming and humble. The first album I ever bought was Hawkwind's first self named album,with its fabulous leaf lizard art work, what a great buy that turned out to be, it changed my musical outlook for life. We love you Dave, thanks for the great interview Tom.

[@captnodge]

Ditto

[@dab42bridges80]

Been a fan of Hawkwind since the first album, seen them live many times, was there for the recording of the Space Ritual. One of my top 5 favorite bands. Still searching space...

[@ZalMoxis]

Hate to break it to you.... space is fake and not as described.....

[@HaraldEngels]

I am since 50 years a fan of Hawkwind. I was glad to see them live again in 2019 in the Royal Albert Hall (50 years anniversary concert). I like that the band returned during the last years to the 70s roots. It is great to see Dave Brock still going strong with his 80 years of age. Hopefully he can still perform live for many more years.

[@zuzanna1456]

Wow amazing

[@ianwilkinson4602]

All through the life of Hawkwind it has always been a sort of an organic progression as members have come and gone, as situations and circumstances change they have adapted as they are doing now, the driving force has always been Dave Brock, the ultimate troubadour.

[@davebrody9315]

Absolutely love Hawkwind Great interview With an Amazing man

[@garypoole8597]

I have followed hawkwind since I was16 and I'm 53 now and my dying wish would be to meet dave Brock . He is Mr hawkwind and i love him to bits..how can i meet him as so many of the original band have passed away ?

[@ianwimbles1440]

Dave dont you mean kris likes fats domino ?her story is hilarious!she was sat next to fats and thought someone said that this is my dad she misheard the person what he said was that this is fats/fats domino oh kris I think it’s time for an hearing test girl

[@ianwimbles1440]

I can ask his daughter and wife if it could be possible?

[@royferguson3909]

you and I are the same

[@daveellisblues]

​@@ianwimbles1440please ask for me, I've wanted to meet Dave and jam for decades..

[@MassiveLib]

Thanks for helping us through our teens Dave. Quark n Astounding sounds and sticky black. ❤️

[@andyharding9542]

Loved the sticky Afghan 😊

[@tonystoakley5816]

My mother is a Huge Hawkwind fan as I am ..Thanks Dave your a legend my memories my mum playing the early stuff with what id say is the classic line up Simon King on drums Lemmy on Bass Stacia ...Happy Days 😃

[@kevinmorse8814]

Dave , the lost member of the Chuckle Brothers. He's a legend and a great leader of the Hawkwind Ship👍

[@kathymcbride2425]

seen hawkwind 13 times and over 1000 hours of albums my top band and my best friends got so many of their albums first time i saw hawkwind 1973 tunbridge wells dave is such a cool guitarist and singer thanks dave x

[@cj-xr2hm]

Thankyou Dave for all the years of absolute pleasure! First time hearing Hawkwind all those years ago completely blew me away and seen the band many times, more inportantly though youre a lovely bloke!! Keep rocking 🙏🏻

[@mukhumor]

Legend. Beautiful guy. Rock on Dave.

[@thearmchairspacemanOG]

Dave's the biggest influence on my art and my life. went to space with him on vinyl, never came back.. ;) there's not a single hawk album I don't love and draw inspiration from.

[@eldons1518]

One of the greatest and yet one of the most obscure musicians and bands of all time. Why is Hawkwind not in line famously with Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple etc? Why is Dave Brock not a legend? He is IMO!

[@kramalerav]

Hawkwind aren’t as famous as those classic rock bands you mentioned because their off-kilter and dirty sound wasn’t accessible for a record company to market to a wider audience. Their overall musical approach is much closer to punk rock than classic rock. And that’s a very good thing. Blue Oyster Cult put out some fantastic material with their first several albums, but they (more or less) got stale and dumbed down after hitting it big and allowing Columbia Records to package their sound and image. They’re now a nostalgic act. I’m so glad bands like HW refused to go that direction.

[@valley_robot]

I for one am glad they are obscure to most , that means they are true to their art and they are just for me and fellow hawk fans

[@johnirwin2163]

Get back in your coffin dave

[@volpeverde6441]

HAWKWIND WENT AGAINST THE GRAIN.... almost everything song sounded like it was about TRIPPING....SILVER MACHINE? did the squares think that was a drug street name....? GOLDEN VOID, TIME WE LEFT THIS WORLD TODAY, BRAINSTORM....etc. ....SPACE RITUAL (getting spaced out) can't play that on the radio.... then there was URBAN GUERRILLA - when the I.R.A. was at its height... .ROBOT , HIGH RISE, UNCLE SAMS ON MARS....painted a bleak future and poked at government bullshit.... HASSAN I SABHA must have hit the mark as well....(terrorism if written today) there was the SUPERNATURAL sounding stuff.... WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME, PSI POWER, LEVITATION....SPIRIT OF THE AGE, ANGELS OF DEATH....GREEN FINNED DEMON, SEA KING, DRAGONS AND FABLES.... to frighten off all the RELIGIOUS NUTTERS.... along with the moorcook /ELVES/MAJICK/DRAGON songs....THE CHRONICLE OF THE BLACK SWORD....etc then a bunch of songs with titles like ZONES, HEADS, SWORD OF THE EAST.,IMAGES,...and finally more songs about TRIPPING ( L.S.D..) what about 3 OR 4 ERECTIONS.....? SPUTNIK STAN, XENOMORPH, BLUE SKIN....too off at a tangent for the soft rockers.... Mr and Mrs SQUARE are gonna steer well clear of this EVIL HIPPY DRUGGY, SUPERNATURAL,SWORD AND SORCERY, SPACE ROCK,CONTROVERSIAL band.... HAWKWIND are FREAKS for the FREAKS.... I love em....

[@kathymcbride2425]

good old hawkwind xx

[@davidsmithamith2115]

Good interview with dave I followed hawkwind since 1973 owning a huge collection of albums the whole lot dave must miss playing live but everybody has got to stay safe I saw hawklords in the live rooms in chester they were great my favourite albums mountain grill warrior xeon codex electric teepee distant horizon all aboard the skylark onward etc live space ritual and the brilliant live chronicles new album good it's a shame nik and dave fell out my guitar hero has always been rithie blackmore the best for me I think hawkwind is up there with the greatest bands ever the other kings of progress rock is pink floyd if you read this dave have you heard of dream theater amazing musicians the first band I saw live was slade who must be one the greatest live bands ever congrats on the bands 51 year in 2020 I look forward to the next 50 years I think bob Calvert was a troubled genius rest in in peace bob

[@HLamarThomas]

Huw Lloyd-Langton!

[@kathymcbride2425]

only seen hawkwind 13 times tunbridge well bournemouth stonehenge and twice in norwich thanks dave great experience x

[@royferguson3909]

but you are under 30 years of age !

[@kathymcbride2425]

first time seeing hawkwind in tunbridge wells with lemmy too i was 15 or 16 1972 or 3 xx love your music soooooooooooooo much thanks xx

[@robertedwards7695]

Yes I agree ! What a great man who fronted a band with even greater music, Along with Lemmy of course. 😊

[@captnodge]

Saw them in Trentham gardens in the 70s. Stonedhenge in the 80s then their 50 year anniversary tour in Brighton. 2019.great band nice guy . May he live long It's like listening to a old friend when hearing him tell these stories of the band.god I wished I still had my greasy truckers album

[@smithpm81]

met dave outside a hippy shop opposite the city hall in sheffield in october 1982, got his autograph, highlight for a 17 year old HW fan

[@smithpm81]

Pippys was the name of the shop

[@PrinceEnki2112]

Long live Capt. Brock!

[@smitbar11]

He will be 80 this Friday the 20th August, Bless 😀😀😀

[@walkingtheboogie]

Nice interview. Interesting questions.

[@chelseapoet3664]

He looked about 58 here. What's his secret? Music keeps him young! Never stop playing, people!

[@quarkstangenessandcharm3936]

Soundtrack to many lives created by this man and friends...cool.carry on

[@krisscanlon4051]

Brock wow! Hawkwind baby !

[@psychupmelodies]

Thanks to the poster for this marvelous interview, *+1* and subscribed

[@madmad8582]

ty Tom Cridland i enjoyed the interview of Dave Brock way cool good work it did lag a bit but got better towards the end Rock on :-)

[@stephennicolay1940]

Brocktastic!

[@andybull4417]

Nice interview ,have ordered the new album , looking forward to hearing . you look happy and well Dave , many thanks for all the great music

[@myboythom]

Have seen hawkwind more times than I can list saw them at the Stonehenge summer solstice celebration in 1984 first saw them in the Birmingham Odeon in 1983 and have always been a fan

[@royferguson3909]

boy child

[@karllux-d6g]

He is the Keeper of the Outer Limits, hope the HLO plays for long years and that Commander Brock shall beat the Monolith. Heard his guitar, voice and songs late 75, in Portugal, on a Saturday, doing a Math homework with equations (7th grade, 12yr-old). For the ideal backdrop i turned the radio on and tuned in a national FM station, not necessarily a usual rock station, but which sort of had those random rock radio shows, especially on weekends. All of a sudden the guy announces ''the British group Hawkwind and their new album Warrior on the Edge of Time'', giving it some focus and highlighting it through the afternoon ( on the same show, they were also playing Camel, and if i remember well, Caravan, as those were the Prog days...). I only managed to get the album a decade after, but that was one remarkable Hawkwind ''baptism''. I'm almost sure it was on RDP1 fm channel; the country had been in political turmoil up until Nov25th, when the moderate forces took over the communist apparatus, then i guess this may have happened around December. I say, I've been listening to Hawkwind for 49 years! That's company with staying power.

[@assimonem1189]

So many ppl want to get to talk to dave Brock. It is good to get an interview where the querent is not starstruck. so we get a good session. Dave B is famous for not being famous. So, yes, A great interview. There are many more things we would like to ask, but hey, pretty good, very good--100%. thanks.

[@michaelroche5744]

Love ya Dave

[@frankstecker5675]

The Master of Spacerock all time 🛸

[@uncleambient]

Very good interview.

[@joannakatsuno7096]

Saw them at Goldsmiths uni in about 1972 and use to trip out to in search of space

[@piotrholinej5684]

For me Hawkwind rulez at 1975 - this is my first contact with their music!

[@kathymcbride2425]

see hawkwind 4 times at stone henge and yes it was free amazing x

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

Good interview except very disappointing to hear Dave Brock omit mentioning Nik Turner as a founder member from 11:45 .He really needs to give it up with his petty squabbles just because Nik called a band 'Ex Hawkwind' because it was made up of ex members........ In fact here is a highly interesting and truthful statement from Nik Turner 7 years ago where he captures the true ethos of the band and what the whole point of them were............................ Nik Turner about 7 years ago ''MY DEAR FRIENDS, I MUST SAY I DO SYMPATHISE WITH YOUR CONFUSION AND CONCERN ABOUT THE LATEST ROUND IN THE HAWKWIND SAGA. LET ME SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE MATTER. I WAS A FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE BAND ‘’GROUP X’,’ HAWKWIND ZOO’ AND ‘HAWKWIND’.[IN FACT THE BAND’S NAME ‘HAWKWIND’ WAS COINED AS A NAME FOR ME, BY THE LATE JOHN HARRISON, THE BAND’S BASS-PLAYER, NO LESS], TO DESCRIBE CERTAIN UNSAVOURY HABITS OF MINE, OF BREAKING WIND AND SPITTING, A HABIT I HAVE NOW GROWN OUT OF!!??1. THE BAND ULTIMATELY WAS SIGNED BOTH JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY, TO UNITED ARTISTS RECORDS, AS ‘HAWKWIND’, THE MEMBERS COMPRISING MICK SLATTERY, TERRY OLLIS, JOHN HARRISON, DIKMIK DAVIS, DAVE BROCK AND MYSELF. AFTER I HAD LEFT THE BAND, ME BEING THE LAST OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS TO BE MANIPULATED OUT OF THE BAND BY DAVE, IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME BY DOUG SMITH, THAT ALL THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE BAND MIGHT FORM THEIR OWN BANDS E.G. NIK TURNER’S HAWKWIND, TERRY OLLIS’S HAWKWIND, DIKMIK DAVIS’S HAWKWIND, MICK SLATTERY’S HAWKWIND, JOHN HARRISON’S HAWKWIND AND DAVE BROCK’S HAWKWIND. NO-ONE DID SO AT THE TIME, BUT IN 1994, WHILST TOURING USA I CALLED MY BAND NIK TURNER’S HAWKWIND, AND FOUND MYSELF THREATENED WITH INJUNCTION, BY THE BAND’S AGENT, AND THE THEN AGAIN MANAGER DOUG SMITH. AT THE TIME I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE NAME HAD BEEN TRADE-MARKED IN BRITAIN, AND IN FACT HAD NOT BEEN TRADE-MARKED IN USA, SO THESE THREATS WERE COMPLETELY SPURIOUS IN THE USA. WHEN DAVE DECIDED TO TRADE-MARK THE NAME, ‘HAWKWIND’, HE WAS ADVISED BY DOUG SMITH, HIS MANAGER, TO GET THE PERMISSION OF ALL THE MUSICIANS ON THE ORIGINAL UNITED ARTISTS AGREEMENT, WHO HAD JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY SIGNED THE AGREEMENT AS ‘HAWKWIND’. THIS HE DID NOT DO, AND THE TRADE MARK WAS REGISTERED IN DAVE’S NAME, WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF, OR REFERENCE TO, THE OTHER PARTIES. THAT TRADE-MARK THEN STOOD, AND DAVE INJUNCTED ME FOR CALLING MY BAND EX-HAWKWIND, [ALL MEMBERS BEING EX-MEMBERS OF HAWKWIND], CLAIMING I WAS TRYING TO PASS MY BAND OFF AS HAWKWIND, WHICH OF COURSE, I WAS NOT. UNFORTUNATELY I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIGHT THE CASE, WAS ILLY-ADVISED BY MY SOLICITOR, DESERTED BY MY MANAGER , AND ENDED UP SETTLING THE MATTER OUT OF COURT, TO MY COST. IN THE CURRENT SITUATION, IN THE U.S.,THE NAME HAWKWIND WAS TRADE-MARKED IN MY NAME, IN ORDER THAT I MIGHT ATTEMPT TO REDRESS THE SITUATION AND PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT, BY TRANSFERRING THE TRADE-MARK TO THE NAMES OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNATORIES OF THE ORIGINAL UNITED ARTISTS CONTRACT, TERRY OLLIS, MICK SLATTERY, DIKMIK DAVIS, JOHN HARRISON, [DECEASED], AND RATHER THAN DAVE BROCK, DAVE BROCK’S SON, PASCO BROCK. HAWKWIND AT THE OUTSET WAS ALWAYS A ‘PEOPLES’ BAND, WITH A COMMUNAL SPIRIT WITH ALTERNATIVE IDEA, AND IDEALS, IN AN ALTERNATIVE CUTURE .THOSE WHO WISH TO MAY JUDGE ME AS THEY SEE FIT, BUT THIS WAS DONE OUT OF A SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS, AND INCLUSIVENESS, AND I HOPE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT IT A WAY FORWARD. BEST WISHES AND LOVE TO YOU ALL, SEE YOU AT A FESTIVAL VERY SOON, NIK TURNER, XXXXXXX ''

[@zippymufo9765]

Nice propaganda effort, but Turner wasn't even calling his last effort "Ex-Hawkwind", it was called "Nik Turner's Hawkwind", and Brock won that lawsuit fair and square in 2017. Turner can't use the name, he should stop trying.

[@stevenporter8740]

I know this is a little pedantic, but I think Nik wasn't actually a founder member of the band that Dave is talking about, that morphed into Hawkwind; didn't he join (even if it was just a few months later) after they had started gigging? I had it in my mind that the band started without a real name (Group X?) and Nik joined as a roadie because he had a van, later joining as a musician. A very important member, without doubt, but not quite there right at the beginning.

[@kramalerav]

Nik is persona non grata to Dave. I’m pretty sure not mentioning him and his past involvement in the band is a stipulation for conducting an interview.

[@swinetrek]

Your and Nik's version of the truth. Turner might have played on the first album but according to all sources he started as a roadie who had a van. Later he "joined" the band on sax. So, for me, not an original member.

[@myboythom]

I was a big turner fan I have seen inner city unit lots of times in their hey day and have worked with Nik on a personal level as well but I have to say that the bug bear between Dave and Nik is long time festering and is probably a lot more complicated than we are privy to

[@AnGoosen]

Great interview, good questions to a very interesting, nice guy

[@keefsmiff]

Dave also invented the shelf...what a ledge

[@henrylee1501]

Yes great to see Dave and nice interview Tom. Good to see interest from next generation. Took my son to see them at the Coronet a few years ago. Amazing

[@MrJameslascko]

Nice one, Dave. It seems the break has done you good. You look healthy and happy! Keep on keeping on - and thanks for all the great music... ;-)

[@pascoebrock5877]

nice interview in a strange time

[@Maliceuk]

I cant work out what room is he in. The conservatory? I remember Eel Pie Island as our Mum`s folks lived out at Ham. Everyone seemed to com from around that way back then. I wished we had stayed in Putney.

[@Maliceuk]

hes looking so old now,well but old :(

[@spidericemidasiosmusicprod1309]

❤

[@rudolfx1070]

Dave; was the Lyceum your catalyst for covering Cymbaline? (Ian, once failed an) audition!

[@ianwimbles1440]

Hawkfest 2021 and I got to see the best thing ebb talking to Dave and kris about 7/8early Friday morning and I see ebb and Dave do an impromptu acoustic rendition of demented man not once but twice one for you tube where you can see it!and me and my dog were just a few feet away just thinking wow you can see hawkwind but how many see something as special as that?made my festival!

[@kathymcbride2425]

ps when are you playing at the uea next norwich

[@neilfletcher9294]

I live in Deven I live next to Dave he is a lovley member of hawkwind who

[@Pleroma0967]

Hawkwind the best.

[@alanlevy9193]

Dave looks like he's "Going To Hawaii"! :)

[@exelchannel8806]

Why are you ''Writing Like This''?

[@tommanserable]

I'd love to be mates with Dave.

[@myboythom]

Who knows Richard Chadwick (the drummer) original band smart pils??

[@marckoplin9738]

We Wish You Well and Wish You Could Play The Hard Rock Fort Lauderdale Florida A Benefit Concert Here for All Us Hurricane Victims in South Florida! Light Show Would be Above Because, Hawk wind Live in Weston would Be Amazing for All of Us In America's Warm Tropical Key West are laid back friendly Places Whenever You're Looking Forward to it Holiday in the Tropics! Hawk wind Needs To Come Back For All of US. Miss Seeing you along time ago in NYC. Freaking Funtimes!

[@AlunEpps-ip9ys]

MotU - the wind of time is blowing through him

[@pujapete3665]

dont mention the turner :)

[@Maliceuk]

I can imagine him liking the lockdown...not getting bothered by guests arriving.

[@tb-cg6vd]

Something's gone wrong, Dave Brock is nearly 80. This time business is outrageous.

[@smitbar11]

80 on Friday 20th

[@kramalerav]

It’s c-c-cold on the edge of Time.

[@markblue5375]

Dave is a big fan of Steve Miller

[@mdog111]

Thanks for an enjoyable interview but gosh the hate must run deep! For Mr B to have spoken at length about the early history of Hawkwind and managed to name check most of those involved apart from 'He Whose Name Must Never Be Mentioned' was quite a feat! RIP Mr Turner. Some of us don't wish to see you written out of musical history.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Solid legend (till the mid 90's) ....He should've parked the Hawkwind ship around 1999 and not piss over his brilliant band's legacy . Brock released "many albums" ..the many of those are countless mediocre live bootleg albums🥱 He made about 26 studio albums and about four official good quality live albums. The rest is crud . Which in itself is a great achievement . No band I know of managed to release 25 good albums .

[@kramalerav]

Look, I love the Space Ritual era just as much as the next guy, but too many fans are too dismissive of the newer (studio) albums. Skylark and The Machine Stops are FANTASTIC albums when taken on their own in terms of musical merit. And as far as the 90s output, Electric Teepee and Alien4 were also very solid and interesting outings. If it’s only the old classic sound you’re interested in, I recommend you check out the couple of recent Nik Turner albums which are outstanding (Space Gypsy was my pick for album of the year).

[@PAULLONDEN]

@@kramalerav As I admitted , till far into the 90's Brock released good stuff. Plus a few interesting isolated tracks in later years .The Hawkwind legend rests mostly on its 70s and 80s output . "The Machine " is indeed an isolated interesting later release. It's the countless mediocre (official released) live albums and re recordings that pollute the legacy. Especially the album cover 'art' ,unlike the 70's, seemed to have been cobbled together on Dave's own PC in a few spare moments . Often about these cliché bug eyed aliens 🖕👽

[@royferguson3909]

did your Dad help you write this ?

[@PAULLONDEN]

@@royferguson3909 Yup ..unlike your dad he taught me where to use caps. 😉

[@cynicalsyndicalist4599]

funny i thought Nik Turner was in the classic early line up , but no mention of him lol

[@MarcT7761]

He started as a roadie,much like Lemmy,only joined the band cos he had a van....

[@Shaunstonard]

shit stirrer...

[@tonybailey1482]

And your point is? As much as I like Nik's various output over the decades Dave is the only founding member left in Hawkwind.

[@AnGoosen]

7 years in total the other 43 he was not. Dave's been doing it for 50 years plus and doing it well. Made many people very happy, especially myself .

[@nodiggity9472]

Yeah, funny that. Especially since Nik casually pulled that "Space Gypsy" out of his arse a few years ago. That's easily the best Hawkwind album of the last 25-30 years. Or it could have been if Dave wasn't such a grudgy fuck.

[@kathymcbride2425]

top gezza x

[@myboythom]

Warrior at the edge of time...hall of the mountain grill...doremi.... space ritual.....in search of space..... also don't discount... levitation..... church of...... choose your masque....... I could go on but those I've listed and probably hawklords....angels of death start with these I've listed and you should get the hawkwind thing

[@MARVELOUDIO]

Led Zep , Deep Purple , Black Sabbath ... they are really wonderfull but Hawkwind invented SPACEROCK and put music on another level !! It is the ultimate music for the future , matching it with science-fiction and fantasy! But bring in some Pink Floyd now!

[@royferguson3909]

Great input . . 💩

[@rudolfx1070]

All time get off the Henge this year, Dave!!!! Seriously! There's a hoard of Kubrick apes knuckling up from Segobriga. They want you off !! Tell the others...

[@myboythom]

In fact I just thought I first saw the hawks at donning ton monsters of rock in 1982 probably wasn't their best gig but in all honesty having been to the monsters of rock festival in 1981 I only went to 1982 specifically to see hawkwind... I mean status quo headlined that year FFS

[@ZalMoxis]

Sorry coof was a hoax..... poor old Dave is dithering under that misapprehension......

[@johnirwin2163]

I loved you in 1972 3 4 5 but please stop dont be the oldest swinger in town ,dats sad .

[@nonoiker]

I think around 1990 .. Space Bandits, Live legends DVD etc is one of their best periods