John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

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John Peel Wiki
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Hawkwind

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Hawkwind_-_Silver_Machine_(Promo)_Complete

Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are considered a key link between the hippie and punk cultures. Hawkwind are primarily known for playing "space-rock", a hybrid of hard-rock and acid-rock that united the sonic power of the former and the free improvisation of the latter. Formed in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and styles of music. Dozens of musicians, dancers and writers have worked with the group since their inception. (Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links To Peel[]

Although Hawkwind had no more than a couple of Peel sessions, the DJ had relatively close ties with in the band in its earliest days. Late in August 1969, Peel saw an ensemble then called Group X at All Saints Hall, Notting Hill (see Gigography 1969). According to the Hawkwind page on Wikipedia:

Gatecrashing a local talent night at the All Saints Hall, Notting Hill, they were so untogether as to not even have a name, plumping for "Group X" at the last minute, nor any songs, choosing to play an extended 20-minute jam on The Byrds "Eight Miles High".[1] BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel was in the audience and was impressed enough to tell event organiser, Douglas Smith, to keep an eye on them. Smith signed them up and got them a deal with Liberty Records on the back of a deal he was setting up for Cochise.

Smith later recalled:

John Peel walked out of the hall, looked at me, and went 'Sign them. Big band.' I walked on, didn't think any more about it, then two months later decided to get involved. Went round to see Peel, dinky toy collection out, playing with it on the floor, and I said 'We got the name John, we got the name. Hawkwind Zoo.' He looked at me: 'Hawkwind Zoo? No. Get rid of the zoo.' And that's how that happened. [2]

In the 1970s Hawkwind became synonymous with the British hippy scene, playing its circuit of club gigs, benefits and free festivals. Although Peel gradually became disillusioned with the underground, they were, at least in their early days, the kind of "people's band" he sympathised with.

Towards the end of the 1970s, Peel also played tracks by Motorhead, featuring former Hawkind bassist Lemmy, as well as Hawklords, an offshoot of the recently disbanded Hawkwind who included former Hawkwind members Robert Calvert, Dave Brock and Simon King.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

None

Sessions[]

1. Recorded 1970-08-18. First broadcast 19 September 1970. Repeated 12 December 1970

  • Hurry on Sundown / Seeing It As You Really Are / Some of That Stuff

2. Recorded: 1971-04-19. First broadcast: 24 April 1971. Repeated: 11 September 1971.

  • Inwards Out, Dreaming / You Shouldn't Do That

Live[]

(Information from the Starfarer site)

  • 15 November 1970 (John Peel's Sunday Concert). Recorded: 1970-11-05, Paris Theatre, London

Set list included:

  1. Paranoia
  2. Seeing It As You Really Are
  3. Untitled Number
  • Both tracks released on The Text of Festival.
  • The band were temporarily banned from BBC sessions after a microphone was stolen at this appearance.

Other Shows Played[]

Hawklords

See Also[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Mick Slattery — www.spaceritual.net
  2. ↑ Douglas Smith — Philm Freax presents...
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