Hawkwind: Do Not Panic - BBC4 docu. - 30th March

[David Mosley]

Heads up for people with access to digital UK TV:

Hawkwind: Do Not Panic

Told for the first time, the inside story of Hawkwind, one of Britain's wildest acid rock bands. Includes interviews with Lemmy, Terry Ollis, Nik Turner and writer Michael Moorcock.

BBC Four, Fri 30 Mar, 21:00-22:00
BBC Four, Fri 30 Mar, 23:50-00:50
BBC Four, Sat 31 Mar, 02:50-03:50

[Tales from Tanelorn]

Would very much like to see that, but at this point dont know how.

Wonder if they will show it on Canadian CBC?
Somehow I think there is little chance, we cant even get Dr Who out here reliably, just as you start to get into it they take it off again, very bizaar programming strategy indeed.

[Michael Moorcock]

The guy who did this documentary was very smart and generally well above the norm, so I suspect it will be good. He and his crew came to see me in Paris last year. I think he also interviewed Nick Kent. I, too, won't be able to see it, of course. I'll probably have to hope he sends me a DVD or that a friend tapes it for me!

[voilodian ghagnasdiak]

Thanks for the heads up Dave.
To have current day interviews with Mike and other Hawkwind band members is almost too good to be true.
This is a must have item!!!
By whatever means...

[Pietro_Mercurios]

Let's hope they eventually broadcast it on BBC2 and that we still have BBC2 here, when they do.

[Marca]

Sounds like a good documentary. Thanks for the heads-up David. Shame BBC4 couldn't have included some other Mike-related programing to go with it. They are showing a 1971 documentary called The Alternative Society filmed around Notting Hill though.

[Jimski]

Hmmm....a Hawkwind documentary without Dave Brock? I think this may be missing the point somewhat.

Hawkwind: Do Not Panic
BBC Four
Fri 30 Mar, 21:00 - 22:00 60 mins

Told for the first time, the inside story of Hawkwind, one of Britain's wildest acid rock bands. They emerged from the Ladbroke Grove underground at the end of the 1960s, trailing th e radicalism of the counter-culture in their wake, and have been a direct influence on punk, metal, dance and rave - as well as pioneering multimedia rock shows with their legendary Space Ritual tour, and leading the free festival scene from its birth to its apogee at the last Stonehenge in 1984.

Unruly, anarchic, and often at war with themselves, Hawkwind are one of the last great outsider bands. Although the testimony of guitarist and founder member Dave Brock isn't present, the film includes interviews with some of the band's enduring legends, including bassist Lemmy, writer Michael Moorcock, founder members Terry Ollis, Nik Turner and Mick Slattery, former managers Doug Smith and Jeff Dexter, leading rock critic Nick Kent and broadcaster and super-fan Matthew Wright.

[johneffay]

Originally Posted by Jimski

Hmmm....a Hawkwind documentary without Dave Brock? I think this may be missing the point somewhat.

True, but let's face it, if BBC4 was running an hour long documentary consisting solely of Ginger Baker reminiscing about his time in Hawkwind, accompanied by black and white Polaroids, many of us would still be programming the video recorder

[zilch]

Originally Posted by Jimski

Hmmm....a Hawkwind documentary without Dave Brock? I think this may be missing the point somewhat.

Dave Brock does seem to be a bit shy of the limelight, which is a shame, when he does do an interview he comes across very well, quite charming.

Originally Posted by David Mosley

Playing festivals for free is not the same as being 'unconstrained by copyright issues' though is it? You try going into Tower Records and walking out with a batch of Hawkwind CDs under your arm without paying for them and see how far that argument gets you with the local constabulary.

Wouldn't have to, I've got all the Hawkwind I need on vinyl.

[Michael Moorcock]

Not the most appropriate place to tell people I've lost AOL on my desktop for some mysterious reason, but if there are delays in responding, that's why!

[Rothgo]

The Beeb have started streaming quite a few of their shows over the net themselves, so it is possible it might get out that way. Currently there seems only to be some BBC two programs, news programs and sports events, but to quote them:
Coming soon: BBC iPlayer
The BBC is hoping to launch this new easy-to-use service that will let you access both TV and radio programmes via your computer. The plan is that it will include live streaming of TV and also the chance to catch up with programmes you may have missed for up to seven days after broadcast.

[Michael Moorcock]

I think it's going to be a good documentary. A shame Dave wouldn't appear because Nik was on it. I know the director had no intention of raising issues between band members. He's sad Dave wouldn't appear but thinks it covers the heyday of the band well, he said.
News isn't covered by copyright and doesnt require extra fees. Pretty much everything else does. That's a reason you can't access Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour off the BBC -- the American copyright owners don't want us getting it free, since they depend on ads. Can't blame them, but it's frustrating. As it is the British license payer is funding all the rest of us who get regular BBC programmes free. I tried to pay my license but they have no means of selling me one while I'm in the US!

[Tales from Tanelorn]

That is sad. I read somewhere that Dave has said that his only regret was that Nik didnt remain a roady! Anyway I dont want to stir up the proverbial at this point.

[Michael Moorcock]

Well, I too have a regret. I gave Nik a letter to use if Dave sued him and Nik unfortunately went ahead and bunged it up on his site. Although it didn't stop me talking to Nik, it felt like a bit of a betrayal at the time and meant that things were awkward between me and various band members who took Dave's part. I very much regret that letter, which was done in the heat of the moment when I thought Dave was being unreasonably aggressive. I had previously tended to stay out of band wrangles and wish I had done on this occasion. There's no doubt that while Nik was in many ways the 'spirit' of the band, Dave was the person who kept everything together and kept Hawkwind going. I have nothing but praise for Dave's skills and, indeed, his musicianship which has been under-rated, but I suspect there's no way of healing that rift now, for a number of reasons, including the above! This shouldn't stop us enjoying the music.

[voilodian ghagnasdiak]

Mike...you were, and still are a strong influence on Hawkwind's music. I will always consider you as a Hawkwind band member. Your EC concepts have been engraved into HW music for over 35 years and no single individual in the multiverse can ever take that away.
Professional differences are inevitable but should never be allowed to destroy the art.

[Jimski]

Originally Posted by Michael Moorcock

Well, I too have a regret. I gave Nik a letter to use if Dave sued him and Nik unfortunately went ahead and bunged it up on his site. Although it didn't stop me talking to Nik, it felt like a bit of a betrayal at the time and meant that things were awkward between me and various band members who took Dave's part. I very much regret that letter, which was done in the heat of the moment when I thought Dave was being unreasonably aggressive. I had previously tended to stay out of band wrangles and wish I had done on this occasion. There's no doubt that while Nik was in many ways the 'spirit' of the band, Dave was the person who kept everything together and kept Hawkwind going. I have nothing but praise for Dave's skills and, indeed, his musicianship which has been under-rated, but I suspect there's no way of healing that rift now, for a number of reasons, including the above! This shouldn't stop us enjoying the music.

Like many others, it's not my perogative to argue the rights and wrongs of the case (which is well documented elsewhere) but as a long-term fan I do feel I can express a couple of views.

It's a real shame that things went the way they did because it has affected the output of the band. It's understandable that DB wants to protect the entity that he's invested nearly 40 years of his life into and I don't think that it can be held against him (as Lemmy said on TV recently regarding his own collection of memorabilia - it's his pension 'cos there's no retirement in rock & roll). Similarly, NT has a case because he does represent the HW 'spirit' well - I spoke to him recently and he was most helpful and friendly as he's always been over the years and the SpaceRitual.Net shows are good fun.

I feel it's a shame that the rift has polarised opinion so much. There's so few performers left that represent what HW did (and does) - a bloody good show, good attitudes and good degree of literate intelligence. Personally, I miss the readings and poetry because they added a dimension to the shows that I simply haven't seen in any other band.

One thing does spring to mind regarding the documentary - DB seems to want to point the Hawkwind vehicle forwards much of the time and the docu does represent history centred around 35 years ago. Perhaps this, rather than any other agenda, explains his absence?

Well, that's my tuppence worth. Looking forward to seeing the programme tonight.

[Michael Moorcock]

Thanks V. Appreciated.
I agree with you entirely, Jimski. It was a great shame and, as I said, I really regret letting myself be drawn in to the arguments. I'm fond of Nik and really believe the band couldn't have kept going without Dave, who also had tremendous instincts for 'orchestrating' the band's performances. Wish the rift had never happened.

[David Mosley]

The programme is one of the Radio Times' Picks of the Day. Here's their write-up:

Despite having only one top-ten single (Silver Machine) and album (Space Ritual Alive), Hawkwind have a special place in rock history and a growing claim to an influential legacy. This entertaining documentary tells an extraordinary story of a freewheeling, druggy, ramshackle, multimedia, hippy dance band that emerged as the 1960's became the 70s. Most of the band's big names, like Lemmy and writer Michael Moorcock, are here, but not its mainstay, Dave Brock. He's still feuding with Nick Turner, which is all part of the fun, alongside such lost cultural totems as the White Panthers, freak dancing and space rock. It's all rather long, but when did anything involving Hawkwind ever end too soon? (Geoff Ellis)

I'm almost as hyped about this as I am about the return of Doctor Who tomorrow.

[Governor of Rowe Island]

Here is a piece by the documentary maker, Tim Cumming, in The Independent - http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/m...cle2403301.ece

[Kamelion]

10 minutes to go ...

I'm going to record this on DVD. (Assuming I don't arse it up, that is...)