Onward, the new Studio album from legendary mavericks: Hawkwind. Recorded at Earth Studios, the eagerly awaited follow-up to Blood of the Earth (2010 Eastworld records) encapsulates the band in full creative flight with a lavish collection of new music featuring: sound tracks for internet warfare, mantra’s for self realization and electrical systems checks. Revealing ancient prophecies, aligning constellations, urban violence and touchy feely robots. Unfolding harsh primordial soundscapes heralding a new green millennium.

Including luxurious packaging across multi-formats, with exclusive bonus live tracks taken from the Hawk vaults demonstrating the prowess of the late Jason Stuart’s exceptional keyboard playing.
The album seeks to unravel ancient mysteries brought to life with stories of distant past. The rock sure stable line-up starring Dave Brock on vocals, guitar and synthesizer, Richard Chadwick drums and vocals, Tim Blake on Keyboards and Theremin, Mr. Dibs on vocals and bass and Niall Hone on bass, synthesis, sequencing and guitar.
The band is currently working on a new multimedia live show for forthcoming dates.

Stereo melting stuff!

Full track listing for “Onward”

Seasons
The hills have ears (guest guitarist: Huw Lloyd Langton)
Mind Cut
System Check
Death trap
Southern Cross
The Prophecy
Electric Tears
The Drive By
Computer Cowards
Howling Moon
Right to Decide (Bonus Track)
Aerospace Age (Bonus Track)
The Flowering of the rose (Bonus Track)
Trans Air Trucking
Deep Vents
Green Finned Demon

“Onwards” out 30th of April via Eastworld Recordings

Hawkwind on Tour
26th May, Off the Tracks Festival – Donington
30th May, Middlesbrough Town Hall
31st May, Sound, Carlisle
1st June, Tivoli, Buckley
2nd June, Edinburgh Queen’s Hall
3rd June, Holmfirth, Picturedrome

Hawkwind were formed in 1969, originally as “Hawkwind Zoo” by former London busker Dave Brock, although there have been numerous line-up changes throughout the years, he remains at the helm today and is know affectionately by many of the fans as the Captain of the ship.

In 1970, the band appeared outside the perimeter fence of the Isle of Wight Festival as a protest to the admission charge. Jimi Hendrix was spotted in the audience. The same year they played at the first Glastonbury Festival. These activities helped establish them as the people’s band, as well as being widely acknowledged with creating a brand new genre of music – space-rock. Also in that year the band’s first single, “Hurry on Sundown”, was released followed by the self titled debut album, ‘HAWKWIND’, 41 years on it remains a steady seller.

By 1972, the bands popularity had grown to such an extent that they could now headline venues such as the famous Chalk Farm Roundhouse in London. A gig billed as the “Greasy Truckers Party” at this venue in February was to be forever etched into Hawkwind folklore, as it was at this show that their trademark single “Silver Machine” was recorded. The track, which featured Lemmy on vocals, brought the band to the attention of the wider general public after it reached number two in the UK charts in the June of that year.

The success of “Silver Machine” financed their famous ‘mind blowing’ themed tour, entitled ‘Space Ritual’. This show set the precedent for all future Hawkwind shows. The band’s wealth of creative talent, including contributions from the likes of sci-fi author Michael Moorcock, poet and visionary Bob Calvert, designer ‘Barney Bubbles’and lighting engineer ‘Liquid Len’ created the world’s first truly multimedia touring roadshow. The barrage of light, sound, dance and theatrics has since become a hallmark of all subsequent Hawkwind shows, making each gig a unique and spectacular event, rather than ‘another standard rock concert’.

Following the “Space Ritual” UK tour, the band went on to continue the tour in the USA coinciding with the release of their acclaimed third album; “DOREMI FASOL LATIDO”, and then the live recording – “SPACE RITUAL ALIVE”.

In 1973, classic trained musician Simon House (electric violin) joined the band, and throughout the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, the World famous science fiction author Michael Moorcock often wrote lyrics for Hawkwind as well as recording and appearing with them. After a drugs bust in USA in 1975, Lemmy left the band and went on to form ‘MOTORHEAD’.

Throughout the 70’s Hawkwind released a series of classic albums including –
IN SEARCH OF SPACE
DOREMI FASOL LATIDO
SPACE RITUAL
HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL
WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME
ASTOUNDING SOUNDS, AMAZING MUSIC
QUARK STRANGENESS & CHARM
PXR 5

In 1979, Dave Brock together with Huw Lloyd-Langton on lead guitar, Simon King on drums, Harvey Bainbridge on bass and former Gong keyboard player Tim Blake, recorded the album ‘LIVE 79’ which went straight into the top ten UK album chart. In 1980, Ginger Baker replaced Simon King on drums recording the classic, ‘LEVITATION’ album. Showing its predecessor’s chart placing was no fluke this also went top 10

From 1979 to 1985 the band’s singles and albums were never out of the national, independent and heavy metal charts, long players included

LIVE 79
LEVITATION
SONIC ATTACK
CHOOSE YOUR MASQUES
CHURCH OF HAWKWIND
CHRONICLE OF THE BLACK SWORD
LIVE CHRONICLES
XENON CODEX

In 1985, the band performed the ambitious ‘CHRONICLE OF THE BLACK SWORD’, as a spectacular live show inspired by Michael Moorcock’s epic saga, ‘ELRIC OF MELNIBONE’.

In 1986, the band headlined at the Reading Rock Festival, with former member Lemmy turning up to make a guest appearance, their performance was transmitted live on national BBC Radio 1, and later released as the “FRIDAY ROCK SHOW SESSIONS”.

Around this period, the band also began reaching out to a whole new audience of both fans and musicians, who in turn would embrace much of the Hawkwind sound and ethos whilst at the same time adding their own twist. This would see the start of whole dance movement and rave culture towards the end of the decade. Acts such as The Orb, Future Sound of London and later on The Chemical Brothers and Leftfield openly acknowledging Hawkwind’s influence.

The band performed throughout the nineties on regular national and international tours and further officially sanctioned albums were released that included –

SPACE BANDITS
PALACE SPRINGS
ELECTRIC TEPEE
IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE TO BE DANGEROUS
THE BUSINESS TRIP
ALIEN 4
LOVE IN SPACE
DISTANT HORIZONS

Throughout their career the band also have continued to perform at numerous free concerts, most famously the STONEHENGE festival, and have supported many and various charities, including SHELTER, GREENPEACE, TRAVELLERS AID TRUST, BRAINSCAN, FREE TIBET CAMPAIGN, SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES and SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY.

In 2001 Hawkwind appeared on the Channel 4 Top 10 show, having been voted in at number 8 on the Prog Rock band chart. The band would also appear on Australian television as part of the group’s first visit to the country. In August, Hawkwind headline Canterbury Festival and employed the guest vocals of Arthur Brown. A live CD of this concert featuring the singer was released in December 2002. The band finish the year in style, headlining a week of psychedelic themed shows at The Royal Festival Hall in London followed by a tour of sold-out venues across the country.

More releases followed in 2002, including “YULE RITUAL” which was recorded live at the London Astoria the previous year in front of a sold out audience. In July, the band headlined their own three-day festival in Devon, HAWKFEST, featuring a host of space-rock and more mainstream bands. A double CD of festival highlights was released the following year. In October 2002, Hawkwind play The Wembley Arena as special guests of Motorhead. Arthur Brown was once again on vocal duties, with Lemmy adding his unique bass and voice to a rousing version of Silver Machine, much to the delight of the audience. Come December and Hawkwind once more venture out on their annual pre Christmas tour with both Arthur Brown and Tim Blake coming along for the ride.

In 2005 the band released studio album Take Me To Your Leader. Assorted guests added to the rich tapestry of sounds on the album, these included 70s punk songstress Lena Lovich, the iconic Arthur Brown and for many the most surprising being Channel 5 TV presenter Matthew Wright, a long time fan of the band. This was followed up in 2006 with a new format “dual disc” Take Me To Your Future, which featured video on one side, music on the other.

2009. saw the band celebrating 40 years in the business playing to packed venues the length and breadth of the country with the highlights being a stunning headline set at the 2009 Beautiful Days festival in Devon which earned them a nomination at the UK festival awards followed by 2 sold out shows at the exclusive Porchester Halls in London, where they were introduced on stage by Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. These shows marked the start of the 40th anniversary celebrations.

In December, joined by guest violinist Jon Sevink of the Levellers, Hawkwind play to sell out audiences on their Christmas UK tour.

In June 2010, Hawkwind were honoured with the Mojo Maverick award to mark their influence and longevity in the music business.

June 2010 also sees the release of a new studio album, ”Blood of the Earth” released on the summer solstice.

Following a run of major festivals across Europe, Hawkwind return to the UK to mark both the end of their 40th anniversary celebrations, and also the 40 year anniversary of their iconic 1970 Isle of Wight appearance, by staging their own 3 day Hawkfest on the exact same site, the Hawkwind performance taking place exactly 40 years to the day of the original..

Hawkwind finished off 2010 with their traditional pre Christmas tour of UK venues.

Early in 2011, Hawkwind returned to Australia for festival and regional shows.

After the Australian dates, the band were due to fly straight out to Japan, however due to the terrible earthquake, these dates have been postponed until 2012 and will be added to shows scheduled for India and Singapore.