'Space Ritual'

Hawkwind still plays. In fact, in their 44^th year, they’re touring and actually playing in my city in the next couple of weeks. 

This makes Hawkwind weird. Why? Because A vast, vast majority of bands do not exist at age 44. And a vast, vast, vast number of those bands aren’t as relentlessly unpopular as Hawkwind.

Now, popularity is sorta bullshit because no one is necessarily to blame for unpopularity. Maybe there’s a cause, but if a band is OK with being unpopular than there’s nothing wrong with that.

Hawkwind is a remnant of the late-1960s early metal, prog- and hard rock scene especially anything coming from the United Kingdom from Black Sabbath to Deep Purple.

The one constant, and the only thing keeping it together is Dave Brook, the guitar player and vocalist who has been with the band for all 44 years.

As you might imagine, being around that long, you run through a number of bandmates. What makes Hawkwind unique is just how utterly unexceptional the 50+ former members of Hawkwind are. Included is one Lemmy Kilmister, the legendary bass player for Motörhead, who was roadie for them until joining in 1972 and quitting in 1975. The other notable member is Ginger Baker, who gigged with them in 1980.

Otherwise, it’s about 50 dudes so unspectacular that it’s amazing not to have had more success, all things considered.