These two press releases were put out by United Artists way back in the early 70's. The topmost one ("All 'bout Doremi Fasol Latido") is from UA's Los Angeles office, and it seems to me that they didn't quite "get it".
I've scanned the headings only of each press release (to prove that I'm not making this up!) but have retyped the text since there was nothing visually interesting about it...and scanning the full page results in a lot more diskspace being taken up than if I just present it as text.
Well it's 1973 at last, a year by which most science fiction writers of the 30's and 40's predicted, if not the end of the world, at least interstellar travel and the beginnings of galactic Empire. It didn't quite work out that way, except on rock'n'roll records (something nobody was able to predict), and that brings us to the point of this missive.
For some time now we've been promising you a deluge of English albums early this year, and the first wave is about to roll in with Hawkwind. DOREMI FASOL LATIDO is their third album, and if you got the copy of NME we sent out recently you don't have to be told of its phenomenal sales in England. From their early days in 1969 as a people's band on the Grateful Dead level, through the ensuing years and their increasingly adept use of technological wizardry, Hawkwind has won a place in the hearts of British youth that few groups can match.
Not familiar to American audiences through countless benefits and pop festival appearances as they are in England, Hawkwind has had to make it on the basis of their records, which in their case meant waiting for the crest of a trend which they helped start - space rock. There was Pink Floyd back in '67, of course, and "2000 Light Years From Home" and all that, but as an accepted and pervasive genre like, say, amphetamine blues was in 1968,space-rock has had to wait until just recently.
Space-rock is now commercial, as the Rowan Bros. proved with "All Together". It's pop music, it's bubblegum. It's joining Marvel Comics, Star Trek, and even the literature of science fiction itself in the pop culture pantheon embraced by college post-intellectuals and hip high school types. Freed of all vestiges of meaningfulness, it's becoming the latest in a series of great, moronic, exciting pop pastimes. In other words, space-rock has arrived.
Amon Duul II, whose new WOLF CITY album will also be coming your way shortly, has contributed a lot to sci-fi rock (with a Transylvanian twist), but nobody around right now can touch Hawkwind. Their last album, about the rookie from the Space Academy on his first interstellar voyage, was great, especially "Master Of The Universe" which we in LA were lucky enough to hear on FM radio for a while. This one is infinitely better.
"Wearily, Nik Turner, captain of the Galactic Union space ship Hawkwind, fighter for the Holy Imperium army, champion to Her Most Illustrious Majesty Queen of Thorasin, flicked off the switch and ran a hand over his face. Fiery acid vision blinded his eyesight. The scream of wounded horses and the smell of burning machinery rang in his mind. Sonic starbursts, rainbow chords and arched curving sound flared in his ears. Outside cool and dark space stared back unblinkingly through the plexiglass."
Thus begins "The Saga Of Doremi Fasol Latido," a galactic adventure right out of early Asimov or Doc Smith. Sonic attack faces the heroic Hawkwind crew, and the lyrics of the songs tell the story between spates of narrative. Great reading while listening to "Brainstorm", which might be called their own "Interstellar Overdrive". And what dunced-out television addict could resist "Psychedelic Warlords", which starts out:
"We're the psychedelic warlords playing spaced-out rock and roll..."
Reminds me of "hey hey we're the Monkees," and don't laugh until you've checked out their own "Porpoise Song" for a really killer attempt at early space rock.
The best thing to do with this album is crank it up as loud as your speakers can take, down some beer or whatever pills you're into, and start reading the booklet that will be coming with the album, or the Hawkwind Log from IN SEARCH OF SPACE, or your favorite comic book - or better yet turn on your wall-sized holograph and set the computer input for simulated space war. Then douse the lights and lose yourself in the spinning stars.
Because it's a unified concept album, we couldn't put "Silver Machine" on DOREMI FASOL LATIDO. We may have sent you a copy of this single (which was Top Three in England and many other parts of the world) but in case we didn't, here's a copy. With this teenager's paean to his nifty new customized space-time machine, Hawkwind may already be the Beach Boys of the 21st Century. What other rock group can make that claim?
Greg Shaw/Martin Cerf
PS If you don't have either of the first two Hawkwind LPzz, just ask us for 'em...
Evolution:
Mick Slattery left and was replaced by Hugh Lloyd Langton, lead guitar. Thomas Crimble from Skin Alley replaced John Harrison on bass, who was then replaced by Dave Anderson from Amon Duul. Hugh Lloyd Langton left with Harrison. In 1971 Dave Anderson left to form Amon Din and Lemmy replaced him. Del Dettmar, the group's roadie, joined on Synthesiser at the end of '71. Terry Ollis freaked and was replaced by Simon King on drums in December '71. Bob Calvert joined the group full time around then, on vocals and a bit of flute.
Stacia, the group's dancer appeared after The Glastonbury Fayre.
Radio Broadcasts:
1st TV:
Singles:
Albums:
Highest Chart Positions:
Record Label:
Record Producer:
Management:
Agency:
First Major British Tour:
Transport:
Tour Manager:
Publicist:
Lightshow:
Design:
PA:
In Concert BBC sometime in 1971
"Live" film from Dunstable Civic showed on Top Of The Pops August 1972
"Hurry Sundown" Liberty 1969
"Silver Machine" Liberty-UA Summer 1972
"Hawkwind" Liberty 1970
"In Search Of Space" Liberty-UA November 1971
"Silver Machine" No.2
"In Search Of Space" No.10, but the l.p. is still in the Top 20 a year after it was released
Hawkwind are also featured on The Greasy Truckers Party l.p. with Man and Brinsley and The Revelation Glastonbury album. Third l.p. "Doremi Faso Lati Do" due Nov.10th
Liberty-United Artists, Mortimer Street, London W.1
Hawkwind, Dave Brock, Del Dettmar, Doug Smith
Doug Smith
Paul Fenn's Asgard. 49 South Molton St. London W.1 491-7611
Hawkwind have been touring the country since they started and for the past year have been playing to capacity crowds. THE SPACE RITUAL goes on the road on November 8th for two months.
Mercedes Truck, Mercedes Coach
John De Bog and De Boys.
Richard Ogden at UA
Liquid Len and The Lensmen, Jon Smeeton, Mike Hart and The Mazda Men
Barney Bubbles and Jerry Fitzgerald.
Kelsey- Morris Monster. NB For The SPACE RITUAL Hawkwind's equipment will be housed in custom built cabinets six-sided and decorated by group designer Barney Bubbles.
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
Secondary
Self Taught, on the streets of London
Busking, Jazz Bands, Piano Boogie Bands, Mike King, Hawkwind
Eel Pie Island in 1960 with Mike King and Luke
Big Bill Broonzy, Scrapper Blackwell, Leroy Carr, Tampa Red, Michael Moorcock, Steve Miller, Velvet Underground, Hendrix and Bert Weedon
Hawkwind 1st l.p., 2/3 of "In Search Of Space", 2/3 of "Doremi". Co-writer of Silver Machine.
None
Too many to say, likes the Moody Blues earlier l.p.'s
Bob Calvert
Bob Calvert
As Influences
Devon, with wife Lady Silvia and children Marty, girl, age 8 and Pasco, boy, 4 months
Dick Knight Custom Built 6 string guitar
Tony Zemaitis Custom Built 12 String Guitar (1968)
Milner 6 string acoustic guitar
Picato Strings, because they're cheap
100 Watt HiWatt Stack
Binson Echo
Sola Fuzz Wah Pedal
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
Grammar School
2 years Sax and Clarinet lessons in early 60's
Nothing prior to Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Nothing conscious, but probably by Free Jazz musician friends. Also Jazz generally particularly moderns like Roland Kirk, Coltrane
Brainstorm on "Doremi", Master Of The Universe
"On The Road Again" Canned Heat
"White Noise" David Woorhauss, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Kirk
Bob Calvert/Dave Brock, Bowie, Roy Wood, early Beatles, Michael Moorcock's words.
Al Wilson
As Influences
Belsize Park flat
Conn Alto sax
Collonean Flute
Maestro Unit
100 Watt Vox Bass Stack
100 Watt Vox guitar Stack
Bug mikes on flute and sax
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
Secondary... Expelled...
Self taught
Semi-pro in Manchester with The Rocking Vicars... Roadie for Hendrix... Opal Butterfly... Hawkwind.
With Rocking Vicars in March '66
Beatles, Hendrix, Michael Bentine, Peter Sellers, Hawkwind, Stimulants.
1 track on 'Doremi' "Oh, say The Sky Is Burning" on the Global (Gopal?) album
I'm Down - Beatles.
Revolver - Beatles.
Lennon & McCartney... Harrison... Hendrix...
Lemmy
As influences.
Earls Court flat with DikMik.
Hopf Bass... Fender Telecaster... Acoustic 12-String Eco... Marshall 100 watt amp... Marshall 4 by 12 cab... 4 by 15 Custom Built cab... Roto Sound bass strings, Gibson or Fender guitar strings.
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
State Supplied.
Piano & bagpipe lessons.
Roadie with Pretty Things / Cochise / Juicy Lucy / Edgar Broughton / Pete Brown / Hawkwind...later joined Hawkwind and stuck!
Hawkwind.
"Everything I've heard so far"
'One Change' (First attempted comp.) 1 track on 'Doremi'
None...
'Oh Yeah' Mingus.
Nobody...
Nobody...
Croydon, with parents.
VCS3 and keyboard Binson Echo Unit 2 Vox 50 watt Amps, stereo. 2 Vox 50 watt Cabinets.
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
In England
None
Hawkwind, Poetry Readings
Lou Reed, Soft Machine
Captain Lockheed, Poetry, Co-writer Silver Machine
"Keep On Running" Spencer Davis, "My Generation" The Who
Velvet Underground with Nico and "White Light White Heat"
Dave Brock, John Lennon
Lou Reed
Lou Reed, John Lennon, Dave Brock
Margate
None except his own voice and brain
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
Not very good...kicked out at 14!
None. Started playing at 15 in various bands so considers himself self-taught.
Roadie for Cream... Various local bands... Opal Butterfly... Hawkwind.
In a Village Hall for 10/- Can't remember the band's name!!
Beatles... No drummers particularly.
None.
None.
Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie.
David Bowie... Beatles.
Beatles... Bowie.
Notting Hill Gate Flat.
Drumkit: Custom Built Hayman Double Kit with Ludwig Snares
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
Secondary Modern briefly. Art School for 3 months
None
A drummer with the group that became The Yardbirds
With Hawkwind as pro.
Hendrix, Dylan and Spike Milligan
Spontaneous on stage
None really
Electric Ladyland, Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix, Dylan
As above
As above
Earl’s Court Flat with Lemmy (can you imagine the inside of that flat?!)
Audio Generator
Watkins CopyCat
50 watt Vox stack
Coloursound Fuzz Wah pedal
Education:
Musical Education:
Musical Career:
Debut:
Influences:
Compositions:
Favourite Single:
Influential LP:
Favourite Songwriter:
Favourite Singer:
Favourite Musician:
Residence:
Instruments and Equipment:
Convent and Secondary Modern
None, and no dance training either
with Hawkwind
with Hawkwind, April 1971
Dance influence is only the music, if the music isn’t right Stacia can't dance. Isadora Duncan was an influence in that she believed in complete freedom of expression, which although she is always misinterpreted, is where Stacia’s taking her clothes off comes in.
Hawkwind's "Hurry Sundown"
MAN’s "2 oz of Plastic"
Dave Brock and The Beatles
Lemmy
Dave Brock
London
Nothing but the obvious and the new costumes being designed for the Space Opera.
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