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The Spirit Of Hawkwind 1969-1976
Nik Turner is the co-founder of the legendary space rock band Hawkwind, and was a major creative force during that group's most critically acclaimed and successful period, 1969-1976. His outlandish costumes, improvised sax and flute playing, and general wild man persona became iconic representations of the band, and he would go on to pen some of their most popular songs including "Brainstorm" and "Master of the Universe." With tons of never-before-seen photos, rare memorabilia, and personal recollections both hilarious and horrifying, this is the story of Hawkwind's journey from conception to peak, as told by Turner, the man seen by many as the true spirit of Hawkwind.
554 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 28, 2020
The content is great. Of course it is. It’s Nik’s story of his time in Hawkwind; how are the stories and the vibes not gonna be superlative?
As a book, though, it could have benefitted greatly from an editor (weird issues with grammar and sentence structure that completely derail the story’s momentum) and it’s possibly the worst-ghostwritten book I’ve read. Technically it’s not ghostwritten— Thompson’s credited on the cover of the book— but the whole thing is a confusing mishmash of points of view, sometimes quoting Nik or other notables, sometimes presenting passages from other books or contemporaneous interviews inline as though they were interviews conducted for this book, sometimes presenting Nik’s perspective from a third-person limited POV that somehow makes Nik seem weirdly passive-aggressive in a way that I refuse to believe is accurate. Nik was the pure and holy embodiment of the integrity of the band, and saw those around him selling out like a bunch of cheap whores. “I felt like we could have done more to enact our ideals,” says Nik. I mean, obviously that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not by all that much. It would have been so much better if the book were just written entirely in Nik’s voice, whether or not someone else was providing assists on the phrasing and structure, the way these things usually are. I bet I sound like I am making a lot out of a little stylistic issue, but it really gets in the way.
The pictures are fantastic.
As a book, though, it could have benefitted greatly from an editor (weird issues with grammar and sentence structure that completely derail the story’s momentum) and it’s possibly the worst-ghostwritten book I’ve read. Technically it’s not ghostwritten— Thompson’s credited on the cover of the book— but the whole thing is a confusing mishmash of points of view, sometimes quoting Nik or other notables, sometimes presenting passages from other books or contemporaneous interviews inline as though they were interviews conducted for this book, sometimes presenting Nik’s perspective from a third-person limited POV that somehow makes Nik seem weirdly passive-aggressive in a way that I refuse to believe is accurate. Nik was the pure and holy embodiment of the integrity of the band, and saw those around him selling out like a bunch of cheap whores. “I felt like we could have done more to enact our ideals,” says Nik. I mean, obviously that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not by all that much. It would have been so much better if the book were just written entirely in Nik’s voice, whether or not someone else was providing assists on the phrasing and structure, the way these things usually are. I bet I sound like I am making a lot out of a little stylistic issue, but it really gets in the way.
The pictures are fantastic.
July 21, 2020
A more concise review of the first,possibly most important five years of Hawkwind. If you've read most Hawkwind books I still suggest you read this one too.
And there are no bad vibes in here. A very nice addition to the Hawkwind bibliography.
A sequel would be well received.
And there are no bad vibes in here. A very nice addition to the Hawkwind bibliography.
A sequel would be well received.
April 18, 2018
Killer read!!
I have been a huge fan of this band for decades, and I just loved this book! I highly recommend.
I have been a huge fan of this band for decades, and I just loved this book! I highly recommend.
April 13, 2025
Nik Turner seems like a good bloke. A shame he and Lemmy didn't get on but at least they made some great music together, along with Dave Brock, Bob Calvert, etc...
July 30, 2024
Lifetime Hawkwind fan since '78, and great to see Dave still going with another incarnation. I never looked into the background much, but well aware of the members revolving door and it's miraculous they're not only still going, but have put out a record a year for the last decade.
As to this book, unless you're a Nik Turner fan, there's nothing else to recommend it. It's probably the worst written and edited ghost writing I've come across. The authorial voice keeps changing from Nik to 3rd person Nik, to ghost writer. The anecdotes jump around timelines and doesn't have a coherent narrative.
It's clear he believed himself keeper of the Hawkwind ideal, and spiritual leader, yet was one of its most disruptive members. This book just mythologizes Turner in his own words. He lays
claims to the band being named after him. Reading another Hawkwind bio that is more neutral, this is very much in dispute.
While Turner got Hawkwind a lot of free gigs, Dave Brock recruited members and kept HW going for 50+ years. Turner would have killed it in '72. He engineered Lemmy's sacking, then Dave was in his sights. Dave won that one and he and Lemmy always stayed friends. I never realised what a dickhead Turner was. Which is a shame, his sax was an integral part of the HW sound in the early 70s, and he did write a couple of their best loved tracks.
Turner also believed everyone had the right to do other projects as Hawkwind. Which is an unworkable idea. One he was sued for later on, when he toured as xhawkind. Brock would never have anything to do with him from then on. You'll find this book tainted by that history, and Nik's version will always make Nik look righteous. I bailed part way through, this was too much of a snowjob.
As to this book, unless you're a Nik Turner fan, there's nothing else to recommend it. It's probably the worst written and edited ghost writing I've come across. The authorial voice keeps changing from Nik to 3rd person Nik, to ghost writer. The anecdotes jump around timelines and doesn't have a coherent narrative.
It's clear he believed himself keeper of the Hawkwind ideal, and spiritual leader, yet was one of its most disruptive members. This book just mythologizes Turner in his own words. He lays
claims to the band being named after him. Reading another Hawkwind bio that is more neutral, this is very much in dispute.
While Turner got Hawkwind a lot of free gigs, Dave Brock recruited members and kept HW going for 50+ years. Turner would have killed it in '72. He engineered Lemmy's sacking, then Dave was in his sights. Dave won that one and he and Lemmy always stayed friends. I never realised what a dickhead Turner was. Which is a shame, his sax was an integral part of the HW sound in the early 70s, and he did write a couple of their best loved tracks.
Turner also believed everyone had the right to do other projects as Hawkwind. Which is an unworkable idea. One he was sued for later on, when he toured as xhawkind. Brock would never have anything to do with him from then on. You'll find this book tainted by that history, and Nik's version will always make Nik look righteous. I bailed part way through, this was too much of a snowjob.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews