Tom Petty was an inspiration.. he’s a massive loss to music
Space rock stars pay tribute to legend who was a surprise influence on their quirky sound
TOM Petty was “unique”, according to fan and space rock legend Harvey Bainbridge.
The 68-year-old bass player and keyboardist was in Hawkwind and their spin-off Hawklords and, like many, was shocked at the untimely death this week of Tom at just 66.
Harvey said: “He was unique and had a huge influence on those of us who listened to his music. He has gone too soon.”
Fellow Hawklords star Jerry Richards, who was also in Hawkwind, met Tom at the George Harrison Memorial Show in London in 2002.
Jerry was recording the show with his friend and Monty Python producer Andre Jacquemin and remembers the American as “friendly, though very saddened at George’s passing”.
He added: “I think they had some plans to record more material together. They never got that chance, unfortunately.
“Tom will be remembered for his great song-writing ability and his unique voice. A sad loss to the music world.”
While Tom’s sound might not be obvious among the Hawklords’ space rock, it’s there according to their drummer Dave Pearce, who loved his early albums with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers in the 70s and 80s and then with Mudcrutch – the pre-Heartbreakers band he resurrected in 2008.
Dave said: “Whilst the Hawklords’ music does not sound in any way related to Tom Petty’s sound, he did inspire the band because he was one of my influences.
“I especially enjoyed his early albums with the Heartbreakers band, containing such tracks as Breakdown and Refugee.
“His importance in rock’s history as a classic songwriter will always stand the test of time because you wouldn’t have been able to work with the likes of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne unless you had the level of talent they all possessed as individuals in their own right.”
The Traveling Wilburys were a supergroup and while not in their league in terms of household names, Hawklords were created by leaders of the space rock genre of music. They were formed in 1978 by Dave Brock, Robert Calvert and Simon King, three members of Hawkwind, after the band imploded during an American tour. Hawkwind are best known for the song Silver Machine, sung by their then bassist Lemmy.
The legendary rocker was booted out of the band after a drugs bust in 1975, going on to form Motorhead. The original Hawklords included Steve Swindells, a former member of Pilot, as well as Harvey and Martin Griffin, two members of a Devon-based group called Ark.
They released debut album 25 Years On, but disbanded a year later when Dave Brock, Harvey and Simon reformed Hawkwind, headlining Glastonbury and Reading.
The band have weathered many different line-ups with Dave as the ever-present original member and released album Into the Woods this year.
Hawklords are also releasing an album this year – today to be precise. Six is their sixth album in six years and follows last year’s top 40 hit Fusion.
The band reformed in 2008 after a benefit gig for singer Robert’s widow.
Harvey and Jerry, who was part of the Hawkwind line-up from 1996-2001, added drummer Dave Pearce and newest member,
bassist Tom Ashurst.
Jerry said: “I think all of us have our roots in the UK free festival scene from back in the day and we continue with that exploration of spaced-out spaces that drew us all into that scene in the first place.
“It’s nice to work with people where there are no musical rules and the groove and message becomes the thing that is paramount in the music, rather than strutting rock stars.”
Space rock was pioneered by the likes of Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Hawkwind, mixing psychedelic sounds with sci-fi and space imagery and light shows.
Jerry reckons it is liberating and unfettered by the confines of other musical genres.
He said: “So, for instance, we can write about social problems just as effectively and in context as we can also write about rockets blasting off for the stars, time travel and all things of a fantastical nature, all within the confines of what is referred to as space rock.”
Six is the first part of a trilogy which Jerry reckons is the group’s best album to date.
He added: “The first five albums form the first stage of the development of the band and this is now ‘Year Zero Reset’ for us, so stand by your rocket boosters and welcome to the future.”
Later this month, Hawklords play three Scots gigs and Jerry reckons our audiences have “a different sensibility”.
He said: “Whatever size of venue we play, the audience response and participation is truly fantastic.
“The Scots just want to party and really get involved in the band’s performance.” ● Six is out today. The band play Bannermans, Edinburgh, on October 26, Audio, Glasgow, on October 27, and The Assembly, Aberdeen on October 28.