Over the years, the band (under the leadership of Dave Brock) has seen numerous line-ups. As one might expect, several of these ex-Hawkwind members have gone on to solo careers, or formed subsequent bands (as with Lemmy's Motorhead, which became a legendary fixture of the early heavy metal genre).

HARVEY BAINBRIDGE: Interstellar Chaos (CD on Taste records - label currently has no online presence)

Ex-Hawkwind keyboardist Bainbridge delivers a solid 78 minutes of intensely spacey ambience on this 1993 solo release.

Initially atmospheric, a sense of intensity builds slowly throughout this drifting excursion through turbulent voids. This music is generally abstract in nature, constructed of electronic sounds usually associated with outer space sound effects (satellite signals, phaser blasts and the revving of interstellar drives). When melodies do occur, they are generated languidly, and are primarily comprised of cyclic chords with a soft undercurrent of tonalities.

DAVE BROCK: Strange Trips and Pipe Dreams (CD on Emergency Broadcast System Records)

This 52-minute solo CD from 1995 is forged pretty exactly in the Hawkwind sound, not that surprising since Brock is responsible for creating that sound.

Searing guitars struggle with seething nests of synthesizers, E-perc and various sneaky effects in these overt space rock tunes. Vocals are present, but several of the songs remain instrumental in nature, allowing the shimmering guitar to strut and prance. Whether the subject is space, UFOs, gateways, encounters or parasites, sinuous melodies swarm when Brock is in the captain-seat, maintaining a trance quality within a dynamic framework.

RealAudio samples:

Hearing Aid Test
White Zone
UFO Line
Space
Pipe Dream

ROBERT CALVERT: Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters (CD on Beat Goes On Records - label currently has no internet presence)

A brief aeronautic true legend: In the early Sixties, the German Defense Minister sponsored the American designed Lockheed Starfighter for use in the modern Luftwaffe. Originally used by the US Air Force as a light, single-seater, fair weather fighter, the Starfighter received severe modifications under the direction of German Defense Ministry experts, turning it into a heavy duty, atom bomber. Several structural modifications rendered the jet unstable and difficult to control, winning it the nickname of Flying Coffin or Widow Maker. Among these defects: the ejection seat failed to function at low altitudes. By the early Seventies, there had been 162 Starfighters crashes.

In 1974, Hawkwind vocalist and frequent composer Calvert released his first solo album, detailing this aerodynamic misadventure with a sardonic wit that was remarkably scathing. The music? Awesome and powerful, seething with pounding rhythms and sensational guitar. Perhaps one of Hawkwind's finest moments, since Calvert enlisted the aid of Dave Brock, Lemmy, Nik Turner, Del Dettmar, and other Hawkwind members. Also appearing on this album are Brian Eno, Arthur Brown, Adrian Wagner, with Vivian Stanshall (from the Bonzo Dog Band) and Jim Capaldi (from Traffic) among the "actors".

Splicing together the incredible songs are clever little plays, portraying scenes in the story and exemplifying the under-informed service crews who worked on the jets. These bits unify an already stunning concept album, lending a sense of ironic humor to this historic tragedy.

ALAN DAVEY: Captured Rotation (CD on Emergency Broadcast System Records)

Ex-Hawkwind bassist Davey goes multi-instrumental on this 56-minute solo release from 1996. Four of the twelve songs feature vocals, leaving the rest of the pieces to shine with a spacey brilliance.

Thick basslines underlie a platform of grinding guitars and strong drumming and clouds of electronics--coalescing to produce space rock that is rich with attractive melodies and exploding energy. The music features a fair balance of powerful rock songs and sensuously electronic compositions.

SPIRAL REALMS: Trip to G9 (CD on Hypnotic Records)

Keyboardist and violin maestro Simon House has certainly gotten around since his years with Hawkwind, straying as far as to play with David Bowie years ago. Under the guise of Spiral Realms, House is joined by Len del Rio (from Pressurehed) to create some of the most staggeringly intense melodic space electronic music around.

Keyboards and synthesizers swarm in the dynamic pieces on this 51-minute CD from 1995. Slicing through the churning melodies, House's searing violin adds a shrill urgency to the cosmic awe captured by the compositions. Song titles like "Red Giant" [RealAudio sample] and "Solar Flares" not only create a context, they superbly describe the stellar grandeur generated by the pieces.

SPIRAL REALMS: Crystal Jungles of Eos (CD on Hypnotic Records)

This 58-minute follow-up CD features more of the same sensationalist space music as "Trip to G9".

Electronics swoop and surge with rich melodies. Again, House's violin rips through the keyboard cloudbanks like a falling star that refuses to crash, persisting in circling in the mix. The presence of percussives in some pieces adds more of a tension than a sense of rhythm. Strong melodies and cosmic airs make this a superb example of enthralling space music.

RealAudio samples:

Rush Hour Betelgeuse 5
View from Canymede
Sands of Mars
SF67

NIK TURNER: Space Ritual 1994 (double CD on Cleopatra Records)

In 1994, ex-Hawkwind saxophonist, vocalist and composer of numerous Hawkwind classic tunes Nik Turner toured the USA with the aid of members of Pressurehed, Helios Creed (from Chrome), Del Dettmar (another Hawkwind alumni) and Genesis P. Orridge (from Psychic TV, and the legendary industrial band Throbbing Gristle). Their San Francisco concert is documented on this 124-minute double CD.

This music is a prime example of the garage period of Hawkwind--still rich with spaciness but possessing a raw rock 'n' oll power. Dynamic guitar, bass and drums generate a foundation for swirling electronics, insistent sax and powerful vocals. Featured are numerous Hawkwind favorites: "D-Rider" [RealAudio sample], "Master of the Universe" [sample], "Sonic Attack" [sample], "Brainstorm", "Ejection" [sample], "The Right Stuff" [sample], "You Shouldn't Do That", "Orgone Accumulator" and "Silver Machine".

NIK TURNER: Past or Future? (CD on Cleopatra Records)

This 76 minute CD documents a gig from Turner's "Space Ritual 1995" Tour, featuring a line-up of himself, Pressurehed, Simon House, Del Dettmar, and special appearances by Jello Biafra (from the Dead Kennedys) and SF author Michael Moorcock.

Although bearing a touch of fantasy this time, the music (still up-front and raucous) does visit space with versions of "Spiral Galaxy 28948" [RealAudio sample], "Ten Seconds of Forever" and "Silver Machine". There's even an Anubian Lights song too.

VARIOUS ARTISTS: Hawkwind: Future Reconstructions: Ritual of the Solstice (CD on Emergency Broadcast System Records)

Techno remixes became a stylish trend during the late Nineties. This 76-minute CD takes various Hawkwind classics and subjects them to this remix factor--with quite intriguing effect.

Including the mixologist talents of Astralasia, Utah Saints, Salt Tank, Optic Eye, Knights of the Occasional Table, Zion Train and more, this release delightfully warps Hawkwind's normally spacey sound, driving the strong melodies and intense performances far into trance turf with swimming samples and snappy E-perc.

WHITE ZONE: Psychedelic Warriors (CD on Griffin Records)

White Zone is actually Hawkwind (Dave Brock, Alan Davey and Richard Chadwick). This CD from 1995 features 45 minutes of ripping prime Hawkwind: scorching guitar and strong percussion and a myriad of electronics. The music explodes with power and appeal, surging and rocking with astral charm.

RealAudio samples: