Hawkwind: Sonic Assassins [Live 1977] (2026)

(47:04; Atomhenge)






















While 1977 was the release of one of Hawkwind’s most important albums, ‘Quark, Strangeness and Charm’ (which was actually the first album of theirs I heard), it also saw the band having some issues with more line-up changes, a poor American tour, and Calvert collapsing onstage suffering from mental issues. Hawkwind stopped touring for a while and Calvert was recovering, so Brock’s thoughts turned to having a side project for a while. He had built a relationship with local Devon band Ark, some of whom had played with him and Calvert at the Stonehenge Free Festival the previous year, so not why do something with them again. Brock and Calvert contacted three members of that band, bass guitarist Harvey Bainbridge, drummer Martin Griffin and keyboard player Paul Hayles, and as Sonic Assassins they played Queen’s Hall Barnstaple on 23rd December 1977. It was recorded for posterity, and three tracks were released in 1981 as the ‘Sonic Assassins’ EP, but it is only now that all still-existing recordings have been made available. Given the importance of both Bainbridge and Griffin in the Hawklords resurrection which led back to Hawkwind, this is a historically important recording indeed.

The sound quality is excellent, and the highlight is undoubtedly one of the finest concert performances of Robert Calvert ever recorded. He may have been led astray at one point by announcing “Master of the Universe” when the band instead went into a lengthy improvised piece,  but Robert was more than up to the task and provided lyrics on the spot for a number to be known as “Over The Top”, which after more than seven minutes finally segued into ‘MOTU’. There are early versions of “Freefall” and “Death Trap” along with classics such as “Golden Void” and “Magnu”, and at no point does this sound like anything apart from a full band which had been rehearsing and recording together for months. It is difficult to comprehend that two musicians had asked three from another band to come and play their music, yet that is exactly what happened.  

Special credit must be given to Ben Wiseman for mixing and mastering this album from the original tapes, as I cannot imagine that was an easy task, but the result is sonically very good indeed and thoroughly enjoyable. This is one of those rare instances when a much sought after recording is definitely worth hearing for its music as well as just the scarcity value, and Hawkwind fans will certainly enjoy playing this. I did. 

Kev Rowland, August 2026

Links:
https://www.hawkwind.com/
https://esotericrecordings.com/

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