Hawkwind On Track

by Duncan Harris

Published 28 February 2020
Always enigmatic and outside of the mainstream, most people associate Hawkwind with 'whoosh' noises, `Silver Machine', Lemmy and the sometime recognition that they produce something called 'Space Rock' music. From the beginning, Hawkwind have been trailblazers, even when they have explored blind alleys and cul-de-sac's, and have been unafraid to innovate, and mutate strikingly different musical arenas.

Hawkwind have a unique history in the world of rock music and have inspired not just other bands but also an entire sub-genre of music: Stoner Rock. Hawkwind's stated aim is to be a substitute for mind-expanding drugs; instead using music, poetry, lights, projections, theatre and dance in an assault on the senses. Albums such as In Search Of Space and Warrior at the Edge of Time as well as classic live album Space Ritual set a template for their astonishing take on rock music.

With the band now celebrating over fifty years of existence, this book is a song-by-song analysis of every studio album and major live release to date. It is designed to be an illuminating companion to the extraordinary recorded works of a band no-one thought would achieve any longevity at all. From the highly regarded first five studio albums of the 1970's, through the hard rock hardships of the 1980's, the sometimes awkward musical dalliances of the 1990's and ending with the unexpectedly triumphant return of the band in the 2010's this book will cover every era and every line-up in detail.

Motorhead On Track

by Duncan Harris

Published 15 April 2022
Motorhead are arguably the greatest rock and roll band in history, but it took many years to win that accolade. This is the story of the band that refused to die. They started off as the Vengeful Bastard and they had a tough beginning. The band had to deal with wayward producers, hostile record companies, more than a couple of false starts and even the ignominy of being proclaimed the Worst Band in the World by the NME!

Famed for their legendary loudness and their singular anthem, 'Ace Of Spades', Motorhead have not only proved inspirational but also, accidentally, created two sub-genres of heavy music: speed and thrash metal. Not bad for a band who announced themselves with: 'We are Motorhead, and we play rock and roll.' at their numerous live gigs.

This book covers every studio album, band rarities and significant solo work from Lemmy. It is designed as a useful companion to the recorded output of a unique band. From the highly regarded trio of albums that ended the 1970s, through the line-up hardships and turmoil of the 1980s to the occasionally awkward musical experiments of the early 1990s, this book closes with the triumphant two-decade-long career revival of the band.