BWR137 HAWKLORDS - The Burney Bubble Memorial Concert 2Lp poster cover

In 1973 the late, great, visionary artistic polymath Mr Barney Bubbles designed the graphics and stage presentation for the meisterwork of space poet, Robert Calvert: Hawkwind’s The Space Ritual. Barney designed the show and choerographed it with myself, to incorporate special Barney-designed sound equipment for each member of the band. The show was recorded and released by EMI Records and became one of the best-selling Hawkwind albums ever. I
n 1978 Barney designed the graphics, costumes, stage presentation and choerography for another of robert’s concept shows, The Hawklords’ 25 years on.
Tragically Barney died in 1984. Equally tragically Robert died in 1988.
In 2008, I put together musicians who had worked with Robert to perform Robert’s songs, and to celebrate his life.
In 2009 members of that Hawk-band were approached to put together a Hawklords show, with the band performing Robert’s original Space Ritual, updated for 2009, at the Roundhouse in North London. The Band which had performed at the Robert Calvert memorial benefit event included three members of the original Hawklords: Harvey Bainbridge, Steve Swindells and Martin Griffin, plus a star-spangled array of ex-members of Hawkwind: Alan Davey, Adrian Shaw, Jerry Richards, Ron Tree and myself. I saw it as expedient to field the band as The Hawklords to perform this stage show inspired by Barney’s original presentation, which would feature The New Bubblettes Dance Troupe and lighting ideas pioneered by, and in the sytle of the original Liquid Len and The Lensmen.
Since Barney had been a good friend I felt inspired to promote the Barney Bubbles Memorial Event myself, and also configured it as a benefit, so that any money that might be made, over and above everyon’s expenses, might be donated to a related, worthwhile cause, I hired the venue, booked the bands (all Barney related: some of which I’d worked with alogside him) with The Hawklords (this time without Martin Griffin, who’d dropped out due to personal reasons, but was ably replaced by the great Danny Thompson) – and performing The Space ritual 2009. The event was a great success. Everyone there had a fantastic time, including legendary Hawk-drummer Simon King. It was a wonderful gathering of Barney’s friends and family, including Barney’s son Aten and his ex-partner Georgiana. It was a real Barney love-in – he was definitely there in spirit – and this very special recording is the wonderful result.
Hawklords live, One Love!
Nik Turner

The Hawklords performed The Space ritual 2009 at the Barney Bubbles Memorial Benefit Concert at the 29 Club, Great Portland Street, London on 29.01.2009


TRACK LIST:

Side 1
Earth Calling
Born to Go
Orgone Accumulator
Ten Seconds of Forever
Brainstorm

Side 2
I am the Reptoid
Seven by Seven
Sonic Attack
Master of the Universe

Side 3
Opa-Loka
You Shouldn’t do That
Addicted to you

Side 4
Steppenwolf
PSI Power
Silver Machine


MUSICNAUTS:

HARVEY BAINBRIDGE – synths
ALAN DAVEY – bass, Vocals
JERRY RICHARDS – guitar, vocals
ADRIAN SHAW – bass, vocals
STEVE SWINDELLS – keyboards, vocals
DAN THOMPSON – drums
RON TREE – Vocals
NIK TURNER – sax, flute, vocals

DANCERS. – Miss Angel, Miss Ella Barker, Miss Beatrice Parvin
TONY CRERAR – Mime CATALOG