Mick Slattery, one of the founding members of rock band Hawkwind, has died.
The 77-year-old passed away on St Patrick’s Day (March 17) following a short illness. He left the group not long after its formation, but was nevertheless instrumental in creating one of the most fabled space rock acts in British music.
He and singer/guitarist Dave Brock, still a member today, formed the band in 1969, from the remnants of a previous psychedelic outfit called The Famous Cure, along with bass player John Harrison and drummer Terry Ollis. They were joined by saxophonist Nik Turner and synth player Dik Mik Davies.
Originally called Group X and then Hawkwind Zoo, before settling on Hawkwind (so named due to Turner’s unsavoury habit of clearing his nose and breaking wind), they performed their first gig in Notting Hill, at the All Saints Hall, where DJ John Peel happened to be in attendance. Impressed by their hastily-arranged performance, Peel recommended them to event organiser Douglas Smith, who managed to get them a deal with Liberty Records and from there the legendary group shot to stardom.
With Slattery, they recorded a few demos at Abbey Road – Hurry On Sundown, Bring It On Home, Kiss of the Velvet Whip and the Pink Floyd track Cymbaline – and then they made their first album ‘Hawkwind’ (rated as their finest by many fans), but by this time, he had departed, to be replaced by Huw Lloyd-Langton.
Slattery remained in the music industry, playing in Turner’s band Space Ritual and more recently in Hawkestrel. His former Hawkwind sidekick Brock paid tribute to his old mate after his passing, saying: “We are sorry to share the sad news that our old friend, and Hawkwind founder member, Mick Slattery passed away peacefully at home yesterday, St Patrick's Day.
“Me and Mick played together in a band called Famous Cure in 1967, touring Holland before going on to form Hawkwind in 1969. I have lots of fond memories from our younger days, playing together in Holland and hanging out in Richmond at the L'Auberge Cafe and Eel Pie Island.
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“In the late 60s, we used to rehearse in my upstairs flat in Putney and also in the basement of Bob Kerr’s music shop in Gwalior Road, playing loud music, much to the annoyance of our neighbours. Fly free old friend.”
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