Hawkwind

Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures.

Formed in November 1969 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Brock, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and styles of music. Critic Jim Green describes their trademark sound as characterised by "that gargantuan and impenetrable pre-metal/hardcore drone, those great riffs, that inexorable drive to destinations unknown." In the early 1990s, the word "blanga" was coined by Inner City Unit and Robert Calvert guitarist Steve Pond (who currently plays in Krankshaft with 2012 touring keyboardist Dead Fred) and music critic J. Eric Smith via the Hawkwind Blanga Guide to summarise this sound, and the word has become a common descriptive term for the music created by Hawkwind and the bands they have inspired. Dozens of musicians have worked with the group; fantasy and science fiction writer Michael Moorcock was an occasional collaborator.