“Drugs at our age? You don’t have to take them forever. Once you’ve opened the doors of perception you can see what’s going on; you’ve got the ideas”: Dave Brock on Hawkwind’s late-period purple patch
Space-rock pioneer Dave Brock discussed his recent recovery from a serious COVID-19 infection that required hospitalisation and threatened to derail Hawkwind's touring schedule. The February illness caused respiratory complications and heart rhythm disruptions, creating significant obstacles for performances. Despite these health challenges, Brock persevered to complete the six planned dates supporting the band's 36th studio album.
In the interview, Brock reflected on Hawkwind's continued commitment to addressing systemic social issues through their music. He spoke of the band's role in promoting alternative perspectives on society and global injustice, whilst contextualising their psychedelic heritage as a chapter in their broader artistic journey rather than a permanent fixture of their practice.
- Hawkwind's Dave Brock recovered from severe COVID hospitalisation in February and completed a six-date tour that nearly didn't happen
- The band's latest album reflects their ongoing concern with global injustice and counter-cultural activism
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Drugs at our age? You don’t have to take them forever. Once you’ve opened the doors of perception you can see what’s going on; you’ve got the ideas: Dave Brock on Hawkwind’s late-period purple patch
Hawkwind are a long-running English rock band best known for pioneering "space rock" in the early 1970s, mixing heavy, repetitive music with science-fiction themes and elaborate live shows. Dave Brock is the band's founder and only remaining original member, having led the group through numerous line-up changes and dozens of albums over more than fifty years.
The band remain active, having released a 36th studio album and undertaken a further tour, which places them among the longest-surviving acts in British rock. Brock's comments touch on his health, the band's musical direction and the ideas that have shaped their work, offering an update on a group whose influence on psychedelic and space rock is widely recognised.