The original guitarist and co-founder of Hawkwind, Mick Slattery, has passed away at the age of 77 years old. His death was confirmed by Dave Brock, fellow founder of Hawkwind and the band’s vocalist who posted on Facebook, “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, 17th March 2023, aged 77, after a short illness.”
The post continues to read, “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. 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 neighbors. Fly free old friend.”
Hawkwind formed in 1969 after Brock and Slattery joined together with John Harrison on bass, Terry Ollis on drums, Nik Turner on sax/flute, and Michael “Dik Mik” Davies on keyboards. The group was known as Group X until they decided on the name, Hawkwind.
Slattery left the band pretty early on, contributing to an early version of the Hawkwind’s song “Hurry on Sundown” that later was featured on a 1996 reissue of their self titled debut. Slattery left the band in 1969 and was quickly replaced by Huw Lloyd-Langston.
Turner once said of Slattery, “He didn’t really like the commercial aspects. He didn’t like to be working regularly.”
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