California Brainstorm
Encyclopedia
California Brainstorm is a live album by the British
space rock
group Hawkwind
, recorded during their North America tour in 1990, and released in 1992 in the USA on the Iloki label.
In 1994 it received a UK release by Cyclops, which included the extra track "Images" and was also available in limited boxset containing Robert Godwin's book A Collectors Guide to Hawkwind.
In September and October 1989 they ventured back for a 13 date low-key tour, part of which was released on the Palace Springs
album. They followed this up with an 18 date tour in December 1990, relying upon dedicated fans to help with sound and lighting gear. One of these fans, Brad Knox, supervised the video recording of some shows, and in 1992 received permission from Brock to release a CD of an edited soundtrack from the 16 December 1990 Oakland Omni Theatre show.
Cyclops release only:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
group Hawkwind
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....
, recorded during their North America tour in 1990, and released in 1992 in the USA on the Iloki label.
In 1994 it received a UK release by Cyclops, which included the extra track "Images" and was also available in limited boxset containing Robert Godwin's book A Collectors Guide to Hawkwind.
Background
Despite relative success in North America in the early 1970s, Hawkwind's pull there had waned by the time of their 1978 tour, with no record contract and playing to audiences of around 500-600. Nevertheless, they retained a small cult following throughout the 1980s despite no tours and most albums being available only on import.In September and October 1989 they ventured back for a 13 date low-key tour, part of which was released on the Palace Springs
Palace Springs (album)
Palace Springs is a 1991 live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.Although released in 1991, this album was recorded in 1989 prior to the previous album Space Bandits...
album. They followed this up with an 18 date tour in December 1990, relying upon dedicated fans to help with sound and lighting gear. One of these fans, Brad Knox, supervised the video recording of some shows, and in 1992 received permission from Brock to release a CD of an edited soundtrack from the 16 December 1990 Oakland Omni Theatre show.
Set list
This CD starts part way through the show, "Void's End" being the end of "The Golden Void". Prior to that, the band opened the set list with either "Angels of Death" or "Needle Gun". "Wings" was also performed, but omitted from the CD.Tour dates
- 28 November: Boston, Channel Club
- 30 November: Philadelphia, Ambler
- 1 December: New York, Wetlands
- 2 December: Washington, 9:30 Club
- 4 December: Toronto, Diamond
- 5 December: Cleveland, Empire
- 6 December: Cleveland, Empire
- 7 December: Chicago, Cubby Bear
- 8 December: River Grove, Thirsty Whale
- 9 December: Milwaukee, Shank Hall
- 11 December: Minneapolis, Glam Slam
- 13 December: Denver, Mercury Club
- 15 December: Los Angeles, Lingerie
- 16 December: Oakland, Omni
- 17 December: San Francisco, I - Beam
- 19 December: Portland, Day For Night
- 20 December: Vancouver, Town Pump
- 22 December: Long Beach, Bogarts
Track listing
- "Void's End" (Dave BrockDave BrockDavid Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
) – 5:27 - "Ejection" (Robert CalvertRobert CalvertRobert Calvert was a writer, poet, and musician.-Biography:Born Robert Newton Calvert in Pretoria, South Africa, Calvert's parents moved to England when he was two years of age and later attended school in London and Margate. He began his career by writing poetry and in 1967 formed a Street...
) – 5:58 - "Brainstorm" (Nik TurnerNik TurnerNik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
) – 8:51 - "Out Of The Shadows" (Doug Buckley, Brock, Alan DaveyAlan Davey (musician)Alan Davey is best known as the former bassist with Hawkwind. He is now the bass player and vocalist for Gunslinger as well as Hawklords, Meads of Asphodel, and Thunor.-Early musical career:...
)
"Eons" [aka "Snake Dance"] (Hawkwind)
"Night Of The Hawks" (Brock) – 18:08 - "TV Suicide" (Harvey BainbridgeHarvey BainbridgeHarvey Frederick Bainbridge is an English bass and keyboard player. He is best known as the bass player and keyboard player in Hawkwind....
)
"Back In The Box" (Hawkwind)
"Assassins Of Allah" [aka "Hassan-i-SabahHassan-i-SabahHassan-i Sabbāh was a Persian Nizārī Shi'a Ismā'īlī Muslim missionary who converted a community in the late 11th century in the heart of the Alborz Mountains of northern Iran. The place was called Alamut and was attributed to an ancient king of Daylam...
"] (Calvert, Paul RudolphPaul Rudolph (musician)Paul Fraser Rudolph is a guitarist,bassist, singer, and cyclist. He made his mark in the UK underground music scene, and then as a session musician, before returning to Canada to indulge his passion for cycling...
) – 20:14 - "Propaganda" (Hawkwind) – 1:08
- "Reefer MadnessReefer MadnessReefer Madness is a well-known 1936 American propaganda exploitation film revolving around the melodramatic events that ensue when high school students are lured by pushers to try "marijuana" — from a hit and run accident, to manslaughter, suicide, attempted rape, and descent into madness...
" (Calvert, Brock) – 8:25
Cyclops release only:
- "Images" (Bridget WishartBridget WishartBridget Wishart is a vocalist and performance artist who performed with Hawkwind from 1989 to 1991, appearing on the albums Space Bandits, Palace Springs, California Brainstorm and Take Me to Your Future and, among others, the Nottingham 1990 video.She obtained BA in Fine Art from Newport Art...
, Brock, Davey) – 6:15
Personnel
- Bridget WishartBridget WishartBridget Wishart is a vocalist and performance artist who performed with Hawkwind from 1989 to 1991, appearing on the albums Space Bandits, Palace Springs, California Brainstorm and Take Me to Your Future and, among others, the Nottingham 1990 video.She obtained BA in Fine Art from Newport Art...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dave BrockDave BrockDavid Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals - Alan DaveyAlan Davey (musician)Alan Davey is best known as the former bassist with Hawkwind. He is now the bass player and vocalist for Gunslinger as well as Hawklords, Meads of Asphodel, and Thunor.-Early musical career:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Harvey BainbridgeHarvey BainbridgeHarvey Frederick Bainbridge is an English bass and keyboard player. He is best known as the bass player and keyboard player in Hawkwind....
– keyboards, vocals - Richard Chadwick – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals