Simon King (musician)
Encyclopedia
Simon King is an English drummer most noted for his work with Hawkwind
. He was described in 1985 by British rock magazine 'Sounds' as (the) 'definitive rock drummer.'
His career commenced as a teenager in the late 1960s in the Oxfordshire based psychedelic group Opal Butterfly
who produced two singles as well as contributing to the soundtrack to the film Groupie Girl
, in which King had a cameo role.
At their demise, Opal Butterfly's frontman had been Lemmy who went on to join Hawkwind
. Hawkwind were having problems with their drummer Terry Ollis so King was invited by Lemmy to play alongside Ollis, but after a couple of gigs Ollis left and his place was permanently taken up by King. His first gig as sole drummer was the Greasy Truckers Party
at the Roundhouse on 13 February 1972 which was recorded and released on two Various Artists compilation albums and as the hit single Silver Machine
, earning King an appearance on Top of the Pops
.
King remained with Hawkwind until the 1978 Hawklords
album, passing his drum duties onto Martin Griffin for personal reasons. During this time he teamed up with Huw Lloyd-Langton
and Nic Potter
to form a three piece named Jawa, and it is this band that recorded the Steve Swindells
album Fresh Blood
.
He briefly returned to Hawkwind for their Winter 1979 tour, but quit again during the recording sessions for the Levitation
album. He auditioned one final time for the 1982 Choose Your Masques
tour, but being rejected he chose to sell his drum kit and leave the music business.
According to Hawkwind guitarist Dave Brock, in a 1984 taped interview for Tim Gadd's radio show 'Zooks', King left the band after 1979 because of drug problems.
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....
. He was described in 1985 by British rock magazine 'Sounds' as (the) 'definitive rock drummer.'
His career commenced as a teenager in the late 1960s in the Oxfordshire based psychedelic group Opal Butterfly
Opal Butterfly
Opal Butterfly were an English, late 1960s band, from London. The band featured Simon King and, for a short time, Lemmy, who met again in Hawkwind. Further members were Robert C...
who produced two singles as well as contributing to the soundtrack to the film Groupie Girl
Groupie Girl
Groupie Girl is a 1970 British drama film based around the music scene, directed by Derek Ford and starring Esme Johns, Donald Sumpter and the band Opal Butterfly. The film was written by Ford and former groupie Suzanne Mercer....
, in which King had a cameo role.
At their demise, Opal Butterfly's frontman had been Lemmy who went on to join 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....
. Hawkwind were having problems with their drummer Terry Ollis so King was invited by Lemmy to play alongside Ollis, but after a couple of gigs Ollis left and his place was permanently taken up by King. His first gig as sole drummer was the Greasy Truckers Party
Greasy Truckers Party
Greasy Truckers Party is a 1972 live album by various artists recorded at a February 1972 Greasy Truckers concert at the Roundhouse in London. The concert featured three bands, Man, Brinsley Schwarz and Hawkwind, and musician Magic Michael...
at the Roundhouse on 13 February 1972 which was recorded and released on two Various Artists compilation albums and as the hit single Silver Machine
Silver Machine
Silver Machine is a 1972 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single on 9 June 1972, reaching #3 on the UK singles chart. The single was re-issued in 1976, 1978 reaching #34 on the UK singles charts, and in 1983 reaching #67 on the UK singles charts...
, earning King an appearance on Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
.
King remained with Hawkwind until the 1978 Hawklords
25 Years On
Hawklords is the eighth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1978. It released under the name Hawklords for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name "Hawkwind" at the time. It reached #48 on the UK album charts. It was originally titled 25 Years On and the first 25000 were...
album, passing his drum duties onto Martin Griffin for personal reasons. During this time he teamed up with Huw Lloyd-Langton
Huw Lloyd-Langton
Huw Lloyd-Langton is an English guitarist, best known as the guitarist for Hawkwind. He also had his own band, the Lloyd Langton Group with bass player Kenny Wilson and drummer John Clark , and is the session lead guitarist for UK band The Meads of Asphodel.As a member of Hawkwind he appeared on...
and Nic Potter
Nic Potter
Nic Potter is a British bassist, composer and painter, best known for his work with the group Van der Graaf Generator in the 1970s.-Career:...
to form a three piece named Jawa, and it is this band that recorded the Steve Swindells
Steve Swindells
Steve Swindells is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organiser, club promoter and journalist.Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his...
album Fresh Blood
Fresh Blood
Fresh Blood is a 1980 album by the English singer/songwriter Steve Swindells. Swindells is backed on this album by guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton and drummer Simon King, both from Hawkwind, and basist Nic Potter from Van der Graaf Generator....
.
He briefly returned to Hawkwind for their Winter 1979 tour, but quit again during the recording sessions for the Levitation
Levitation (album)
Levitation is the tenth studio album by English rock group Hawkwind, released in 1980. It peaked at #21 on the UK Albums Chart.At the time of its release, band leader Dave Brock stated: "with Levitation we’ve come full circle back to the style of our debut album...
album. He auditioned one final time for the 1982 Choose Your Masques
Choose Your Masques
Choose Your Masques is the thirteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1982. It spent five weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #29....
tour, but being rejected he chose to sell his drum kit and leave the music business.
According to Hawkwind guitarist Dave Brock, in a 1984 taped interview for Tim Gadd's radio show 'Zooks', King left the band after 1979 because of drug problems.
Discography
- 1968 - Opal ButterflyOpal ButterflyOpal Butterfly were an English, late 1960s band, from London. The band featured Simon King and, for a short time, Lemmy, who met again in Hawkwind. Further members were Robert C...
- Beautiful Beige/Speak Up (single) - 1968 - Opal ButterflyOpal ButterflyOpal Butterfly were an English, late 1960s band, from London. The band featured Simon King and, for a short time, Lemmy, who met again in Hawkwind. Further members were Robert C...
- Mary Anne with the Shaky HandMary Anne with the Shaky Hand"Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" is a song written by Pete Townshend and first released on The Who's 1967 album The Who Sell Out, and subsequently on several Who compilation albums. The song has a Latin-influenced melody and ambiguous lyrics that have been subject to a variety of interpretations...
/My Gration Or? (single) - 1969 - Opal ButterflyOpal ButterflyOpal Butterfly were an English, late 1960s band, from London. The band featured Simon King and, for a short time, Lemmy, who met again in Hawkwind. Further members were Robert C...
- Groupie Girl/The Gigging Song (single) - 1972 - Various Artists - Glastonbury FayreGlastonbury Fayre (album)Glastonbury Fayre is a triple album released in 1972, comprising performances by acts who had appeared at the Glastonbury Festival in 1971...
(live) - 1972 - Various Artists - Greasy Truckers PartyGreasy Truckers PartyGreasy Truckers Party is a 1972 live album by various artists recorded at a February 1972 Greasy Truckers concert at the Roundhouse in London. The concert featured three bands, Man, Brinsley Schwarz and Hawkwind, and musician Magic Michael...
(live) - 1972 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Silver MachineSilver MachineSilver Machine is a 1972 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single on 9 June 1972, reaching #3 on the UK singles chart. The single was re-issued in 1976, 1978 reaching #34 on the UK singles charts, and in 1983 reaching #67 on the UK singles charts...
/Seven By Seven (single) - 1972 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Doremi Fasol LatidoDoremi Fasol LatidoDoremi Fasol Latido is the third studio album from Hawkwind, released in 1972. It reached #14 on the UK album charts.-New Members:The rhythm section of Dave Anderson and Terry Ollis was replaced by Lemmy and Simon King, both of whose style differed notably from their predecessors. This changed the... - 1973 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Space RitualSpace RitualThe Space Ritual Alive in Liverpool and London is a 1973 live double album recorded in 1972 by UK rock band Hawkwind. It is their fourth album, reached #9 in the UK album charts and briefly dented the Billboard Top 200, peaking at #179....
(live) - 1973 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Urban Guerilla/Brainbox Pollution (single) - 1973 - Brian EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
- Here Come the Warm JetsHere Come the Warm JetsHere Come the Warm Jets is the debut solo album by Brian Eno. Produced by Eno, it was released on Island Records in 1974. The musical style of Here Come the Warm Jets is a hybrid of glam rock and art rock, similar to Eno's previous album work with Roxy Music but with songs that are more quirky and... - 1974 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Psychedelic Warlords/It's So Easy (single) - 1974 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Hall of the Mountain GrillHall of the Mountain GrillHall of the Mountain Grill is the fourth studio album by space rock band Hawkwind, released in 1974. It is regarded by many critics and fans as a career highlight.-Overview:... - 1974 - 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...
- Captain Lockheed and the StarfightersCaptain Lockheed and the StarfightersCaptain Lockheed and the Starfighters was a 1974 satirical concept album by Robert Calvert, the former frontman of British space-rock band Hawkwind. It consists of a mixture of songs and comic spoken interludes.... - 1975 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Kings of SpeedKings of SpeedKings of Speed is a 1975 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single in the UK on 7 March 1975 and was subsequently included on the album Warrior on the Edge of Time.-Kings of Speed:...
/Motorhead (single) - 1975 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Warrior on the Edge of TimeWarrior on the Edge of TimeWarrior on the Edge of Time is Hawkwind's fifth studio album. It reached #13 on the UK album charts and was their third and last album to make the US Billboard chart, where it peaked at #150... - 1975 - Michael MoorcockMichael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
- New Worlds FairNew Worlds FairNew Worlds Fair is a 1975 concept album by UK rock group Michael Moorcock & Deep Fix.Moorcock was an established science fiction author who had contributed lyrics and occasionally performed with Hawkwind... - 1976 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Astounding Sounds, Amazing MusicAstounding Sounds, Amazing MusicAstounding Sounds, Amazing Music is the sixth studio album by the British rock band Hawkwind, released in 1976. It reached #33 on the UK album charts.... - 1976 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Kerb CrawlerKerb CrawlerKerb Crawler is a 1976 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single in the UK on 16 July 1976 taken from the album Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music....
/Honky Dorky (single) - 1977 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Back on the StreetsBack on the Streets (single)Back on the Streets is a 1976 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single in the UK on 28 January 1977 and has been included on some North American versions of the album Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music. It featured on Spirit of the Age - a 1988 compilation album...
/The Dream Of Isis (single) - 1977 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Quark, Strangeness and CharmQuark, Strangeness and CharmQuark, Strangeness And Charm is the seventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1977. It spent 6 weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #30.... - 1977 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Quark, Strangeness and CharmQuark, Strangeness and Charm (single)"Quark, Strangeness and Charm" is a 1977 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind, being the title track from the Quark, Strangeness and Charm album....
/The Forge Of Vulcan (single) - 1978 - HawklordsHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Hawklords25 Years OnHawklords is the eighth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1978. It released under the name Hawklords for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name "Hawkwind" at the time. It reached #48 on the UK album charts. It was originally titled 25 Years On and the first 25000 were... - 1978 - HawklordsHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Psi PowerPsi PowerPsi Power is a 1978 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single in the UK on 6 October 1978, being a slightly different version to the one on the album Hawklords....
/Death Trap (single) - 1979 - HawklordsHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- 25 Years/(Only) The Dead Dreams Of The Cold War Kid/PXR5 (single) - 1979 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- PXR5PXR5PXR5 is the ninth studio album by Hawkwind, released in 1979. It reached #59 on the UK album charts.-Overview:The album was recorded and mixed at Rockfield Studios in January and February 1978. "Uncle Sam's On Mars", "Robot" and "High Rise" were originally recorded on the preceding UK tour but were... - 1979 - 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...
- Lord of the Hornets/The Greenfly and the Rose (single) - 1980 - Steve SwindellsSteve SwindellsSteve Swindells is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist, party organiser, club promoter and journalist.Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area, dropping out of art college to play keyboards with the rock band Squidd. Relocating to London in 1973 and living in squats, he recorded his...
- Fresh BloodFresh BloodFresh Blood is a 1980 album by the English singer/songwriter Steve Swindells. Swindells is backed on this album by guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton and drummer Simon King, both from Hawkwind, and basist Nic Potter from Van der Graaf Generator.... - 1980 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Live Seventy Nine (live) - 1980 - HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind 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....
- Shot Down in the NightShot Down in the NightShot Down in the Night is a 1979 song written by Steve Swindells, who was at that time keyboardist with the UK rock group Hawkwind. Swindells and Hawkwind released different versions of the song as a single on 27 June 1980...
/Urban Guerilla (single)
External links
- Simon King - fansite