[Space Ritual Tour Programme: November – December, 1972]

Sonic attack You will feel the need to vomit

You will feel dizzy
In case of sonic attack on your district follow You will have difficulty focussing
these rules You will need to breathe more rapidly
If you are making love it is imperative to bring There will be bleeding from orifices
all bodies to orgasm simultaneously There will be an ache in the pelvic region
Do not waste time blocking your ears You may be subject to fits of hysterical
Do not waste time seeking a ‘sound proofed’ shouting or even laughter
shelter These are all signs of imminent sonic
Try to get as far away from the sonic source as destruction
possible Your only protection is flight
Do not panic If you are less than ten years old
Do not panic Remain in the shelters and use your cocoon
Use your wheels. It is what they are for Remember—you can help no one else
Do not attempt to use your own limbs You can help no one else
Small babies may be placed in the special You can help no one else
cocoons and should be left, if possible, in Do not panic
shelters. Do not panic
If no wheels are available—metal—not organic Think only of yourself
—limbs should be employed whenever practical Think only of yourself
Remember: Think only of yourself
In the case of sonic attack survival means
“Every man for himself” Think only of yourself
Statistically more people survive if they think
only of themselves Think only of yourself
Do not attempt to rescue friends, relatives,
loved ones Think only of yourself
You have only a few seconds to escape
Use those seconds sensibly, or you will
inevitably die
Think only of yourself
An extract from the Saga
Think only of yourself of Doremi Fasol Latido.
Do not panic
Think only of yourself
Think only of yourself
These are the first signs of sonic attack: Instellation 15: Sonic
You will notice small objects—such as orna- Attack
ments—oscillating
You will notice vibrations in your diaphragm Silence. Darkness. Voices one by one
You will hear a distant hissing in your ears building to incoherent chant.
THIS IS EARTH CALLING Galactic Union, with the authority dele-
gated to us by our Great Mother and in
EARTH
accordance with the Brotherhood of Men,
CALLING send greetings to the leaders of planet
Terra ... with the growing certainty that
THIS IS EARTH your ambitions are causing an imbalance
CALLING EARTH to the Galaxy, are not in accord with the
great flow and are therefore no longer
CALLING THIS IS EARTH CALLING tenable ... suspend immediately all traffic
in arms ... the breakdown of complex
EARTH CALLING THIS IS EARTH CALL
ING EARTH CALLING THIS IS EARTH
defence systems ... please show our
CALLING EARTH CALLING THIS IS CALLING emissaries unrestricted powers of investi-
EARTH CALLING THIS IS gation …
CALLINGEARTHCALLINGTHISISEARTH
INGTHISISEARTHCALLINGTHISISEARTH
Lord of Light

Wearily, Nik Turner, captain of the The elements that gather here
Galactic Union spaceship Hawkwind, Upon this hill shall cast no fear
fighter for the Holy Imperium army, Of lines that march across the world
champion to Her Most Illustrious Majesty For travel which no man has heard
Queen of Thorasin, flicked off the switch
and ran a hand over his face. Fiery acid The moon that shines its beam so bright
vision blinded his eyesight. The scream of Of stones that measure the silvery light
wounded horses and the smell of burning Of energy that travels here
machinery rang in his mind. Sonic star- It happens on the seventh year
bursts, rainbow chords and arched curv-
From the realms beyond the sun
ing sound flared in his ears. Outside cool
Here our lifetime has begun
and dark space stared back unblinkingly
Perhaps to die
through the plexiglass.
A day shall come we shall be as one
“Pulsars negative. Trip circuit function,”
clattered a hypnopod at his side. Purple
light from the dials washed over his face Was it really ten light years since they had
and as he readjusted the co-ordinates, his blasted off from the sacred lake at
consciousness soared into channels of fire. Abydos? Ten long years of dreary flight
He thought of the six musical orb sensors routine. Peace ambassador? As the Queens
resting in their piles in the hold below. champion he’d had to obey the cnichts
Each humming slightly from their pumatic code and accept the commission. Mission-
influx drivers. Six gleaming towers of ary work to a race of superstitious natives.
chromium, custom built by the master This quest was not to his liking. He was a
craftsmen of Xenon. Smooth. Efficient. man of action. Years of battling in the
Waiting. He thought of the charter. And Queen’s army had toughened and made
his mind flashed to the words engraved on him lean. He stroked his plaited beard and
the crystal ... We the representatives of the felt a surge of energy flow shudderingly
through him. A hand appeared and stabbed at the
“Nik. NIK!” a voice came hazily through emergency button. The ship veered sharp-
his mental fog. A red light was strobing in ly, gyros hissing as they stabilized the
front of him. He stared uncompre- floor level.
hendingly at the light, as it became larger “Another meteor storm, methinks, eh,
and turned into a bleeding heart and then cousin Dikmik?”
slowly melted and dissolved into a stage, “How boring, Milord Lemmy, now let’s
perfectly smooth, stretching away in all see—three degrees east, I fancy.”
directions to infinity. He saw rows of The ship accelerated, mighty engines
gleaming expectant faces and the musical burning fuel at a thousand metons a
orbs. Strangely familiar red lights blinked minim. Gravipull sucked them back, their
over them. He put his hand out toward the ears popping but then the warning light
light and to his amazement found a flute blinked off and was replaced by the green
in it. fail safe.
“And now a six-degree bank. There!”
The retrorockets screamed and hundreds
of miles flashed past in a ten-minim burst.
Down through the night “Yet another success, Sirrah!”
“Touché, milord.”
As we spin through the night
With ever increasing might
Down down and down
Down down and down

Returning volumes of sound

Into the blackness we drown
Round round and round
Round round and round

As we lay in our sleep

The appointment we keep
Down down and down
Down down and down
The two cavaliers, both fashionably
Only the rushing is heard dressed in the latest Thorasin style, threw
Onward flies the bird their arms around each other’s shoulders.
Deep deep and deep Dikmik waved an elegant hand and
Must we sink in our sleep danced a mock quadrille in the baroque
Down down and down style favoured in the royal courts. Lemmy
Returning volumes of sound yawned and popped a blue peppermint
As we spin through the night pill into his mouth from out of a tiny,
engraved casket.
“Nik—for fuck’s sake, man—are you “Pray, Milord Dik and Milord Mik, but if
spaced or something? Get out of the way.” you must dance the harbuck then please
do it with some decorum.” It does not love;
“Avaunt thee, noble Lord Lem but I think It does not fear;
the honourable Nik here owes us all an It does not hate;
apology.” It does not encourage any of these
Nik looked at them. These men he qualities.
trusted. In many a battle they had fought Space cannot be measured.
side by side — or was it played side by It cannot be angered.
side ... The others stared curiously at him. It cannot be placated.
Lemmy, Lord of Darkness, neat but in- It cannot be summed up.
timidating in his elegant black armour. A Space is there.
black cloak bearing the clenched talons of Space is not large and it is not small. It
the royal hawk was thrown carelessly over does not live and it does not die. It does
one shoulder. An eloquent speaker who not offer truth and neither does it lie.
could talk for hours. A dabbler in sorcery Space is a remorseless, senseless,
who knew the elixir of eternal youth. impersonal fact.
Seemingly weak yet the broad sword Space is the absence of time and of matter.
champion of Saturnus. Dikmik, heavily
loaded with metal ornaments, gay colour-
ed feathers and beautifully wrought
leather trappings ingeniously set with Space
precious stones. From his shoulders hung
a short cape of white fur, lined with Space is dark it is so endless
brilliant scarlet silk. When you’re lost its so relentless
“I’m sorry, Dikmik,” he mumbled and It is so big, it is small
focused his mind on the Bhoodan training Why does man try to act so tall
chant.
Is this the reason
Deep in our minds
Space is infinite. It does not feel it does not die
It is dark. Space is neither truth nor lies
Space is neutral. Into the void we have to travel
It is cold. To find the clue which will unravel
Stars occupy minute areas of space. They
are clustered a few billion here. A few Is this the reason
billion there. As if seeking consolation in Deep in our minds
numbers. Space does not care.
The secret lies with our tomorrow
Space does not threaten. In each of us is a hidden sorrow
Space does not comfort. The path goes onward through the night
It does not sleep; Beyond the realms of ancient light
It does not wake;
It does not dream; Is this the reason
It does not hope; Deep in our minds
He looked around the council chamber Orgone accumulator
trying to recognise anything which could
earth his racing thoughts. It was a spacious I’ve got an Orgone Accumulator
circular cabin having that dull blue sheen It makes me feel greater
I’ll see you some time later
peculiar to boronium metal. In the centre,
When I’m through with my Accumulator
fountains watered the necessary oxygen
producing jungle plants. He noted with
It’s no social integrator
pride the latest Ganter series of computer
It’s a one man isolator
banks which lined the perimeter and
It’s a back brain stimulator
provided a steady background noise with
It’s a cerebral vibrator
their busy clicking. Overhead their stand-
ards hung with the Unions banner Those energy stimulators
correctly placed in the centre. Exotic soft Turn your eyeballs into craters
furnishings and rugs from Aruscansus But an Orgone Accumulator
draped over the grilled floor and the Is a super-man creator
massive anthroguns, completing the stark
decor. A disturbing thought flashed into It’s no social integrator
his consciousness. Again, those images. It’s a one man isolator
Was it all remembered, or in the future, or It’s a back brain stimulator
even was it now and he really wasn’t It’s a cerebral vibrator
sitting there at all? Dim visions smoked his
brain. Pictures of people standing and I’ve got an Orgone Accumulator
screaming, and a band playing loud It makes me feel greater
shrieking metal music. Heavy electronic I’ll see you some time later
drum throbs filling his head. Was this When I’m through with my Accumulator
reality, or was this more suspended ani-
mation dreams, or was it hallucination? But his thoughts were far away with his
He stared at a fountain and watched the woman and family on their ventec farm.
water fragment into a million faceted An image of a smiling face came to his
diamonds. Abruptly he snapped the mind with the last rays of the Divonium
intercom. “Get me Simon, can you.” sun reflecting off the long hair.
A tinny voice replied, “Sire —he’s in the “Thinking of home again, Dave?”
wenching room —” “Yes, and I’ll be right pleased when this
“I don’t care where the fuck he is. Get mishugomy is done with.”
him up here —quick!” The two friends smiled at each other and
He swivelled round on the plastimould in a glance, Nik took in his fellow lord of
chair and looked across at his fellow light. The fresh face and the well-muscled
ambassador. Baron Brock lay flat on his body. The long hair flowing over armour
back, comfortably lounging in a pile of of grotesquely writhing entwined dragons.
cushions. He strummed a melody on his The dents in the intricate metalwork which
new Zenith basinett, humming the words told of many a campaign. A clash of arms
to himself. and a gong announced the arrival of
another lord. The guards snapped into the
double-handed hawk salute. Count Simon I can’t move ‘cos the man has a rake off
le Roi was tall, rangy and had the bowed You’re gotta help me, help me to shake off
legs typical of a Rohrusse plains rider. At
his side loped two massive Boorhounds, This body of mine
spiked collars fitting tightly round their I gotta get out of this void
necks. He flung himself into the nearest This body of mine
chair then bounded up and made towards ‘Cos I don’t wanna be destroyed
Nik. The dogs got up and padded over This body, of mine
with him. And I don’t wanna turn android
“Look man, what’s this all about? A guys This body of mine
got to have some relaxation on this crate You’re gotta help me avoid that
and —” Brainstorm
“I’m sorry, Simon, but we’re nearing our Here I go
Brainstorm
destination and it’s time we got a few
Flying low
things sussed out.”
Brainstorm
“Well, OK, but let me know a little earl-
I’m gonna miss it
ier next time.” He grinned. “Those Kapok
Brainstorm
femchiks can get a little wild if you leave
You bet I’ll kiss it
them for too long, you know.”
“And then they’ll bite you to pieces, eh Can’t get no peace till I get into motion
Simon,” said a voice. Del the dwarf had Sign my release from this planet’s erosion
entered noiselessly and stood looking at Paranoia police have sussed out my potion
the five lords. You gotta help me or there’ll be an explosion in
“You called for me?” he continued with-
out waiting for a reply and bowing his This body of mine
head in their general direction. Del, a man
of few words but fiery action. Leader of “Yes, gentlemen. We are swinging in on
the hammer-throwing dwarfs. Small, our final run for Terra. We shall arrive in
broad of shoulder, narrow of hip and about eight hours’ time. But before we
wearing the characteristic double-forked prepare ourselves, I have something im-
beard of his tribe. His hair had grown thin portant to tell you. Very important. You
on top from long wearing of his two- remember the feast of Baccho after the
horned war helmet. He stood there now battle of MU?” Grins of pleasant memories
looking at them with an impatient frown. creased their faces. “That night, the priests
Absentmindedly, he tossed his huge of Ilbrahim imprinted on my mind some
hammer from its thong and spun it several information which was to be triggered as
times before catching it and throwing it up we approached the end of our travels.
again. Well, that time has come. You are all
familiar with the saga of Doremi Fasol
Brainstorm Latido. Of how the Hawklords left their
planet after a losing fight but swearing one
Standing on the runway waiting for take off day to return and rid that planet of evil. Of
I wanna fly, wanna watch me flake off their final arrival at Thorasin. Of how they
put their swords and men at the disposal In the fifth second of forever I thought of
of the Great Mother. Of how these lords the vermilion deserts of Mars, the jewelled
became great champions for the Galactic forests of Venus.
Union and led many a crusade—.” In the fourth second of forever I could
“Yes, yes, just drop the history bit and remember nothing that I did not love.
get on with it.” In the third second of forever I thought of
“So, gentlemen, if I can continue— rain against a window, I thought of the
without interruptions,” and Nik glared at wind.
Simon, “our collective amnesia has been In the second second of forever I thought
lifted. You see, we are here to fulfil many of a pair of broken shades lying on the
prophecies and settle many scores. We are tarmac.
from this planet, and we are coming home. In the first and final second of forever I
In short. We are those same Hawklords.” thought of the long past that had led to
In the stunned silence only the swish of now and never ... never ...
the air conditioning could he heard.

7 by 7
In the tenth second of forever I thought of
the sea and a white yacht drifting. Lost am I in this world
In the ninth second of forever I rememb- Of timelessness and woe
ered a warm room where voices played. Can I find the doorway
In the eighth second of forever I thought of Through which I must go
a leaf, a stone, a plastic fragment of a Is the key to this plane
child’s toy. Too much for me to try again
In the seventh second of forever I thought Is the passport to this
of the life I would not lead. World my astral soul
In the sixth second of forever I saw your
mouth whispering something I could not 7 signs rode on 7 stars
hear. 7 ways to find the long-lost bards
7 days became 7 years ed by unworthies so far this segment. Beep
While Pocus laughed and called foul jeers beep. Kraken woman has 36 children,
7 times he cursed 7 tears father says …’
Each one became their 7 fears “Turn that thing off, for fuck’s sake.”
‘What is lost is never gained again The lords were gathered round a glowing
I’ve cast the spell that eternity chains visor globe. The light giving their faces a
No more to cry O’ mortal soul conspiratorial glare.
The astral path is now your fortuitous role’ “That’s their moon, or rather our moon
over there,” said Brock.
Lost am I in this world “And that’s Terra. By cepheid, just look
Of timelessness and woe at that mother.”
Can I find the doorway “So that’s Terra. Oohwee, look out
Through which I must go wenchlings, here come the Hawklords.”
Is the key to this plane
Nik smashed a fist against the barrel of
Too much for me to try again
an anthrogun.
Is the passport to this
“No! How many ... Listen the Hawklords
World my astral soul
are known in a thousand galaxies—sonic
assassins, psychedelic warlords, dragon
commandos—all these things they call us,
and fear us. No, here we show restraint.
Would you cross the Great Mother? Bring
peace with honour, she said.”
“Honour my arse, give me a good wen-
chling and some cocaine,” snorted Lemmy
and turned to his basso.
A figure crept in from the shadows.
“Milord, time is getting short, and the
priests wish to start the landing ritual.”
Dikmik turned pill-bleary eyes on the
priest and swayed slightly.
“Listen, godman, we don’t need your
The chronometers said it was evening. interference with this sort of job.”
Green lights flicked on, automatically “But I protest, milord, we must show the
dimming the main lighting. The newspeak proper observances —”
crackled over the loudspeakers ... ‘This is “You talk false, preacher,” and he
the Galactic Union broadcasting on all stepped a pace forward, his hand going to
astrophonic metawaves.’ Over a soothing his sword. “Get down with the ladies. I
background choir of femchiks a honeyed didn’t get these scars by wailing to my
voice droned. ‘Increased fighting on the gods when things got difficult.”
hydroplanet Xeseus continues. Fresh “Gently, Dikmik,” said Nik, “please
squads of hydras have been called in. Beep show the priests in.”
beep. Appeals against the law courts. A
record six thousand hovermobiles damag- Time we left
Time we left with a painted silver face of the prime
This world today sorceress caste. Sparkles of light flashed in
Time we lived her waist-long hair. Flowing filmy white
This world today material billowing around her as she
Time we left walked on with head held erect, and eyes
This world today staring at a point beyond space. Two
Time we lived drummers playing a slow measured beat
This world today followed her. Some lieutenants completed
the procession and stopped nervously,
So many people clustering around the airlock. The priests
Seem to say and witches formed two half circles facing
Time we left each other. The pages stopped at the
Seem to say centre fountain and the sorceress stepped
They watch you
in front of them. The drums stopped
When you walk the street
beating.
Cast sly glances
Who you meet
Infinity
Brain police
Are not far behind
I used to be of human kind
Trying to make you
I had a life to lead
Lose your mind
But now I’m frozen in a dream
Time we left
My life is lost it seems
This world today
She turned the key
Time we lived
Of endlessness and locked me
This world today
In a dream
Watch you as you
Infinity
Walk the street
Watch you as you
Infinity so beautiful
Walk the street
Has turned my soul to ice
Make you sit in your
And crystallised eternity
House and say
For all my future time
Will it be me
She turned the key
Come the day
Of endlessness and locked me
So many people seem to say
In a dream
Time we left
Infinity

I met her in a forest glade

A retinue entered the chamber. Two robo- Where starbeams grew like trees
scribes came first, swinging incense I did not take her for a witch
holders followed by six pages dressed in She wasn’t what she seemed
the Imperium livery and bearing the lords She turned the key
banners. Next came seven priests and Of endlessness and locked me
seven witches, in the middle of whom In a dream
walked a tall thin woman of proud bearing Infinity
She led me to a palace gate With a clash of arms, the company raised
With constellation towers their swords, leather bucklers and bronze
She is the keeper of my fate cujons flashing in the glare. The ritual was
I sleep locked in her powers at an end and the chamber became im-
She turned the key mediately changed to a war ship.
Of endlessness and locked me
In a dream
Infinity Psychedelic warlords

We’re the psychedelic warlords

An aura of stillness came into the chamber Playing spaced out rock and roll
and the lords knelt in front of her. She Hang on to your heads now
breathed deeply, sending a convulsive Because we were born to go
shiver through her body. Abruptly her
eyes opened and flashed at the scene, as if You think you know the answers
it was the first time she was aware of her But we don’t tell no lies
surroundings. She raised her arms to the We can take you any way
metal grill ceiling, her eyes fluttering, her Through seven different highs
pale skin growing even more pallid from
the dimmed lights. We’re sick of politicians
“Hail to thee, most noble Great Mother,” Harassment and laws
she began in a low wail, “we raise our All we do is get screwed up
standard to your crescent face.” By other people’s flaws
“So it is spoken so it is done,” murmured
the force. The world’s turned upside down now
“We make union with the spheres; we We’ve got nothing else to do
bring the message.” Except live in concrete jungles
“So it is spoken so it is done.” That just block up our views
“Thirty-six minutes to touch down,”
We’re the psychedelic warlords
rattled a roboscribe.
And that ain’t no joke
Her body stiffened, “I am the great
Travel with us to lands far out
mother. I traverse millions of years. I am
And just disappear in smoke
she whose being has been reborn in her
eye. I shall not die. I shall prevail. In the
name of Crom. In the light of darkness. I Co-ordinates centering at red delta two
call upon the sounds of the spheres to plus seven.
enter these sons of freedom and grant The witches hurriedly led off the sorcer-
success to their holy grail. Come, most ess. With the ease of a band that had made
excellent Do Re Mi Fa Sul La Ti Do, come many such landings, the men went
from your glittering palaces of sound. efficiently to their tasks. All was quiet in
Enter in. Activate the orbs. Fill the bodies the chamber except for the monotonous
of the lords, Captain Nik, Baron Brock, printout of the robo-screen. ‘Astrological
Lord Lemmy, Count Simon, Sir Del and conditions favourable. Terran data system
Sir Dikmik, with your radiant light.” functioning.’
 The planet jerking and jumping in the But now our senses all disgusted
visor globe began to show brown and Reaffirm you can’t be trusted
green with an occasional flash of blue. Nik
adjusted his silver spurs and loosened the Your world imprisoned, screams and pain
thongs of his sword. The drug-fire engulf- There are no leaders you can blame
ed him again. Images merged into each For avarice destroyed your sphere
other. Faces with landscapes. Bodies with And there’s no room for you out here
stars. Wailing guitar, electronic rainbows This is the end now
spraying over the audience. ‘Ley-lines
observed and show information accurate.
Twelve minutes to landing. Lasgun prim-
ed and ready.’ Rippling flute notes curv-
ing in arcs into a circus of sound. A man
coughed and grim anxious faces glanced
quickly at each other. The great desert
plains of Egypt started to loom up on the
visors. ‘Four minutes to landing and
counting. External heat building up.’ Echo
shouts. ‘Zantor squad report position
secure. Retrorockets burning. Altitude de-
crease normal.’ A great pyramid appeared,
wobbled, focused, and spun slowly into
position. ‘Landing as marked. Cut down
steady.’ Climax after surging sound climax
built to an all-powerful crescendo. The
lords braced themselves against the com-
ing impact. A last thought, ‘Will these
people accept us ... or must there be Thanks to Michael Moorcock, John
another bloody crusade . . .’ Touch down. Harrison, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein,
The rocket roar cut off. The music stopped, Lin Carter, Colour television, Philip Jose
or did it begin … Farmer, David Hardy, Sir Patrick Moore,
Einstein and many others for inspiration.
Bob Calvert for conception, the roadies
Graham, Steve, Bob ‘n’ Higgy. Jon de Bog
The Watcher as stage manager, Jon Smeeton, Mike Hart,
Alan and Dave for the lights, Barney
We are looking in on you now Bubbles for all design and lots of other
What do you think you can do now things, Jerry and Vince for equipment,
You’re very small from way out here Paul for getting the tour together, Douglas
The last thing you will feel is fear for getting everyone together, Richard
Ogden for being OK, and many others
We gave you chance to do the right thing including Electrovoice, Vox and Macaries,
We gave you leave to do the bright thing and to UA for all their help.
 The show
is over.
The audience
turn to leave and
put on their coats
and go home.
No more coats.
No more
homes.