One of the great myths of rock music in the early 70s is that it was awash in the fantastical: wizards, warriors, spaceships and so on and on. But the truth is that it can be pretty darn tough to dig out the evidence to back that up. Take the New Musical Express cover-dated this very day in 1972. You’ll struggle to find much at all that even tip-toes in the direction of science-fiction, horror or fantasy. But persevere and there are a few gems to be recovered.
Shall we begin with a very unpromising lead? The above 13 word review – and every one dismissive in tone – is from Roy Carrs’ singles column. The impression given is of an irredeemably tacky rip off. History certainly appears to be agree. But track down The Vulcans’ 1972 album – also called Star Trek – and a very different truth appears. Yes, it is reggae played with a very prominent role for a synthesizer, but it’s gloriously fine pop reggae too. Sometime had clearly had access to an early Moog and by crikey they were going to use it. The fun is palpable and immediately infectious. For those who’ve heard and enjoyed The Easy Star All-Stars 2003 version of The Dark Star Of The Moon, this is most certainly for you. But then, I can’t help but believe that Star Trek by The Vulcans is for you anyway.
At least Hawkwind could always be relied on for a touch of sci-fi in the age’s music press. This ad for Sunday 9th July’s six-and-a-half all-dayer at the Electric Mecca in Bristol’s Locarno lays out a thoroughly intriguing event. As if Hawkwind during the chart ascendency of Silver Machine weren’t an interesting enough proposition, and they most certainly were, Roxy Music are listed as special guests. Add to that film of Hendrix, a dedicated space cadet if ever there was one, and bless him for it, and Bristol seems to have been the place to point all spaceships towards.
There were multiple ads for the madly gigging Hawkwind in the week’s gig guide, with its painfully small type containing essential data, yes, but also odd throwaway comments left by whoever had been lumbered with the considerable and detailed section. It’s hard not to suspect that this issue’s lumberee had been comics and sci-fi devotee Charles Shaar Murray. You can see the evidence above in the blurb for Friday 7th’s cosmic-rave at Dunstable Civic Hall. “Flame on”? and “a gamma ray up his left nostril”? One of those might have left room for error. But a reference to both The Incredible Hulk and The Human Torch in the same miniscule write-up strongly suggests a Marvel Comics fan was at work there.
The Almanac Of The Fantastical will be back tomorrow …
The Almanac Of The Fantastical 