Harvey Bainbridge
Encyclopedia
Harvey Frederick Bainbridge (born 24 September 1949, Dorset
) is an English
bass
and keyboard player. He is best known as the bass player and keyboard player in Hawkwind
.
He initially joined Hawkwind members Dave Brock
and Robert Calvert
in 1977 in a band called Sonic Assassins
in which he played bass guitar. Sonic Assassins was formed by Brock to exist alongside Hawkwind, but to focus on playing local concerts around the South West of England.
When Hawkwind split up after the 1978 tour of the United States
, Bainbridge was asked to play for Brock and Calvert's new band Hawklords
. By 1979, the Hawklords had largely disintegrated and although the legal ownership of the name "Hawkwind" was still in doubt, Brock and Bainbridge re-created Hawkwind.
Prior to joining the Hawklords in July 1978, Bainbridge had been involved in a number of performing groups. His first musical group was when he was at school. A group of friends formed a band called Fredsfuzz with Martin Bland on vocals, brother Lawrence on drums, Gary Tinson on lead, Bainbridge, having just purchased a bass guitar and amplifier, and 'Fred' Davis on organ. The group was a rhythm and blues
band, playing Chuck Berry
covers
etc.
Bainbridge continued to play bass with Hawkwind until late 1984. He then became the band's primary keyboard player, as Brock recruited the 20-year old Alan Davey
into the band to play bass. Bainbridge continued in this role until 1991.
Since leaving Hawkwind, he has worked mainly as a solo performer but has also performed with Lancashire space rockers Earthling Society at a number of their shows. Bainbridge with Spaceseed released an album on Zeta Reticuli Records called The Empire of Night in 2006.
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and keyboard player. He is best known as the bass player and keyboard player in 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....
.
He initially joined Hawkwind members Dave Brock
Dave Brock
David 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...
and Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert
Robert 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...
in 1977 in a band called Sonic Assassins
Sonic Assassins
Sonic Assassins were a UK band formed in 1977, composed of members from Hawkwind and local Devon band Ark.-Formation:Hawkwind main writers Robert Calvert and Dave Brock were living in Devon towards the end of 1977 and had befriended local band Ark, who had often supported Hawkwind at some of...
in which he played bass guitar. Sonic Assassins was formed by Brock to exist alongside Hawkwind, but to focus on playing local concerts around the South West of England.
When Hawkwind split up after the 1978 tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Bainbridge was asked to play for Brock and Calvert's new band Hawklords
Hawklords
Hawklords were an English music group active between 1978 and 1979. They were borne from the disbanded Hawkwind and a local Devon group named Ark with the addition of former Pilot keyboardist Steve Swindells.The use of the name Hawklords instead of Hawkwind may...
. By 1979, the Hawklords had largely disintegrated and although the legal ownership of the name "Hawkwind" was still in doubt, Brock and Bainbridge re-created Hawkwind.
Prior to joining the Hawklords in July 1978, Bainbridge had been involved in a number of performing groups. His first musical group was when he was at school. A group of friends formed a band called Fredsfuzz with Martin Bland on vocals, brother Lawrence on drums, Gary Tinson on lead, Bainbridge, having just purchased a bass guitar and amplifier, and 'Fred' Davis on organ. The group was a rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band, playing Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
etc.
Bainbridge continued to play bass with Hawkwind until late 1984. He then became the band's primary keyboard player, as Brock recruited the 20-year old Alan Davey
Alan 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:...
into the band to play bass. Bainbridge continued in this role until 1991.
Since leaving Hawkwind, he has worked mainly as a solo performer but has also performed with Lancashire space rockers Earthling Society at a number of their shows. Bainbridge with Spaceseed released an album on Zeta Reticuli Records called The Empire of Night in 2006.