Space rock

For "space rocks", see asteroid.

Space rock is a style of music; the term originally referred to a group of early mostly British 1970s progressive rock and psychedelic bands like Pink Floyd and Hawkwind, though it now tends to refer to a series of late 1980s British alternative rock bands. This style is characterized by shimmering, melodic sounds, often with copious drug and science fiction references (such as pioneers Spacemen 3's legendary quotation: "taking drugs to make music to take drugs to").

The science fiction author Michael Moorcock collaborated with Hawkwind on many occasions: the Hawkwind track "The Black Corridor", for example, included verbatim quotes from Moorcock's novel of the same name. An album The New Worlds Fair by "Michael Moorcock and the Deep Fix" was released in 1975, which included a number of Hawkwind regulars in the credits. ("The Deep Fix" was the title story of an obscure collection of short stories by "James Colvin" published in the 1960s). Moorcock wrote the lyrics to an album track entitled "Black Blade", referring to the sword Stormbringer in the Elric books, by the American band Blue Öyster Cult: Moorcock has even performed this song live with BÖC.

By the early 1990s, mainly British alternative rock genres like space rock, twee pop, shoegazing and noise pop[?] emerged into the mainstream with the explosion of Britpop bands like Blur, Suede and Oasis. By 1991 (see 1991 in music), though, the original space rock bands had mostly fallen apart, and the musicians had moved on to new bands or new styles.

Examples of space rock

• David Bowie - Space Oddity[?]
• The Byrds - Fifth Dimension
• Creedeence Clearwater Revival[?] - Green River
• Deep Purple - Machine Head
• Gary Glitter - Rock and Roll Part 2[?] (the theme to Doctor Who)
• Elton John - Honky Chateau[?]
• Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
• Alan Parsons Project - I Robot[?]
• Rush - 2112
• Peter Schilling[?] - Different World (Story of Lust)[?]

See also:

• acid-rock[?]