Harvey Bainbridge

File:Hawklords-weinheim-26092012-2.jpg

Harvey Bainbridge (left) on stage with the Hawkwind spin-off Hawklords, live in Germany 2012

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.

Harvey has returned to Hawklords and is touring with them playing keyboards during autumn 2015.

External links

• Harvey Bainbridge website
• Complete discography