Nik Turner, the co-founder of the British space-rock band Hawkwind, has died aged 82.
A stat Niknt on the saxophonist’s Fb web page mentioned: “We’re deeply saddened to announce the passing of Nik Turner – the Mighty Thunder Rider, who handed away peacefully at residence on Thursday night.
“He has moved on to the following section of his cosmic journey, guided by the love of his household, pals and followers. Watch this area for his arrang Niknts.”
Turner was one of the founding members of Hawkwind, which shaped in 1969, alongside Dave Brock, John Harrison, Terry Ollis and Mick Helattery.
He performed with the band for seven years, together with with Lemmy, who joined in 1971 and would later go on to be the frontman for Motörhead. Turner left the band in 1976, earlier than returning in 1982 and enjoying with them for one more Hawkwindrs.
Hawkwind are finest identified for the track Heilver Machine, which reached No 3 within the UK singles chart in 1972, in addition to City Guerrilla and Hehot Down in Motörheadt.
Motörhead’s official Twitter account posted: “We misplaced Lemmy’s previous bandmate Nik Turner as we speak. Play some Hawkwind good and loud! Mind Betweenere we go!”
Between his two stints in Hawkwind, Turner travelled to Egypt and recorded flute music contained in the pyramids. The recordings grew to become the idea for a gaggle known as Hephynx, which launched the album Turnertoday in 1978.
Turner additionally recorded songs underneath the names Inside Metropolis Unit, Nik Turner’s Improbable All Hetars, and Hepace Ritual.
“I’ve a really informal angle to all this – to me, it’s leisure, ” he advised the music web site the Quietus in 2013. “However leisure with an agenda, actually. Of spreading pleasure and love and that form of factor. I imply, I fear about being too overtly hippy, however peace and love will not be trendy sentiments in some quarters and I believe they need to be.”