ROBERT CALVERT SPECIAL -
THE TOUR THAT NEVER WAS
The following pieces make up the final part of the Calvert special, that concentrate on the press coverage of the release of arguably his first and finest solo work, the groundbreaking album that was, and still is
CAPTAIN LOCKHEED AND THE STARFIGHTERS
Over these couple of articles the story unfolds regarding taking the album on the road and I'm sure few will not be left with the thought "if only!"
CPT. LOCKHEED BLASTING OFF - NME 20/04/74
ROBERT CALVERT, former Hawkwind lead singer and co-writer of the band's million selling "Silver Machine", launches his long awaited "Captain Lockheed And The Starfighters" project next month - with the release of the album of that title by United Artists on May 10. And with backing from the record company, the work has also been adapted into a stage show which undertakes a 16 venue concert tour during the May-June period.
The album and the show, tells in word and music, the facts about the purchasing of the Lockheed Starfighter jets by Germany in the early 60's - and the manner in which they crashed so frequently, thereby earning the plane the nicknames of "The Flying Coffin" and "The Widowmaker". A single from the album "Ejection" is issued this week.
The stage show opens on May 16, but the first confirmed is London's Chelsea Kings Road Theatre - where the Rocky Horror show is now playing on Sunday, May 19. Other finalised dates are Birmingham Town Hall (20), Guilford Civic Hall (30), Liverpool Stadium (June 1), Chelmsford Chancellor Hall (2) and Portsmouth Guildhall (13). the show will feature elaborate stage and projection lighting, co-ordinated by Mike Hart, who was partly responsible for Hawkwind's "Space Ritual".
Musicians featured on the album are all of Hawkwind, Brian Eno, Blackie (from the Pink Faries), Arthur Brown, Viv Stanshall and Jim Capaldi. Those who will be going out on the road with Calvert include John Weinzeriel from Amon Duul II, Blackie, Adrian Wagner and possibly Russell Hunter.
CALVERT CANCELS 'LOCKHEED' DATES - NME, APPROX. 04/05/74
ROBERT CALVERT has pulled out of his projected "Captain Lockheed And The Starfighters" tour, and the May-June dates announced for the project two weeks ago have been cancelled. The concerts had been intended to complement Calvert's album of the same name, which United Artists release on May 10 and were to have been co-financed by the artists management and record company.
A spokesman told NME: "There are two separate reasons for cancelling the tour. The first is that Calvert is now under new management who consider the cost of the proposed tour would be prohibitive. After all it was to have been an elaborate show, complete with sets, and a one-nighter itinerary on this basis would have presented many problems".
"Then again Calvert himself is not keen on the idea of touring. In fact he is seriously considering giving up his musical career altogether, to concentrate on being a poet. But he realises that the album ought to be promoted and - with this in view - there will probably be a major London date for the "Captain Lockheed" show some time in the summer, possibly followed by one or two other major dates".
POSTSCRIPT
So there you have it. When you read it in hindsight it looks like a classic example of the tickets not selling as well as the promoter expected so in these cases the easiest thing to do is cancel and cut your losses. What I do find interesting is that due to the short time span we are talking about here, dates announced mid April, with the tour kicking off just under four weeks later then one has to assume that quite a bit of pre production work must have gone on with regards the staging at least and you have to wonder if the proposed performers actually undertook and rehearsals.
I guess these and many other questions will be left unanswered, unless of course you know different, and as ever if that's the case then don't hesitate to drop us a line by