Shipping class: Annuals

Shindig! delves into the unique fusion of heavy riffs and electronics that defines spacerock, tracing its origins from the space race era, the sci-fi boom, and the psychedelic influences of the 1960s and beyond. We explore spacerock’s roots, starting with the 1950s soundtracks like Louis and Bebe Barron’s FORBIDDEN PLANET, and the groundbreaking work of JOE MEEK on Telstar. Additionally, we examine the social and cultural impacts of the moon landings, sci-fi literature, and the cinematic experiences that shaped the late ’60s. This backdrop gave rise to early spacerock efforts by THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, PINK FLOYD, and THE BYRDS, leading to HAWKWIND’s genre-defining entrance at the decade’s end. GONG’s Radio Gnome trilogy also made a significant impact, while artists like SILVER APPLES and FIFTY FOOT HOSE explored the electronic side of spacerock, and the BBC RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP infused it with a distinctly British flavor. German bands such as AMON DUUL II, NEU, and ASH RA TEMPEL contributed their unique takes to the genre. By the late ’70s, artists like CHROME brought a punk energy to spacerock. The magazine will continue through the ’80s and ’90s with HERE AND NOW, OZRIC TENTACLES, and the indie influences of SPACEMEN 3 and LOOP. Bringing us to the present, ASTRA, THE HEADS, and WHITE HILLS show that the genre is still thriving. This special issue also features key space-rock obscurities and articles from Johnny Truck, Patrick Lundborg, Ian Abrahams, and Rich Deakin.

PROCOL HARUM – Former R&B wailers who invented prog-rock and cut the most successful single of all time —- THE BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND – Enter the eccentric world of the dadaist pop terrorists —- JULIE DRISCOLL, BRIAN AUGER & THE TRINITY – Adventures in jazz with the queen of UK psychedelia —- SPIRIT The early years of the LA psych-rock legends —- THE POETS – The story of Scotland’s number one group! —- KIPPINGTON LODGE & BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Frome teen pop-psych hopefuls to cult adulation —- GENE CLARK – The Byrd that flew too close to the sun —- H P LOVECRAFT – Gothic psychedelic folk-rock from Chicago —- THE LITTER – Minneapolis noiseniks exposed at last —- THE DILLARDS – The uncrowned kings of US country-rock —- JIMMY CAMPBELL – The tragic talent of the Liverpool beat bard —- IRON VIRGIN – Glam-rock on the terraces —- ZIG ZAG MAGAZINE – Shindig!’s grandaddy