Hawkwind’s Mick Slattery Passed Away At 77

Hawkwind‘s founding guitarist and co-founder, Mick Slattery, passed away at age 77.

Dave Brock, the band’s vocalist and fellow founder, confirmed Slattery’s passing through a Facebook post. The post reads as:

“We are sorry to share the sad news that our old friend, and Hawkwind founder member, Mick Slattery passed away peacefully at home yesterday, St Patrick’s Day, 17th March 2023, aged 77, after a short illness.”

The singer then recalled his memories with Slattery. He said:

“Me and Mick played together in a band called Famous Cure in 1967, touring Holland before forming Hawkwind in 1969. I have lots of fond memories from our younger days, playing together in Holland and hanging out in Richmond at the L’Auberge Cafe and Eel Pie Island. In the late ’60s, we used to rehearse in my upstairs flat in Putney and also in the basement of Bob Kerr’s music shop in Gwalior Road, playing loud music, much to the annoyance of our neighbors.”

Brock ended his post by saying:

“Fly free old friend.”

Brock and Slattery teamed together with John Harrison (bass), Terry Ollis (drums), Nik Turner (sax/flute), and Michael “Dik Mik” Davies to form Hawkwind in 1969. However, during the early part of the band’s career, Slattery left. In 1969, Slattery departed the band, and Huw Lloyd-Langton took his place. Turner stated:

“He didn’t really like the commercial aspects. He didn’t like to be working regularly.”

Decades later, the two artists joined forces again in the band Space Ritual. Slattery also joined Alan Davey, a fellow Hawkwind graduate, in the band Hawkestrel.