Obituary
Stacia posted on her Facebook page
“It is with deep sadnessThat I have to share with you that NikTurner Passed away this morning. I am heartbroken as I’m sure you all are resting peace Nik Safe journey over the rainbow bridge love you always your Stacia XX”
`Kin hell! Go with the Celestial Wind Nik, you`re free now.
“The wind of time is blowing through me
And it’s all moving relative to me”
I’m sorry to hear this, I spent a lot of time listening to Hawkwind when I was young and stupid…
RIP, Nik.
Sideways, with a bit of luck he’ll re-emerge in the 17th Century. Bit more luck and no-one will burn him for sorcery. The last time I saw him perform he was standing on the back of a flat-bed truck with all his bonkers mates. Thanks for all the fun Nik.
Many Welsh moons ago I was invited to a New Years party in darkest Moylegrove by a young guitarist and his partner, both of whom I only vaguely knew from a pub jam. The invitation came with the rider ‘bring your guitar, a really good player will be coming’
The evening was a typical laid back stoned, drinking affair but one muso was playing some great sax. We eventually stumbled into each other’s orbit, chatted and asked if we could ‘do some free jazz?’. Yikes! What’s that, thought I?
I did know a bunch of Steely Dan chords and their progression so jammed a whole mix of songs together. He blew over the top and blew the room away – he was utterly fantastic.
I later remember him walking away into the dark night with his ‘chick’ (early sixties!).
It was either later that night or the next day I was told I’d been playing with Nik
Turner.
RIP, man.
I listened to “In search of space” at unreasonable volume today in his honour. There’s a great anecdote in one of Deke Leonard’s books about Man where they are on the road in Europe. After a gig they go to a jazz club, maybe in Germany. There is a band on playing fairly mannered “free” jazz. Deke comments “there was serious piss to be taken”. Nik got up to sit in and played a 20 minute solo of unlimited atonal caterwauling which left the polo necked clientele white faced in shock. On finishing he simply nodded and went as sat down again, surrounded by stunned punters. Dude.
I’m no fan of atonal caterwauling, but imagine having so much musical talent and being that cool about your gifts. Bravo, Nik, wherever you are.
What thoroughly wonderful anecdotes! A wizard, a true star!
Nik was mentioned the other day in an email from a small local venue I sometimes see bands at.
Nik Turner’s Space Ritual played there a few times and Nik was very easy indeed to work with. Apparently the only thing he asked for on his rider was a chicken cup-a-soup.
Loved those early Haekwind albums and they still sound great today. A trailblazer – hope they have a big spliff waiting for you on the other side.