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This British import features the great British progressive rock band Hawkwind live in 1985 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. Narrated by fantastical science fiction writer and Hawkwind supporter/sometime lead singer Michael Moorcock, CHRONICLE OF THE BLACK SWORD features the metal boys at the height of the second wind of their career. Rare footage of Moorcock performing live with the band is also included.

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EAN0022891700326

eBay Product ID (ePID)3942641

Product Key Features

Film/TV TitleHawkwind-The Chronicle of the Black Sword

FormatDVD

Release Year2009

GenreMusicals & Broadway

Run Time70 Mins

Additional Product Features

CertificateE

Number of Discs1

PerformerHawkwind

Movie/TV TitleHawkwind - The Chronicle Of The Black Sword

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by heropress
12 Aug, 2022
Aged Sound & Vision on DVD Can't Detract from Hawkwind's Melibonean Magic
The chance to finally see a live performance of one of my favourite albums of recent years was too good an opportunity to pass up, even if the cost of the DVD was a bit on the pricey side. Hawkwind: The Chronicle of The Black Sword is a 75-minute live show by the legendary rock band, performing select tracks from their 1985 album of the same name, a musical adaptation of the early adventures of Michael Moorcock's cursed, albino, swords-and-sorcery anti-hero, Elric of Melniboné. Not only does Elric himself appear in the show, in the form of actor Tony Crerar, complete with Kabuki-style face paint and wielding a mighty Stormbringer prop, but Michael Moorcock pops up as well, providing lyrical 'spoken word' narration to some of the stories being presented. He returns for the encore, adding some guest vocals to the medley of Hawkwind tracks. Hawkwind: The Chronicle of The Black Sword isn't a full-on rock opera though, more a series of psychedelic vignettes, often centred around primitive and dated lighting effects, clearly designed not so much to be "watched" as "experienced", quite possibly with the aid of non-prescription drugs. Filmed at London's Hammersmith Odeon in 1985, and released (presumably initially on VHS) the following year, both the sound and the image quality are not up to the levels we are used to these days, and I couldn't help feeling that this concert recording could benefit from a 21st Century Blu-Ray or 4K upgrade. I think I only consciously discovered Hawkwind, and particularly this Elric-inspired album, in the last five or 10 years. I have to confess that this live performance will never replace the majesty of the original album, but it was certainly captures a moment, and gives us a unique Moorcock-endorsed look at a hallucinogenic interpretation of the world of Elric. For comparison, the album tracks, on the version I own, are: Song of the Swords Shade Gate The Sea King The Pulsing Cavern Elric the Enchanter Needle Gun Zarozinia The Demise Sleep of a Thousand Tears Chaos Army Horn of Destiny Arioch Night of The Hawks Green Finned Demon Dream Dancers Dragons and Fables Whereas the songs performed in the live set are: Song of The Swords Sea King Master of The Universe Choose Your Masques Needlegun Zarozinia Lords of Chaos Brainstorm Moonglum Elric The Enchanter Magnu Horn of Destiny Now, come on Hollywood, where's our Elric of Melniboné movie? You already have the perfect lead in Tilda Swinton...
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned