Greetings from a Kiwi Hawkfan

[Shane Palmer]

Well, it’s about time I introduced myself! I’ve been lurking on BOC-L for a 
looong time now, but never got around to posting, for some unknown reason. 
Some of you may recognise my name from years back, but probably not many!

I’m one of a small number of keen and dedicated Hawkfans from all the way 
down in New Zealand. I’d like to think I’m one of the band’s biggest Kiwi fans, 
but don’t want to presume too much. I only discovered Hawkwind accidentally 
while at university back in 1996, so a relative newbie compared to most of the 
BOC-L membership. However, I was immediately captivated by the band and 
the music. It wasn’t long before I caught up with the Hawk’s immense back 
catalogue, thanks mainly to Richard at much-missed Cranium Music in NZ, and 
Sonic Bilby in Oz.

My main claim to Hawkfan fame is being one of the few who travelled around 
the country to see all 6 gigs of Hawkwind’s first and only New Zealand tour in 
2000. After contacting the band and the local promoter, I also managed to 
get myself a job helping to organise the band’s accommodation, and was 
privileged to spend a good amount of time hanging out with the guys at the 
venues across the country. Now that was a fan’s dream come true!

I have just recently moved to the UK… finally reaching the Hawkwind 
motherland! It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since I last saw Hawkwind 
live (just missed Hawkfest this year… though there’s always next year), but 
I’m about to see them once again in Liverpool and Manchester this weekend… 
and just in time for my birthday… I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to the 
shows, and to meeting any of you that might be there. Might even be able to 
share a drink with you before/at the gigs? I’ll probably be the only one there 
wearing the NZ tour t-shirt (yes, it still fits… just :-)  Please feel free to 
introduce yourself.

And I look forward to communicating with the rest of you on BOC-L a bit more 
regularly than in the past!

Cheers

Shane Palmer