Hawkwind, a well-known English space rock band has lost its founding member and guitarist, Mick Slattery at the age of 77.

Bandmate and Hawkwind co-founder, Dave Brock, revealed the sad news on Facebook while reflecting warmly on their shared experiences.

Brock left out the precise reason for Slattery’s brief illness in his post. He did, however, disclose that Slattery passed away quietly at home on March 17, 2023—St. Patrick’s Day.

His post read; “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.

“Me and Mick played together in a band called Famous Cure in 1967, touring Holland before going on to form Hawkwind in 1969.”

Before establishing Hawkwind two years later, Brock and Slattery originally played together in a band called Famous Cure in 1967.

From their early days, Brock remembers many pleasant experiences, such as traveling across Holland and spending time together in Richmond at the L’Auberge Cafe and Eel Pie Isle.

They frequently practiced in Bob Kerr’s music store on Oxford Road’s basement and Brock’s Putney apartment in the late 1960s, despite annoying the nearby residents with their loud music.

Brock bid his old friend and bandmate farewell in the final line of his moving message and wished him to “fly free.”

He wrote; “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 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 neighbours. Fly free old friend.”