Nik Turner Obituary

Nik Turner was a British musician, best known as a member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Nik was born in Oxford in August 1940.

At age 13, his family moved to the Kent seaside resort of Margate where he worked at the local funfair during the summer holiday season, befriending another seasonal worker, Robert Calvert.

He played saxophone and flute, as well as being a vocalist and composer With the Hawkwind, Turner was known for his experimental free Jazz stylisations and outrageous stage presence, often donning full makeup and Ancient Egypt-inspired costumes.

In March 2013, Nik turned up at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas playing an official SXSW gig at Rebels Honky Tonk bar billed as Nik Turner (ex-Hawkwind) playing predominantly Space Ritual Songs.