Bridget Wishart (born 25 February 1962) is an English vocalist, musician and performance artist. She was a member of English rock band Hawkwind from 1989 to 1991. Wishart was the first woman to sing lead vocals in Hawkwind, and is the band's only singing frontwoman in their history. She is an ongoing member of Spirits Burning (since 2007), and the Chumley Warner Brothers live duo (with partner Martin Plumley).

Early years

Most of the bands that Wishart played with prior to Hawkwind were located around Bath. Her first band was The Demented Stoats in 1979 with future Hawkwind drummer Richard Chadwick and guitarist Steve Bemand, followed by Next Years Big Thing, and then the Hippy Slags. Wishart was later in two other bands with Chadwick and Bemand: Pilwind, and Star Nation.

With Hawkwind

In 1989, Wishart started to perform with Hawkwind, alongside Dave Brock, keyboardist Harvey Bainbridge, bassist Alan Davey, drummer Richard Chadwick, and Simon House on violin. Wishart's role included singing vocals for studio and live songs, and donning costumes and doing mime to enhance songs in the live setting.

This line-up of Hawkwind produced two albums, 1990's Space Bandits^[2] and 1991's Palace Springs.^[3] Space Bandits spent one week on the UK albums chart at #70. Wishart shared writing credits with Brock and Davey on Space Bandits' opening song, titled "Images." Wishart also shared writing credits with Bainbridge, Brock, and Davey on Palace Springs' Back In The Box.

This line-up also filmed a 1-hour appearance for the Bedrock TV series, later released as the video Nottingham 1990.

1990 saw Hawkwind with Wishart tour the US, the second installment in a series of American visits made at around this time in an effort to re-establish the Hawkwind brand in America. After a European tour in March and April 1991 (with Steve Bemand filling in for Dave Brock), Wishart ended her association with the group.

With Spirits Burning

Wishart returned to music in 2007, accepting an invite from Don Falcone of Spirits Burning. Since 2007, Wishart and Don Falcone have collaborated in Spirits Burning (including CDs released under the name Spirits Burning & Bridget Wishart). Wishart and Falcone also have an instrumental project called Astralfish. In 2017, Wishart performed live with Spirits Burning, alongside Steve Bemand, Richard Chadwick, Kev Ellis, Don Falcone, Colin Kafka, and Martin Plumley. Wishart sang and played EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument).

With other bands

Wishart has contributed vocals and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) to albums by other bands in the space rock, new music, and experimental community, including: Djinn and Hawkestrel (both with former Hawkwind bass player Alan Davey), Astralfish, Bridget Wishart & The Band of Doctors, Hola One with Bridget Wishart, Karda Estra, Mooch, Omenopus, Osiris the Rebirth, and Spaceseed.

Wishart still performs live, as a member of the Chumley Warner Brothers live duo (with partner Martin Plumley).

Discography

Personal life

Prior to recording music professionally, Wishart obtained a BA in Fine Art from Newport Art School and an MFA from Reading University. She became a fellow of Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology, and taught ceramic sculpture at Prior Park College, Bath.

In the 1990s, she was an artist designer and painter for Temple Decor, a UV design company used by WOMAD.

References