During 1986, the group performed some festival dates, including Bristol Custom Bike Show, and headliningReading Festival on 24 August, with a guest appearance fromLemmy and recorded byBBC Radio 1'sFriday Rock Show.[3]
The video of theBlack Sword shows was released on 25 July by Jettisoundz,[4] followed by this 2LP on 24 November.[5] The group promoted the album's release with a 31 date UK tour in November and December, with support from The Babysitters.[6] The Preston show was video recorded by Jettisoundz and was part released in 1996 asChaos.[4] The group revived theBlack Sword show one last time on 28 August 1987 for theWorld Science Fiction Convention atBrighton Conference Centre.[6]
Former manager Douglas Smith had set-upGWR Records for releasing albums by his roster of bands, significantlyMotörhead. Although Brock had previous financial disputes with Smith, he was unhappy with the promotion and distribution his albums were receiving through Frenchy Gloder's Flicknife Records, so licensed this live recording to Smith's newly formed company. Hawkwind would remain with the label until its demise in 1991.[7]
The cover was one of the earliest commissions for Duncan Storr, who subsequently made a career out of book and record illustrations, although this would be his only work for the group.[8]
The original album lacked "Assault and Battery" and "Sleep of a Thousand Tears" as they had been licensed to Flicknife for single B-sides,[9] and the Michael Moorcock spoken pieces due to Moorcock being in dispute with GWR owner Smith. They would be restored to subsequent re-issues on the Griffin and Atomhenge labels. "Assault and Battery" and "Sleep of a Thousand Tears" are in mono on those releases. The two tracks appear in stereo on the Flicknife CD "The Chronicle Of The Black Sword".[10]
