Hawking (band)

Did You Know?

• Hawking appears in the film Midnight Sun (2016).
• Frontman Tom Vanderkam appears in the film Deadpool (2016).
• Vanderkam works as a researcher at The University of British Columbia Department of Psychology.

History

Hawking began their first tour of Western Canada in August 2013. On August 26, 2013, while returning from the final show of that tour, the band was in a single vehicle accident that injured all members. Drummer Chartwell Kerr and bassist Paul Engels were airlifted to hospital in critical condition; Kerr sustained extensive leg damage, and Engels suffered a severe head injury that left him in a coma for five weeks. Engels was unable to continue with the band, and Chris Young replaced him on bass in February 2014. During summer 2014, Hawking completed a 50-date tour covering the Western USA and most of mainland Canada. Their debut self-titled EP was released independently on July 14, 2015, followed by a 43-date North American tour. On August 26, 2016, the single "Comfortable" came out, supported by a Canadian tour. The full-length album Diverge was released on April 7, 2017, with a North American tour in support. In fall 2017, they toured Western Canada with Ninjaspy and The Body Politic. Fall 2018 saw a Western Canadian tour with Youth Fountain. In spring 2019, Hawking completed a Western Canadian tour, and in fall 2019 they undertook a 28-date North American tour supporting Stellar Circuits. Singles "Never Bow" (January 31, 2020), "Elucidate, Articulate" (March 20, 2020), and "A Tragedy (This Melody)" (March 18, 2022) were released. Noel Dufour replaced Chartwell Kerr on drums in 2023. In August 2024, Hawking completed a Western Canadian co-headlining tour with Cliffside.