Winterhawk (band)

{{Short description|American heavy metal band}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Winterhawk

| image =

| caption =

| origin = San Francisco California, U.S.

| genre = Heavy Metal
Hard Rock

| years_active = 1978–1985

| label = Mother Earth
Don Giovanni

| associated_acts = V.C. & The Saucers
Jim Boyd

| past_members = Nik Alexander
Alfonso Kolb
Frank J. Diaz de Leon
Frankie Joe
Doug Love
Gordon Campbell
Jon Gibson{{cite web|url=https://soundbetter.com/profiles/208673-jon-gibson |title=Jon Gibson - Songwriting-vocals-producing - Las Vegas - SoundBetter |website=SoundBetter via Spotify |access-date=July 13, 2022}}

}}

Winterhawk was an American heavy metal band formed in 1978 in San Francisco, California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2021/10/14/primitive-origins-winterhawks-electric-warriors/|title = Primitive Origins: Winterhawk's 'Electric Warriors'|date = 14 October 2021}} Fronted by lead vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter Nik "Winterhawk" Alexander (a Cree musician), the band released two albums via Mother Earth records. Their debut album, Electric Warriors (1979), was produced by Tom Bee.

Their second album, Dog Soldier (1980), included drums and backing vocals by blue-eyed soul musician Jon Gibson (who went on to have success in the contemporary Christian music industry). Both Electric Warriors and Dog Soldier were remastered and reissued on Don Giovanni Records in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/1970s-indigenous-hard-rock-band-winterhawk-reissuing-albums-on-don-giovanni|title=1970s indigenous hard rock band Winterhawk reissuing albums on Don Giovanni |website=BrooklynVegan |date=August 25, 2021}}

Winterhawk was committed to a native anti-drug movement, pioneering an abstinence-through-music platform that ran parallel to the straight edge hardcore movement.{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/winterhawk-electric-warriors-dog-soldier-interview|title = The Story of Native American Metal Band Winterhawk|date = 25 October 2021}} Winterhawk performed in the 1983 US Festival and has opened for Tina Turner, Santana, Country Joe and the Fish, Steve Miller and Van Halen. The band separated in 1984. {{cite web|url=https://www.dongiovannirecords.com/artists/winterhawk |title=Don Giovanni Records - Artists - Winterhawk |website=Don Giovanni Records |access-date=July 13, 2022}}

Due to cancer, Alexander died on July 5, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/electric-warrior-journeys-home-entertainer-nik-winterhawk-alexander-walks |title=An Electric Warrior Journeys Home: Entertainer Nik Winterhawk Alexander Walks On |website=Indian Country Today |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2022}}