British rock band
Wishbone Ash
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Wishbone Ash in Pontardawe, 2023.
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Origin
| Torquay
,
Devon
, England
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Genres
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Years active
| 1969?present
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Labels
| MCA
, AVM, Neat,
IRS
,
Invisible Hands Music
, Permanent, Talking Elephant,
Decca
,
Steamhammer/SPV
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|
Members
| |
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Past members
|
List of Wishbone Ash members
|
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Website
| www
.wishboneashofficial
.com
|
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Wishbone Ash
are a British
rock
band who achieved success in the early to mid-1970s. Their albums include
Wishbone Ash
(1970),
Pilgrimage
(1971),
Argus
(1972),
Wishbone Four
(1973),
There's the Rub
(1974), and
New England
(1976).
Wishbone Ash are noted for their extensive use of harmony twin lead guitars, which had been attracting electric blues bands since
Jeff Beck
and
Jimmy Page
had played together in
the Yardbirds
in 1966.
[1]
[2]
[3]
Their contributions helped
Andy Powell
and
Ted Turner
to be voted "Two of the Ten Most Important Guitarists in Rock History" (
Traffic
magazine 1989).
Melody Maker
(1972) described Powell and Turner as "the most interesting two-guitar team since the days when Beck and Page graced The Yardbirds". Several notable bands have cited Wishbone Ash as an influence, including the
Eagles
,
Judas Priest
,
Iron Maiden
,
Van Halen
,
Lynyrd Skynyrd
,
Thin Lizzy
,
Metallica
,
Dream Theater
,
Overkill
and
Opeth
.
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
Formed in
Torquay
, Devon, in 1969, out of the ashes of the trio The Empty Vessels (originally known as The Torinoes, later briefly being renamed Tanglewood in 1969), which had been formed by Wishbone Ash's founding member and creative force
Martin Turner
(lead vocalist, and bass guitar) in 1963 and complemented by Steve Upton (drums and percussion) in 1966. Wishbone Ash formed when Martin Turner and Steve Upton set up auditions for a guitarist and subsequently ended up with two guitarists because they could not decide between the two. So as a result, guitarists/vocalists Andy Powell and Ted Turner completed the original Wishbone Ash line-up. In 1974, Ted Turner left the band, and was replaced by
Laurie Wisefield
.
[9]
The band continued on with strong critical and commercial success until 1980. There followed line-ups featuring former bass players from
King Crimson
(
John Wetton
),
Uriah Heep
(
Trevor Bolder
), and
Trapeze
(Mervyn Spence). Wisefield left in 1985. In 1987, however, the original line-up reunited for several albums ?
Nouveau Calls
,
Here to Hear
and
Strange Affair
? until 1990, when Upton quit the band. After Martin Turner was replaced in 1991, the band recorded
The Ash Live in Chicago
, before Ted Turner left in 1993.
[9]
This left Andy Powell as the sole remaining original founding member of Wishbone Ash to continue the band on into the future.
History
[
edit
]
Formation and rise to fame (1969?1980)
[
edit
]
Wishbone Ash was formed in October 1969 by bass guitarist
Martin Turner
and drummer Steve Upton. When Tanglewood's original guitarist, Martin's brother Glenn Turner left the trio and returned to his native
Devon
, their manager,
Miles Copeland III
advertised for a guitar player and also for a keyboard player. After an extensive search for a guitarist, the band could not decide between the final two candidates,
Andy Powell
and
Ted Turner
(no relation to Martin). It was suggested that they try both guitar players "just to see what it sounds like". Differing from the twin lead sound of
Southern rock
pioneer
The Allman Brothers Band
, Wishbone Ash included strong elements of
progressive rock
, and also of
folk
and
classical music
. After the band members wrote several suggested band names on two sheets of paper, Martin Turner picked one word from each list ? 'Wishbone' and 'Ash'.
In early 1970, the band secured an opening spot for
Deep Purple
. Its guitarist,
Ritchie Blackmore
, later recommended Wishbone Ash to producer
Derek Lawrence
, as well as helping them secure a record deal with
Decca
/
MCA Records
. The band's debut album,
Wishbone Ash
, was released in December 1970. One year later, the group released
Pilgrimage
. The band peaked commercially in 1972 with
Argus
, their highest placed entry in the
UK Albums Chart
(#3).
[9]
The album was voted by the readers of
Sounds
as the "best rock album of the year", also "Top British Album" (
Melody Maker
). The band were getting international acclaim for their live performances as they gained popularity around the world.
The band had now begun to play major arenas as headliners.
Wishbone Four
(1973) was the band's first record without producer Derek Lawrence, as the band decided to produce the album themselves. In December 1973, the band released a
double
live album,
Live Dates
. There was an album released called
Wishbone Ash Live in Memphis
, which was a promo to FM radio stations but never sold in stores. Not long after, guitarist Ted Turner left the band. After replacing Turner with guitarist
Laurie Wisefield
(
ex-Home
), the band relocated to the US and recorded
There's the Rub
(1974).
[9]
Locked In
(1976), produced by
Tom Dowd
, saw the band moving towards US soft-rock territory and the group began touring with a keyboard player.
1976's
New England
returned to the traditional Wishbone Ash style.
Front Page News
(1977) was the band's last album of this period that was recorded in the US. In 1978, after years of experimental albums, the band decided to return to its roots with
No Smoke Without Fire
, the first to be produced by Derek Lawrence since
Argus
in 1972. The album contained mainly songs written by Laurie Wisefield and Martin Turner. The band spent six months making the next album,
Just Testing
which was released in February 1980. Pressured by
MCA
to make more commercial music, Andy Powell, Laurie Wisefield and Steve Upton expressed to bassist/vocalist Martin Turner that they planned to recruit a lead singer / frontman, thus restricting Martin Turner's duties to bass guitar only.
[
citation needed
]
Turner felt unable to support such plans and described the position he was being put in as "untenable". Following a band meeting at his house, Martin Turner parted company with the band. Ironically, the band never recruited the proposed frontman and Turner, in his 2012 autobiography, described the situation as "constructive dismissal". However this was not a view held by the rest of the remaining band members or the then management.
Line-up changes (1981?1986)
[
edit
]
Turner was replaced by bassist and vocalist
John Wetton
, formerly of
Family
,
King Crimson
,
Roxy Music
,
Uriah Heep
and
U.K.
Number the Brave
was released in April 1981 and featured Wetton's lead vocals on just one song, although during album sessions he had offered songs such as "Here Comes the Feeling" that would eventually sell millions when released on
Asia's
1982 debut album. Wetton did not continue with Wishbone Ash beyond the album sessions and instead co-founded Asia.
Wetton was replaced on the
Number the Brave
tour by the former
Uriah Heep
bassist
Trevor Bolder
.
[9]
Also joining the band was female backing vocalist,
Claire Hamill
, who had sung on both the
Just Testing
and
Number the Brave
albums. In 1982, after Hamill's departure, the band experimented with
heavy metal
on the
Twin Barrels Burning
album. It became the highest charting Wishbone Ash album in years (
UK
#22).
[9]
Bolder left the group to rejoin
Uriah Heep
in 1983, to be replaced by bassist/vocalist
Mervyn Spence
(ex-
Trapeze
).
[9]
The group continued with a rock side on 1985's
Raw to the Bone
, which became the first Wishbone Ash album not to make the charts. Not long after, Wisefield left after serving as guitarist in the band for eleven years, going on to a varied career that would include work with
Tina Turner
,
Joe Cocker
,
Roger Chapman
,
Jeff Wayne
and the
Queen
musical
We Will Rock You
. He was replaced by Jamie Crompton, who in turn was succeeded briefly by
Phil Palmer
. Early in 1986, Mervyn Spence quit as well, to be replaced by ex-
Kinks
bassist
Andy Pyle
.
[9]
Reunions and departures (1987?1994)
[
edit
]
In 1987,
I.R.S. Records
founder and original Wishbone manager
Miles Copeland III
began a series of albums entitled
No Speak
, which featured all
instrumental
music. To launch the label successfully, Copeland needed a big name band that would bring publicity to the project. Copeland approached the four founding members of Wishbone Ash about having the original line-up record an all-instrumental album. For the first time in fourteen years, Andy Powell and Steve Upton joined forces with Martin Turner and Ted Turner to record the album
Nouveau Calls
, released in February 1988.
[9]
The original line-up's tour of 1988 was a huge success, as the band played large venues for the first time since the late 1970s. In August 1989, the band released a reunion album with vocals entitled
Here to Hear
,
[9]
featuring mainly songs written by Ted and Martin Turner.
In 1990 the band went back into the studio to record the follow-up to
Here to Hear
. The band were shocked when founding member Upton, the band's drummer for their entire career, announced his retirement from the
music industry
. They enlisted drummer
Robbie France
, but replaced him with
Ray Weston
when it was determined that personal conflicts between France and Martin Turner could not be resolved.
Strange Affair
was released in May 1991, featuring mainly songs written by Andy Powell and Ted Turner.
[9]
Later in 1991, the band decided to continue without founding member Martin Turner, with the bassist/vocalist being replaced by returnee
Andy Pyle
, who had been in the band years earlier. The band toured throughout 1992/93, releasing the live album
The Ash Live in Chicago
.
[9]
1994 saw the second and final departure of Ted Turner. Following Turner's departure, Pyle and Weston also left the band.
Reunion years to present (1995?present)
[
edit
]
At this stage Andy Powell was the only original member left in Wishbone Ash. Powell enlisted guitarist/songwriter
Roger Filgate
, bassist/vocalist
Tony Kishman
, and drummer
Mike Sturgis
. The new line-up debuted on a short UK/European tour in spring 1995. By the time of the band's 25th anniversary tour in late 1995, Tony Kishman was finding touring difficult due to other performing engagements in the United States. Founding member Martin Turner replaced him on bass and vocals for the duration of the tour, before Kishman returned to record lead vocals for the band's next album.
Illuminations
was released in 1996 and featured the Powell, Filgate, Kishman, Sturgis line-up. Powell relied on fan donations and outside assistance to help finance the album.
In 1997, Filgate, Kishman, and Sturgis departed, so Powell brought former drummer Weston back into the fold, along with new members guitarist
Mark Birch
and bassist
Bob Skeat
. Wishbone Ash then went on to release two electronic dance albums on UK indie label Invisible Hands Music. The albums contained electronic beats blended with Wishbone Ash guitar riffs.
Trance Visionary
was the first of the pair, spawning a 12" single of four mixes that reached number 38 on the UK dance chart.
[
citation needed
]
Psychic Terrorism
followed. The band then released an acoustic album of classic and new songs entitled
Bare Bones
before hitting the road in 2000 to celebrate their 30th anniversary. A filmed show was held at
Shepherd's Bush Empire
in London, where the band welcomed special guests Wisefield and Hamill as well as other friends for a star-studded concert that resulted in
Live Dates 3
and a live DVD.
In 2001, Mark Birch was replaced by
Finnish
guitarist
Ben Granfelt
. The band hit the road for their most extensive touring schedule in years. Wishbone Ash returned to the studio in 2002 for the
Bona Fide
album. 2003 saw the band touring across the world with
Savoy Brown
, playing their largest number of American dates since the 1980s. Ben Granfelt left the band in 2004 to continue working on his solo career. Granfelt's mentor, Muddy Manninen joined the band. In late 2006, the band released a new studio album entitled
Clan Destiny
. In 2007, longtime drummer Ray Weston left the band, stating that he was tired of constant touring and wanted to concentrate on different things. He was replaced by
Joe Crabtree
, known for his work with
Pendragon
and King Crimson violinist
David Cross
. In late 2007, the band released
Power of Eternity
; their first with new member Joe Crabtree.
On 25 November 2011 Wishbone Ash released their 23rd album, the well received
Elegant Stealth
, which is also the first album to be recorded by the same line up as the predecessor since 1989. In 2013 a court case relating to a trade mark infringement and the use of the name 'Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash' was decided.
[10]
The court ruled in favour of Andy Powell with the comprehensive judgement forming a clear history of the band since its inception. On 19 February 2014 the 24th studio album
Blue Horizon
was released. The reviews for this album were generally very positive. As of 2014 this line-up of the band, having been together since 2007, became the longest-lasting line-up of Wishbone Ash in the group's history. On 16 May 2015, Wishbone Ash recorded a live to vinyl album at
Metropolis Studios
.
[11]
On 21?23 May 2015, Wishbone Ash recorded the DVD
Live in Paris
at
Le Triton
[
fr
]
in France. The performance included additional percussion and guitar contributions from Andy's son Aynsley Powell. In May 2017, it was announced that Mark Abrahams, a long time Wishbone Ash fan, would be joining on guitar duties. Abrahams is a guitarist who previously owned Vision Guitars, a guitar shop in
Castleford
,
West Yorkshire
, England.
On 24 September 2019 it was announced that Wishbone Ash were signed to
Steamhammer/SPV
and released
Coat of Arms
, their first studio album in six years, on 28 February 2020. The album's lead single, "We Stand as One", was premiered on to the band's 50th anniversary in autumn 2019 and was released on 10 January 2020.
[5]
[12]
[13]
[14]
The second single "Back in the Day" was released on 7 February 2020.
[15]
The album cover has been created by a heraldry artist Olaf Keller in the Regal Coat of Arms design studio.
For some dates on their 2021 tour, drummer
Mike Sturgis
rejoined the band in place of Joe Crabtree. In February 2022 Mike Truscott became Wishbone Ash's official drummer.
[16]
In August 2023 the band announced the release of a live album,
Live Dates Live
.
Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash
[
edit
]
Martin Turner began touring in 2004 with "Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash", performing material by the classic line ups of the band. Occasionally Ted Turner and Laurie Wisefield have joined his group on stage as guests. He published his autobiography in 2012.
[17]
In 2013 Andy Powell took legal action to protect the Wishbone Ash registered trademark and prevent Martin Turner from using his chosen group name. The court ruled in favour of Andy Powell and Martin Turner's application to appeal was refused. Since then he has toured and recorded with his band as "Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash".
Special events
[
edit
]
Wishbone Ash have developed two group gatherings, AshCon in the UK and AshFest in the United States. These began in 1994 and have developed into gatherings of the 'faithful' and have since become annual fixtures.
Personnel
[
edit
]
- Current members
- Andy Powell
? guitar, vocals
(1969?present)
- Bob Skeat ? bass, backing vocals
(1997?present).
- Mark Abrahams
? guitar
(2017?present)
- Mike Truscott ? drums, percussion
(2022?present)
Discography
[
edit
]
Studio albums
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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Studio albums
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Live albums
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Compilations
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Related articles
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International
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National
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Artists
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