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{{Short description|British rock band}}
'''Wishbone Ash''' are a British classic rock band, formed in Devon, (]|]) as '''The Empty Vessels''', then '''Tanglewood'''.
{{more citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = Wishbone Ash
| background = group_or_band
| image = WishboneAshPontardawe2023.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape = Yes
| caption = Wishbone Ash in Pontardawe, 2023.
| origin = ], ], England
| genre = {{hlist|]|]|]|]|]}}
| years_active = 1969–present
| label = ], AVM, Neat, ], ], Permanent, Talking Elephant, ], ]
| associated_acts = ]
| website = {{Official URL}}
| current_members = {{Plainlist}}
* ]
* ]
* ]
* Mike Truscott
{{Endplainlist}}
| past_members = {{Plainlist}}
* ]
* ]
* Steve Upton
* ]
{{Endplainlist}}
'']''
}}


'''Wishbone Ash''' are a British ] band who achieved success in the early to mid-1970s. Their albums include '']'' (1970), '']'' (1971), '']'' (1972), '']'' (1973), '']'' (1974) and '']'' (1976).
===History===
The group settled on Wishbone Ash and soon began performing in ], among others with ]. They have always blended elements of ], ] and other styles into their unique twin guitar-lead sound. The original line-up was ], ], ] and ]. In ], the band released '']'' to generally positive reviews and sales. In 1974 Ted Turner quit the band and was replaced by Laurie Wisefield. A long series of albums have been released in the ]


Wishbone Ash are noted for their extensive use of harmony twin lead guitars, which had been attracting electric blues bands since ] and ] had played together in ] in 1966.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jeff Beck: Crazy Fingers|page=|author=Annette Carson|isbn=978-0879306328|publisher=Backbeat Books|date=2001|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/jeffbeckcrazyfin00cars/page/34}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-yardbirds/biography|website=Rollingstone.com|title=The Yardbirds Bio|date=11 January 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eventseeker.com/artist/3830-wishbone-ash|title=Wishbone Ash - Artist Profile|website=Eventseeker.com|language=en|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> Their contributions helped ] and ] to be voted "Two of the Ten Most Important Guitarists in Rock History" (''Traffic'' magazine 1989). '']'' (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 ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/music/2019/09/27/wishbone-ash-to-bring-anniversary-tour-to-birmingham/|title=Wishbone Ash to bring anniversary tour to Birmingham|publisher=]|date=27 September 2019|access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref><ref name=blabbermouth>{{cite web|title=Classic Rock Legends WISHBONE ASH Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Spring, Fall U.S. Tours|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/classic-rock-legends-wishbone-ash-celebrate-50th-anniversary-with-spring-fall-u-s-tours/|website=]|access-date=14 January 2020|date=14 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_most_underappreciated_bands_of_all_time/s1__37691898|title=The most underappreciated bands of all time|website=Yardbarker.com|access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/wishbone-ashs-andy-powell-the-soundtrack-of-my-life | title=Wishbone Ash's Andy Powell: The soundtrack of my life|website=Loudersound.com | date=7 July 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/wishbone_ashs_andy_powell_names_the_most_underrated_band_says_argus_is_the_best_album_he_ever_made.html | title=Wishbone Ash's Andy Powell Names the 'Most Underrated Band,' Says 'Argus' is the Best Album He Ever Made|website=Ultimate-guitar.com}}</ref>
Thereafter in the 1980s and multiple personnel changes followed. In spite of a rabid following, Wishbone Ash was never able to achieve widespread success. That said they still have a very large fan base and are constantly on touring, currently ].


Formed in ], 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 ] (lead vocals 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 ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The band continued on with strong critical and commercial success until 1980. There followed line-ups featuring former bass players from ] (]), ] (]) and ] (Mervyn Spence). Wisefield left in 1985. In 1987, however, the original line-up reunited for several albums – '']'', '']'' and '']'' – until 1990, when Upton quit the band. After Martin Turner was replaced in 1991, the band recorded '']'', before Ted Turner left again in January 1994.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> This left Andy Powell as the sole remaining original founding member of Wishbone Ash to continue the band on into the future.


==History==
==Band members through the years==
===Formation and rise to fame (1969–1980)===
*longtime members (1969-1990)
{{one source|section|date=October 2023}}
#Andy Powell (guitar+voc)
], US, in 1972]]
#Steve Upton (drumms)
Wishbone Ash was formed in October 1969 by bass guitarist ] and drummer Steve Upton. When Tanglewood's original guitarist, Martin's brother Glenn Turner, left the trio and returned to his native ], their manager, ], 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, ] and ] (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 ] pioneer ], Wishbone Ash included strong elements of ], and also of ] and ]. 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 ]. Its guitarist, ], later recommended Wishbone Ash to producer ], as well as helping them secure a record deal with ]/].
===1970s===
----
====Original line-up and only one replacement 1969-1980====
#Andy Powell (guitar+voc)
#Steve Upton (drumms)
#Martin Turner (bass+voc)
#Ted Turner (guitar+voc) - replaced in 1974 by Laurie Wisefield


The band's debut album, '']'', was released in December 1970. One year later, the group released '']'' and the band peaked commercially in 1972 with '']'', their highest placed entry in the ] (#3).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> The album was voted by the readers of '']'' 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.
===1980s===
----
====Various replacements 1980-1987====
Martin Turner quit in 1980 and Wisefield quit in 1985. This was followed by continuous replacements of both with Upton and Powell remaining.


Wishbone Ash had now begun to play major arenas as headliners. '']'' (1973) was the band's first record without producer Derek Lawrence, as the band decided to produce the album themselves, and in December 1973 the band released a ] live album, '']''. There had already been an album released called ''Wishbone Ash Live in Memphis'', which was a promo to FM radio stations but never sold in stores.
====Original line-up (1969-1974) 1988-1990====
#Andy Powell (guitar+voc)
#Steve Upton (drumms)
#Martin Turner (bass+voc)
#Ted Turner (guitar+voc)


In May 1974 guitarist Ted Turner, burned out by the group's constant touring, decided to leave the band. After replacing Turner with guitarist ] (]), the band relocated to the US and recorded '']'' (1974).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>
===1990s-present===
----
*long time members
#Andy Powell (1990-present)
#Ray Weston (1990-1995,1997-present) - replaced original band drummer Steve Upton
====early 1990s-middle 1990s====
#Andy Powell (guitar+voc)
#Ted Turner (guitar+voc)
#Ray Weston (drums)
#Andy Pyle (bass 1991-1994) - Martin Turner was again replaced continously untill Andy Pyle arived.
====middle 1990s-present====
#Andy Powell (guitar+voc)
#Bob Skeat (bass+voc) - replaced Andy Pyle (qutting and rejoing a couple of times)
#Ray Weston (drums) from 1995-1997 was replaced by Mike Sturgis.
*Second guitar is continously being replaced.


'']'' (1976), produced by ], saw the band moving towards US soft-rock territory and the group began touring with a keyboard player, Graham Maitland, who had previously guested with the group on a few shows and contributed to ''Wishbone Four''.


1976's '']'' returned to the traditional Wishbone Ash style and '']'' (1977) was the band's last album of this period that was recorded in the US. By 1978, after years of experimental albums, the band decided to return to its roots with '']'', the first to be produced by Derek Lawrence since ''Argus'' in 1972. The album contained mainly songs written by Laurie Wisefield and Martin Turner.
==Discography==
===Studio Albums 1970-1980===
#Wishbone Ash 1970
#Pilgrimage 1971
#Argus 1972
#Wishbone Four 1973
#There's the Rub 1974
#Locked In 1976
#New England 1976
#Front Page News 1977
#No Smoke Without Fire 1978
#Just Testing 1980


The band spent six months making the next album, '']'', which was released in February 1980. Pressured by ] 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|date=June 2007}} 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 in October 1980 (just prior to the release of their '']'' album), 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.
== '''Q:''' A T.Rex Connection? ==

*'''A:''' Wishbone Ash wrote a song about the site where Marc Bolan of ''']''' died called '''Bolan's Monument'''. The site is now ''']''' visited by many people (from around the world) each year and cared for on a charitable basis by TAG (founded in 1999).
===Line-up changes (1981–1986)===
Turner was replaced by bassist and vocalist ], formerly of ], ], ], ] and ] '']'' 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 ] 1982 debut album. Discouraged, 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 ] bassist ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Also joining the band was female backing vocalist, ], who had sung on both the ''Just Testing'' and ''Number the Brave'' albums.

In 1982, after Hamill's departure, the band experimented with ] on the '']'' album. It became the highest charting Wishbone Ash album in years (] #22).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

Bolder left the group to rejoin ] in April 1983, to be replaced by bassist/vocalist ] (ex-]).<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> 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 ], ], ], ] and the ] musical '']''. He was replaced by Jamie Crompton, who in turn was succeeded briefly in 1986 by ], after which, Crompton returned. Early in 1986, Mervyn Spence quit as well, to be replaced by ex-] bassist ].<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

===Reunions and departures (1987–1994)===
{{one source|section|date=October 2023}}
At the start of 1987, ] founder and original Wishbone manager ] began a series of albums entitled ''No Speak'', which featured all ] 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. Beginning in May 1987, for the first time in fourteen years, Andy Powell and Steve Upton joined forces with Martin Turner and Ted Turner to record the album.<ref>https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s</ref>

In the meantime, previously booked concerts were covered by the Powell/Upton/Crompton/Pyle lineup, including a show in May 1987 in
] in ], where the band had been advised that they would be playing to a 50/50 multi-racial audience. But when this did not occur, the band returned to the UK and wrote to the ] expressing their regret at playing the show and their support of the anti-apartheid cause.<ref>https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s</ref>

The year of 1987 concluded with appearances in the ] in December,<ref>https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s</ref> after which Crompton and Pyle stepped aside as the original foursome put out '']'', <ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> And 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. The original Wishbone Ash lineup performed onstage for the first time since February 1974, playing the first concert of their reunion at Folkestone Leas Cliffe Hall in February 1988. Due to a late arrival from Chicago due to immigration problems, Ted Turner had missed tour rehearsals, so Jamie Crompton was brought back to play with the band during the first few weeks of the tour for the first part of the show, with Ted brought on mid-set.<ref>https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s</ref> In August 1989 the band released a reunion album with vocals entitled '']'',<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> featuring mainly songs written by Ted and Martin Turner.

In 1990 when the band went back into the studio to record the follow-up to ''Here to Hear'', they were shocked when founding member Upton, the band's drummer for their entire career, announced his retirement from the ]. They enlisted drummer ], but replaced him with ] when it was determined that personal conflicts between France and Martin Turner could not be resolved. '']'' was released in May 1991, featuring mainly songs written by Andy Powell and Ted Turner.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

Later in 1991, the band decided to continue without founding member Martin Turner, with the bassist/vocalist being replaced by returnee ], who had been in the band years earlier. The band toured throughout 1992/93, releasing the live album '']'', which had been recorded at two shows at a venue called Easy Street in the Chicago area back in January 1992, with guest keyboardist Dan C. Gillogly.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> And bassist ] filled in for Pyle for a BBC date in May 1992 and again that August for a handful of shows. January 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)===
{{more citations needed section|date= February 2012}}
At this stage Andy Powell was the only original member left in Wishbone Ash. Powell enlisted guitarist/songwriter ], bassist/vocalist ] and drummer ]. 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, '']'', which 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 November 1997 guitarist Chris Auld filled in for Filgate, but at that year's end, Filgate, Kishman and Sturgis all departed, so in early 1998, Powell brought former drummer Weston back into the fold, along with new members guitarist ] and bassist ]. 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. '']'' was the first of the pair, spawning a 12" single of four mixes that reached number 38 on the UK dance chart.{{cn|date=April 2024}} '']'' followed.

The band then released an acoustic album of classic and new songs entitled '']'' before hitting the road in 2000 to celebrate their 30th anniversary. A filmed show was held at ] in London, where the band welcomed special guests Wisefield and Hamill as well as other friends for a star-studded concert that resulted in '']'' and a live DVD.

]
In 2001 Mark Birch was replaced by ] guitarist ]. The band then hit the road for their most extensive touring schedule in years. Wishbone Ash returned to the studio in 2002 for the '']'' album and 2003 saw the band touring across the world with ], playing their largest number of American dates since the 1980s.

Ben Granfelt left the band in 2004 to continue working on his solo career and Granfelt's mentor, Muddy Manninen, joined the band. By late 2006, the band released a new studio album entitled '']'' but 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 ], known for his work with ] and King Crimson violinist ]. In late 2007, the band put out '']''; their first with new member Joe Crabtree.

On 25 November 2011 Wishbone Ash released their 23rd album, the well received '']'', 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.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/IPEC/2013/3242.html|title=Between : ANDREW POWELL Claimant and MARTIN ROBERT TURNER Defendant : Case No. 3242|website=Bailii.org|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref> 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 '']'' 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 and on 16 May 2015 they recorded a live to vinyl album at ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisismetropolis.com/wishbone-ash/|title=Wishbone Ash - 16th May {{!}} Metropolis Studios|website=Thisismetropolis.com|date=8 April 2015 |language=en-GB|access-date=20 March 2017}}</ref>

On 21–23 May 2015 Wishbone Ash recorded the DVD ''Live in Paris'' at {{interlanguage link|Le Triton|fr|Le Triton (salle de concert)}} 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 to cover guitar duties. Abrahams is a guitarist who previously owned Vision Guitars, a guitar shop in ], ], England.

On 24 September 2019 it was announced that Wishbone Ash were signed to ] 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 had been released on 10 January 2020.<ref name="blabbermouth"/><ref>{{cite web|title=WISHBONE ASH Signs With SPV/STEAMHAMMER; New Album Due In January|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/wishbone-ash-signs-with-spv-steamhammer-new-album-due-in-january/|website=Capitalchaostv.com|access-date=16 September 2019|date=16 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pauline's Chronicles from the Road|url=http://wishboneash.com/blog/post/bring_wishbone_ash_to_vancouver/|website=Wishboneash.com|access-date=7 November 2019|date=29 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wishboneash.com/blog/post/we_stand_as_one_released/|title=Wishbone Ash's new single - We Stand As One|website=Wishboneash.com|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> The second single "Back in the Day" was released on 7 February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wishboneash.com/blog/post/2nd_single_released_today/|title=Wishbone Ash 2nd single - Back in the Day|website=Wishboneash.com|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref> The album cover was created by a heraldry artist Olaf Keller in the Regal Coat of Arms design studio.

For some dates on their 2021 tour, drummer ] rejoined the band in place of Joe Crabtree. Then in February 2022 Mike Truscott became Wishbone Ash's official drummer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Mike Truscott |url=https://wishboneash.com/blog/welcome-to-mike-truscott/ |website=Wishboneash.com |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref>

In August 2023 the band announced the release of a live album, ''Live Dates Live''.

==Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash==
] 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.<ref name=meaww>{{cite journal|url=https://meaww.com/martin-turner-wishbone-ash-andy-powell-split|title="I want nothing to do with Andy Powell": Rock legend and Wishbone Ash founder Martin Turner on his bitter split with the band|website=Meaww.com|date=5 June 2018|access-date=21 June 2018}}</ref>

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 "".

==Special events==
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==
{{main|List of Wishbone Ash members}}

;Current members
* ] – guitar, vocals <small>(1969–present)</small>
* Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals <small>(1997–present).</small>
* ] – guitar <small>(2017–present)</small>
* Mike Truscott – drums, percussion <small>(2022–present)</small>

==Discography==
{{Main|Wishbone Ash discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* '']'' (1970)
* '']'' (1971)
* '']'' (1972)
* '']'' (1973)
* '']'' (1974)
* '']'' (1976)
* '']'' (1976)
* '']'' (1977)
* '']'' (1978)
* '']'' (1980)
* '']'' (1981)
* '']'' (1982)
* ''Raw to the Bone'' (1985)
* ''Nouveau Calls'' (1987)
* ''Here to Hear'' (1989)
* ''Strange Affair'' (1991)
* ''Illuminations'' (1996)
* '']'' (1998) <small>(electronic re-recordings)</small>
* ''Psychic Terrorism'' (1998) <small>(electronic re-recordings)</small>
* ''Bare Bones'' (1999) <small>(acoustic re-recordings)</small>
* ''Bona Fide'' (2002)
* ''Clan Destiny'' (2006)
* ''Power of Eternity'' (2007)<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book|first=Martin C.|last=Strong|year=2000|title=The Great Rock Discography|edition=5th|publisher=Mojo Books|location=Edinburgh|pages=1076–1077|isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref>
* '']'' (2011)
* '']'' (2014)
* '']'' (2020)
{{div col end}}


==References==
{{Reflist}}


== External links == ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*
*{{Official website}}
*
* {{discogs artist|Wishbone Ash}}
* {{IMDb name|4301841}}


{{Wishbone Ash|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}


] {{DEFAULTSORT:Wishbone Ash}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 19:08, 24 December 2024

British rock band
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Wishbone Ash" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash in Pontardawe, 2023.Wishbone Ash in Pontardawe, 2023.
Background information
OriginTorquay, Devon, England
Genres
Years active1969–present
LabelsMCA, AVM, Neat, IRS, Invisible Hands Music, Permanent, Talking Elephant, Decca, Steamhammer/SPV
Members
Past members List of Wishbone Ash members
Websitewww.wishboneashofficial.com Edit this at Wikidata

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. 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.

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 vocals 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. 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 again in January 1994. This left Andy Powell as the sole remaining original founding member of Wishbone Ash to continue the band on into the future.

History

Formation and rise to fame (1969–1980)

This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.
Find sources: "Wishbone Ash" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2023)
Wishbone Ash on stage in Charlotte, North Carolina, US, in 1972

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 and the band peaked commercially in 1972 with Argus, their highest placed entry in the UK Albums Chart (#3). 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.

Wishbone Ash 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, and in December 1973 the band released a double live album, Live Dates. There had already been an album released called Wishbone Ash Live in Memphis, which was a promo to FM radio stations but never sold in stores.

In May 1974 guitarist Ted Turner, burned out by the group's constant touring, decided to leave the band. After replacing Turner with guitarist Laurie Wisefield (ex-Home), the band relocated to the US and recorded There's the Rub (1974).

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, Graham Maitland, who had previously guested with the group on a few shows and contributed to Wishbone Four.

1976's New England returned to the traditional Wishbone Ash style and Front Page News (1977) was the band's last album of this period that was recorded in the US. By 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. 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 in October 1980 (just prior to the release of their Live Dates 2 album), 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)

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. Discouraged, 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. 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).

Bolder left the group to rejoin Uriah Heep in April 1983, to be replaced by bassist/vocalist Mervyn Spence (ex-Trapeze). 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 in 1986 by Phil Palmer, after which, Crompton returned. Early in 1986, Mervyn Spence quit as well, to be replaced by ex-Kinks bassist Andy Pyle.

Reunions and departures (1987–1994)

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At the start of 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. Beginning in May 1987, for the first time in fourteen years, Andy Powell and Steve Upton joined forces with Martin Turner and Ted Turner to record the album.

In the meantime, previously booked concerts were covered by the Powell/Upton/Crompton/Pyle lineup, including a show in May 1987 in Sun City in South Africa, where the band had been advised that they would be playing to a 50/50 multi-racial audience. But when this did not occur, the band returned to the UK and wrote to the United Nations expressing their regret at playing the show and their support of the anti-apartheid cause.

The year of 1987 concluded with appearances in the Soviet Union in December, after which Crompton and Pyle stepped aside as the original foursome put out Nouveau Calls, And 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. The original Wishbone Ash lineup performed onstage for the first time since February 1974, playing the first concert of their reunion at Folkestone Leas Cliffe Hall in February 1988. Due to a late arrival from Chicago due to immigration problems, Ted Turner had missed tour rehearsals, so Jamie Crompton was brought back to play with the band during the first few weeks of the tour for the first part of the show, with Ted brought on mid-set. In August 1989 the band released a reunion album with vocals entitled Here to Hear, featuring mainly songs written by Ted and Martin Turner.

In 1990 when the band went back into the studio to record the follow-up to Here to Hear, they 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.

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, which had been recorded at two shows at a venue called Easy Street in the Chicago area back in January 1992, with guest keyboardist Dan C. Gillogly. And bassist Brad Lang filled in for Pyle for a BBC date in May 1992 and again that August for a handful of shows. January 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)

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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, which 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 November 1997 guitarist Chris Auld filled in for Filgate, but at that year's end, Filgate, Kishman and Sturgis all departed, so in early 1998, 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. 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.

Wishbone Ash performing in Aberdeen, Scotland on 28 October 2006

In 2001 Mark Birch was replaced by Finnish guitarist Ben Granfelt. The band then hit the road for their most extensive touring schedule in years. Wishbone Ash returned to the studio in 2002 for the Bona Fide album and 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 and Granfelt's mentor, Muddy Manninen, joined the band. By late 2006, the band released a new studio album entitled Clan Destiny but 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 put out 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. 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 and on 16 May 2015 they recorded a live to vinyl album at Metropolis Studios.

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 to cover 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 had been released on 10 January 2020. The second single "Back in the Day" was released on 7 February 2020. The album cover was 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. Then in February 2022 Mike Truscott became Wishbone Ash's official drummer.

In August 2023 the band announced the release of a live album, Live Dates Live.

Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash

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.

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

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

Main article: List of Wishbone Ash members
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

Main article: Wishbone Ash discography

Studio albums

References

  1. Annette Carson (2001). Jeff Beck: Crazy Fingers. Backbeat Books. p. 34. ISBN 978-0879306328.
  2. "The Yardbirds Bio". Rollingstone.com. 11 January 2023.
  3. "Wishbone Ash - Artist Profile". Eventseeker.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. "Wishbone Ash to bring anniversary tour to Birmingham". Shropshire Star. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Classic Rock Legends WISHBONE ASH Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Spring, Fall U.S. Tours". Blabbermouth.net. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  6. "The most underappreciated bands of all time". Yardbarker.com. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  7. "Wishbone Ash's Andy Powell: The soundtrack of my life". Loudersound.com. 7 July 2023.
  8. "Wishbone Ash's Andy Powell Names the 'Most Underrated Band,' Says 'Argus' is the Best Album He Ever Made". Ultimate-guitar.com.
  9. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 1076–1077. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  10. https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s
  11. https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s
  12. https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s
  13. https://www.wishboneash.co.uk/1980s
  14. "Between : ANDREW POWELL Claimant and MARTIN ROBERT TURNER Defendant : Case No. 3242". Bailii.org. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  15. "Wishbone Ash - 16th May | Metropolis Studios". Thisismetropolis.com. 8 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  16. "WISHBONE ASH Signs With SPV/STEAMHAMMER; New Album Due In January". Capitalchaostv.com. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  17. "Pauline's Chronicles from the Road". Wishboneash.com. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  18. "Wishbone Ash's new single - We Stand As One". Wishboneash.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  19. "Wishbone Ash 2nd single - Back in the Day". Wishboneash.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  20. "Welcome to Mike Truscott". Wishboneash.com. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  21. ""I want nothing to do with Andy Powell": Rock legend and Wishbone Ash founder Martin Turner on his bitter split with the band". Meaww.com. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.

External links

Wishbone Ash
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
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