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Wishbone Ash are a British hard rock band, formed in Devon, 1969, forming out of the ashes of the group The Empty Vessels, later Tanglewood.

History

1969-1980

Wishbone Ash was formed in October 1969 by bass guitarist Martin Turner and drummer Steve Upton. After an extensive search for a guitar player, the band could not decide between the final two candidates, Andy Powell and Ted Turner. It was suggested that they try both guitar players "just to see what it sounds like". Unbeknown to the band, they were helping to pioneer a brand new technique in rock: the "twin lead" harmonising guitar sound, later refined by Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.Differing from the twin lead sound of The Allman Brothers Band, the Wishbone Ash included strong elements of folk, progressive rock, and classical music. Asking their fans to suggest a name for the new band, the names 'Wishbone' and 'Ash' happened to be alongside each other on the decision sheet and sounded good together so the band went went both. The name allowed the band to be as diverse as they pleased without any musical constraint implied.

In early 1970 , the band scored an opening spot for rock legends Deep Purple, who were on their way to becoming one of the most popular bands in the world. During soundcheck, Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore was warming up alone onstage when a very bold Andy Powell walked up, plugged in, and began jamming along with Blackmore. Within 24 hours, Blackmore hooked the band up with producer Derek Lawrence and helped them secure a record deal with Decca/MCA Records.

The band's self-titled debut album, Wishbone Ash, released in 1970 , was a huge success. The album contained a raw, rough bluesy rock sound as well as extended jam sessions and twin guitar flights that displayed the band's impressive musical skills. The haunting "Phoenix", clocking in at nearly 13 minutes, closed out the album.

One year later, the group released Pilgrimage. The band struck gold in 1972 with Argus, their commercial peak. The album was voted by the readers of Sounds magazine as the best rock album of the year. Argus contained epic themes, vocal harmonising and instrumental precision. The impact of Argus was enormous. A potent blend of folk, progressive rock, and classical music, and helped propel the band to superstar status. The band was getting international acclaim for their live performances as they gained popularity around the world.

The band, now headlining major arenas, was starting to make a huge impact in the United States. Wishbone Four was the band's first record without producer Derek Lawrence, as the band decided to produce the album themselves. In 1973 , the band released a double live album entitled Live Dates.

Just as the band's popularity was continuing to rise, the band suffered a blow with the departure of guitarist Ted Turner, who largely retired from music. After replacing Turner with guitarist Laurie Wisefield, the band relocated to America and recorded the There's the Rub album. American influences began creeping into the band's sound as well, as the album contained the first hints of the mellow, softer side the group would embrace later in the decade.

Locked In, produced by Tom Dowd, saw the band moving towards US soft-rock territory and the group even began touring with a keyboard player.

1976's New England returned to the traditional Wishbone Ash style. Front Page News (1977) wasd the band's final US-recorded album of this period and contained a mix of rock numbers with more mellow tracks as well.

By the late 70's, the band's record sales were slumping. It was the era of punk and disco, and the hard rock giants of the early 1970s were now seen as has-beens only a few years into their careers. However, the group retained respectable, if not spectacular, chart places and remained a strong live attraction that was still able to pack large venues.

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 many songs written by Laurie Wisefield and Martin Turner.

The band soldiered on and spent six months making the next album, Just Testing. Released in February 1980 , the album contained mostly Martin Turner material, the album allowed Wishbone to try new musical trends and still retain the classic Wishbone sound. Just Testing marked the end of an era for Wishbone Ash.

Pressured by MCA to make more commercial music, the band considered bringing in a lead singer and relinquishing Martin Turner's duties to bass guitar only. After 11 years, the band's front man and co-founder was put in an untenable position and reluctantly left Wishbone Ash.

1981-1989

Turner was replaced by John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson, UK, and several other classic groups. Most of Number the Brave, released in 1981 , was written before Wetton joined, hence he sang on only one song, although he had offered songs such as "Here Comes The Feeling" that would eventually sell millions when released on Asia's 1982 debut album. Wetton grew disillusioned with what he deemed "session man" status, especially considering he was one of the most respected bassists/singers/songwriters in the world at that time. Before the tour began, he quit Wishbone Ash and formed Asia. Wishbone Ash was dropped by MCA the same year.

Wetton was replaced on the Number the Brave tour by former Uriah Heep bassist Trevor Bolder. Also joining the band was a female backing vocalist, Claire Hamill. who had sung on both the Just Testing and Number the Brave albums. The new Wishbone got mixed reviews. In 1982 , after Hamill's departure, the band experimented with heavy metal on the Twin Barrels Burning album. Surprisingly, the album became the highest charting Wishbone Ash album in years.

Trevor Bolder left the group to rejoin Uriah Heep in 1983 , to be replaced by Mervyn Spence. Spence was a capable lead vocalist (much like Jon Anderson of Yes) and acted as the front man from the 1984-1986 period. The group continued with a more heavy metal side on 1985's Raw to the Bone, which became the first Wishbone Ash album not to make the charts.

The band suffered even more disappointment when influential member Laurie Wisefield quit the band after 11 years of service. He was replaced by Jamie Crompton. Months later, Mervyn Spence quit as well, to be replaced by ex-Kinks bassist Andy Pyle.

In 1987, IRS Records founder and original Wishbone manager Miles Copeland began a record label entitled "No Speak," which featured all instrumental music. In order 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 14 years, Andy Powell and Steve Upton joined forces with Martin Turner and Ted Turner to record the album Nouveau Calls, released in 1987 . 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 1989, the band released a full-fledged reunion album with vocals entitled Here to Hear.

1990-1999

In 1990 the band went back into the studio to record the follow up to Here to Hear. The band was shocked when founding member Steve Upton, the band's drummer for their entire career, announced his retirement from the music business. Shaken but undeterred, the band quickly enlisted session drummer Robbie France to help out on some studio tracks and live shows. However, the band permanently settled on Ray Weston. Strange Affair was released in 1991 .

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.

1994 saw the second departure of Ted Turner and Andy Powell (by now the only remaining original member throughout the band's history) making the decision to form a completely new version of the band - one where Powell would operate Wishbone Ash as a personal business venture and employ musicians on a session basis. Guitarist/songwriter Roger Filgate replaced Ted Turner, bassist/vocalist Tony Kishman joined, and drummer Mike Sturgis replaced Ray Weston. Powell, by this time ensconsed in gainful employment as a farm laboror, relied on fan donations and outside assistance to help finance the new studio album. The new line-up debuted on a short UK/European tour in the Spring of 1995. However, 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 America. Founding member Martin Turner returned to the fold to hold the bass and vocal position for touring duties, although Tony Kishman would be recalled to record lead vocals for the band's next album. Illuminations was released in 1996 and featured the Powell, Filgate, Kishman, Sturgis line-up. Original member Martin Turner, who honoured the bulk of touring commitments to promote the album, was not featured and was not retained for future studio/live projects, though would remain part of the overall Wishbone Ash set-up through his work in assembling various archival releases, album remasters, etc.

By 1998 , Kishman, Sturgis and Filgate had departed and Powell formed another new Wishbone Ash with bassist Bob Skeat, guitarist/vocalist Mark Birch, and former drummer Ray Weston. During the line-up changes, Andy Powell released two electronic dance albums on UK indie label Invisible Hands Music under the name Wishbone Ash. The albums were ambitious dance projects that 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 was a clubland smash and reached number 38 on the UK dance chart. Psychic Terrorism followed.

2000–present

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 Shepherds Bush Empire in London, where the band welcomed special guests Laurie Wisefield and Claire 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 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 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 seasoned session drummer Joseph Crabtree, famous for his work with Pendragon and King Crimson violinist David Cross.

Recent times have seen a further twist in the Wishbone Ash story, with founder member Martin Turner forming Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash (rights to the band name are retained by all four original members). Featuring guitarists Keith Buck and Ray Hatfield, and drummer Rob Hewins, the band has toured the UK/Europe performing material from the band's heritage years, as documented on their debut release 'New Live Dates Vol.1' (2006).

Special events

Wishbone Ash have developed a couple of group gatherings, AshCon in the UK and AshFest in the USA. These began in the last few years and have developed into gatherings of the 'faithful' and have become annual fixtures.

Studio discography

1. Wishbone Ash (1970)
2. Pilgrimage (1971)
3. Argus (1972)
4. Wishbone Four (1973)
5. There's the Rub (1974)
6. Locked In (1976)
7. New England (1976)
8. Front Page News (1977)
9. No Smoke Without Fire (1978)
10. Just Testing (1980)
11. Number the Brave (1981)
12. Twin Barrels Burning (1982)
13. Raw to the Bone (1985)
14. Nouveau Calls (1987)
15. Here to Hear (1989)
16. Strange Affair (1991)
17. Illuminations (1996)
18. Trance Visionary (1997) (electronic dance album)
19. Psychic Terrorism (1998) (electronic dance album)
20. Bare Bones (1999) (unplugged album)
21. Bona Fide (2002)
22. Lost Pearls (2004) (recorded 1978-82)
23. Clan Destiny (2006)
24. First Light (2007) (recorded in 1970)

Live Albums

• Live From Memphis (1972) (US promo album)
• Live Dates (1973)
• Live In Tokyo (1978) (released in Japan only)
• Live Dates 2 (1980)
• The Ash Live in Chicago (1992)
• Live in Geneva (1995)
• Live Timeline (1997) (recorded 1991 and 1970)
• The King Will Come (1999) (recorded 1976 and 1973)
• Live Dates 3 (2000)
• Almighty Blues: London and Beyond (2003)

Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash Live Albums

• New Live Dates Volume 1 (2006)

External links

• The official Wishbone Ash website, featuring founding guitarist and original member Andy Powell
• 'Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash' official site, including the most comprehensive WA historical information presently online
• Wishbone Ash on Progboard; Wishbone Ash's albums reviews and ratings
• Website for current Wishbone Ash drummer Joe Crabtree

• Talking Elephant - The UK Record Label

1. Wishbone Ash official site

• Articles lacking sources from March 2007
• Musical groups established in 1969
• English rock music groups
• 1960s music groups
• 1970s music groups
• 1980s music groups
• 1990s music groups
• 2000s music groups