Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash is a British rock band which has achieved considerable success, spanning a period of forty years. Its popular records include Wishbone Ash (1970), Argus (1972), There's the Rub (1974), and New England (1976). It was one of the first bands to adopt the twin lead, harmony guitar style.

This new twin lead sound was globally acclaimed and led guitarists, Andy Powell and Ted Turner to be voted "Two Of The Ten Most Important Guitarists In Rock History" (Traffic magazine 1989), and to be part of the "Top 20 Guitarists Of All Time" (Rolling Stone magazine). Melody Maker (1972) described Ted Turner and Andy Powell as "the most interesting two guitar team since the days when Beck and Page graced The Yardbirds". This focal point fuelled the popularity of the band.

Formed in London, United Kingdom, in 1969, out of the ashes of a Devonshire trio, The Empty Vessels (later renamed Tanglewood), which had featured Wishbone Ash's founding members Martin Turner (bass/vocals) and Steve Upton (drums and percussion), the original line-up was completed by guitarists/vocalists Andy Powell and Ted Turner. In 1974, Ted Turner left the band, and was replaced by Laurie Wisefield. After revolving line-ups featuring former members from King Crimson, Trapeze, and Uriah Heep, Laurie Wisefield quit in 1985. In 1987, however, the original line-up reunited for a few albums - "Nouveau Calls", "Here to Hear", and "Strange Affair" - until 1990, when Steve Upton quit the band. After Martin Turner quit the band in 1991, the band recorded Live in Chicago in January 1992, before finally Ted Turner departed for the second time, playing his last show in 1993. Since Ted’s departure, Wishbone Ash, under the steady leadership of Andy Powell, has continued to produce both studio and live albums and tour regularly on a worldwide scale – thereby maintaining a vast fan base. In addition, largely through his efforts, much of the back catalogue has been kept current and readily available.

History

Formation and rise to fame

Wishbone Ash, Charlotte, N.C., USA, 1973

Wishbone Ash was formed in October 1969, on the back of the Torquay band, the Empty Vessels (later, briefly re named Tanglewood – which featured Martin Turner, his brother Glenn on guitar and drummer Steve Upton). The band eventually moved to London, after the departure of Glenn Turner, where both Martin Turner and Steve Upton, along with new manager Miles Copeland, decided to look for a guitarist and keyboardist in July 1969. They eventually settled on Andy Powell and Ted Turner and let go the idea of finding a keyboard player. Wishbone Ash was born and their first gig took place on 10th November 1969 at Dunstable Civic Hall, supporting Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation.

On 18th May 1970, the band opened for Deep Purple at Dunstable Civic Hall. During the sound check Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore was warming up alone onstage when Andy Powell, plugged in,and began jamming along with Blackmore. Impressed, Blackmore recommended the band to producer Derek Lawrence who helped them secure a record deal with Decca/MCA Records. On the 20th August 1970, Wishbone signed a $250,000 advance recording contract with MCA (Decca) Records.

The band's eponymous debut album, Wishbone Ash, was released on the 4th December, 1970 and featured the track Phoenix , which many see as one of the most definitive Wishbone Ash tracks. 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", also "Top British Album" (Melody Maker magazine). "Argus" is now regarded as one of the all-time classic rock albums. At this time, the band was getting international acclaim for it’s live performances gaining in 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. In 1973, the band released a double live album titled Live Dates. Not long after, guitarist Ted Turner left the band and attempted to find the lost city of Moo, in Peru with his girlfriend, Anastasia. After replacing Turner with Home guitarist Laurie Wisefield, who Powell had sought out in New York while that band was functioning as Al Stewart’s backing band, the revamped Wishbone Ash relocated to America, recording the There's the Rub (1974) album produced by Bill Szcymzcyk. Locked In (1976), produced by Tom Dowd, saw the band sign with Atlantic Records, moving towards US soft-rock territory while being augmented in the studio by keyboardist Pete Woods. The group later began touring with a keyboard player, Graham Maitland on their March/April 1976 tour of the USA .

1976's New England showed a heavier, Wishbone Ash style. Front Page News (1977) was the band's final US-recorded album of this period and contained a mix of rock tracks plus mellower pieces. In 1978, the band decided to return to a UK recording studio with No Smoke Without Fire, the first to be produced by Derek Lawrence since Argus in 1972. Spending six months recording, the next album, Just Testing'’, was released in February 1980. In October 1980, after a confrontation with band and management over direction and leadership, Martin Turner decided to leave the band in order to pursue a career focussed on record production. He also went on to form his own band, the Wolfgang, in the early 1980s.

Number The Brave and beyond

With a new album all ready to go, M. Turner was replaced by John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson Uriah Heep and Colliseum. Number the Brave was released in 1981. The album was recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida and was produced by Nigel Gray who had already found fame as producer of the Police. Number The Brave featured stylish guitar parts and a fresh, modern approach. Powell and Wisefield shared vocals and songs like Underground, which helped to restore Ash’s popularity with it’s fans.

Wetton decided not to tour with Wishbone Ash and went on to form Asia. He was replaced just before the Number the Brave UK tour by former Uriah Heep bassist Trevor Bolder. Also joining the band was female 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 a heavier approach on the Twin Barrels Burning album. This album was the highest charting Wishbone Ash album in years.

In 1983 after touring the UK, USA and even India, Trevor Bolder parted company to rejoin Uriah Heep. He was replaced by bassist/vocalist Mervyn Spence (ex-Trapeze). The group continued with an even heavier sound on 1985's Raw to the Bone'’ which, like previous albums, was recorded at Nigel Gray’s Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead. He, once again, took over production duties for this record.

This was to be Laurie Wisefield’s last recording with Wishbone after an eleven year career with the band. He continues to pursue a varied career which has included work with Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Roger Chapman, Jeff Wayne and the Queen musical We Will Rock You. He was replaced by drummer turned guitarist Jamie Crompton, who completed several major tours but did not actually record with Wishbone Ash. Crompton was succeeded, briefly, by top British session musician Phil Palmer. Early in 1986 Mervyn Spence departed to be replaced by ex-Kinks bassist Andy Pyle.

Reunion period

In 1987, I.R.S. Records founder and original Wishbone manager Miles Copeland initiated a series of instrumental albums under the "No Speak" label. To assist in a successful label launch, Copeland needed a big name band that would bring publicity to the project. Andy Powell and Steve Upton of Wishbone Ash were approached about having the original line-up record an all-instrumental album. For the first time in 14 years, Andy Powell and Steve Upton were to join forces with Martin Turner who was amenable to the concept, later being given production duties for ensuing live recordings. Powell flew to Los angeles to persuade his original guitar partner, Ted Turner, to join in the recording of the album Nouveau Callswhich was finally released in 1987. The IRS Records reunion was intended as a limited reunion, acknowledged and understood by all four musicians. The original line-up's tour of 1988 was a success. In 1989, the band released a full-fledged reunion album with vocals titled Here to Hear.

In 1990 the band went back into the studio to record Strange Affair, the follow up to Here to Hear, with Andy Pyle and Powell co-writing the album’s title track. At this time Martin Turner and Andy Powell joined forces to set up a 24 track recording studio at Powell’s Buckinghamshire residence, Ivy Lane Farm. The band were shocked when founding member Steve Upton, the band's drummer for their entire career to this point, later announced his retirement from the music business. They quickly enlisted session drummer Robbie France to help out on some studio tracks and live shows. The band permanently settled on drummer Ray Weston who had also helped the band complete this album. Strange Affair was released in 1991.

Later in 1991, Martin Turner departed the band for a second time and the joint studio venture was axed. The plan to develop this studio facility for future Wishbone albums, plus guest artists and producers, proved untenable. Martin was once again replaced by former Wishbone Ash member, Andy Pyle.

Post-reunion period

The band toured throughout 1992/93, releasing the live album The Ash Live in Chicago. 1993 also bore witness to the final show Ted Turner would play with the band. His second departure was sealed in 1994 when he handed a formal letter of resignation to Andy Powell who found himself the only original surviving member of Wishbone Ash.

Powell had watched former members depart the band in a piecemeal fashion, starting with Ted Turner in 1974. Despite this, he remained determined to push the band forward, maintaining its integrity and boosting its fan base; utilizing the new medium of the internet and launching the www.wishboneash.com website. Former MCA PR manager, Leon Tsilis had the foresight to start this venture for the band, making Wishbone one of the first acts to have a website. By adopting a tough new regime of constantly touring, taking the band into the provinces, exploiting venues new to rock music particularly in the UK, Germany and USA and by eshewing big record labels and producing current material, Wishbone was going through an exciting stage in their career. Powell had actually enlisted guitarist/songwriter Roger Filgate prior to the eventual departure of Ted Turner. Bassist/vocalist Tony Kishman and drummer Mike Sturgis were the remaining parts of the puzzle. The revamped line-up embarked on a UK/European tour in the Spring of 1995.

By the time of the band's 25th anniversary tour in late 1995, Tony Kishman was finding it a problem to fulfil some dates due to other performing engagements in the United States. At the invitation of Andy Powell, Martin Turner returned to the band on a limited independent employee basis, to cover for Tony Kishman. This was fully understood and agreed to by Turner. Kishman would be recalled to perform on the band's next album. Illuminations was released in 1996 and featured Andy Powell, Roger Filgate, Tony Kishman and Mike Sturgis. Andy Powell rallied the band’s fans and relied on these fan based investors to actually finance the album, bringing all participants a great financial return and naming them on the actual CD. These efforts from the fans led to the production of a highly successful album both commercially and artistically. At one point Martin Turner had been invited to play on the Illuminations album by Andy Powell, but proved incapable; as witnessed in the recording studio by Powell-appointed fan club secretary, Gary Carter. Powell and Filgate had flown to the UK expressly for the purpose of recording in former manager, John Sherry's studio. The album was later completed at Studio Unicorn in Redding CT with renowned engineer, John Etchels at the controls

For different individual reasons Kishman, Sturgis and Filgate each found the touring regime more than they could commit to and departed the band. As a result, Andy Powell invited former drummer and band member, Ray Weston back into the fold. He then set about finding two more new members. British bass player, Bob Skeat, and guitarist/vocalist, Mark Birch, completed the new look Wishbone Ash. During 1998, Wishbone Ash released two electronic dance album.s on UK indie label Invisible Hands Music, with Mike Bennett producing. The albums included well executed 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.

The band then released a largely acoustic, unplugged album of classic and new songs titled Bare Bones before hitting the road in 2000 to celebrate its 30th anniversary. A celebratory concert was held at Shepherds Bush Empire in London, where the band welcomed special guests and former band members Laurie Wisefield and Claire Hamill, as well as other musical friends, for a star-studded concert. This resulted in Live Dates 3 and a live 30th anniversary DVD.

In 2001, after fulfilling a tough touring schedule, Mark Birch decided to leave the music business, moving into computing. He was replaced by Finnish guitarist, Ben Granfelt, who the band had met while touring together in Germany with Ben’s band, the Guitar Slingers, opening Wishbone’s shows. With Ben on board the band hit the road for an even more extensive touring schedule, their toughest in years. In 2002, Wishbone Ash convened to a studio in Kent to produce the Bona Fide album. The disc thrilled fans with a new muscular twin lead guitar style. Powell had by this time taken over as a confident lead vocalist and was now de facto band leader, manager and producer, working together with Britain’s HTD Records. 2003 saw the band touring worldwide. In the USA they co headlined with Savoy Brown, playing their largest number of American dates since the 1980s.

1n 2005 Ben Granfelt left the band to get married and continue working on his solo career. Granfelt's mentor, Muddy Manninen, auditioned for Wishbone Ash in London at Granfelt’s recommendation. He passed muster and proved a perfect replacement for Ben, bringing a rootsy guitar style to the band and perfectly complimenting Powells guitar work and compositions with his own songs. He also brought lap steel and bottleneck back into the band’s sound. In late 2006, Wishbone Ash released a new studio album Clan Destiny recorded at Blue Jay Studios in Carlisle, Massachusetts at the recommendation of Powell’s son Aynsley, an accomplished drummer himself.

In 2007, after playing on the acclaimed DVD Live In Hamburg, longtime drummer Ray Weston left the band for the West Coast, making a break from the constant touring and recording to concentrate on work at the Laguna School of Music. Aynsley sat in with the band on select festival dates moonlighting from his band Tiger City, while a new permanent replacement drummer was sought. At Mike Sturgis’s recommendation, seasoned session drummer Joseph Crabtree, known for his work with Pendragon and King Crimson violinist David Cross stepped in to fill the void. In late 2007, the band released their latest album Power of Eternity; recorded at the Sound Factory in Lohja, Finland. By now Wishbone Ash had firmly consolidated its presence with over 150 shows a year plus a contemporary body of work in many ways surpassing its earlier work both in musicianship, song structure and production.

2009 has seen the band celebrate its fortieth anniversary, undertaking several tours worldwide, including a recent special performance at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on the 16th May. A DVD featuring special ‘on the road’ tour footage plus a CD recording of the show at Shepherd’s Bush, has been released. In October of 2009 at the hand of Powell’s oldest son, Richard Powell, the long running wishboneash.com website received a complete makeover by Chapel Hill based design company, Samedis Design. Currently, a dedicated band recording studio is being assembled in Lancashire, where the latest Wishbone Ash CD is to be recorded. It has always been of paramount importance to Andy Powell to keep Wishbone Ash very much in the public eye and he continues his endeavors in upholding the band’s name, integrity, style and worldwide tour schedule . Many of the fans view the band’s forty years of absolute continuity as a direct result of Powell’s efforts and focussed determination.

Special events

Wishbone Ash have over the last 15 years developed two types of fan conventions; AshCon in the UK and AshFest both on cruise ships and in the United States, most recently at Club Med in Florida. Several other bands like Little Feat and Journey and have followed suite with this idea. The conventions began in 1994 and have developed into gatherings of the band’s well connected community and have since become thoroughly enjoyable, annual fixtures on the band’s calendar.

Band members

Main article: Wishbone Ash band members

Discography

Main article: Wishbone Ash discography

External links

• The official Wishbone Ash website
• Website for current Wishbone Ash drummer Joe Crabtree
• Talking Elephant - The UK Record Label
• Video Interviews vidéo with Andy POWELL - June 2008
• Wishbone Ash discography