Wishbone Ash

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Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash live in Madrid, 2015
Wishbone Ash live in Madrid, 2015
General information
origin Torquay , England
Genre (s) Rock , hard rock , blues rock , progressive rock (first three albums)
founding 1969
Website wishboneash.com
Founding members
Martin Turner
Guitar , vocals
 Andy Powell
Guitar, vocals
 Ted Turner
Steve Upton
Current occupation
Guitar, vocals
 Andy Powell (since 1969)
guitar
 Mark Abrahams (since 2017)
bass
 Bob Skeat (since 1997)
Drums
 Joe Crabtree (since 2007)
former members
Guitar, vocals
 Ted Turner (1969–1974, 1987–1994)
Bass, vocals
 Martin Turner (1969–1980, 1987–1991)
Bass, vocals
 John Wetton † (1980-1981)
Bass, vocals
 Trevor Bolder † (1981-1983)
Bass, vocals
 Mervyn Spence (1983-1986)
guitar
 Laurie Wisefield (1974–1985)
guitar
 Jamie Crompton (1985-1987)
bass
 Andy Pyle (1986-1987, 1991-1994)
Drums
 Steve Upton (1969-1990)
Drums
 Ray Weston (1990-1994, 1997-2007)
guitar
 Roger Filgate (1994-1997)
Bass, vocals
 Tony Kishman (1994-1997)
Drums
 Mike Sturgis (1994-1997)
guitar
 Mark Birch (1997-2001)
guitar
 Ben Granfelt (2001-2004)
guitar
 Jyrki "Muddy" Manninen (2004-2017)

Wishbone Ash is a British rock band . It celebrated its greatest success in the early 1970s. They originated in Devon in the south-west of England in the 1960s and are considered to be one of the first bands with two lead guitarists .

biography

The origins of the band go back to 1966, when Steve Upton ( drums ), Martin Turner ( bass , vocals ) and his brother Glen Turner ( guitar , vocals) got together in Torquay and founded the Empty Vessels . The band stood the test of time, renamed Tanglewood and moved to London . The next step came when they got Miles Copeland on as a manager. However, Glen Turner did not go along with it and left the band. Looking for a replacement, they found Andy Powell and David A. "Ted" Turner (not related to Martin) two guitarists. Because you couldn't decide between the two and instead preferred to do without a keyboardist , the band's “dual lead guitar sound” was born.

The quartet formed the first formation of Wishbone Ash . They studied a completely new repertoire of songs and after their first appearances in 1970 they were hired as opening act for Deep Purple . This not only increased their popularity, they also got a record deal with the Decca Records label . Their debut album, Wishbone Ash , named after the band, was released that same year. That put them in the top 40 of the British album charts straight away . Pilgrimage followed a year later , with which they were also successful in the USA. In 1972 Wishbone Ash was considered the most popular British newcomer band. Her third album Argus was named “Album of the Year” in various media. At number 3 in the UK, it was also their most successful release.

Characteristic for Wishbone Ash is their melodic, guitar-oriented rock, which is characteristically dominated by two electric guitars played in a duet. The singing style is often ballad-like . Epic or religious themes shape the band's music, especially in the early phase, such as B. Throw Down the Sword , Warrior , The King Will Come . The style of the band is characterized by great enthusiasm for experimentation on the first albums: hard rock mixes with gentle folk melodies or with jam session-like , spacious improvisations with an almost jazzy touch . Later albums, on the other hand, are more oriented towards conventional heavy rock and straight rock 'n' roll .

Their most successful album in the USA followed in 1973 with Wishbone Four , and they also released Live Dates, their first live album, which was particularly well received in the USA, but also brought in their first silver record in their homeland . After that, however, Ted Turner moved to Peru and there was a change in line-up in the band for the first time. Turner was replaced by Laurie Wisefield, who came from Home . The London band had already released 3 albums and also played with two lead guitars. He helped shape the 1974 album There's the Rub , with which they achieved silver for the second time and which brought them into the charts in Germany for the first time.

This second formation produced five more studio albums over the next five years, all of which were similarly successful and kept them at number 40 in the UK charts. With Just Testing , published at the beginning of 1980 , they achieved placements for the last time in Germany, Great Britain and the USA. After that, Martin Turner, the first member of the band who had been with it from the beginning, left the band. There was then a number of changes in the position of bassist. John Wetton , who came from King Crimson , stayed only a year, his successor Trevor Bolder stayed for only one album. And when the album Raw to the Bone did not hit the charts for the first time in 1985 , Mervyn Spence was not only the next bassist, he was also followed by lead guitarist Laurie Wisefield. Then he played with Tina Turner , Roger Chapman , Joe Cocker , The Nokia Night of the Proms and the Queen - Musical We Will Rock You .

After two years with substitute musicians, in which Wishbone Ash only appeared live, the band was revived. Ted and Martin Turner returned and re-established the first formation with Andy Powell and Steve Upton. Manager Copeland signed her to his label IRS Records and released two more albums. However, they could not restore the previous success. With Steve Upton then left the second original member and after another album Martin Turner finally left the band. He released a solo album and toured with his own band under the name Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash in the 2000s and recorded several albums until he was banned from using the band name in 2013.

From 1995 Andy Powell was the only remaining member from the first formation from 1970 and remained the head of the band with a further changing line-up. In 1997 the entire line-up changed again and the band took a foray into the rave music of the 1990s. Two electronic dance albums brought them at least respectable successes in the dance charts and in music criticism. For the 30th anniversary and with the album Bare Bones with new recordings of old songs, they returned to the rock roots of the band. Further album releases followed in the 2000s. In addition to Powell, Bob Skeat established himself as the band's bassist, while the second guitarist and drummer continued to change. With Ben Granfelt and Muddy Manninen , two Finns took over the guitar one after the other.

In 2007, First Light, the first version of the debut album Wishbone Ash , which happened again at auction in London , was released, which also contains two previously unreleased songs and an alternative version of the song Alone from the second album. Another studio album, The Power of Eternity , was released in the same year . At the end of the 2000s, however, the publications subsided. Another album was not released until 2011 and with the band's 24th studio album in early 2014, entitled Blue Horizon , they achieved yet another surprise success that brought them into the German album charts.

Member overview

The band history of Wishbone Ash, which was characterized by numerous changes, is shown below based on the line-up.

Function in the band Album and year
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) Number the Brave (1981) Twin Barrels Burning (1982) Raw to the Bone (1985) (1985-1987) Nouveau Calls (1987) Here to Hear (1989) Strange Affair (1991) (1992-1994) (1995-1996) Illuminations (1996) Trance Visionary (1997) Psychic Terrorism (1998) Bona Fide (2002) (2004-2005) Clan Destiny (2006) Power of Eternity (2007) Elegant Stealth (2011) Blue Horizon (2014) Coat of Arms (2020)
Vocals / electric guitar Andy Powell
Vocals / electric guitar Ted Turner Laurie Wisefield Jamie Crompton Ted Turner Roger Filgate Mark Birch Ben Granfelt Muddy Mannines Mark Abrahams
Bass / vocals Martin Turner John Wetton Trevor Bolder Mervyn Spence Andy Pyle Martin Turner Andy Pyle Tony Kishman Bob Skeat
Drums Steve Upton Ray Weston Mike Sturgis Ray Weston Joe Crabtree

Discography

Studio albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE CH CH UK UK US US
1970 Wishbone Ash - - UK29 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
1971 Pilgrimage - - UK14 (9 weeks)
UK 		US174 (7 weeks)
US
1972 Argus - - UK3
gold
gold

(20 weeks)UK 		US169 (13 weeks)
US
1973 Wishbone Four - - UK12 (10 weeks)
UK 		US44 (15 weeks)
US
1974 There's the rub DE43 (1 week)
DE 		- UK16
silver
silver

(5 weeks)UK 		US88 (13 weeks)
US
1976 Locked In - - UK36 (2 weeks)
UK 		US136 (9 weeks)
US
1976 New England DE35 (3 weeks)
DE 		- UK22 (3 weeks)
UK 		US154 (9 weeks)
US
1977 Front Page News - - UK31 (4 weeks)
UK 		US166 (4 weeks)
US
1978 No Smoke Without Fire - - UK43 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
1980 Just testing DE51 (5 weeks)
DE 		- UK41 (4 weeks)
UK 		US179 (2 weeks)
US
1980 Number the Brave - - UK61 (5 weeks)
UK 		-
Bass: John Wetton
1982 Twin barrels burning - - UK22 (5 weeks)
UK 		-
2014 Blue Horizon DE74 (1 week)
DE 		- - -
2020 Coat of Arms DE22 (1 week)
DE 		CH26 (... weeks)
Template: chart table / maintenance / provisional / 2020CH 		- -

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More albums

  • 1985: Raw to the Bone
  • 1987: Nouveau Calls
    • (This purely instrumental album was recorded under M. Copeland's direction from the original line-up Turner / Powell / Upton / Turner for the concept "No speak" and marked a 4-year reunion phase for the band).
  • 1989: Here to Hear
  • 1991: Strange Affair
  • 1996: Illuminations
    • (Recorded with drummer Mike Sturgis from Psycho Motel, Adrian Smith's band ).
  • 1998: Trance Visionary
    • (Musical style break: techno / dance album)
  • 1998: Psychic Terrorism
    • (Musical style break: techno / dance album)
  • 1999: Bare Bones
    • (An "acoustic" album with old and 4 new songs and the voice of Mark Birch).
  • 2002: Bona Fide
  • 2004: Lost Pearls
    • Recordings from 1978 to 1982 that hadn't made it onto publications
  • 2006: Clan Destiny
  • 2007: First Light
    • (Recorded in 1969, the “very first” album).
  • 2007: The Power of Eternity
  • 2008: tender
  • 2011: Elegant Stealth
  • 2014: Blue Horizon
  • 2020: Coat of Arms
Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, 2010

Live albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE UK UK US US
1973 Live dates - UK-
silver
silver
UK 		US82 (18 weeks)
US
Released in 2020 as a reprint in colored vinyl. Limited Edition (1,500 pieces)
1980 Live Dates II - UK40 (3 weeks)
UK 		-
1982 Hot Ash - - US192 (4 weeks)
US
2019 Live at Rockpalast 1976 DE52 (1 week)
DE 		- -

More live albums

  • Live from Memphis (1972)
  • Live in Tokyo (1979)
  • Live Dates II - Additional Tapes (1980)
  • Lady Whiskey (1982)
  • BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (1991)
  • The Ash Live in Chicago (1992)
  • Mother of Pearl - Live (At the Liverpool Empire) (1995)
  • Live at the BBC (1996)
  • Live in Geneva (1996)
  • Live Timeline (1997)
  • Archive Series (1998)
  • The King Will Come - Live (1999)
  • Live Dates III (2001)
  • Live in Bristol (2002)
  • Tracks (2002, recordings from 1972 to 2001)
  • Tracks 2 (2003, recordings from 1972 to 2002)
  • Almighty Blues (2004)
  • Live at XM Satellite Radio (2006)
  • Tracks 3 (2007)
  • Live in Hamburg (2007)
  • Argus “Then Again” Live (2008)
  • 40th Anniversary Concert - Live in London (2009)
  • Performance (2011)

Compilation albums

  • An Evening Program with Wishbone Ash (1972)
  • Milestones (1975)
  • Masters of Rock (1975)
  • The Best of Wishbone Ash (1975)
  • Australian Tour Sampler (1975)
  • Special DJ Copy (1975)
  • The Original Wishbone Ash (1977)
  • That's Wishbone Ash (1977)
  • Classic Ash (1977)
  • Wishbone Ash (1981)
  • The Best of Wishbone Ash (1981)
  • Time Was / The Wishbone Ash Collection (1993)
  • The Very Best of Wishbone Ash: Blowin 'Free (1994)
  • The King Will Come - Best (1996, recordings from 1970 to 1981, Zounds , all tracks digitally remastered)
  • The Best of Wishbone Ash (1997)
  • Distillation (1997)
  • Outward Bound (1997)
  • The Millennium Collection (1999)
  • Blowin 'Free - An Introduction to Wishbone Ash (2001)
  • The Collection (2003)
  • Backbones (2004)
  • Ambition Series - Mystery Man (2005)
  • Ambition Series - The King Will Come (2005)
  • Tough (2008)
  • Tender (2008)
  • Melodic Sounds (2009)
  • Sometime World - An MCA Travelogue (2010)
  • Road Works (box with 4 live CDs, 2015)
  • The Vintage Years 1970-1991 (box with 30 CDs, 2018)

Video albums

  • Lorelei (1976)
  • Classic Rock Legends (1989)
  • 30th Anniversary Concert - Live at Shepherds Bush Empire (2000)
  • 25th Anniversary of the Marquee (2001)
  • Almighty Blues - Live in London & Beyond (2003)
  • Phoenix Rising - Classic Ash: Then & Now (2004)
  • The Live Broadcasts (2006)
  • Live at the Spirit of '66 (2006)
  • Live in Hamburg (2007)
  • 40th Anniversary Concert - Live in London (2009)
  • This Is Wishbone Ash - A Rockumentary (2010)
  • Wishbone Ash - Live in Paris 2015 (2015)

Singles

  • Blind Eye / Queen of Torture (January 1971)
  • Jail Bait / Lullabye (September 1971)
  • No Easy Road / Blowin 'Free (August 1972)
  • So Many Things to Say / Rock 'n' Roll Widow (July 1973)
  • Hometown / Persephone (November 1974)
  • Silver Shoes / Persephone (February 1975)
  • Outward Bound / Lorelei (November 1976)
  • Phoenix / Blowin 'Free / Jail Bait (April 1977)
  • Front Page News / Diamond Jack (September 1977)
  • Goodbye Baby, Hello Friend (October 1977)
  • You See Red / Bad Weather Blues (Live) (September 1978)
  • Come On / Fast Johnny (August 1979)
  • Living Proof / Jail Bait (Live) (January 1980)
  • Helpless (Live) / Blowin 'Free (Live) (May 1980)
  • Underground / My Mind Is Made Up (March 1981)
  • Get Ready / Kicks on the Street (May 1981)
  • Engine Overheat / Genevieve (September 1982)
  • No More Lonely Nights / Streets of Shame (December 1982)
  • In the Skin / Tangible Evidence (May 1988)
  • Cosmic Jazz / T-Bone Shuffle (July 1989)
  • Trance Visionary / Wronged by Righteousness / Heritage / Powerbright (October 1998)
  • Reason to Believe (May 2010)

Solo publications by the members

Martin Turner

  • Walking the Reeperbahn (1996)
  • The Garden Party - Live (Live album, 2014)
  • Written in the Stars (2015)

Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash

  • New Live Dates Vol. 1 (Live album, 2006)
  • New Live Dates Vol. 2 (Live album, 2007)
  • Argus Through the Looking Glass (2008)
  • Life Begins Tour - Live in Leicester 2010 (Live album / DVD, 2012)

Ted Turner

  • Eclektic Value (2010)

Ben Granfelt

  • Notes from the Road (2008)
  • Handmade (2014)
  • Another Day (2016)

Muddy Mannines

  • Long Player (2017)

Books

  • Andy Powell: "Eyes Wide Open" - True Tales of a Wishbone Ash Warrior (2015)
  • Martin Turner: No Easy Road (2012)

Web links

Commons : Wishbone Ash  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

proof

  1. ↑ Russell Hall: 10 Great Dual Lead Guitar Albums
  2. ↑ a b Chart sources: Germany - Switzerland - UK - USA
  3. ↑ a b The Billboard album by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
  4. ↑ a b BPI gold / platinum database (Great Britain)