Wishbone Ash

  • Torquay, England
    hometown
  • Alternative
    genre
  • 1969
    started
  • Bio
    full story
  • Share
  • Similar
Close

About Wishbone Ash


During the early- and mid-'70s, Wishbone Ash were among England's most popular hard rock acts. The group's roots dated to the summer of 1966, when drummer Steve Upton formed a band called Empty Vessels with bassist/vocalist Martin Turner and guitarist Glen Turner. Empty Vessels soon changed their name to Tanglewood and moved to London; during a gig at the Country Club in Hampstead, they were seen by would-be rock manager Miles Copeland, who was impressed with the jazz and progressive rock influences within the band and offered to be their manager.

Glen Turner left the band at that point, and an advertisement for a guitarist resulted in the addition of both David Alan "Ted" Turner and Andy Powell, who provided the basis for the sound of the new lineup with intertwining riffs and phrases drawn from both soul and blues, coupled with Martin Turner's melodic bass sound and Upton's jazz-influenced drumming. A new name was called for, and after several suggestions by Copeland that proved unacceptable, "Wishbone Ash" was chosen from two lists of words. The group rehearsed for weeks at Copeland's home, working out an entirely new repertoire, and played their first gig opening for the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation. It wasn't too long before they were opening for Deep Purple, where a sound check jam between Powell and Ritchie Blackmore led to a recording contract with the American Decca label.

Their self-titled first album appeared in 1970; Pilgrimage and Argus followed over the next two years, and each showed a major advance in the band's sound. The release of 1973's Wishbone Four reflected a greater maturity to the group, and was their first fully developed album, with songwriting that didn't hide behind a progressive pose but luxuriated in the members' folk music inclinations, without compromising the harder edge of their music. The album also saw the departure of Ted Turner, who was replaced by Laurie Wisefield.

Locked In and New England followed; Martin Turner departed after 1979's Just Testing, to be replaced by ex-King Crimson bassist/singer John Wetton. Wishbone Ash soldiered on through the 1980s, and in 1986 even got back with Copeland, by now a major player in the recording industry by virtue of his management of the Police and his founding of I.R.S. Records. Wishbone Ash's history came full circle with the reunion of Powell, Upton, Ted Turner, and Martin Turner, and the recording of three albums for I.R.S.. They remained a working band into the 1990s, led by Andy Powell and Ted Turner and touring and recording regularly. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Scroll up Scroll down

Photos

From position 0, showing 1 items, asking 10
See All
  • I.R.S.
    Wishbone Ash
    I.R.S.

Tour Dates

From position 0, showing 13 items, asking 50
See All
  • Oct 7 Monday
    Swindon, UK Swindon Arts Centre
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 8 Tuesday
    London, UK O2 Academy Islington
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 10 Thursday
    Cardiff, UK Globe Cardiff
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 13 Sunday
    Tavistock, UK Tavistock Wharf
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 18 Friday
    Holmfirth, UK Picturedrome
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 22 Tuesday
    Derby, UK The Flowerpot
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 26 Saturday
    Inverness, UK Ironworks
    Buy Ticket
  • Oct 31 Thursday
    Southampton, UK The Brook
    Buy Ticket
  • Dec 21 Saturday
    Leipzig, Germany Haus Auensee
    Buy Ticket
  • Jan 16 Thursday
    Haarlem, Netherlands Patronaat
    Buy Ticket
  • Jan 17 Friday
    Zoetermeer, Netherlands De Boerderij
    Buy Ticket
  • Jan 18 Saturday
    Uden, Netherlands De Pul
    Buy Ticket
  • Jan 19 Sunday
    Deventer, Netherlands Het Burgerweeshuis Concertzaal
    Buy Ticket

Discography

From position 0, showing 10 items, asking 10
See All
Next Page
  • Performance (2012)
    Wishbone Ash
    Performance (2012)
    Southworld
  • Elegant Stealth (2011)
    Wishbone Ash
    Elegant Stealth (2011)
    Golden Core Records
  • Live [Euro Trend] (2008)
    Wishbone Ash
    Live [Euro Trend] (2008)
    MCP
  • The Power of Eternity (2007)
    Wishbone Ash
    The Power of Eternity (2007)
    Talking Elephant
  • Live on XM Satellite Radio (2006)
    Wishbone Ash
    Live on XM Satellite Radio (2006)
    Friday Music
  • Clan Destiny (2006)
    Wishbone Ash
    Clan Destiny (2006)
    Talking Elephant
  • King Will Come (2005)
    Wishbone Ash
    King Will Come (2005)
    Membran/Ambitions
  • Mystery Man (2005)
    Wishbone Ash
    Mystery Man (2005)
    Membran/Ambitions
  • Backbones (2004)
    Wishbone Ash
    Backbones (2004)
    Talking Elephant
  • Gold Dates (2004)
    Wishbone Ash
    Gold Dates (2004)
    Retro Records
Are You Wishbone Ash? Claim this page | Learn more about Artists.MTV | FAQ for Artists
Wishbone Ash Bio | Wishbone Ash Tour Dates | Wishbone Ash Discography |
MTV | MTV Jobs | Privacy Policy | User Content Agreement | Copyright | Artist Index | Social Projects Agreements | Ad Choices |
Portions of this page powered by
This site contains content from artists, fans, and writers from around the internet in it's natural form. Such content is not representative of Viacom Media Networks.

©2012 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

  • Explore
    • Popular
    • Emerging
    • Genres
      • Rock
      • Hip Hop
      • Indie
      • Electronic/EDM
      • Country
      • Pop
    • Collections
    • Artist To Watch
  • Search
  • Are you an artist?
    • Claim Your Page
    • Learn More
    • FAQ
    • Opportunities