Wishbone Ash are an English hard rock band from Torquay, Devon. Formed in October 1969, the group originally included bassist and lead vocalist Martin Turner, guitarists and vocalists Andy Powell and Ted Turner, and drummer Steve Upton. [1] The band currently consists of Powell, alongside bassist Bob Skeat (since 1997), guitarist Mark Abrahams (since 2017) and drummer Mike Truscott (since 2022).
Their first lineup change came in the spring of 1974, when Ted Turner was replaced by former Home guitarist Laurie Wisefield. [2] [3] [4] Martin Turner had also left by 1980, with John Wetton replacing him for the 1981 album Number the Brave . [5] After Wetton left to form Asia in early 1981, Trevor Bolder joined Wishbone Ash and remained until 1983, when he returned to his previous band Uriah Heep. [6] Bolder was replaced by former Trapeze bassist and vocalist Mervyn Spence. [7] Wisefield was replaced by Jamie Crompton in late 1985, [8] and Andy Pyle replaced Spence in 1986. [9]
In 1987, Martin and Ted Turner returned as part of an original lineup reformation for former manager Miles Copeland's I.R.S. No Speak instrumental album series, to which they contributed Nouveau Calls at the end of the year. [10] [11] Powell was left as the sole remaining constant member of Wishbone Ash by mid-1990, when Upton left the group and retired from the music business. [12] He was replaced briefly by Robbie France and later in the year by Ray Weston, both of whom featured on the 1991 release Strange Affair . [13] [14] Shortly after the album's release, Martin Turner was fired from the group on 1 October 1991, with Pyle returning to take his place. [15] Ted Turner was the final original member of the band to leave in early 1994, [16] with bassist Pyle and drummer Weston following him in leaving the group shortly after. [9] [14]
Powell rebuilt the band with the addition of guitarist Roger Filgate, bassist Tony Kishman and drummer Mike Sturgis. [17] [18] [19] Martin Turner briefly returned for the group's 25th anniversary tour in 1995 and began working on new material, before leaving for a third and final time. [15] After the release and touring of Illuminations , Filgate, Kishman and Sturgis were replaced by Mark Birch, Bob Skeat and Weston, respectively. [20] Birch remained until 2001, when he was replaced by Finnish guitarist Ben Granfelt. [21] After the studio album Bona Fide and live release Almighty Blues: London & Beyond, Granfelt left in 2004 after playing his final show on 30 October. [22] He was replaced by another Finnish guitarist, Jyrki "Muddy" Manninen. [23] Long-term drummer Weston left for a second time in early 2007 due to tiring of touring, with Joe Crabtree taking his place. [24] on 9 May 2017, when Mark Abrahams replaced Manninen as their ninth guitarist. [25] In 2022 Crabtree left the band and was replaced by Mike Truscott. [26]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Powell | 1969–present |
| all Wishbone Ash releases | |
| Bob Skeat | 1997–present |
| all Wishbone Ash releases from Trance Visionary (1997) onwards | |
| Mark Abrahams | 2017–present | guitar | Coat of Arms (2020) | |
| Mike Truscott | 2022–present |
| Live Dates Live: 1973–2023 (2023) |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Upton | 1969–1990 |
| all Wishbone Ash releases from Wishbone Ash (1970) to Here to Hear (1989) | |
| Martin Turner |
|
|
| |
| Ted Turner |
|
| all Wishbone Ash releases from Wishbone Ash (1970) to Live Dates (1973), and from Nouveau Calls (1987) to Live in Chicago (1992) | |
| Laurie Wisefield | 1974–1985 | all Wishbone Ash releases from There's the Rub (1974) to Raw to the Bone (1985) | ||
| John Wetton | 1980–1981 (died 2017) |
| Number the Brave (1981) | |
| Trevor Bolder | 1981–1983 (died 2013) |
| Twin Barrels Burning (1982) | |
| Mervyn Spence | 1983–1986 | Raw to the Bone (1985) | ||
| Jamie Crompton |
|
| none | |
| Andy Pyle |
|
| Live in Chicago (1992) | |
| Robbie France | 1990 (died 2012) | drums | Strange Affair (1991) | |
| Ray Weston |
|
|
| |
| Roger Filgate | 1994–1997 |
|
| |
| Mike Sturgis | drums | |||
| Tony Kishman |
|
| ||
| Mark Birch | 1997–2001 |
| all Wishbone Ash releases from Trance Visionary (1997) to Live Dates 3 (2001) | |
| Ben Granfelt | 2001–2004 |
| ||
| Muddy Manninen | 2004–2017 | all Wishbone Ash releases from Live on XM Satellite Radio (2005) to Live at Metropolis 16/05/15 (2015) | ||
| Joe Crabtree | 2007–2022 |
| all Wishbone Ash releases from The Power of Eternity (2007) to Coat of Arms (2020) |
| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| October 1969 – June 1974 |
|
|
| June 1974 – November 1980 |
|
|
| November 1980 – April 1981 |
|
|
| April 1981 – April 1983 |
|
|
| April 1983 – December 1985 |
|
|
| December 1985 – February 1986 |
| none |
| February 1986 – July 1987 |
| |
| July 1987 – July 1990 |
|
|
| July – November 1990 |
|
|
| November 1990 – October 1991 |
|
|
| October 1991 – January 1994 |
|
|
| Early 1994 – October 1995 |
|
|
| October 1995 – January 1996 |
| none |
| January 1996 – 1997 |
|
|
| 1997 – May 2001 |
|
|
| May 2001 – October 2004 |
|
|
| October 2004 – April 2007 |
|
|
| April 2007 – May 2017 |
|
|
| May 2017 – February 2022 |
|
|
| February 2022 – present |
|
|
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).
John Kenneth Wetton was an English musician, singer, and songwriter. Although he was left handed, he was known as a dexterous right handed Bass player and had a booming Baritone voice. He joined the band Family in 1971 for a short time before joining King Crimson in 1972. After the breakup of King Crimson at the end of 1974, Wetton was in progressive rock and hard rock bands including Roxy Music (1974–1975), Uriah Heep (1975–1976), U.K. (1977–1980), and Wishbone Ash (1980–1981).
Andrew Powell is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is a founding member of the British band Wishbone Ash, whose use of twin lead guitars was influential.
Wishbone Ash is the first studio album by Wishbone Ash. It peaked at number 29 in the UK Albums Chart in January 1971.
Pilgrimage is the second studio album by the rock band Wishbone Ash. The album focuses more on folk and acoustic music as opposed to the blues rock sound that dominated the first album. The album also contains the instrumental jazz workout "Vas Dis" as well as moodier, slower instrumentals such as "Alone" and "Lullaby".
Wishbone Four is the fourth studio album by British rock band Wishbone Ash, released in 1973. It was a departure from their previous album, Argus, in that it lacked that recording's overall cohesion and atmosphere and the loose conceptual framework of a stately, pastoral and warring medieval England. Containing only hints of the extended twin-lead guitar harmonies, Wishbone Four's stylistic variety found its footing in acoustic folk elements in half of the eight-song set, two aggressive and melodic starters on each side of the vinyl release, and the band's first use of horns on the semi-autobiographical "rave-up" touring song "No Easy Road".
There's the Rub is the fifth studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first album to feature guitarist-vocalist Laurie Wisefield, who would be a major part of the band's creative direction for the next 11 years. It also marked a change in sound. It was the band's first album to be recorded in America and was produced by producer Bill Szymczyk. Although the trademark twin guitars were still evident, the album had a more "American" feel with a smoother production sound. Nevertheless, after the disappointing critical response to the previous studio album, Wishbone Four, reviews for There's The Rub were much more positive.
Locked In is the sixth studio album by the rock band Wishbone Ash, and their second with guitarist Laurie Wisefield who had joined the band in 1974. The album peaked at No. 36 in the UK Albums Chart in April 1976, their lowest UK chart placing to date. It was also the first Wishbone Ash album to feature original tracks not credited to the whole group with four of the tracks credited to either one or two members. The album is considered by many – critics, fans and the band themselves – to be one of the weaker entries in their extensive catalog. The band frequently place the blame on producer Tom Dowd, who insisted the band play much quieter in the studio, removing much of the energy of their performances. The band had switched U.S. distribution from MCA Records to Atlantic Records for this and the next release, New England.
New England is the seventh studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash released only seven months after Locked In. It was a success compared to Locked In but still did not chart as high as most of their previous albums. It peaked at No. 22 in the UK Albums Chart. This album marked the "Americanization" of Wishbone Ash, as the band relocated from England to the Northeastern United States for tax purposes.
Front Page News is the eighth album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It peaked at No. 31 in the UK Albums Chart.
No Smoke Without Fire is the ninth studio album by English rock band Wishbone Ash. It was the first album since 1972's Argus to be produced by Derek Lawrence. The album peaked at No. 43 in the UK Albums Chart.
Just Testing is the tenth studio album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 18 January 1980 by MCA Records. Recorded primarily at Surrey Sound Studios in England, it was the last to feature the original lead vocalist and bass guitarist Martin Turner until the release of Nouveau Calls (1987). The track "Helpless" is only the second cover version released by the band on a studio album, the previous one being "Vas Dis" on Pilgrimage.
Number the Brave is the 11th studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first album in the band's history recorded without founding bassist/vocalist Martin Turner. Turner was replaced by John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson and Uriah Heep. Also featured on Number the Brave was singer Claire Hamill as a backing vocalist, who would join Wishbone Ash on the 1981 tour to promote the album. Following "Vas Dis" on Pilgrimage and "Helpless" on Just Testing, the album featured only the third cover version released by the band on a studio album, Smokey Robinson's "Get Ready", previously a hit for The Temptations.
Twin Barrels Burning is the twelfth studio album by British rock band Wishbone Ash. It was recorded at Sol Studios and released in 1982. It was the highest charting Wishbone Ash album since 1976, reaching No. 22 in the UK Albums Chart. Conversely, it was the final album to appear in that listing to date.
Trance Visionary is an electronic-based dance studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash recorded during 1996. Their 18th overall. It features techno and dance collaborations between band leader Andy Powell and electronica guru Mike Bennett.
Mike Sturgis is an American drummer, having played for the band 21 Guns and later with Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith in Psycho Motel, where he played on both State of Mind (1996) and Welcome to the World (1997) albums. He was also the drummer for Wishbone Ash between 1995 and 1997 and drummer for Asia between 1994 and 2001.
Martin Robert Turner is an English musician best known for his time as the bass guitarist, lead vocalist and a founding member of the rock band, Wishbone Ash.
Andy Pyle is a British bassist who is best known for playing with The Kinks from 1976 to 1978. Prior to that, he was in Blodwyn Pig (1968–1972) and Savoy Brown (1972–1974). Later, he played with Wishbone Ash.
Laurence Mark Wisefield is an English guitarist and vocalist, best known for his contributions to Wishbone Ash during the 1970s and 1980s.
Tony Kishman is an American vocalist, bassist, pianist & guitarist, most noted for his work with Wishbone Ash and the musical Beatlemania.
