Martin Robert Turner (born 1 October 1947) 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.[1] Turner is now the lead singer and bassist for "Martin Turner Ex-Wishbone Ash".
Turner was born in Torquay. He started playing guitar as a child and switched to bass at age fourteen.[2] Turner formed his first band, The Tornadoes, in 1963 with his brother Glenn.[2]
Career
The Empty Vessels
By 1966, the band had formed into The Empty Vessels and included Steve Upton on drums.[2] In 1969, Empty Vessels released their only single "My Son John / Low Toby", which was released on the German label, Metronome and produced by Guy Fletcher.[3][4] They also briefly toured as "Tanglewood" before disbanding.[3]
Wishbone Ash
In 1969, his brother Glenn left the trio and Turner and Upton were briefly a duo. Writing both guitar and basss, Turner would translate his vocal harmonies on guitar, which inspired him to include the twin guitar sound the band is best known for,[5] leading him to hire Andy Powell and Ted Turner (not related to Martin) in 1969.
With this four-member lineup, the band changed their name to Wishbone Ash. Turner remained with them until 1980, during which time he was a songwriter and creative force within the band.[5] He played on their first ten albums, which includes the album Argus to which he also contributed vocals as well as the bulk of the album's lyrics.[6]
Wishbone Ash in America 1972 Turner is front and centre
In 1980, a decision by the rest of Wishbone Ash to introduce a frontman led to Turner parting company with Wishbone Ash.[7]:100 The frontman never appeared and Turner was replaced by John Wetton, who was formerly with King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Family and Roxy Music
In 1987 the original quartet reformed, and Turner produced and performed on the albums Nouveau Calls, Here to Hear and Strange Affair as well as undertaking worldwide touring with the band between 1988–1991. In late 1991 Wishbone Ash decided to continue without Turner.[8]:322–324 He did, however, perform with Wishbone Ash again on several occasions, including the band's 25th anniversary celebrations in 1995–96, and the Ashcon event in November 1997.[8]:348 He has also been involved in the mixing and remastering of several back catalogue, compilation and archival Wishbone Ash CD titles.[7]:177
In 1996, Turner released Walking the Reeperbahn, featuring material spanning the years 1981–1996.[7]:174
Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash
In 2005, he formed a new band, Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, to perform Wishbone Ash music. Their debut release, titled New Live Dates Vol.1 was released in 2006, followed by New Live Dates Vol. 2 in 2007. Both featured a guest appearance by original Wishbone Ash member Ted Turner.[9]
Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash later released Argus: Through The Looking Glass, a 2008 re-recording of Wishbone Ash's album, and Life Begins Tour, a 2CD/DVD recording of a performance at Leicester Y Theatre in March 2010.[10]
In 2013 Andy Powell took Turner to court when he made his own version of Wishbone Ash in the UK. Turner had been out of the band since the 1990s and resigned from ownership of the "Wishbone Ash"; the two Wishbone Ash names were causing confusion in the market and Powell wanted Turner to change the band name so it was clear Turner was a former member of Wishbone Ash and not fronting a spinoff of the group.[11] Turner claimed that he wanted the registration to be declared invalid.[12] Powell won the court case and Turner changed the band name to "Martin Turner Ex-Wishbone Ash", which it is still known as today.[11]
In 2015 Turner produced a new album, Written in the Stars, which reached number 16 in the UK Independent Breakers chart.[13] In 2018, Turner's live album, Beauty of Chaos – Live at the Citadel reached number 35 in the UK Rock & Metal Chart.[13]
In 2024 he is still touring and performing classic Wishbone Ash songs from the back catalogue under the name "Martin Turner Ex Wishbone Ash". His current band consists of guitarists Danny Willson (former member of Showaddywaddy) and Misha Nikolic.[14] Sonny Flint (son of Hughie Flint) played drums with the band from June 2022 until his departure in November 2024.
Other
Turner went on to a career in studio management and record production in the 1980s[2] and also formed his own band The Wolfgang (also known as Bamboo and Martin Turner's Stolen Face). The Wolfgang recorded new material, some of which was later reworked into new Wishbone Ash songs after he rejoined the band, while other songs appeared on Turner's solo album, Walking The Reeperbahn, in 1996.[8]:277
Turner penned his first autobiography, Martin Turner No Easy Road: My Life and Times with Wishbone Ash and beyond, which details Turner's career in Wishbone Ash.[15]
Instruments
Turner was known for playing a Jetglo Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar during Wishbone Ash's early albums by 1972. Martin had by the release of their third album Argus been playing a Gibson Thunderbird bass guitar. He has also regularly performed with a Hamer bass, and a white model of the Gibson Thunderbird which he bought from Peter Overend Watts of Mott the Hoople.[16]
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