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Martin Turner | |
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 Turner performing in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martin Robert Turner |
| Born | 1 October 1947 Torquay, England |
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| Years active | 1963–present |
| Labels | Dirty Dog Discs, Mystic |
| Website | www.martinturnermusic.com |
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 was with Wishbone Ash from their inception in 1969 until 1980, during which time he was a songwriter and creative force within the band. He played on their album Argus to which he also contributed vocals as well as the bulk of the album's lyrics.
In 1980, a decision by the rest of Wishbone Ash to introduce a frontman led to Turner parting company with Wishbone Ash. The frontman never appeared and Turner was replaced by John Wetton, who was formerly with King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Family and Roxy Music. Turner went on to a career in studio management and record production and also formed his own band The Wolfgang (also known as Bamboo and Martin Turner's Stolen Face). The Wolfgang recorded new material, although this was not released until 1996, when it appeared on Turner's solo album, Walking The Reeperbahn.
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. He has, however, appeared with Wishbone Ash on several occasions since, most notably the band's 25th anniversary celebrations in 1995/96, as well as being involved in the mixing and remastering of several back catalogue, compilation and archival Wishbone Ash CD titles.
In 1996, Turner released Walking the Reeperbahn, featuring material spanning the years 1981–1996.
In 2005, he formed a new band, Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash, to perform music from the definitive era of Wishbone Ash. 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.
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.
In July 2012 Martin Turner published his autobiography No Easy Road – My Life and Times With Wishbone Ash and Beyond, through his website.
Following court action pursued by Andy Powell to prevent Martin Turner using the name "Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash", in 2014 Martin Turner's touring activities were re-branded as "Martin Turner plays the music of Wishbone Ash". This was later changed to "Martin Turner Ex Wishbone Ash".
In 2015 Turner produced a new album, Written in the Stars. The sound is reminiscent of the classic Wishbone Ash sound from the 1970s.
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. Sonny Flint (son of Hughie Flint) played drums with the band from June 2022 until his amicable departure in November 2024.
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 the Gibson Thunderbird bass guitar. He now regularly performs with a white model of the Gibson Thunderbird which he bought from Peter Overend Watts of Mott the Hoople.
Studio albums:
Live-recordings:
Recorded live at Liscombe Park Buckinghamshire, 31 August 2012
DVDs
Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard rock, progressive rock and psychedelic rock. They are regarded as an influential proto-punk band. Their lyrics often cover themes of urban life and science fiction.
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).
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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".
Argus is the third album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 28 April 1972. It is their most commercially and critically successful album, peaking at No. 3 in the UK Albums Chart.
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".
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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.
Live Dates 2 is the third live album by rock band Wishbone Ash. The album was recorded partly on dates between 1976 and 1980, including the tour in support of the album Just Testing. It peaked at No. 40 in the UK Albums Chart.
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Mervyn "Spam" Spence is a Northern Irish musician and producer, best known for his work with Wishbone Ash and Trapeze.
David Alan "Ted" Turner is an English guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with the rock band Wishbone Ash, in which he was famed for his twin lead guitar instrumental arrangements with Andy Powell. Turner also contributed lap steel guitar to a variety of Wishbone Ash recordings.
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