Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash is a British rock band which achieved its greatest success in … Read Full Bio ↴Wishbone Ash is a British rock band which achieved its greatest success in the early and mid-1970s. Their most popular albums included Wishbone Ash (1970), Argus (1972), There's the Rub (1974), and New England (1976). They were one of the first bands to use twin lead guitars.
Wishbone Ash can trace its origins back to Torquay, Devon, England, a seaside resort in the southwest of the country. It was there that Martin Turner and Steve Upton first performed together; Turner on bass, Upton on drums, before moving to London in 1969 to seek fame and fortune. In the capital the decision was made to place an advertisement for a keyboard player and a lead guitarist. The resulting audition threw up two guitar leads, but nobody could decide who to choose and the trademark twin-lead sound of Wishbone Ash was born.
Ted (David) Turner and Andy Powell soon went through the poverty and growing pains of a new band, but were fortunate that Miles Copeland was championing their cause and a fairly rapid progression was achieved. The first Album, Wishbone Ash, was released in December 1970 and their second, Pilgrimage, surfaced just six months later to reach #6 in the NME charts. Great things were just 11 months away with the release of Argus (1972) -- possibly the band's best album; certainly their most commercially successful -- which reached #2 in the UK charts and went gold. Argus is considered to be one of the great rock classics of all time. The next album, Wishbone Four, only 12 months later, went silver.
After these early highs, Ted Turner decided that he had had enough, and left the band to be replaced by Laurie Wisefield. Although Laurie’s style was not to everyone’s taste, he was generally well liked by the fans and brought a slightly harder edge to the folk-tinged progressive rock that was the Wishbone Ash formula. Wisefield was a dynamic player and became an excellent partner to Andy -- they were to play together for a very successful 11 years and the MKII version of the band is very well thought of for most of its output. About this time the band became more influenced by America and would eventually move there.
The next album, There's The Rub (1974), was recorded in Florida and produced by Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk. Once again it was to do well, achieving silver disc status. There's the Rub included the instrumental piece F.U.B.B. Steve Upton was arrested in New Zealand for announcing at a concert it's full title. In New Zealand, swearing in public is a criminal offense, and when Upton announced the title at an outdoor concert, a woman sunbathing in her garden nearby complained to the mayor. Upton spent the night in jail, and the album reached #3 in New Zealand due to the publicity.
It was inevitable that a turkey was due and to fans Locked In (1976) fit this bill. This record was not released -- it escaped! Fortunately things were much better with the quality of the following albums and although the high chart positions were gone, the fans were enjoying some competent, well-crafted output.
After 11 years in the band, Martin Turner decided to leave. This move began a period of frequent changes of bass player with the likes of John Wetton and Trevor Bolder being two of the better known; however, Wishbone Ash always has attracted musicians of the highest order. A much more controversial move was the introduction of Clair Hamill to fill in some of the vocal talent Martin had taken away with him. Clair was not popular with the fans which was perhaps a little unfair. She had contributed backing vocals on Just Testing (Turner's last album (1980), which he had also produced) and had co-written the excellent Living Proof, which is still a crowd favourite today. Her stay was short-lived with Andy Powell taking on more vocal duties. Wisefield left in late 1985 and the band continued to tour with various replacements, but were very much in limbo until 1987 when a miracle occurred. Miles Copland persuaded the original lineup to reform for a project for a music charity that he was helping, and a Hammersmith Odeon concert which the BBC recorded resulted. The project produced an instrumental album Nouveau Calls (1987), which was very well received. Even better received was the fact that three years of the original lineup were to follow.
Just when things were going so well, Steve Upton decided to quit the business entirely in 1990, to be replaced by Ray Weston. Martin Turner carried on for another year before leaving to pursue a solo career, and Ted left two years later. The next five years saw lots of personnel changes, but eventually resulted in a good period of stability with Ray Weston returning and Bob Skeet joining on bass in 1998.
The new millennium has also seen stability in respect of Andy's guitar partner, with the last 6 years being filled by Ben Granfelt and subsequently Muddy Manninen, both of whom come from Finland. 2005 saw Wishbone Ash celebrate their 35th year. 2006 heralded the new album Clan Destiny (the first featuring Muddy as guitarist). 2007 saw the exit of long-term drummer Ray Weston, due to the increasingly hectic pace of band life. Joe Crabtree (formerly of The David Cross band) stepped up to fill his place. With regard to new releases, 2007 saw First Light, which features original recordings of the songs featured on their debut album, as well as some outtakes. Also released that year was the new album The Power of Eternity (partly featuring Joe Crabtree on drums), which coincided with the Autumn tour.
Wishbone Ash are still performing 150 gigs a year in the U.S. and Europe. They get very supportive crowds with good numbers turning out all over Europe -- the U.S. tends to attract smaller audiences, but very committed fans. If you want to hear classic Wishbone Ash, get ahold of Argus. Visit their web site www.wishboneash.com, where tour dates and albums, etc. can be obtained.
Wishbone Ash can trace its origins back to Torquay, Devon, England, a seaside resort in the southwest of the country. It was there that Martin Turner and Steve Upton first performed together; Turner on bass, Upton on drums, before moving to London in 1969 to seek fame and fortune. In the capital the decision was made to place an advertisement for a keyboard player and a lead guitarist. The resulting audition threw up two guitar leads, but nobody could decide who to choose and the trademark twin-lead sound of Wishbone Ash was born.
Ted (David) Turner and Andy Powell soon went through the poverty and growing pains of a new band, but were fortunate that Miles Copeland was championing their cause and a fairly rapid progression was achieved. The first Album, Wishbone Ash, was released in December 1970 and their second, Pilgrimage, surfaced just six months later to reach #6 in the NME charts. Great things were just 11 months away with the release of Argus (1972) -- possibly the band's best album; certainly their most commercially successful -- which reached #2 in the UK charts and went gold. Argus is considered to be one of the great rock classics of all time. The next album, Wishbone Four, only 12 months later, went silver.
After these early highs, Ted Turner decided that he had had enough, and left the band to be replaced by Laurie Wisefield. Although Laurie’s style was not to everyone’s taste, he was generally well liked by the fans and brought a slightly harder edge to the folk-tinged progressive rock that was the Wishbone Ash formula. Wisefield was a dynamic player and became an excellent partner to Andy -- they were to play together for a very successful 11 years and the MKII version of the band is very well thought of for most of its output. About this time the band became more influenced by America and would eventually move there.
The next album, There's The Rub (1974), was recorded in Florida and produced by Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk. Once again it was to do well, achieving silver disc status. There's the Rub included the instrumental piece F.U.B.B. Steve Upton was arrested in New Zealand for announcing at a concert it's full title. In New Zealand, swearing in public is a criminal offense, and when Upton announced the title at an outdoor concert, a woman sunbathing in her garden nearby complained to the mayor. Upton spent the night in jail, and the album reached #3 in New Zealand due to the publicity.
It was inevitable that a turkey was due and to fans Locked In (1976) fit this bill. This record was not released -- it escaped! Fortunately things were much better with the quality of the following albums and although the high chart positions were gone, the fans were enjoying some competent, well-crafted output.
After 11 years in the band, Martin Turner decided to leave. This move began a period of frequent changes of bass player with the likes of John Wetton and Trevor Bolder being two of the better known; however, Wishbone Ash always has attracted musicians of the highest order. A much more controversial move was the introduction of Clair Hamill to fill in some of the vocal talent Martin had taken away with him. Clair was not popular with the fans which was perhaps a little unfair. She had contributed backing vocals on Just Testing (Turner's last album (1980), which he had also produced) and had co-written the excellent Living Proof, which is still a crowd favourite today. Her stay was short-lived with Andy Powell taking on more vocal duties. Wisefield left in late 1985 and the band continued to tour with various replacements, but were very much in limbo until 1987 when a miracle occurred. Miles Copland persuaded the original lineup to reform for a project for a music charity that he was helping, and a Hammersmith Odeon concert which the BBC recorded resulted. The project produced an instrumental album Nouveau Calls (1987), which was very well received. Even better received was the fact that three years of the original lineup were to follow.
Just when things were going so well, Steve Upton decided to quit the business entirely in 1990, to be replaced by Ray Weston. Martin Turner carried on for another year before leaving to pursue a solo career, and Ted left two years later. The next five years saw lots of personnel changes, but eventually resulted in a good period of stability with Ray Weston returning and Bob Skeet joining on bass in 1998.
The new millennium has also seen stability in respect of Andy's guitar partner, with the last 6 years being filled by Ben Granfelt and subsequently Muddy Manninen, both of whom come from Finland. 2005 saw Wishbone Ash celebrate their 35th year. 2006 heralded the new album Clan Destiny (the first featuring Muddy as guitarist). 2007 saw the exit of long-term drummer Ray Weston, due to the increasingly hectic pace of band life. Joe Crabtree (formerly of The David Cross band) stepped up to fill his place. With regard to new releases, 2007 saw First Light, which features original recordings of the songs featured on their debut album, as well as some outtakes. Also released that year was the new album The Power of Eternity (partly featuring Joe Crabtree on drums), which coincided with the Autumn tour.
Wishbone Ash are still performing 150 gigs a year in the U.S. and Europe. They get very supportive crowds with good numbers turning out all over Europe -- the U.S. tends to attract smaller audiences, but very committed fans. If you want to hear classic Wishbone Ash, get ahold of Argus. Visit their web site www.wishboneash.com, where tour dates and albums, etc. can be obtained.
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Wishbone Ash Lyrics
(In All of My Dreams) You Rescue Me Among the stars on this side of heaven I lay broken…
01. The King Will Come In the fire, the king will come. Thunder rolls, piper and…
08 Say goodbye I can tell that you don't feel good I guess you're…
A Thousand Years Times are changing, we'll soon be facing A story yet unknown…
Almighty Blues Don't tell me baby Cause I already know Things could be bett…
Alone Sit by the river's edge, and watch the water flow, Sunlight…
Ancient Remedy If I seem a bit crazy It's because these thoughts they…
Angels Have Mercy Look in the mirror, and what do you see? Reflections of…
Anger In Harmony No smoke without fire When will you ever learn That's what y…
Another Time You never told me you'd be waiting, You never told me…
Baby come in from the rain I had troubles aplenty, My pockets were empty From livin' ou…
Baby The Angels Are Here No smoke without fire If the sky was light And the moon…
Baby what do you want me to do You got me running You got me hiding You got me run,…
Back in the Day Back where I started That's where I'm at Been quite a journe…
Bad Weather Blues Well, I been away, I said I been away for so…
Ballad Of The Beacon We'll be leaving this town in the mornin' Tomorrow we'll be…
Being One Ocean rising, cities fall Storm howling, eagles call Ice mel…
Blind Eye You turned a blind eye to everything I ever said, You…
Blowin I thought I had a girl And all because I seen…
Blowin Free I thought I had a girl And all because I seen…
Blowing Free I thought I had a girl And all because I seen…
Can't Fight Love I don't care about no curfew tonight - I just come…
Capture the Moment Savour the moment as you take your first breath of…
Cell of Fame Isadora Dancing Can you see her? Che guavara Marching beside…
Changing Tracks Flying over the Mississippi Delta, John Lee Hooker on my…
Coat of Arms Our world is shrinking It keeps you thinking Can we take any…
Come In From The Rain I had troubles aplenty, My pockets were empty From livin' ou…
Come On In the fire, the king will come Thunder rolls, piper and…
Come Rain Come Shine I had troubles aplenty, My pockets were empty From livin' ou…
Comfort Zone Go ahead and cry and weep and moan - You know…
Cosmic Jazz I know your name, you told me, It's a cloak and…
Dancing With the Shadows Fear shame and sorrow They all creep in from the dark And…
Deep Blues You come to me with that smile on your face That…
Déjà-Vu Consider me now I've waited so long This life is so…
Diamond Jack As the dealer dealt the cards to everyone, I could see…
Difference In Time You call this together; can’t you feel the time collide?…
Disappearing I'm disappearing I'm going somewhere where I can't be fou…
Doctor Doctor can you help me please I'm laying on the floor I…
Don't Come Back You walk out your front door And say that you found…
Don't Cry I hear echoes inside my head Calling me back to you. I'm…
Don't You Mess Don't you mess with me girl, oh no Don't you mess…
Dream Train Weaving a web around my heart, Slowly taking my world apart.…
Dreams Spend my days searching for an answer To the dreams that…
Drive Caught up in the rush hour throng I've been working hard…
Driving a Wedge Driving a wedge Dredging up the past Look what you did It…
Empty Man You think that the way to move up in this…
Engine Overheat Picked up my baby before the sun set - She's always…
Enigma (Andy Powell/Andy Powell) Is this your final answer? The wa…
Error Of My Way I didn't know what day it was that day, Felt just…
Everybody Needs a Friend Trust in me, I'll try to do Everything to help you…
Eyes Wide Open Eyes wide open, it’s taking hold of my life. Words unspoke…
F. U. B. B. Intrumental…
Faith Hope & Love Reflecting back on the life that I once knew I'm pretty…
Fast Johnny Fast Johnny :: Wishbone Ash I fell in love with a…
Firesign If I don't get you in this life I'll get you…
Floreana There was a man He'd fought a war He couldn't take the…
Front Page News You made me feel good After all this time, Welcomed me home …
Genevieve Genevieve, Genevieve, I went down to some backroom joint Whe…
Get Ready I never met a girl who makes me feel the…
Goodbye Baby Hello Friend I'll never write another song For someone who just comes alo…
Growing Up I remember the trees by the road And the path going…
Half Past Lovin' I'm half past lovin' And I got no more time for…
Handy Was sat down by my fire, hear a voice of…
Happiness How many people can truly say They can find hope every…
Hard Times [Chorus] The struggle lives hard times, we do or die My whol…
Haunting Me Sit down, girl, beside me, Come tell me 'bout your lights. G…
Healing Ground They're telling me if I believe They'll pull the evil out…
Heart Beat Is it a crime to love a woman, To give her…
Helpless Ooh, there's something happening, ooh Ooh, there's something…
Hold On Checked in tonight, when I noticed the red light. Picked up…
Hole in My Heart I made a lot of trouble, crazy runnin' every day…
Hometown I have traveled the line, Held many hands on short holidays,…
Hope Springs Eternal I've been waiting for so long Tried so hard to keep…
In Crisis Driving into Delaware Dealing with the daily grind I got p…
In the Skin We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics…
Insomnia You done someone wrong Your karma has come To settle the sco…
It Started In Heaven You left by the highway You took everything you owned, Tryin…
It's Only Love Way down low I can feel trouble Well, all is blowing…
Jail Bait I'm wondering why your face no longer shines, I'm wondering …
Keeper of the Light Mother 's first look to the eyes of a child Casts…
Kicks on the Street The wind was howling, Dogs were sleeping, I had to bite my…
Lady Jay Hear me when I cry, Listen to my song The jay, my…
Lady Whiskey Lady Whiskey, such a sad sight, stumblin' as she walks. She…
Leaf And Stream Find myself beside a stream of empty thought, Like a leaf…
Life Line Like a fighter that lost his will to kill You knew…
Lifeline Like a fighter that lost his will to kill You knew…
Like A Child The sky is changing The clouds are gathering, we can see It'…
Living Proof Why does love have to? Where does it go to Outta my…
Loaded Hey, mama, hey, I got a fix for your despair I said,…
Lonely Island Lonely on an island shore There's no one around. The day is…
Long Live the Night I see she's crying And I hear her calling But I disregard…
Loose Change Money can’t buy it the love I have to give. You can’t…
Lorelei You shone out of the darkness The light in your eyes. I…
Lost Cause In Paradise They were fair and they were blond, Laughing loud and singin…
Love Is Blue I hear echoes inside my head Calling me back to you. I'm…
Lullaby We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics…
Mary Jane You´re cruel lover, all take and no give A bad mother,…
Master of Disguise I?m a master of disguise, Mystery in your eyes, Travelling t…
Me and My Guitar When I was just a boy at school The kids all…
Mental Radio Four ways to the language that seems to confuse me, I…
Midnight Dancer Will you be my midnight dancer Any time of the day? You…
Moonshine Feeling light-headed as I caught her eye, She was inviting a…
Mother Of Pearl Underworld, the queen of pearls Catches the light that's in …
Motherless Child Sometimes I feel like a motherless child. Sometimes I feel …
Mountainside It was a night, yeah, the kind of night Left me…
Mystery Man Keep your distance, you'll never know how it feels. I've bee…
New Rising Star The ugly mess you thought you were is fading fast Now…
No Easy Road Rock 'n roll keeps dragging me Where I don't know and…
No Joke Blue skies in my rear-view mirror, Well, I've got you on…
No More Lonely Nights She was a lonely girl without a dream, Then one day…
No Water In The Well I feel so blue, after all that we've been through…
Number the Brave In another time and space You meet your maker face to…
On Your Own The eagle soars and echoes my name, Cliff face, granite grai…
Open Road I was somewhere on the open road, Between the east and…
Outward Bound [instrumental]…
Pay The Price Hey you know Baby don't care who's mad about her, Always got…
Peace Last night i had a dream A vision in the dark, I…
People in Motion I'm at a station Trying to kill time. I watch the people …
Perfect Timing Perfect timing they call it Perfect timing Perfect timing …
Persephone There's a light that shines on Persephone, Always a fire in…
Phoenix Bird rise high from the cinders Leave it all behind All the…
Phoenix (Live from Memphis 21 Bird rise high from the cinders Leave it all far behind Al…
Phoenix ) Bird, rise high from the cinders, leave it all behind, All…
Queen Of Torture Has anybody seen my baby kickin' around the town? She's the…
Rainstorm I'm amazed at the way you do, You do the things…
Renegade I can't tell you, mother, why I feel this way. People…
Rest In Peace Last night i had a dream A vision in the dark, I…
Right Or Wrong Like to have you 'round With all the lies that you…
Roads Of Day To Day Back where I started That's where I'm at Been quite a journe…
Rock 'N Roll Widow It happened in an open field Down in a southern state And…
Rock Me Baby You got me running You got me hiding You got me run,…
Rock N Roll Widow It happened in an open field Down in a southern state And…
Rocket in My Pocket My baby called me up, she said Why don't you come…
Roller Coaster Doctor, tell me, doctor, You got to help me if you…
Rollin Seen so many places and faces in my life, I been…
Runaway I thought I had been every place a man could…
Say Goodbye I can tell that you don't feel good I guess you're…
Say You Will Seeing the love before my eyes Feelings in the air, I been…
She Was My Best Friend The daylight train comes so slowly And now it's so easy…
Ships In The Sky Morning morning give me something Open my eyes to a new…
Shoulda Woulda Coulda Well, there comes a time When a life is lived To face…
Silver Shoes Silver lady, lost in a haze, Rregretting what you are The me…
Sing Out The Song Remember the bar garden Glass filled with beer Nothing to lo…
Slime Time There's a long night ahead. Noise enough to wake the dead. …
So Many Things To Say You want me to go and steal A million dollars You make…
Some Conversation I'm taking off this hat And walking to the sun. I'm changing…
Sometime World I met a man who felt the same way, That the…
Sorrel In a garden of the southland He found her wandering astray S…
Stand And Deliver The wind and the moon are behind me I feel like…
Standing in the rain Flying through the sky His true love waits. Lonely time's go…
Steam Town Going down to Steam Town gonna lay my money down. Going do…
Strange Affair I had enough of this strange affair Tried so hard but…
Strange How Things Come Back Around Strange how things come back around Same chemistry and there…
Streets of Shame I was a long way from home, on the streets…
Surface To Air Surface, surface, surface, It's beginning to show. To air, t…
Take It Back Early on you were a dreamer First class non-believer In all …
Tales Of The Wise Any fool must surely know You plant a seed and it…
That's That What can I say? My position is clear When it comes to…
The Day I Found Your Love When I was a stranger to you in the night And…
The King Will Come In the fire, the king will come Thunder rolls, piper and…
The King Will Come ) In the fire, the king will come. Thunder rolls, piper and…
The Living Proof Why does love have to? Where does it go to Outta my…
The Power Lost in an electric world I glance at the clock face This…
The Raven As the night falls all around me, black as the raven, I…
The Ring The grey mist ushers in the day. A beggar walks along…
The Warrior I'm leaving to search for something new Leaving everything I…
The Way Of The World The Way of the World Pt. 1 :: Wishbone Ash Keep…
Throw Down the Sword Throw down the sword, The fight is done and over, Neither lo…
Throw Down The Sword ) [Chorus:] Throw down the sword The fight is done and over …
Time Was I've got to rearrange my life, I've got to rearrange my…
Too Cool for AC Too hot to handle Too cool for AC He's walking into A catast…
Top of the World Living in the shadow of darkness And wondering why. Knowing …
Trust In You Have you ever made a sign Could you be a friend…
Underground Underground, They want us to go underground. Underground, Th…
Valediction Breathing is a sin, they say, Loneliness is the price to…
Vas Dis It's a friggin' instrumental!…
Wait Out The Storm There's a light in the distance burning faithfully. Can't yo…
Walk on Water Now Susie's old man says, "I will get a job if…
Warrior I'm leaving to search for something new Leaving everything I…
Way Down South The funds are low and the debts are high I need…
Way of the World Keep the wheels turning On this lonely road A slave of mot…
We Stand As One We stand as one Till the bitter end We shall not run You…
When the Love is Shared I'd like to unburden this heavy load And lighten my shoulder…
When You Know Love She was born in a spirit of brightness Knew just how…
Where Is the Love I first saw you on the center spread of my…
Where Were You Tomorrow Well, I walked ten thousand miles 'till I came to…
Why Don't We Why don't we get some answers, Stop messin' around with our…
Wind Up I got home about three a.m., Working my fingers to the…
Wings of Desire I've seen you in black and white Like a silent movie, But…
Witness to Wonder When lovers walk the streets at night They are hand-in-hand,…
You You Were looking for somebody new. You Were looking for some…
You Rescue Me Among the stars on this side of heaven I lay broken…
You See Red When a days work is done And you're down on the…
Your Dog Now that I can be, once and finally, all that you want…
Your Indulgence Know that I'm watching I'll always be near Wherever I trav…