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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWISHBONE ASHProgressive rock band formed in Torquay, England '69 by brothers Glen (lead guitar) and Martin Turner (bass and vocals, b 1 Oct. '47), drummer Steve Upton (b 24 May '46). After local success rhythm section relocated to London, auditioned lead guitarists, hired both Andy Powell (b 8 Feb. '50) and Ted Turner (b David Turner, 2 Aug. '50; no relation). Unique twin-lead guitar lineup gave blues-based progressive rock its trademark. Wishbone Ash '70 recorded after much touring; manager was future Police Svengali Miles Copeland; stage favourite "Phoenix' helped LP to top 40 UK. Pilgrimage '71 reached top 15 (and Ted sessioned on John Lennon's Imagine); Argus '72 saw them hit creative and commercial peak: helmeted soldier and UFO on sleeve set tone for quasi- mystical titles ("Warrior', "The King Will Come', etc) but tracks were ignited by dueling guitars Allman-style that enlivened breaks and fades. Wishbone Four '73 disappointed due to their determination not to duplicate Argus, but reached top 50 in USA; Ted got religion and left after 2-disc Live Dates '73, replaced by Laurie Wisefield (ex-Home). Now successful in USA, recorded There's The Rub '74 in Miami with Bill Szymczyk, their last top 20 LP in UK; recorded with Tom Dowd on Locked In '76 (thus this and next LP were on Atlantic in USA instead of MCA); decided to stay in USA when Copeland's Star Trucking world tour, designed to break them big, collapsed when Lou Reed pulled out; New England '76 was their best since Argus but did not recapture commercial ground. Front Page News '77, No Smoke Without Fire '78, Just Testing '79 all disappointed: they'd become clich‚d. Martin Turner departed for career in production; bassist John Wetton (ex-King Crimson, Family) played on Number The Brave '81, Trevor Bolder (ex- Bowie, Uriah Heep) on Twin Barrels Burning '82, both prod. by Nigel Gray (ex-Police) and sound was revamped at last. '70s folksinger Clare Hamill sang for a while but didn't record with them. Bolder rejoined Heep, replaced by Mervyn Spence (ex-Trapeze); Raw To The Bone '85 on Neat carried on the once-influential twin-guitar sound. Original lineup made instrumental Nouveau Calls '88, said to one of the best in IRS label's "No Speak' series of new age rock albums, but the IRS period was said to be disappointing; Live In Chicago on Cyclops was made '92, while the present met the past on new studio set Illuminations '96 on HTD with Powell and new guitarist Roger Filgate. 4-CD compilation due '97. |