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).
History edit
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]
Members edit
Current edit
| 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) |
Former edit
| 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) |
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Timeline edit
Lineups edit
| 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 |
|
|
References edit
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Wishbone Ash: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Ted Turner Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Once Upon a Wishbone" (Scan). Cash Box. Vol. 39, no. 29. New York City, New York: Cash Box Publishing. 3 December 1977. p. 14. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Cooper, Mike (14 June 1996). "Rock Almanac" (Scan). The Hard Report. No. 477. Medford, New Jersey: The Hard Report, Inc. p. 59. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "John Wetton Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Hill, Gary. "Trevor Bolder: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Hill, Gary. "Mervyn Spence: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Jamie Crompton Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Andy Pyle Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Bakker, Machgiel (12 March 1988). "No Speak – Music Too Good for Words" (Scan). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 11. London, England: European Music Report. p. 12. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "First Releases from New Rock Instrumental Label" (Scan). FMQB Album Report. Cherry Hill, New Jersey: Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report Inc. 28 August 1987. p. 35. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Hill, Gary. "Steve Upton: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Robbie France Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Ray Weston Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Timeline: 1990s". Martin Turner. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Music: Birmingham guitarist Ted Turner reunites with Wishbone Ash". Birmingham Mail. Trinity Mirror. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Roger Filgate Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Tony Kishman Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Mike Sturgis Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Real Guitars Have Wings". Wishbone Ash. 25 January 1999. Archived from the original on 28 January 1999. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Ben Granfelt Biography". Wishbone Ash. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Ben Granfelt to Leave Wishbone Ash". Wishbone Ash. 12 September 2004. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "The Ash is getting Muddy!". Wishbone Ash. 6 October 2004. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Roberts, Guy (7 April 2007). "Ray Weston". Wishbone Ash. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Wishbone Ash Hit Muddy Waters As Guitarist Departs". MetalTalk.net. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "The Band". Retrieved 2023-01-12.