Life Begins Tour 2010
With millions of album sales and concert attendances
worldwide, Wishbone Ash’s heritage as one of the most
enduring and best loved British rock acts is assured.
2010 marks the 40th anniversary of the
formation of Wishbone Ash. Forty years will have passed
since West Country musicians Martin Turner and Steve
Upton arrived in London to embark on their musical
journey. Forty years since Martin Turner first envisaged
the innovative harmony-guitar hallmark that has since
influenced numerous successful rock acts. Forty years
since guitarists Ted Turner and Andy Powell answered
that now legendary Melody Maker advert and joined
Martin and Steve in a rehearsal room for the first time,
establishing a partnership and a unique musical identity
that would produce some of rock music's best loved
works. Forty years since Martin Turner chose the words
“Wishbone” and “Ash” from a list of possible names put
forward by the band members, creating a legendary brand
name that would become synonymous with high quality
guitar-driven melodic rock music.
Forty years on, the enduring music of the classic marks
of Wishbone Ash continues to delight audiences worldwide
through both live performances and a rich legacy of
recorded work that continues to be enjoyed by fans old
and new. Classic album releases such as Argus,
Pilgrimage, There’s the Rub, New England and
Live
Dates defined the Wishbone Ash sound and have
touched the hearts of several generations of music fans.
As lead vocalist and key creative force, Martin Turner
was central to the critical and commercial success of
Wishbone Ash’s most revered albums, with his passionate
vocal delivery, songwriting ability, keen melodic sense
and production values being a key ingredient in the
definitive Wishbone Ash sound.
Forty years later, founding original member Martin
Turner celebrates the 40th anniversary of
Wishbone Ash’s formation with the Life Begins
tour. With a line-up featuring guitarists Ray Hatfield
and Danny Willson, and drummer Dave Wagstaffe, Martin
Turner’s Wishbone Ash remains faithful to the original
Wishbone Ash blueprint and promises a show which focuses
on material from the classic eras of Wishbone Ash,
featuring stage favourites mixed with classic album
tracks.
The Life Begins tour follows hot on the heels of
the highly acclaimed Argus tour of 2008/09 and
appearances on the major Classic Legends of Rock
nationwide UK theatre tour. 2010 also sees the release
of the Argus Live DVD, filmed in 2009 and
containing a live performance of Wishbone Ash’s seminal
Argus album (voted 1972 ‘Album of the Year’ in
music weeklies Melody Maker and Sounds) as
well as other Wishbone Ash classics. Other activity
planned for 2010 includes various archival projects
including a new book celebrating the classic years of
Wishbone Ash and featuring anecdotal contributions from
Martin Turner, and a series of commemorative merchandise
items bearing the iconic designs that helped to brand
Wishbone Ash and its defining albums and to which
Martin
Turner possesses exclusive reproduction rights courtesy
of original designers Hipgnosis. Who can forget the
distinctive images that adorned the sleeves of classic
albums such as Argus, Live Dates, Pilgrimage, New
England and many others?
Martin Turner describes working with his current band as
“an extremely rewarding experience on both a musical and
personal level, with a positive vibe not unlike the
early days of Wishbone Ash. Collectively we have had a
great time revisiting many of the classics from the
vintage days of Wishbone Ash, recreating the essence of
many songs, some of which have hardly ever been
performed live, and reminding us all of the diversity
contained in the Wishbone Ash back catalogue. I am
confident that we have compiled a show that will please
all true Wishbone connoisseurs.”
Find out more ?
..... go to
http://www.wishboneash.co.uk/biog/default.aspx |
Martin
made his first visit to the Cluny in 2007,
this is the after gig comment .
“Martin was in fantastic form! This band
surpassed everyone's hopes and expectations. The twin
harmonies were spot on.”
“The best thing was hearing
those bass-lines again. Good to hear a few songs live
for the first time.”
“The show was a stormer and the
band did more than justice to the songs, many of which I
thought I would never again have the privilege to
witness live on stage. Martin’s in fine voice and the
interplay of his bass with the guitars was a joy.”
“MT and band exceeded all
expectations. The band were spot on with just the right
feel for Wishbone Ash music..”
“Better than anyone could ever
have expected - the best performances of WA classics
outside of the Mk.1/2 line-ups. It was quite simply the
music as it is supposed to be heard”.
“Martin and band blew us all
away. They really were first rate. The two guitarists
were incredibly polished and of first division quality.” |
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