Wishbone Ash

Formed in the late 1960s in Torquay, in the south of England, Wishbone Ash emerged within the British rock wave that blended blues, hard rock and early progressive elements. Centered on bassist and singer Martin Turner, drummer Steve Upton and guitarists Andy Powell and Ted Turner, the band developed an early signature built around twin guitars, harmonised melodic lines and extended instrumental passages. Wishbone Ash released a self‑titled debut in 1970, followed by Pilgrimage in 1971 and Argus in 1972, an album that introduced folk elements and a more narrative songwriting approach, before Wishbone Four (1973) and There’s the Rub (1974) helped establish the band on European and North American rock stages. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Wishbone Ash went through several lineup changes and explored styles ranging from more straightforward hard rock to more melodic compositions, while remaining focused on the interplay between the two guitars. From the 1990s onward, Andy Powell stabilised a new incarnation of Wishbone Ash, which continued to alternate touring with studio recordings, notably Bona Fide (2002) and Blue Horizon (2014), maintaining its blend of classic rock, progressive touches and sparsely arranged ballads.