"Hobbit" is such a great sound engineer - so important and valuable for Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash because he creates an authentic Wishbone Ash sound in every venue 👍🏼
Martin, I am sorry that you had to meet that redneck racist bastard during your stay in the US. I'm glad you mentioned the Warehouse in New Orleans because that's where I saw you, great show and great concert venue, everybody played there in the 70s. I am also a bass player and you were one of my inspirations when I picked the bass up in 1972. I still listen to you today and your style and tone still blow me away. That tone you get with the Thunderbird is insane. Thank you for the great music and inspiration.
Thanks John and Mark. I'm a long time Strife fan - having seen them many times in and around the London area back in the day. Also saw them at Watchfield where I also played, in the band Wooden Lion.
I was also at the Kingsway, Hadleigh gig - I went to the matinee performance, whereupon Moon made the drums untidy rather than wreck them in the 1st show! 😄
Very insightful piece. Loved ATF in the day. Memories of the Signs of Change period at the Marquee. Me and my chums from our church were standing at the bar before the gig and Peter came up and said hello and asked how we were. As well as the Hammond IIRC he had a rotary cab. I can remember the speaker spinning at various speeds that evening Would love to know why Andy switched to bass when Nick left. His guitar work of Signs of Change was great. I suppose John Russell’s style was more new wave
i have been worked there in back stage of Rainbow Theater around 7 months in 1973/74. I meet personally all best pop rock creator of world wide bands. ♥
Love WA and LOVE Marty's band and follow them. Misha and Danny are killer. Tim Brown was HOT drums. New guy not so sure....give him time.....TIm had the Steve Upton swing and speed....man he killed it.
Thanks for having Martin on hand. Martin's a great storyteller. Very talented. I saw the There's the rub tour in November 1974 at the Tower theater Upper Darby ( Philadelphia) with Caravan. Great then over the years, and still moving along !
Loved what he said about the importance of music. Very spiritual. I also noticed he darkness/something off about top of the pops. Again, I think he is attune with aura and vibe. I love his no bullshit brain. He also didn't sell his soul/heart of the band to the plastic pumps they now call the music industry. Not an easy road, doesn't always provide the best for exposure but he made damn well sure his vision of the band remained undiluted. Solid mind. Pure rock and roll.
I saw Strife at Liverpool Stadium in 1974. I've seen all the big rock bands live, but that Strife gig was something else. That strobe light and John on top of a stack lives in my memory. Great interview.
oh yu are so right Martin , the Blowing Free song needed to be on that album, cause it made the balance , it made the balance between the warrior and the lover , ..... which all men have within them !
My favorite band Wishbone Ash. Them and YES. Martin's band has the Classic Wishbone Ash sound and feel. Andy's band is a hard gigging Wishbone Ash cover band. They are a good band, but their sound lacks Martins voice and bass playing and presence. Love Martin's band.
I wouldn't agree that Andy's band is a 'cover band' considering that he alone kept the W.A legacy burning (with original music) throughout the many years when Martin was out of the scene. I agree that his band lacks the vocal character of classic Ash during Martin's tenure however, Martin's voice is shot these days anyway. I'd even argue that Andy's voice is holding up a lot better than Martin's.
Always good to hear from MT-wise man. I have a rare copy of his book, sent from his house. It gives me all the answers I need. Also bought the giant box set with all the CDs-complete.
What a fantastic interview. Thank you ever so much for posting. Being a Cavern Member (Caveman) I watched Strife dozens of times. When I moved to London I saw them at The Marquee a few times, once at the Roundhouse and also at Acton Poly. Having such a massive following I was mortified that the Acton Poly gig was only attended by about 20+ people and half of them were my local mates, who I'd got hooked on the lads. At the end of the set I was speaking to a roadie about the poor turnout and how the lads must be feeling. He said go back stage and have word with them. I could not believe it. I spent about 20 minutes chatting to the guys. Stunning. A fantastic group, incredibly talented musicians and really nice people!
I wish I had bought the bookmyself when it was available at around £25. Even more so after watching this interview (though some of the things I hoped to learn about arnt there - hence the wish for the book. Great watch and listen anyway
I was so fortunate to these guys with the original line up. Then with Laurie, then much later with Andy Powells line up. But nothing like Steve Upton Martin Ted and Andy. GREAT LIVE BAND, I always felt they deserved much more acclaim and money for their talent.
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin in the '60's and '70's, where every guitarist I knew (including me) would launch into the opening riff and chords of Blowin' Free at one time or another. I had the great pleasure of seeing Wishbone Ash live in the early '80's, and still consider it to be one of the best concert experiences of my life. Excellent interview, by the way!
First band l ever saw 1972 one of the best bass players in the business, and contributing more to wishbone ash than people give him credit for, certainly a true rock n roller
