Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash was formed by West Country musicians Martin Turner and Steve Upton, who arrived in London in 1969 to embark on their musical journey. Intent on creating a musical sound that was rich in texture and melody, Martin Turner envisaged the band’s innovative harmony-guitar hallmark and guitarists Ted Turner and Andy Powell were recruited via a now legendary Melody Maker advert. The partnership of the original line-up of Wishbone Ash forged a unique musical identity that would produce some of rock music’s best loved works and influence numerous successful bands and result in millions of album sales and concert attendances. Wishbone Ash would become one of the most enduring and best loved British rock acts and its name synonymous with high quality guitar-driven melodic rock music.
Over four decades later, 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, founding original member 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.
Martin Turner continues to perform the band’s best loved works with his
current line-up, which features guitarists Danny Willson and Misha Nikolic, and
drummer Tim Brown and remains faithful to the original Wishbone Ash
blueprint.
In recent years Martin Turner has delighted audiences worldwide with its
performances of material from the classic periods of Wishbone Ash’s history,
with concert appearances in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway,
Holland, Spain, Greece, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, the USA and Canada.
Performances have been captured on a series of acclaimed live CD and DVD
releases. Martin Turner looks back fondly on his touring activities since his
return to the live stage: “I have had a wonderful time over the past few years rediscovering
the wider Wishbone Ash catalogue and taking this to the people.
When I go to see an artist live, I want to hear the songs as I remember them
from the records and I believe that is true of the Wishbone Ash audience too.”
In 2012 Martin Turner also published his personal memoirs in the critically
acclaimed autobiographical book No Easy Road – My Life and Times with
Wishbone Ash, documenting the defining years of one of the UK’s best loved
rock bands as well as his personal life journey within music.
4th September 2015 saw the release of Martin Turner’s long awaited new studio
album “Written in the Stars”. Written and recorded with his touring musicians
and other collaborators, “Written in the Stars“ is described by Martin Turner as
“a guitar-based set of songs which represents an extension of the Wishbone Ash
legacy, with an emphasis on the melodic qualities that the classic line-ups of the
band were known for.” Music industry insiders have already heralded the album
as “the finest collection of new ‘Wishbone’ songs in over three decades” and
“the album Wishbone Ash never made”.
Written in the Stars – Live Dates 2015/16 sees Martin Turner moving positively
forwards with a show that introduces brand new music from Written in the Stars
that sits comfortably alongside stage favourites and classic album cuts from the
extensive Wishbone Ash repertoire.
