Questions & Answers with Martin Turner

Q&A archive January - June 2006

Martin
No doubt you're looking forward to the footie, how do rate our chances?
Personally looking forward to an Engalnd Brazil final with Rooney coming on for his 1st game and scoring an 89th minute 30 yarder...perchance to dream, there's the rub etc..
Always thought "Hometown" would make a great England World Cup song...

Cheers and enjoy the fest!!

Martin

Martin,

I watched England only last night, fairly heavy going but got there in the end. I, like most folks, hope that when they start playing some of the major nations that they start to play like we know they can. At least they are getting results so far, which Sven does have a good record of. The World Cup is always a blast and the Germans seem to be doing a good job of hosting it. One of the TV channels did actually use some WA music on the late night round up show back in 1990 - Gazza and Linneker days - it was one of the tracks on Nouveau Calls!
Also I want to see Crouch do his robot dance in front of the world stage.

Looking forward
Martin (16 June 2008)

Hi Martin,

Long time WA fans have previously complained about you not being at the Ashcons. It looks now that you have been invited in the past. Without going into things that are not a fan's business, could you give us some idea of why you haven't shown. Seems odd you would not have replied to an offer. Were you invited only for Meet and Greet, or in some other capacity that you didn't want to do? Did you not want to create an awkward sitiuation for Mr. Skeat? Just plain didn't want to see Andy at the time?

If this is none of our business, I can accept that, but it would be nice to hear something, as oppossed to speculation that will otherwise likely smolder about the forums.

Thank you.

Jef

Hi Jef,

Ashcon - the last time I appeared was in 1997. I was asked by Andy to perform “Master of Disguise” and a couple of other tunes, I cant remember which but maybe four or five songs in total. "Master Of Disguise" was a tricky one as we had never performed it at that point. It took me a while to get it down. I arrived at Ashcon and was told that we would not now be playing "Master Of Disguise but just a bunch of the “usual old stuff”. I had not rehearsed all the old tunes. I ended up being on stage for over an hour and because of my lack of preparation I was not altogether happy with my performance. The audience were very warm, but I was not informed by anyone, before, during or after the event that it had been filmed and was later released on a fairly poor quality video, the proceeds of which, no-one has ever consulted me about. Not for the first time I found myself in a situation over which I had hardly any say - the plan was changed at the last minute and important considerations completely overlooked and not mentioned. It all leaves one feeling like you’ve been used or exploited for someone elses profit.

I do remember speaking to Guy Roberts on the phone a couple of times in early 2004 after we had liased to get the Lost Pearls album together. He suggested my appearing at Ashcon that year and I agreed in principle to perform with the Blue Bishops at the event. Obviously I figured there was a good chance I would be expected to perform a few WA tunes as well. My apologies to Guy Roberts if I failed to respond to two emails – I was in the USA for a good while during Spring 04 helping my wife clear up the estate of her parents both of whom had passed away during the preceeding few months (we’ve just about finished sorting it out now). Pretty soon after my return to the UK, I received papers from a firm of Lawyers representing Andy Powell asking me to 1) shut down my wishboneash.co.uk web site and undertake to never use the name “Wishbone Ash” again, 2) surrender the domain name to their client and 3) pay their “reasonable costs” in this matter. After having worked alongside Andy for a great many years on numerous WA projects, you can imagine that this came as quite a surprise. I refused to submit to any of the requests they made and his people responded by lodging a formal complaint against me with Nominet, which eventually failed. Having worked together up until this point, Andy with many live appearances and a few albums, myself with many album projects and a few live appearances, the working relationship, I am afraid, was changed forever by this confrontational and extremely unpleasant turn of events. Maybe you can understand why it would have been impossible for me to appear at Ashcon alongside Andy given this backdrop and indeed this development has been instrumental in my coming to the conclusion that any future work I do, in the context of Wishbone Ash, will be done independently of Mr Powell.

Your question is difficult to answer because I have no desire to inflame passions of the fans, but when people get hold of bits of information and fill in the blanks it can become misleading, so I have tried to deal honestly with the facts and not resort to emotive language because I too am sick of the “war of the websites” mainly driven by half a dozen individuals determined to create a competition where they can “trash the opposition” and come off looking clever. For those who want a contest, maybe we could get a venue together and put on the two Wishbone Ash bands with Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne to act as judges - that might be entertaining.

On a more serious note: Andy and I do share one thing – we are both working hard to bring good music to people, both live and on record, and we both need as much support as we can get for that to continue. Music is very rarely negative, it can inspire and help us all through life’s journey, so please, lets look at the positive and give everyone involved in the WA story the respect they deserve.

Thanks for listening,
Martin (16 June 2006)

Hi Martin

I expect you have been asked these questions many times, so hope you don't mind repeating yourself. What made you decide on the bass as your chosen instrument, did you try electric guitar first and move to the bass or was it a desire to play bass right from the start? Was there any one particular artist who influenced your decision? Have you ever played the double bass? I am very slowly learning bass, in fact I have a T'bird. Personally I never got the urge to learn the Electric or Acoustic guitar, possibly a mistake, I'm not sure. But something always fascinates me about bass and I always listen for the bass lines when I hear a new tune.

Looking forward to seeing you and your band again soon

regards
Gilly

Hi Gilly,

I played guitar for about a year before my brother Glenn and I started a band. It really was a situation where one of us needed to switch to bass (we had a guy willing to play drums) and then we had a three-piece band, so we tossed a coin and I came out as the bass player, so I went and bought me a Futurama (plastic job - cheap and nasty), and made fairly rapid progress. From day one I always played it wrong, i.e: with a pick like a guitar player although I also play with fingers and thumb sometimes. I have never got into playing double bass - it is another instrument completely methinks but I do admire those who can play both (Sting for instance who used to play D. Bass in a Jazz quartet when he was up in the North-East). I do remember seeing the Merseybeats in the early 60s using Firebird guitar and Thunderbird Bass, I always liked them but it was many years before I acquired one from Pete Watts in Mott the Hoople. It has become virtually part of my body and I think it might have to come in the box with me when I depart this world.

I have always used a technique of singing the bass line to myself and then translate it onto the instrument, I used the same technique with the harmony guitar parts that became part of the WA sound in the 70s - that was quite a process but did help to give the band its distinct identity. I am surprised you picked a T'Bird to learn bass on - it's such a huge akward shaped machine - there must be easier instruments to learn on. The Blue Bishops used to call it the Viking Longship and were always afraid I was going to poke someones eye out with it!

Lovely to speak to you darling
Martin (29 May 2006)

Hey Martin,

As an American fan I am more than ecstatic to simply see you touring and playing the music we all love. But I can't help but wonder and hope: Are there any plans, currently, for Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash to come and tour in America? We are going insane over here!

Much Love,
Megan

Megan,

Would love to come and do some gigs there. Just came back from there after nearly six weeks in USA. We have no plans at the moment but if there's anyone there who can help put something together, you can contact us here on this website. We seem to be going insane here as well - maybe its something astrological !

Kisses to you Megan
Martin (22 May 2006)

Martin,

having played a handful of covers throughout your career - "Lean On Me", "Come On", "Vas Dis", "Baby What You Want Me To Do" - would you ever consider releasing an entire album of cover versions of your favourite songs by other artists, performed in a Wishbone-style? If so, are there any songs that spring to mind that you would like to put the Wishbone stamp on.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
Jim

Hi James again,

I didn't realise we had done so many covers - well spotted!
Here's the thing: if you are going to do covers then you have to make the song belong to you too. A good example of this would be Nazareth with "Love hurts" - great version of a great song methinks. In days gone by I've had a go at Roy Orbison's "Pretty Women" also "Temptation" by the Everley Brothers, neither of which I was happy with because they were hard to do different if you know what I mean. Mick Ralphs of Mott the Hoople and Bad Company asked me if WA wanted to do "Ready for Love" way back before they recorded it. I loved the song and wanted to record it but nobody else in the band was up for it. I finally recorded it in the 80s - it sounded totally different to any other versions, faster and quite up. It should have gone on "Walking the Reeperbahn" but for some reason it got left off. I thought that the Chuck Berry song "Come On" that we recorded on the Just Testing sessions came out quite mad, we certainly made it belong to us in the sense that it was radically away from Chuck Berry's or the Stones recording of the song. Anyway enough of me reveiwing WA music - my job is to make it, you guys can review it.
There is an old 60s tune that I wanna have a crack at - if it works it'll be on the next album. Just thought of another: "Take me to the River" - been playing it with the Blue Bishops this last weekend. Their version of that song rocks.
OK gotta go cover up,

Later
Martin (22 May 2006)

Martin,

"Where Were You Tomorrow" on Pilgrimage was recorded live at De Montfort Hall in Leicester on June 14, 1971. I know I'm not the only fan who has (1) wondered if the rest of that gig was recorded and (2) fantasised that perhaps the tapes still exist and could someday be released. Can the man who played bass that night shed any light on this?

Thanks,
Mark

Hi Mark,

I was always rather fond of De Montfort Hall, quite a lot of small but significant WA things took place there including the recording you mention. I do still have a number of live multi-track recordings buried in the vaults but I'm not sure that they go back quite that far - problem is I would need a spare year to wade through 'em all. I know that I have some of the original Live Dates recordings which would probably contain whole gigs although the versions of songs that were used for the album were considered to be the best ones at the time. Considering the huge amount of work involved, would there be any point in doing a "slightly different" take of the songs used, just to get a "whole" gig ? I do tend towards wanting to get on with new recording projects myself, the technology is so interesting nowadays, so maybe I'll put the old tapes on ebay and someone else can mix em. Its all down to time really, isnt it ? Confused ? - me too, never mind, maybe sometime the world will pass me by again and I can catch up on all this stuff,

Wishbonio!
Martin (22 May 2006)

I was at the concert in the 1970's when WA played in Ocean City, Maryland. I was wondering what the date was, do you remember?

Thanks.
Jane

Jane,
I have a very vague memory of playing Ocean City, but I do struggle to remember when the date was or what planet I was on at the time. I hope it was a good memory for you though and hope there will be more of a similar nature.

Love to you
Martin (22 May 2006)

Hi Mart,

I haven't witnessed any performances by your band yet (Southend was on the cards, but you know what I drive..?) but reports from those that have, suggest that everything is gelling together quite nicely and the band is getting tighter gig by gig, which is how it should be of course! It may still be early days, but have you (as a band) been working on any new ideas?

Terry

Hi Terry,

We have not had a chance to do much with new material as yet. I do have a bunch of songs I wanna run through with the new lads rather than bung them tapes to learn. I want it be "organic", so we all get a chance to react in a room together - have had no time to get into it but will do so soon.

Best wishes, Martin (26 May 2006)

Martin,

I enjoyed the Measham and Birkenhead gigs; the music (of course) hearing the songs sung by yourself, the distinctive upfront bass and meeting some great characters along the way.

But what was it like for you? Could you give us some impressions; the highs and lows; how it felt overall and whether you are up for another outing?

Stod

Hi Stod,

The first couple of gigs were a bit nervy looking back on it and I do have things that I need to improve like being able to hear the vocal monitors which does vary from gig to gig. The main thing is that I do feel I have managed to reproduce the WA music accurately, and, with the spirit in the music that was originally there. Like many of us, I've been along to see various bands performing the music and I would always come away feeling something was lacking until one day the penny dropped. What was lacking was me, so since there was no chance of me performing alongside Andy again, I came to the conclusion that I needed to put together my own version of WA and since I can supply two elements - the bass and the vocal - and since we are talking about songs that I had written or been involved in writing and played on the original recordings anyway, the chances were always that I could make it sound half decent given a couple of good guitar players and a good drummer. Not rocket science is it? However, I had always imagined that putting together another WA band would be hard to accomplish, finding people who could just remember all the parts, and play with feel etc, especially as I'm a bit of a fussy sod with such things. As it turned out - first Keith and then Ray and Rob have been spot on in their understanding of what I am trying to do, and they have done a fantastic job because they are as fond of the music as are we all, and I've been very impressed with their musical talent but also by their attitude, which with any band is very important. Getting to know these guys last year had all the unmistakeable signs of what I call "my magic" - maybe that is just my fate, or finally connecting with what I am supposed to be doing but it has all come together in a mysteriously "easy" fashion, which I think is how it should be when the energy is flowing right.
It's not just for ten minutes, I intend to be here for the long haul. OK, I need to get back to my studio. This is starting to sound like an Oscar ceremony,

Best wishes,
Martin (17 May 2006)

Hello Martin Turner,

I don't have a question. Just want to thank you for the music Wishbone Ash made the last 35 years. I listen to WA since 1978. So did my father. He died March 7, 2006. He was 81 years old, but listened to WA untill almost the last day. At the ceremony I played the track "Leaf and Stream". Also some Yes songs and Frank Sinatra. Thanks for the music for my father.. "Leaf and Stream" was the last song played before he was cremated.

Ray van Lier, The Netherlands

Hi Ray,

I'm sorry to hear of your father's passing, very sweet that you played WA music at his ceremony. My Dad also loved WA, he was very proud that his lad had done well in music and I owe him a debt for having bombarded me with music as a child. I used to sit for hours listening to classical music with him, mainly in front of a live fire in the winter with just the two of us, the fire and the music. We didnt say a lot, but it gave me something I will always value. When my Dad died it took me about a year before I could even bear to listen to Classical music, but when I did it helped my to get my grief out.

Best of luck,
Martin (17 May 2006)

I really love the Thunderbird bass guitar Martin. The sound is so distinctive and a real part of the Wishbone Ash sound. I believe you actually used a Fender Precision for some of the recording sessions, but it was usually the T'bird in concert we came to know and love. It's great to see you still using that white model you got from Pete Overend Watts (alongside the black Hamer)! If it ain't bust ... don't fix it!

Howard Johnston

As I remember the Pete Watts T'Bird was sunburst but was so badly smashed up that I got it rebuilt by Sam Li in the 70s and we decided to spray it Ivory to cover up the joins so to speak, so, there are photos of two seemingly different instruments that are actually one. I did have another slightly darker sunburst in mint condition that Miles Copeland bought me for a birthday present, bless him. That got stolen by Tom Hagen who worked for us and had a bad 'coke' habbit. When we fired him he went straight back to the store in Connecticut and grabbed my T'Bird. For years I was so angry that if I had ever bumped into him I would have ripped his head off and stuffed it up his arse. As I've mellowed with age, I just hope he had a good reason for doing that to me, like it stopped someone he owed money to from killing him or something. I cant remember what happened to the girls guitar (Rickenbacker). I just lost faith in it when it broke on me. I do still have one somewhere although that's a bit of a mess. Most recording was done with old trusty blue 1963 Fender Precision Bass, but as I've said before, no matter what instrument I play it always seems to come out sounding the same - aggressive, melodic, or some combination of, but wait, I shouldn't be reviewing me, thats you guys job. I have a strange relationship with instruments, they are like wimin. But I always seem to go back to the T'Bird - it just fits my body and I feel like I have to get it hold by the scruff of the neck and make love to it.

Hmmm, nuff said,
Martin (17 May 2006)

Hello Martin
Slightly off topic here but over the years I've read that you take a keen interest in 'ye olde footer' but never found out who you support. At a guess I reckon Torquay United, if so have you put a rescue package together yet !! By the way I did have a kickabout with you once in a hotel car park (Auckland NZ 1975?)

Cheers

Martin Temperton

Hi,
You seem to have answered the question pretty well without me. I have always loved football, played it as a kid, I didnt have the pace to be a striker but played in midfield and kicked pretty good with both feet. I started out supporting Torquay United and I can even remember seeing them play Spurs in the FA cup with Jimmy Greaves up front. Predictably Spurs walked all over Torquay but they fought back to a 3 - 3 draw and it was a fantastic day at Plainmoor. They got stomped on in the replay at Spurs needless to say. In the 80s I found myself living in Southfields, SW18 and it was an easy trip up the district line to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea. I use to sit on the benches (the old west stand) with my two kids Tom and Grace who were fairly young at the time and had to respond to stuff like "Daddy, the referee is a what?" This was in the Hoddle days, then we cheered for Ruud Gullit to become manager and I was still going through Luca Vialli's time - I thought he was a real gentleman. I loved those days with my kids, the best of which was when little Dennis Wise lifted the FA cup at Wembley, I cried tears of joy at the match that day. I dont go often nowadays but I will always be fond of Chelsea, although I have admit to being a complete tart and will follow anyone who is doing well, Arsenal (lived up there for a while, used to go sometimes), W. Ham (my Dad's brother was a huge fan), Liverpool (they gave me free entry to watch them play Everton when we were on tour in 70s - at 4 hours notice), Newcastle (huge fan of Alan Shearer and Bobby Robson), Bolton (we need more men like big Sam) etc. On this subject: when I lived in the US during the 70s, we would see Brit stuff on TV and watch avidly. I remember seeing a match from Wembley and chastised myself for never having been during all those years in London. I swore I'd go when I got back and I did, for England v Poland (cried again) - I loved the old Stadium, those towers were like the breasts of the mother nation of football and whoever decreed their destruction belongs behind bars being forced to listen to football songs forever more IMHO. They should have re-fitted it, but they didnt and I hope I live long enough to go to a match at the new Wembley. Hmmm, you hit a passionate nerve there, AND its Arsenal v Barcelona tonight.

Later, Martin (17 May 2006)

Hello Martin,

Can I just say that this is really cool being able to ask you questions personally on your website. I just wondered if your Brother Glen would get the chance to support your band? I know he was playing in a band a few years ago down Devon/Cornwall way. That would be really neat to see. Do any of your kids have a musical talent and if so are they in or considering joining a band?

Thanks in anticipation,

Wacky

Hi Wacky,

Yes, it would appear that I do have a somewhat musical family. My brother Glenn is still playing guitar mainly in a Shadows tribute band called FBI, although he also does a bit of Jive Rock 'n' Roll with an outfit called 59 Ford. Kids - Annalise, my wife's daughter has a band called B Movie in the States - they aren't doing much at the moment as she has a one year old baby but she'll get back to it in time. Andrew is busy all over the place DJ-ing, his crew are known as Vicious Circle and its all about Drum n Bass, so takes him to various countries and he is slowly becoming known in that somewhat underground movement. Jessica has been doing great, writes songs and sings and recently I introduced her to Vim De Vos and his band, she has been rehearsing with them and appeared with them for one song in Kingston recently (I couldn't go cos it was the night of the Borderline gig). I understand everyone is pretty excited about it. Lastly, born on the same day as Jessie (years later) is Melody Rose (I call her Mimi the Minx), she is the only one who has received formal music training, as well as dance and drama. I had her doing backing vocals on a Lucie Diamond track or two but right now she is still only 14 years old, can't wait to start performing. All in good time I say, she needs to finish her education first, but then I'm sure she will be un-stoppable. There you go on the musical Turners.

Best wishes, Martin (27 Feb 2006)

Hi Martin,

I have been very curious as to what brand of cymbals Steve Upton used to use in the ultimate heyday (Argus-ish era) of Wishbone Ash. Or did he use a mixture of brands? I know you aren't a drummer so you may not be able to tell me, but if you could shed some light as to what cymbal brands you remember seeing him use I'd be very grateful. I'm just very curious! But I have a gut-feeling he used Paiste, as I do myself. Can you shed some light?

I read somewhere that Steve Harris' from Iron Maiden was very much influenced by you, and that Iron Maiden bass riffs are mostly Wishbone bass riffs. How do you feel about influencing one of the all time best bass players in the modern rock world? My fav band are the Ramones, do you like the Ramones? :)

Regards
Anth Martin,

Hi Anth,

Yes sir, Steve liked a cymbal or two. I think he did use Paiste, but also had Zildjian. Around the Argus period he bought some new hi-hats because his old ones were split and ripped up. I actually asked him to use the old ones on some songs ("Time Was") because we prefered the trashy quality of the busted ones which sounded like a bloody steam engine, whereas the new ones were too tidy sounding. He later had little plinky jobs as well as the usual China which I'm rather fond of. Used to polish the cymbals sometimes - they tell you not to do that, but I swear they sounded really bright afterwards.

Iron Maiden and the Ramones are both bands I haven't really discovered yet but I'll check em out when I get a minute.

Best wishes, Martin (8 Feb 2006)

Hey Martin,

I found a website the other day with some pictures of Wishbone Ash at Lancaster University back in 1976. As it happens, I also saw you guys on that tour when you played at the Liverpool Empire (always a receptive venue for Wishbone). However, when I saw the band, you were not wearing this particular item of apparel! I'm sure I would have remembered that one.



Was this in deference to the halls of academia in which you performed?

My question is of course - do you still have this hat? And will we be seeing it in February?

Howard Johnston

I was not aware that I ever wore that insane hat. The stuff we do to entertain, huh ! I probably wore it for 5 mins, and you got a pic, sweet! The hat belonged to Ian Copeland who was acting as our agent at the time I believe. Ian is younger brother of Miles, our first manager, and older bruv of Stewart, Police drummer. The hat is Spanish and so am I, back a few generations on one side of the family tree. Thats about all I can tell you.

Sweet dreams, Martin (8 Feb 2006)

Hi Martin,

Thanks for taking some time to answer our questions. Do you have a favorite artist(s) with whom Wishbone Ash toured during your tenure in the band. The band was forever on the road from 1970-80 both headlining and supporting (and doing festivals, too). And I'd also like to know why (i.e. comraderie, musically interesting, heroes of yours, etc).

Thank you!

Brian

Hi Brian, The list of people we played alongside in the 70s would be long indeed - here are a few. ZZ Top - first heard them in a field in Texas, could not believe there were just three of them making that huge sound. Billy Gibbons was great both guitar and vocals. Joe Walsh was supporting us on one tour when his "Rocky Mountain Way" hit the No 1 spot in the US charts, I remember hearing it on radio as we rolled up at the gig, walked in backstage and he was playing it live. If the tour had continued too much longer we would have been supporting him. Aerosmith - we supported each other depending on the city, great band, saw they got No 1 spot on MTV one night for rock n roll decadence - they did part of their apprenticeship with us! On this side of the pond - Mott the Hoople - we toured with when "Young Dudes" was out, I also attended the recording sessions at Trident and became quite friendly with Mick Ralphs who even came and played at rehearsals with us when Ted left the band, but Mick had already commited to join Bad Company. Vinegar Joe played shows with us in the early days, and I was always encouraging Robert Palmer, who seemed to lack confidence and was in Elkie Brookes' shadow somewhat. He got there eventually. Gordon Giltrap got hit by a car in Switzerland when he was out with us and I had to talk him up that night when he was stuck in a hotel room with a busted collar bone ready to call Samaritans. Squeeze came out with us in their early career days and I can remember doing a couple of sessions with Jools. To this day I am a huge fan of Chris Difford, I loved his solo album I Didn't Get Where I Am - very personal, wonderful songs, also very fond of East Side Story. Back in the seventies we did a radio show with John Peel with us supporting Rod Stewart and the Faces. They were a great band, Ron Wood a great guy and wonderful guitar style. Played a good few gigs with the Who, I always loved that band especially with Keith Moon and they were great fun to hang out with. I could go on but thats enough for now,
its time to get horizontal.

Night, Martin (8 Feb 2006)

Hi Martin,

Apologies if you've been asked this question many times before. In your days of touring with Wishbone, is there a particular live gig that sticks in the memory as being an out and out favourite? If so, where, and why?

All the best,

Paul Bedelle

Hi Paul,
My fave gig is usually the one that I'm playing although there are a few that spring to mind. I can remember supporting Mott the Hoople on their "Young Dudes" tour and one of their crew got me very stoned backstage, not something I do too often. I thought the gig sounded fantastic but I got some flack afterwards from the rest of the band for being all over the place. Strange - it sounded bloody good to me. There was a famous gig on the Startrucking tour in the mid 70s, we got stuck in Stuggart and eventually had to hire a lear jet to get to Marseille and travel on to Avignon where we were headlining the last day of a three-day festival in a Roman amphitheatre in Orange. Bad Company had played the day before. Ike and Tina Turner were on our show and got arrested at French customs (someone had told them there were drugs hidden in their gear). This caused some heavy backstage debate with the promoter, I heard there were knives drawn at one point. It was rumoured he pulled this stunt with customs to chisel some money off the fee - nasty. Meanwhile I had some kind of food poisoning, I was sick and fell asleep backstage in the lions den on some amp covers. Kevin our assistant gave me a prod about 2am and told me I was on stage soon. Ugh, there was nothing I felt less like doing, John Whatsit and his Mahavishnu Orchestra were just finishing up. We went on and could not believe the sound in this place, those Romans knew what they were doing - magic sound - and as we finished with "Phoenix" the sun popped over the top and shone on the stage. It was a fantastic gig. Quite a gig, and it was spoken about in France for a long time I believe.

Best wishes
Martin (21 Jan 2006)

Hi Martin

Is there any possiblity of a Live CD coming out of the gigs over the coming year or so? I, for one, would welcome this. This band has been a long time coming. It would be good to have a record of the music, the sets look great.

Cheers

Roy

Hi Roy,
I am mixing live recordings at the moment - they're from a rehearsal back in November at my manager's studio - they lack the atmosphere of a live audience so I doubt if they'll ever see the light of day. It's an exercise to allow everyone working on the project to see how it sounds. We do intend to record a show or two on the upcoming February tour. I would think we should get something that belongs on a little silver disc by then OK.

Cheers
Martin (21 Jan 2006)

Hi there Martin,

"Surface To Air" is one of my favorite recordings by Wishbone Ash, and I would just like to know the story behind its creation. And being a bass player influenced by your playing and sound, I would like to know what equipment you were using at the time. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Eamonn

Hi Eamonn,
"Surface To Air" was put together very fast - we were in Miami recording with the Albert Brothers I think and were a bit short on material. I stayed up very late one night back at the house (a villa belonging to one of the Bee Gees) where we stayed, and put the song together by about 4am. It was recorded the very next day if I remeber right and I was very specific about what I wanted to be played, partly because there was no time to experiment and also because I had a clear picture of how I wanted it and I believe that songs come out stronger when they are the product of one clear vision. I put the vocals on with Andy and Laurie and during that session I got quite a lot of flack about the lyric which I have to admit is pretty mad but is loosely based on the principal of getting where you want to go through the feedback of where NOT to go. I sang Eagle instead of Ego which is not a very picturesque word. The vocal session ended up getting crazy with Laurie gaffa taped to the microphone stand and a lot of laughter and madness - it would have been a hoot if it had been filmed. All the product of late nights and too much substance input methinks !

We had access to all kinds of gear at that time - I'm talking equipment now. I tended to use a 1960s precision bass and a Fender concert guitar amp or a little thing called a "Dwarf", bit like a bass version of a "Pig-nose", one input, one output, clean or dirty switch and volume control - keep it simple - I must have recorded about six albums with that little jobbie. Guitars - God knows - they had so many, all of 'em good, but you know, no matter what equipment you use it always ends up sounding like you !

Best wishes for the new year
Martin (4 Jan 2005)

Walk in just about any record shop (at least in the UK) and there in the racks will be a batch of WA CDs. Most of the internet retailers carry them. Which has been the band's biggest selling album over the years? Do you get detailed breakdowns of what is selling on a regular basis?

Stod

Hi Stod,
I'm not a man who gets into market research stats but suffice to say that Argus was the most critically acclaimed album, it hovered around the charts for a year and took many people in the business by surprise when it won album of the year in Melody Maker's annual awards. Judging by the long running sales to this day which obviously I see through virtue of royalty statements, then that particular album would come out on top methinks. Our record company were very fond of Live Dates 1, statistically this scored high sales-wise I believe, but that could have been because it was a double album and counted as two units. I like to think of ;em all as just "records" in the sense that, for better or worse, they are records of where the band is at in any given period of time.

All the best for 2006
Martin (3 Jan 2006)

I have two questions for you Martin sir, if that is OK?

(1) Perhaps you might consider doing a diary thread. I've seen this approach on other sites and it actually helps deal with a certain amount of questions about recent activities and future plans, etc.

(2) More seriously, I have always been intrigued at the idea that "F*U*B*B" started off life as a song with lyrics rather than an instrumental. I think it was called "The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse" (obviously a light and whimsical number) and I wonder - was it ever recorded with the vocals, and if so does it survive - even in demo form? If not - perhaps you might consider publishing the lyrics for us to gain an idea about the song construction.

Thanks

The Dreded Hun

Hi Hun,

Sounds like "Honey I'm home". Anyway your questions: Diary - I dont got time to get a wash and a shave nowadays, let alone start keeping a friggin diary - I tend to write as a cathartic exercise, to get emotionally based stuff off my chest so I can sleep at night, this usually ends up as song raw material and would probably read like the ramblings of a mad person in its raw form, so if its all the same to you I'll keep it tucked away in my little bag thank you.
"FUBB" - we got stuck on this one. Steve was always writing the lyric which, yes, was about the four horsemen, etc. I had several goes at singing it and just could not get my head around it. It was too heavy for words - I asked him if he could give me something more lightweight - kinda Andy Williams love song or something but he just kept comin back at me with "the end of the world is nigh". I could not sing his words and mean it, so "we have a problem Houston". Bill Symzcyck suggested we just edit out the vocal section (the rest of it sounded so good and it would have a great shame to loose the song completely). At this point (Criteria, Miami 1974), I had never seen anyone edit a 24-track 2ins tape so I was for it big time, just to be able to watch and learn. Bill slashed it up in 5 minutes and it sounded like it was meant to be, so we went with it.
In the light of world events since that time, maybe Steve was not so far off the mark but the lyric sent a shiver up my spine and I just didnt want to know. I think the end result fitted very well into the album and stands up as an instrumental piece. I'm happy to leave it like that but if you want more then try find Steve (he may still have the lyric).

Best wishes for 06
Martin (3 Jan 2006)

Hi Martin,

I seem to remember some time ago you said that you had been talking to David Bowie about singing techniques. Maybe i misunderstood what you said. Can you shed any light on this?

Billy Auld

Happy New Year to you Auld William,

I don't remember any conversation of the type you describe, my contact with Mr.B has been haphazard over the years. He came back from Switzerland and stayed at my house in Barnes in order to go to Marc Bolan's funeral about which he was extremely upset. I was actually off gigging with WA but his PA Corrine was great friends with my first wife Maurn and some time later they both came over to my house in Sheen for a party. David was intrigued to hear some recording I had been doing with Edwin Starr and I had to give him a copy to take away, that was a fun evening. We saw Coco and Bobo again in New York about 75, they were getting set up there at the time we arrived to live there, even helped try and find us a place to live.

Quite a few folks have compared my vocal style with Mr. B and I guess in places it sounds similar, a bit down to effects and trickery (I would say) which we are both inclined to use, but then again if you are an artsy, funky white bloke with a like background then the chances are there will be similarities. Havn't seen Coco for years!

Best wishes for 06, Martin (3 Jan 2006)

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