Wishbone Ash To Release New Single

 

This single by the Andy Powell Band (which projects itself as Wishbone Ash without the agreement of the other Wishbone Ash stakeholders Turner/Turner/Upton) is a decent enough little rocker but let's face it you only have the vague suspicion that it might have anything to do with Wishbone Ash because it has a harmony guitar intro grafted on to it. There is nothing else particularly to commend this. It is a million miles from the band that did Argus etc. But then it isn't remotely the same band ...

 

Question (a) When is a band not a band?

 

Answer (a) When it is a name only...

 

Question (b) How can a band which ceased activity in 1994 still be around, without reforming?

 

Answer (b) It can't. What you have instead is another band of musicians led by an original member who sees no issue of trading as the former entity of which he is the only connection.

 

Question (c) Is that really a problem?

 

Answer (c) It is if you happen to be one of the other originals who resents the co-opting of the name without seeking your permission first.

 

I can't think of another example of this where one original member of a band founds a completely new band and then tries his luck by christening it by the name of his previous former band. Had that individual acquired the rights via gift, purchase or legal settlement owned by the other former stake-owning members thus enabling him to justifiably do this - that would be one thing ... but if he didn't - then what does it amount to I ask you?

 

There are other bands (Uriah Heep or Deep Purple for example), performing with only one original member, still intact you might argue. That is true - but these bands have apparently all sat down and sorted out the various settlements needed to enable those no longer involved to retire content that they haven't been ripped off. Has this happened in the case of Wishbone Ash. Well, seemingly not since messrs Turner, Turner and Upton dispute the legitimacy of Mr. Powell's right to use the name without some caveat (in the way Martin Turner himself does). That much is published fact:

 

 

And

 

 

It is a real shame that this business continues as it does. If The Andy Powell Band were to atleast caveat itself as Andy Powell's Wishbone Ash as cstack3 elaborates then the good name and legacy of Wishbone Ash would not be continually tarnished as it is ...

Well, I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition!!  

I could care less what a band calls itself, as long as the music is decent.  I downloaded this latest single and found it quite uninteresting.  

The internal squabbles of these band don't interest me in the least, as a discerning listener and fan of the original band, I can make up my own mind.   Too many of these bands have broken apart (Yes being the latest), with members claiming to be the "true voice of Yes" (Jon Anderson) or whatever.   

They should just pick a name from one of their favorite compositions and let it stand with that.  Andy Powell's "Warriors" or "Argus" would be fine with me.   Wishbone Ash ceased to exist many years ago. 

 

As for cashing in on the $$$$$$$$$$ that APWA generates - let's be honest. Neither band is making it big out of all of this. APWA have done well for a decade playing Martin's, Ted's and Laurie's songs. But who would you rather see do it? Andy struggle through MT's creations with his non-singing sidekicks or MT sing his own material with his fine band - all of whom sing? No contest. In the absence of Wishbone Ash - which no longer exists ... go and see Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash - especially this weekend at the High Voltage Festival in London where he will be joined on stage by Ted Turner