Classic Rock Mag December

[Plantman]

If you haven't seen the review of Wishbone Ash and MT ex WA London gigs side by side in Classic Rock Mag here's a link; it starts on page 116. Don't expect an even appraisal though. https://issuu.com/ghblmghfkn/docs/1dfvdvf

[mesopopmania]

Seems pretty fair and well balanced,just a pity both groups of fans can't agree.Certain some must follow both
bands especially those who have been fans since 1970 through what were the good years.

[PJAY]

Hello to you all,
I just read your post and then the CR review.My first reaction would be to just not react to the article.Having thought through it,I cannot prevent from making a few comments:
-beeing a very longtime reader of CR,it has always been difficult for me to accept the time and space they have (not) given to the recent music of WA.I do not think that Elegant Stealth was ever reviewed for instance and their review of Blue Horizon was short and really difficult to swallow for me given the quality of the music.It looks at times that beeing Classic Rock,to them,anything recently produced is meant to be inferior and not worth the time.Classic does not mean old.
-to the contrary,for me one of the greatest merits of Andy is (1) to have kept the band alive for close to 50 years and (2) to continue to produce (high quality) new music which is the real beauty of classic rock in my book.CR should be capable of seeing this and I really find Dave Ling a bit short there.
-I am a bit sick and tired of reading ( from people who probably stopped listenning to the music a long time ago) that the post Argus music is not worth it.In my book,the Wisefield period (till Just Testing) is simply fantastic with the notable exception of Locked in.Definitly at par with Argus if not better.I find Blue Horizon outstanding and very well produced with strong vocals.Elegant Stealth is also a beautiful CD.
-yes the voice of MT is (or was) an essential part of the story but WA is primarily about guitars.Accordingly there is life after MT even if he is missed.
-finally,I will say that I have been waiting for a very very long time for an article (of any kind) of CR on WA, a group which has to represent one of the ultimate examples of classic rock groups.To come up with this,after so many years of silence and zillions of words and (repetitive/multiple) articles on obscure/less talented/not productive anymore acts, is disappointing to say the least when you call yourself CR.
I find Record Collector, which I have also been reading for a very long time, a much more balanced,open and informed magazine from that perspective.
I would then concur with Andy refusal to make any comment to CR which certainly frustrated the team and the tone of the article.

PJAY (from France and with close to 50 years of passion and of listenning to all versions of WA).

PS:Andy,logically following this,I will add that I just cannot wait listenning to new music which will include the energy and the input of your new musical guitar partner...This is where you make the difference.

[wishbonefoz]

When a high profile magazine devotes 4 pages to a topic with some great pictures (especially the full page one of Andy)it has to help the cause. There are plenty of music papers/magazines that dont print a thing regarding Wishbone Ash, so to find this article was a most welcome present just before Xmas.

Lets not forget that Dave Ling is responsible for the written word in the 156 page book in the soon to be released 30 cd box set.

[dayglo]

Also dont forget Dave has been referred to by Andy as an esteemed rock journalist (ask WA - box set thread) so I am sure there is no bad blood between them.

I speak to Dave fairly regularly as we are often in the same place at the same time, and I know for a fact he is straight down the middle on WA politics and the merits of each band.

I just think with regard to the article in CR, it was a curious attempt to see why all the acrimony still exists and the 2 bands have largely separate followings. And no, my opinion was not sought on the issue (even though I was at both gigs)!

[Mallyboy]

I was really pleased to discover such a major feature on Wishbone Ash & Martin Turner. I am in neither camp, enjoy the music of the active AP group & the more tribute-oriented MT, and am devoted to the legacy & heritage of one of the most criminally overlooked bands in UK rock history.

Ling's article was pretty fair, I thought. His recent sleeve notes, too, on the excellent deluxe re-releases of Twin Barrels Burning & Raw To The Bone are equally balanced and make an informed contribution to one of the more obscure periods of the band's existence.

Really looking forward to the new box set: I hope (and expect) it s £250 well spent - though I am not sure my wife agrees!!

[hullmick]

Just in case anyone is confused like me, spending far too long in WHSmith reading music mags for free, it's the JANUARY issue of Classic Rock (date on front cover), which arrives in the shops at the end of November... Mick

[Stagman]

If nothing else, I've got to say that Andy is a much better dresser.

[ashhq]

Hi PJAY,

For the record, I had many of the same feelings as you about the article in Classic Rock Magazine. Plus, I didn't appreciate my private opinion when I was told about the magazine's idea of comparing two bands Wishbone Ash and 'Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash', being made public.

It went exactly as I could have predicted in point fact. MT's gripes and moans were printed together with complete untruths to do with my vocals for example. I let the folks involved in setting the article up (record label and publicist), know my feelings - crucially not Dave Ling himself though as yet. I'll possibly let him know this week when I speak to him again. To be fair to him, he was set a mission. I think the mandate was already pre-ordained by the editor of the mag, who obviously wanted to get an 'us and them' scenario going, mostly at our expense being the more popular band IMO.

When I nixed this idea, they basically did us no favors, despite the fact that our London show was a real success ('lots of smoke and lights' was the quote I believe 'duh?) and there was scant mention of any musical aspect to any of it. I think Dave said the sound quality was good for both bands. Big shame.

PJAY you are correct in that, politically and musically speaking, Classic Rock Mag has no serious desire to inform folks about our music post-Argus and in particular, in respect of anything from the last 20 years. As a result, I wrote them off many years ago as being unfriendly to Wishbone Ash and its fans.

Best ~ A.P.

Hello to you all,
I just read your post and then the CR review.My first reaction would be to just not react to the article.Having thought through it,I cannot prevent from making a few comments:
-beeing a very longtime reader of CR,it has always been difficult for me to accept the time and space they have (not) given to the recent music of WA.I do not think that Elegant Stealth was ever reviewed for instance and their review of Blue Horizon was short and really difficult to swallow for me given the quality of the music.It looks at times that beeing Classic Rock,to them,anything recently produced is meant to be inferior and not worth the time.Classic does not mean old.
-to the contrary,for me one of the greatest merits of Andy is (1) to have kept the band alive for close to 50 years and (2) to continue to produce (high quality) new music which is the real beauty of classic rock in my book.CR should be capable of seeing this and I really find Dave Ling a bit short there.
-I am a bit sick and tired of reading ( from people who probably stopped listenning to the music a long time ago) that the post Argus music is not worth it.In my book,the Wisefield period (till Just Testing) is simply fantastic with the notable exception of Locked in.Definitly at par with Argus if not better.I find Blue Horizon outstanding and very well produced with strong vocals.Elegant Stealth is also a beautiful CD.
-yes the voice of MT is (or was) an essential part of the story but WA is primarily about guitars.Accordingly there is life after MT even if he is missed.
-finally,I will say that I have been waiting for a very very long time for an article (of any kind) of CR on WA, a group which has to represent one of the ultimate examples of classic rock groups.To come up with this,after so many years of silence and zillions of words and (repetitive/multiple) articles on obscure/less talented/not productive anymore acts, is disappointing to say the least when you call yourself CR.
I find Record Collector, which I have also been reading for a very long time, a much more balanced,open and informed magazine from that perspective.
I would then concur with Andy refusal to make any comment to CR which certainly frustrated the team and the tone of the article.

PJAY (from France and with close to 50 years of passion and of listenning to all versions of WA).

PS:Andy,logically following this,I will add that I just cannot wait listenning to new music which will include the energy and the input of your new musical guitar partner...This is where you make the difference.

[wishbonefoz]

Dont be so downbeat Andy! I thought there was some great points for the band. Quotes like "Wishbone Ash play a slickly executed, full on rock show", "Once again the sound quality is excellent","The nostalgic mood continues with Warrior, Throw Down The Sword in which Powell really shows his quality","...and a sublime unplugged rendition of Leaf & Stream", "Powell's version of FUBB has far more grunt & groove than Turner's" & "the partnership of Powell & Abrahams really clicks on Phoenix" are very positive, as is the great picture of yourself! It's got to be the best sized picture since the Sounds centrespread in the early 70's.
the best bit is that some of my friends who have fallen by the wayside since the early 90's have said they will be going to the shows in the autumn because of the feature in Classic Rock. Happy days!!!

Thanking you for a lifetime of great music,
Keep the faith,

John