A message to Andy and the band.....

[spider]

I posted this on FB, and thought I would copy and paste it here.



Hey Andy, and the band. I gotta say something. After talking with a friend, a friend I made because of your band, I just wonder if you all realise just how much you mean to not only me, but so many others.

I really didnt know of the band until about 1999. But from that point on, you really became a central point in my life. Since then, I have made lasting friendships with many, and my life has been improved by untold quality because of these friends and because of your music.

But wait a minute, I am being self centered here. Let me expand. By becoming aware of WA, my brother and sister both became aware as well. My brother became a huge fan and travelling companion when seeing you all over the US. My sister, well that is a different story. She is mentally retarded. You brought a smile to her face with the song Peace off the Bonafide album. That alone is priceless in my mind. Anything that can make her smile and give her enjoyment, deserves my eternal gratitude. May not mean much to you all, or anyone else, but means the world to me.


I have had so many good times at your concerts, and combined many of those trips with seeing other sites. I mean, going to Scranton, I flew to Niagara Falls and then rented a car. Would have never seen Niagara Falls had it not been for you. Would have never rode the Sandia Tram in Albuquerque if not for you. Would have never discovered Waterfall Highway in Oregon if not for you.

But not only seeing places, but because of you, I have discovered other music as well. I didnt know of such bands as Camel, Epitaph, and several others before knowing of you. Had it not been for you, who knows, I may never had made of those discoveries. And there are bands of shall I say lesser importance that still have made a difference in my life all because I saw them before or after one of your shows. Maybe a band that opened for you or the other way around. Or a band I saw while on the road before or after seeing one of your concerts.

I write all of this because I just wonder if you realise how much your music touches the lives of everyone who you play to. To you, maybe it is just a job that you have done over your lifetime, but I often wonder if you REALLY know how much of an impact you have made on other peoples lives, and how much that impact has made on other peoples lives. Its like a chain, and once you change one person's life, that changes another and another.

Anyway, thank you Andy for keeping the music alive. You, and Mudman and Bob-O and Crabber, and the guys before then, BennyBoy, Ray, Tony, and yes, even to all before that, even those you have had a legal battle with. I hope you continue to keep jamin as long as possible. It will be a sad day when you retire, but your music will live on forever. You have earned my respect and my gratitude for the rest of my life, no matter if I dont like a certain album or song or whatever.

Thank you for just being you. Can I say more?

[tony]

Wow, what a wonderful post

[french fan]

Great words, Spider. Music and emotions are so deeply connected.

[Rainer Frilund]

You said it "spider".

[Living Proof]

Yes. Music and by who it is delivered changes lives. Over the years many bands have influenced peoples lives. In my case bands like The Beatles. Nazareth, T-Rex, Free, Queen, Hendrix and Thin Lizzy to name a few. Always though, from the first time I travelled down to Redding Rock festival to see in the line up Wishbone Ash, right up to present day and my last WA gig at the 02 in Sheffield only this week, I return to WA music to brighten up my day. Your post says it all about the band and its music and its touching that your sis finds solace in a WA track.

[Mallyboy]

Great set of posts boys!

It is truly remarkable the effects great music have on all of us & for those of us in the know, the music of Wishbone Ash has for nearly half a century lit up people's lives across the world. I was too young for the halcyon days of the early 70s but first saw the band towards the end of that decade when they were still massive as a live draw but were increasingly making less of an impact on the album charts, exacerbated by a hostile and largely ignorant music press. It was something of a badge of honour to fight their corner as an Ash diehard in the era of punk & the new wave of heavy metal.

In the years that have passed since, the band, in its many reincarnations, has gone from the mainstream to cult status but its impact on those fans who have remained true to the cause has been and continues to be colossal. I must have seen Wishbone Ash 250+ times but every show may as well be my first: the magic of the music endures no matter which great musician interprets the notes, guided, of course, by the man himself, Andy Powell who, thankfully never gave up on the band, himself or the fans.

As the songs says, 'When you know love ...'.

[ashhq]

Hey Spider,

Your post touches a deep place for me. I get it, I really do. Remember that to be a player you first have to be a fan and there have been pivotal moments in my teens where I received bolts out of the blue, literally life changing musical events that have set me on this musical course. People like Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend and particularly Peter Green, gave me no option in the matter of my chosen career. To find out later, that I and the band members I've played with over the years, also had the gift to move people in this way is like chain event as you mention. I also call it mojo.

I loved the story of your sister and her reaction. I've had wounded warriors tell me their stories as they relate to the impact our music had on them - college professors, lawyers, doctors, train drivers, Olympic champions, nurses you name it. Music is so important. It literally forms the soundtrack tour lives as you do beautifully describe. - so yes, thankyou for sharing.

Best wishes - Andy.

I posted this on FB, and thought I would copy and paste it here.



Hey Andy, and the band. I gotta say something. After talking with a friend, a friend I made because of your band, I just wonder if you all realise just how much you mean to not only me, but so many others.

I really didnt know of the band until about 1999. But from that point on, you really became a central point in my life. Since then, I have made lasting friendships with many, and my life has been improved by untold quality because of these friends and because of your music.

But wait a minute, I am being self centered here. Let me expand. By becoming aware of WA, my brother and sister both became aware as well. My brother became a huge fan and travelling companion when seeing you all over the US. My sister, well that is a different story. She is mentally retarded. You brought a smile to her face with the song Peace off the Bonafide album. That alone is priceless in my mind. Anything that can make her smile and give her enjoyment, deserves my eternal gratitude. May not mean much to you all, or anyone else, but means the world to me.


I have had so many good times at your concerts, and combined many of those trips with seeing other sites. I mean, going to Scranton, I flew to Niagara Falls and then rented a car. Would have never seen Niagara Falls had it not been for you. Would have never rode the Sandia Tram in Albuquerque if not for you. Would have never discovered Waterfall Highway in Oregon if not for you.

But not only seeing places, but because of you, I have discovered other music as well. I didnt know of such bands as Camel, Epitaph, and several others before knowing of you. Had it not been for you, who knows, I may never had made of those discoveries. And there are bands of shall I say lesser importance that still have made a difference in my life all because I saw them before or after one of your shows. Maybe a band that opened for you or the other way around. Or a band I saw while on the road before or after seeing one of your concerts.

I write all of this because I just wonder if you realise how much your music touches the lives of everyone who you play to. To you, maybe it is just a job that you have done over your lifetime, but I often wonder if you REALLY know how much of an impact you have made on other peoples lives, and how much that impact has made on other peoples lives. Its like a chain, and once you change one person's life, that changes another and another.

Anyway, thank you Andy for keeping the music alive. You, and Mudman and Bob-O and Crabber, and the guys before then, BennyBoy, Ray, Tony, and yes, even to all before that, even those you have had a legal battle with. I hope you continue to keep jamin as long as possible. It will be a sad day when you retire, but your music will live on forever. You have earned my respect and my gratitude for the rest of my life, no matter if I dont like a certain album or song or whatever.

Thank you for just being you. Can I say more?

[magnusT]

Yes! Scranton was nice . And I Also
had the opportunity to see the Great Apple.

[blixa]

Yes! Scranton was nice . And I Also
had the opportunity to see the Great Apple.

Probably the "Big"Apple Magnus, hope you liked New York. I sure did.