L A T E S T N E W S
JUNE 22nd 2022
NEW DRUMMER CONFIRMED - WELCOME SONNY FLINT
Following the recent announcement of the departure of long-standing drummer Tim Brown, we are now able to announce that joining Martin Turner’s band is new drummer Sonny Flint.
Sonny will play his first show with the band in Sudbury on August 25th. We are sure all followers of the band will join us in welcoming Sonny on board….
Statement from Martin Turner:
“We are very pleased to welcome Sonny Flint into the band to take over in the drums department and I am looking forward to getting together with Sonny to review the music and point him in the direction of the best versions of songs to listen to. It will be different - it’s always that way - but it’s also exciting, that’s the main thing.”
Statement from Sonny Flint:
“Over the years I have seen Martin Turner play live quite a few times, most recently at the 100 Club in London in April. Just the sort of music I would love to play, I thought! I love all the twin guitar playing and the prominent classic sound of the Martin Turner Thunderbird bass. It was already very exciting to be asked to audition for the band and I felt that there seemed to be some magic happening when we played together. So, I am more than blown away to be told that I got the job and that I will soon be drumming with the legend that is Martin Turner, alongside the wonderful Danny Willson and Misha Nikolic. I am also really looking forward to meeting everyone else who is part of this great band. I can’t wait to get on the road.”
Sonny’s biography:
There’s drumming heritage in Sonny’s family, as his dad is Hughie Flint (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, the Blues Band, McGuiness Flint). So unsurprisingly the first time Sonny played the drums they were his Dad’s.
When Sonny was 13, his Dad gave him an old Ajax drum kit as a present and Sonny has been drumming ever since. Sonny is a self-taught drummer and he learned to drum by listening and playing along to Led Zeppelin and Beatles records at home after school. Argus was often on the record player too.
Sonny’s first band at school already incorporated influences from prog and glam rock bands into their music. He then went on to join the psychedelic band The Limbic System from Barnet before being headhunted by anarcho-punksters Omega Tribe in 1984 to go on a UK tour at the age of 17.
Since then Sonny has played and recorded with 13 Frightened Girls, signed to Stephen Street’s record label, the Silverjets, signed to Blanco Y Negro, who toured with Catatonia, played with Russell Senior (Pulp), played and recorded with Me Against Them, who were John Peel favourites, Heidi Jo Hines, Simon Eugene, Emma Wilson’s Monarch Blues Band, and Pete Fender. Most recently he worked with David Knopfler (ex Dire Straits) on his latest album Shooting for the Moon, released in 2021, with some further recording taking place in 2022 for a yet unreleased album.
He’s also a professional sound engineer and has toured with Das Pop, Is Tropical and the Blockheads as their chosen sound engineer, has recorded Seasick Steve, Gary Numan, Emiliana Torrini, and Dhani Harrison, and has had the pleasure to work at the 100 Club as their house engineer when Paul McCartney, Chuck Berry, and James Burton played.
When the 2020 Lock-down put an end to live performances, Sonny used his sound engineering knowledge to kit out a professional home recording studio and invested in a number of high-end Ludwig and British Drum Company drum kits and snare drums, as well as vintage Ajax and Premier drums and vintage Ludwig snare drums, which has allowed him to remote drum recording and song mixing.
Sonny is really looking forward to playing with Martin Turner in August 2022 and beyond. He will be using a 1984 vintage Ludwig drum kit with British Drum Company snare, Zildjian crashes and ride, Cymbal and Gong second ride, and Istanbul hi-hats as his Martin Turner live kit.
MAY 20th 2022
TIM BROWN
Statement from Martin Turner:
"We would like to announce with regret that our drummer for the last eight and a half years Tim Brown has decided to leave the band to do other things. We would therefore wish to say a huge "Thank You" to Tim for his wonderful contribution both on the drums and for his vocals as well.
We did manage to put out a few recordings during Tim’s time with us and his contribution on the "Written in the Stars" album especially was much appreciated. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.
Tim will play his final show at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester on July 1st 2022. Much work is going on behind the scenes to take the band forwards and we look forward to bringing you news of a new drummer soon. As always, I am sure this will be exciting for both the band and our audiences"
Martin Turner
Statement from Tim Brown:
"It’s time for me to say goodbye and take on other musical challenges.
I have decided after over 8 years behind the kit playing the music of Wishbone Ash to leave Martin Turner’s band. I have had many great times with the guys and have made many great friends along the way.
I wish to thank Martin, Danny, Misha, Mark, Gary, Martin, Maria, Samrah, and all at QEDG management. I wish you all the best for the future.
I want to say a huge thank you to you all for supporting the band and me and I hope to see you on the road sometime soon."
Cheers T x
MAY 5th 2022
MARTIN TURNER and LAURIE WISEFIELD ALBUM SIGNING
Some great news for fans of Classic Wishbone Ash....
Martin Turner and Laurie Wisefield are heading to Revolution Records Stevenage on June 11th to sign copies of Living Proof - Live Recordings 1976 - 1980!
Meet members of the classic 1970s Wishbone Ash line-ups and be the first to get your hands on a signed copy of the box set, releasing 27 May via Madfish
The box can also be pre-ordered here:
https://wishboneashmadfish.lnk.to/livingproof
APRIL 6th 2022
IMPORTANT - Tour Dates Announcement
Regrettably, due to a member of his band testing Covid-positive today, Martin Turner has a need and a responsibility, for obvious health and safety reasons, to postpone the shows due to be performed this week in Twickenham, Sudbury, Havant and Worcester.
Martin and his band regret the obvious disappointment caused but it is necessary to put the safety of band, crew, venue staff and, of course, audiences first and foremost.
Re-scheduled dates are listed below. Venues will be in contact with ticket holders directly and all existing tickets will remain valid for the new dates
1st July 2022 Worcester
25th August 2022 Sudbury
26th August 2022 Havant
8 Dec 2022 Twickenham
MARCH 23rd 2022
Vintage Albums - Back to Back - Argus/Wishbone Four on tour 20022
Martin Turner and his band commence their 2022 touring this week with a fresh show that features two vintage Wishbone Ash albums performed back to back - 1972's Argus (celebrating its 50th anniversary) and 1973's Wishbone Four (performed live in its entirety for the very first time), together with other classic tracks.
Tour dates can be found here
MARCH 8th 2022
Wishbone Ash - Living Proof - Live 1976-1980 10LP boxed set
5 shows presented on double LP with 60 page book, replica tour newspaper and numbered certificate. Released on 27 May 2022:
https://WishboneAshMadfish.lnk.to/LivingProof
Madfish are proud to present a new 10LP box set containing five concerts recorded between 1976 - 1980. Initially appearing on ’The Vintage Years’ CD box set in 2018, four of the shows will be issued on vinyl for the first time, with a newly sourced and previously unreleased recording from the band’s October 1976 run of shows in Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo on the New England tour exclusively available within.
Featuring the second classic Wishbone Ash line up of Andy Powell, Martin Turner, Laurie Wisefield and Steve Upton, these recordings showcase a band at their live best and firing on all cylinders across four different tours. Album notes and ‘making of’ track-by-track interviews by author and Wishbone expert Campbell Devine are on display within a lavish booklet with sleek design and rare live photographs.
Limited to 1,000 copies as a one time pressing, this is a must have for all Wishbone Ash fans.
The live shows included are:
Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Oct 1976 (New England tour)
Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 18th Nov 1976 (New England tour)
Marquee, London, 29th Oct 1977 (Front Page News tour)
Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, 30th Oct 1978 (No Smoke Without Fire tour)
Civic Hall, Guildford, 12th Feb 1980 (Just Testing tour)
NOV 13th 2021
Wishbone Ash - Portsmouth 1980
Some great news for fans of classic Wishbone Ash....
Following on from the Vintage Years boxed set and the Glasgow 1977 CD, Madfish release a further classic Wishbone Ash concert on both 2CD and vinyl on 26 November 2021.
Portsmouth 1980 was recorded during the Just Testing tour on 15th Feb 1980. As with several shows on that tour, this show was recorded with Live Dates Volume II in mind, although none of this show made that set and the performance remains unheard until now.
Authorised by all four members who appear on the recording - Martin Turner, Steve Upton, Andy Powell, Laurie Wisefield - Portsmouth 1980 has been mixed from the original multi track recordings.
The track list features the entire concert as performed on the night:
Doctor
Blind Eye
The Way of the World
Living Proof
The King Will Come
Lifeline
Insomnia
Phoenix
Blowin' Free
Queen of Torture
Helpless
Jail Bait
Bad Weather Blues
Too Much Monkey Business
Purchase here
NOV 3rd 2021
Nov/Dec Tour Dates - Important update - Covid safety
Martin and band look forward to resuming their much delayed “Wishbone Gold” tour this week, performing “Pilgrimage” in full plus other Wishbone Ash classics.
The band looks forward to reconnecting with their audiences via the live performances, but wish to point out that during the Nov/Dec 2021 dates they will not be engaging in any form of “meet and greets” – including autograph signings and photos at the merchandise stand, backstage, stage door or anywhere else in or outside of the venues. We therefore ask fans not to bring items for the band to sign along to the shows.
While the band will miss greatly these direct interactions with their audiences and the invaluable feedback that is received during these encounters, this measure has been introduced in an agreement between the band, its management and agent and the venues for the maximum protection of everyone concerned – band, crew, venue staff and, not least of all, audience members – and to help safeguard against any shows being postponed or cancelled should anyone involved directly become infected, which would obviously be disappointing for all.
We mean no disrespect and thank everyone in advance for their understanding. Enjoy the shows!
Martin Turner management team