Wishbone Ash: The British band America rejected
In the heady days of early 1970s rock, the UK was experiencing one hell of a purple patch. Glam’s glitter was about to explode, prog was in its pomp, metal was being burnished by Brummies Black Sabbath, and the Rolling Stones had enmeshed themselves as a core feature of the American songbook with their faithful blues harness as ultimately realised on Exile on Main St. If there was anytime to crack the States, now was the time to do it.
Forged in the same rock intersections between folklore and progressive reach as Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple, Devon’s Wishbone Ash never won the big-name recognition many of their peers enjoyed during British rock’s global heyday. Making an instant impression with their novel twin-lead guitar approach, an early support slot for Deep Purple signalled a band swiftly on the up.
Via Ritchie Blackmore, Wishbone Ash secured a handsome $250,000 advance with MCA records and began cutting a string of LPs that earned them cult affection within the country’s hard rock crowd. Winning US support slots in 1971 with The Who and Black Sabbath, the band looked set to drop their opus to a growing fanbase.
Peaking at number three on the UK Albums chart, Wishbone Ash’s third LP Argus would stand as their critical landmark, praised for its complex arrangements and hard-edged folk rock. Imbued with a staunchly arcane European aura, the Hipgnosis art team depicted a centuries-old warrior overlooking France’s Gorges du Verdon—the armoured figure existing in their respective time in the ages or merely a spectral trace of history never made clear. Its mystery proved so evocative Jimmy Page nabbed the team for the cover of 1973’s Houses of the Holy.
Sounds and Melody Maker both praised Argus as ‘Best Rock Album of the Year’, but what of America? Reaching 169 on the Billboard 200, Wishbone Ash just never reached the arena heights. It’s not true that they left no impression across the Atlantic, however. After their June 1972 US disaster—when the majority of their gear was stolen after a concert in St Louis—the US tour’s outstanding dates were fulfilled a month later resulting in their prized promo live album.
Recorded in Tennesse’s WMC-FM, Live From Memphis would enjoy heavy radio rotation due to its lack of official release, endearing itself to American rock fans who dug their uniquely electric sound.
With founding frontman and bassist Martin Turner departing in 1980, one of the lead guitarists Andy Powell stepped up to vocal duties after King Crimson’s John Wetton’s brief tenure overseeing another 15-dd LPs, up until as recently as 2020’s Coat of Arms.
Proving to be an indelible influence on many of the new wave of British heavy metal acts that sprung up in the late 1970s, Iron Maiden‘s Steve Harris spoke candidly of Wishbone Ash’s pioneering work to Guitar World in 2011: “I think if anyone wants to understand Maiden’s early thing, in particular the harmony guitars, all they have to do is listen to Wishbone Ash’s Argus album”.
