Wishbone Ash are an English hard rock band from Torquay, Devon. Formed in October 1969, the group originally included bassist and lead vocalist Martin Turner, guitarists and vocalists Andy Powell and Ted Turner, and drummer Steve Upton. The band currently consists of Powell, alongside bassist Bob Skeat (since 1997), guitarist Mark Abrahams (since 2017) and drummer Windsor McGilvary (since 2026).

History Their first lineup change came in the spring of 1974, when Ted Turner was replaced by former Home guitarist Laurie Wisefield. Martin Turner had also left by 1980, with John Wetton replacing him for the 1981 album Number the Brave. After Wetton left to form Asia in early 1981, Trevor Bolder joined Wishbone Ash and remained until 1983, when he returned to his previous band Uriah Heep. Bolder was replaced by former Trapeze bassist and vocalist Mervyn Spence. Wisefield was replaced by Jamie Crompton in late 1985, and Andy Pyle replaced Spence in 1986.

In 1987, Martin and Ted Turner returned as part of an original lineup reformation for former manager Miles Copeland's I.R.S. No Speak instrumental album series, to which they contributed Nouveau Calls at the end of the year. Powell was left as the sole remaining constant member of Wishbone Ash by mid-1990, when Upton left the group and retired from the music business. He was replaced briefly by Robbie France and later in the year by Ray Weston, both of whom featured on the 1991 release Strange Affair. Shortly after the album's release, Martin Turner was fired from the group on 1 October 1991, with Pyle returning to take his place. Ted Turner was the final original member of the band to leave in early 1994, with bassist Pyle and drummer Weston following him in leaving the group shortly after.

Powell rebuilt the band with the addition of guitarist Roger Filgate, bassist Tony Kishman and drummer Mike Sturgis. Martin Turner briefly returned for the group's 25th anniversary tour in 1995 and began working on new material, before leaving for a third and final time. After the release and touring of Illuminations, Filgate, Kishman and Sturgis were replaced by Mark Birch, Bob Skeat and Weston, respectively. Birch remained until 2001, when he was replaced by Finnish guitarist Ben Granfelt. After the studio album Bona Fide and live release Almighty Blues: London & Beyond, Granfelt left in 2004 after playing his final show on 30 October. He was replaced by another Finnish guitarist, Jyrki "Muddy" Manninen. Long-term drummer Weston left for a second time in early 2007 due to tiring of touring, with Joe Crabtree taking his place. on 9 May 2017, when Mark Abrahams replaced Manninen as their ninth guitarist. In 2022 Crabtree left the band and was replaced by Mike Truscott.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsAndy Powell1969–presentall Wishbone Ash releasesBob Skeat1997–presentall Wishbone Ash releases from Trance Visionary (1997) onwardsMark Abrahams2017–presentguitarCoat of Arms (2020)Windsor McGilvary 2026–present None

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsSteve Upton1969–1990all Wishbone Ash releases from Wishbone Ash (1970) to Here to Hear (1989)Martin TurnerTed Turnerall Wishbone Ash releases from Wishbone Ash (1970) to Live Dates (1973), and from Nouveau Calls (1987) to Live in Chicago (1992)Laurie Wisefield1974–1985all Wishbone Ash releases from There's the Rub (1974) to Raw to the Bone (1985)John Wetton1980–1981 Number the Brave (1981)Trevor Bolder1981–1983 Twin Barrels Burning (1982)Mervyn Spence1983–1986Raw to the Bone (1985)Jamie CromptonnoneAndy PyleLive in Chicago (1992)Robbie France1990 drumsStrange Affair (1991)Ray WestonRoger Filgate1994–1997Mike SturgisdrumsTony KishmanMark Birch1997–2001all Wishbone Ash releases from Trance Visionary (1997) to Live Dates 3 (2001)Ben Granfelt2001–2004Muddy Manninen2004–2017all Wishbone Ash releases from Live on XM Satellite Radio (2005) to Live at Metropolis 16/05/15 (2015)Joe Crabtree2007–2022all Wishbone Ash releases from The Power of Eternity (2007) to Coat of Arms (2020)Mike Truscott 2022–2025

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesOctober 1969 – June 1974Martin Turner – vocals, bass Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Ted Turner – guitar, vocals Steve Upton – drums, percussionWishbone Ash (1970) Pilgrimage (1971) Argus (1972) Live from Memphis (1972) Wishbone Four (1973) Live Dates (1973) First Light (2007)June 1974 – November 1980Martin Turner – vocals, bass Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Laurie Wisefield – guitar, vocals Steve Upton – drums, percussionThere's the Rub (1974) Locked In (1976) New England (1976) Front Page News (1977) No Smoke Without Fire (1978) Live in Tokyo (1979) Just Testing (1980) Live Dates 2 (1980)November 1980 – April 1981Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Laurie Wisefield – guitar, vocals John Wetton – bass, keyboards, vocals Steve Upton – drums, percussionNumber the Brave (1981)April 1981 – April 1983Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Laurie Wisefield – guitar, vocals Trevor Bolder – bass, vocals Steve Upton – drums, percussionTwin Barrels Burning (1982)April 1983 – December 1985Mervyn Spence – vocals, bass Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Laurie Wisefield – guitar, vocals Steve Upton – drums, percussionRaw to the Bone (1985)December 1985 – February 1986Mervyn Spence – vocals, bass Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Jamie Crompton – guitar, backing vocals Steve Upton – drums, percussionnoneFebruary 1986 – July 1987Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Jamie Crompton – guitar, backing vocals Andy Pyle – bass Steve Upton – drums, percussionJuly 1987 – July 1990Martin Turner – vocals, bass, keyboards Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Ted Turner – guitar, vocals Steve Upton – drums, percussionNouveau Calls (1987) Here to Hear (1989)July – November 1990Martin Turner – vocals, bass, keyboards Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Ted Turner – guitar, vocals Robbie France – drumsStrange Affair (1991) November 1990 – October 1991Martin Turner – vocals, bass, keyboards Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Ted Turner – guitar, vocals Ray Weston – drums, percussionStrange Affair (1991)October 1991 – January 1994Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Ted Turner – guitar, vocals Andy Pyle – bass Ray Weston – drums, percussionThe Ash Live in Chicago (1992)Early 1994 – October 1995Tony Kishman – vocals, bass Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Roger Filgate – guitar Mike Sturgis – drumsLive in Geneva (1995)October 1995 – January 1996Martin Turner – vocals, bass Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Roger Filgate – guitar Mike Sturgis – drumsnoneJanuary 1996 – 1997Tony Kishman – vocals, bass Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Roger Filgate – guitar Mike Sturgis – drumsIlluminations (1996)1997 – May 2001Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Mark Birch – guitar, vocals Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals Ray Weston – drums, percussionTrance Visionary (1998) Psychic Terrorism (1998) Bare Bones (1999) Live Dates 3 (2000)May 2001 – October 2004Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Ben Granfelt – guitar, vocals Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals Ray Weston – drums, percussionBona Fide (2002) Almighty Blues: London & Beyond (2004)October 2004 – April 2007Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Muddy Manninen – guitar, backing vocals Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals Ray Weston – drums, percussionLive on XM Satellite Radio (2005) Clan Destiny (2006) Live in Hamburg (2007)April 2007 – May 2017Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Muddy Manninen – guitar, vocals Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals Joe Crabtree – drums, percussionPower of Eternity (2007) Argus "Then Again" Live (2008) Elegant Stealth (2011) Blue Horizon (2014)May 2017 – February 2022Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Mark Abrahams – guitar Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals Joe Crabtree – drums, percussionCoat of Arms (2020)February 2022 – December 2025Andy Powell – guitar, vocals Mark Abrahams – guitar Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals Mike Truscott – drums, percussionLive Dates Live: 1973-2023 (2023) Live in Cologne (2025)January 2026 – presentAndy Powell – guitar, vocals Mark Abrahams – guitar Bob Skeat – bass, backing vocals Windsor McGilvary – drums, backing vocals, percussionNone to date

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