It's been over forty years since legendary British band Wishbone Ash released their debut self titled album in 1970. Their classic early 70's lineup, featuring the twin lead guitar harmonies of Andy Powell and Ted Turner, on albums such as Pilgrimage, Wishbone Four and their all time, best selling masterpiece Argus, definitely influenced and helped pave the way for future twin axe bands, including Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. Although that and countless other lineups have come and gone in the years since their heyday, Powell (the sole original member left) has forged on, continuing to tour and record new music in the 00's, albeit rather sporadically.
In the summer of 2009, as the band was preparing material for a new, as yet unreleased album (working title Searching For Satellites), Powell and his band mates, Muddy Manninen (guitars), Bob Skeat (bass) and Joe Crabtree (drums), retreated to the pristine French countryside for a week long, working vacation. This Is Wishbone Ash offers viewers a unique glimpse into the creative process through rehearsal footage and extensive interviews with all the band members. The band seems to be clearly enjoying themselves as the 'fly on the wall' film making approach captures the band and their families eating picnic lunches together, swimming in the pool and going for a leisurely drive through the lush countryside. It isn't all fun and games however, because the rehearsal footage is what the fans are going to want to pay particular attention to as Powell guides the band through rough sketches of the new songs. In addition they also tear through a handful of nuggets from the back catalog as well, serving up splendid versions of "Blind Eye", "Lullaby" and "Front Page News". Their performances on these classic tracks clearly demonstrate that Powell has once again put together a formidable lineup of musicians that is more than worthy of performing under the storied Wishbone Ash moniker.
If you're a die-hard Wishbone Ash fan then you're definitely going to want to snag yourself a copy of this revealing, behind the scenes DVD.
Note: This DVD is currently available in PAL format only.
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