| Almost fifty years ago to the month, British rock band WISHBONE ASH brought out Live Dates, their most commercially successful album. A milestone, not only for the band, but also in the history of rock music.
Andy Powell, who continues to helm the group, remembers:
“At the time, we had been on tour non-stop for three years, had released Argus – from today’s point of view our most important studio album – and were like a well-oiled machine. We had made a name for ourselves as a dynamic live act, so it only made sense to capture the energy and vibrancy of our shows on a live album. Fortunately, the record company funded the costly Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Truck, so we were able to record several shows during our UK tour and compile the most powerful moments on Live Dates.”
Fast forward half a century and we find ourselves in the summer of 2023, with WISHBONE ASH celebrating the anniversary of their 1973 concert classic with a new edition. “New” meaning: the same material in exactly the same sequence, performed by the current line-up and recorded at Daryl’s House Club in Pawling, New York. The new release is entitled Live Dates Live and will be available on CD, vinyl double LP and for digital download.
WISHBONE ASH in 2023 probably seems to have little in common with the 1973 version but on closer look, there are many parallels. For one, guitarist/vocalist Andy Powell still keeps a tight hold of the musical reins, maintaining a sound that is known and loved.
First-rate musicians Mark Abrahams (guitar), Bob Skeat (guitar) and Mike Truscott (drummer), some of whom are of a younger generation, ooze the original spirit and philosophy of the original line-up, making for a 2023 band that is still 100% WISHBONE ASH. |
