Hi All,

We’re playing Scotland at the moment and I’d be lying if I said we’re not feeling the results of a recession, at least within my age group who are definitely watching their pennies. The youngsters out on the streets at nights, especially in these Northern cities, well, they are partying like there’s no tomorrow.

Muddy Manninen heard a classic comment from a diehard Ted Turner fan last night who was berating his daughter, Rosita ( a fine singer by the way and currently on tour with us working our merch stand ). “Don’t you know anything about Ted Turner? You should be ashamed of yourself.” Rosita, replied while being helplessly pilloried by this churl: “But he’s not in the band now and has not been for more years than I’ve been alive, so I hear”. I can understand the nostalgia and so forth but really....we are so many years down the line.

You do hear some funny things on the road; like the comment that one of our openers, Canadian bluesman, David Go Go had directed to him in Germany a couple of tours back “I thought you’d be better than the headliner - but you weren’t” . Some other choice quotes we’ve heard; “ You were almost great tonight” and then the classic, someone tossed off to us; “ I like what you are trying to do”: We still dine out on that one.

We got to thinking about this altering of reality by some folks. Sometimes with all the tribute bands about the edges get a little blurred. We find, especially in the UK, that there is a wonderful plethora of tribute band names on the hoardings to contend with. Some of our favorites: By Jovi, AB/CD, Metalikea ( Sweden ), T - Rextasy, Fleetwood Bac, The Beagles. Some of the guys and gals who perform in these acts sometimes actually get to thinking they are the actual person or persons they are paying tribute to and can get quite miffed when actually confronted with the real deal. I’ve encountered the attitude of “Hey, we’re really doing you a favor by playing your songs”. My reply would be that I certainly appreciate it but don’t owe you anything for the pleasure.

Back to reality and the here and now. Last night in Edinburgh really was a cracker of a show by Wishbone Ash, if I may say so. The band was so tight and things just seemed to flow. I loved being able to actually see the expressions on people’s faces as they warmed to what “we were trying to do.” It’s sometimes difficult when you don’t see the audience on some shows.

A nice touch ( thanks promoter Gavin ) - the well known author Ian Rankin, an Edinburgh local, very kindly introduced us on stage and we spent some time having a drink with him post show. Ian is a 70’s music fan and has made mention of Wishbone Ash several times in his hugely popular Inspector Rebus novels. Fresh from a year away from writing ( his first break since age 27 ), it sounds as if he is now raring to get into another book which should please his legions of fans.

So, we are in the studio tomorrow for a mixing session and on schedule for the release of the recent live - on - tour - catch - it - while - it’s hot recording AND I can tell you that the upcoming french rockumentary ‘This is Wishbone Ash’ is fast nearing completion. It looks all set for a Christmas release. I think you’ll enjoy this one!

~ A.P.

P.S. I received a couple of personal notes re. the above: No aspersions cast at our dear Ash Tribute band friends - just some harmless fun at the trib's expense for a change. Rock On!

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