UK. Tour Wrap.

If this marathon U.K. tour showed us anything, it was that our fan base was eager to get back into live music. That has been so heartwarming. Pauline and I had a day or two upon arrival back home here in the States, to prepare a huge Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday for some of our family. It’s only now on the weekend that I’m able to finally take stock and write this blog, taking the time to reflect upon it all. I know that I speak for myself and the whole team in saying that we are all so grateful to you all and your support.

Thankfully, the numbers at our shows were way higher than what we’d thought they’d be. People on the promoting side were saying to us that putting a post Covid tour together these days, was going to be something of a shot in the dark. There would be no certainty as to how it would go. For me, financially speaking, it was going to be a scary proposition. On paper, at the beginning, we were under water.

Five weeks later, there is now a huge sense of satisfaction from all concerned, both with the theme of the tour, the celebration of 50 years (make that, half a century) of the release of the Argus album, and the completion of 31 tour dates. The tour worked to the pattern of 6 days on and one day off. It included a Wishbone Ash fan convention and a very successful London show, both of which took place right at the beginning. I was personally grateful, because pacing myself was going to be crucial on this one.

There were some memorable incidents along the way – some funny and some scary. The two guys that were marched off in handcuffs  at the Leeds show, people fainting at some shows due to the heat, so much so, that the security at the London show (thinking on their feet)  handed out bottles of water to audience members. It got to such a point that I’d end every show with the mantra to the audience, ”Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!” We all need to work in a smart way these days, what with higher temperatures, more traffic and more people at multiple shows  I, myself and I know, Bob too, had issues with our hands being beat up just by playing. By the end of it all my fingers looked like sausages. The other two guys were on painkillers but for an entirely different reason that I’ll get to ,. 

The booking of the shows by our long time agent and friend Mr. Andy Nye was a year in the making and that prep and planning really helped. For a start, the tour was beautifully routed with towns and cities following on in a logical fashion from one another with only a couple of really long drives. Travelling the south coast, for example,  there were some days with only 30 or 50 miles between shows. Our crew, Daniel and Sean, certainly loved that. My wife Pauline, also made sure that the hotels that she booked for us all, were of a standard where no one could complain and every week there would be a break with an even higher than normal standard room for everyone. Shout out to the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool – an ace place! The sheer work in getting group deals and reasonable pricing on flights and rooms was a work – out. It all paid off. 

I have to thank the folks at Orange Amplification who provided the guitar rigs for us for the tour. Of course we had numerous gear failures on other personally owned gear that had been in storage in Germany for the Covid years. That all had to be brought across the Channel, a tricky feat in itself for the crew, what with the new Brexit rules in place. When you don’t use electronic equipment or guitars for long periods of time, things can go wrong. Bob Skeat had multiple problems with his bass rig at the beginning and eventually he had to scrap the amp and simply get a new one supplied. 

Mark Abrahams and Mike Truscott were travelling together on this tour and had a near brush with serious injury or even something worse, when their Audi rental car was rear-ended at 60mph by a gentleman, a vicar, of all people, driving a Range Rover. He immediately admitted fault. There was also a third smaller car involved in this accident, which contained a mother and young daughter. The two larger cars were write-offs. Our guys suffered aches and pains for a few days but thankfully no fatalities. Mark’s priority was his vintage Les Paul stored at the back of the car and that also escaped destruction. 

These mishaps did nothing to stop our momentum and there were big smiles and hugs all round at the end of it all. Big thanks to Lorna who handled Merch sales and kept the good vibes up when dealing with our fans and the occasional awkward, officious types one meets at venues. The Gig Cartel and their representatives, Pod, Chris, Vicky and Dave who promoted us in some great venues. Other promoters like our old friends Paul, Henry, Charles,Charlie, Alan and Lisa must also be thanked for backing us once again. That’s how it is these days – a kind of big family and that goes for when we work in the USA and Germany. We’ve known all the people behind the scenes for years and these folks are total pros and that enables us to go out there and present what often looks like an effortless show. Believe me, there’s a lot that goes into it. 

Finally, as I’ve said on stage, I’d like to thank the band members themselves for doing such a great service in reproducing these classic songs each night. It takes a great deal of empathy and respect for the music and these guys have these things in spades. Mike Truscott was enjoying his first U.K. tour albeit having joined in on a few shows last year when Joe Crabtree bowed out. By the way we got to see Joe and his new family on the tour and he cheered us on at the Bury show. That was great and also great to finally meet Mike’s family at the Leeds, Aberdare and Holmfirth shows. There were old friendships and acquaintances renewed after visits on tour by erstwhile Ash guitarist, Jamie Crompton, Richard and Graham (Gary Moore Band), Phil from the Time Team TV show, Ian from Snapper Music. Many fans attended multiple shows actually but  some new records were set by Ian and Doreen Barton, who were in the audience at 15 of the 31 shows. Doreen herself completed her 200th Wishbone Ash  show at Derby!

All in all, we can’t wait to do it all again and next year’s tour is almost booked. The tour will be called Live Dates Live just as it is on the upcoming States tour, and will obviously feature that album in its entirety 50 years on. See you there – tickets go on sale very soon!

~ A.P.