A POCKET HISTORY OF WISHBONE ASH

By: STEVE UPTON

 

12th March 1975
Flew to New Zealand to start first tour.

15th March 1975
The last gig of our World Tour and Steve Upton gets arrested 
after the show for using obscene language onstage whilst 
introducing one of their pieces of music called FUBB. 
Fined $30 in court the next day.

16th March 1975
Start long flight back to England stopping to refuel six times.

18th March 1975
Arrived back in London.

7th April 1975
Flew to America with the intention of living there.

13th April 1975
Moved into log cabin that Laurie and I rented, in Connecticut.
 
22nd April 1975
Started touring America throughout the summer.

28th July 1975
Flew to London for "Startrucking" rehearsals. "Startrucking 75," 
another grand scheme for us to conquer continental Europe cooked 
up by Miles. Basically, it was a traveling festival tour, hitting 
all the big summer festivals with the same package of artists.

Insert record review page 11

5th August 1975
Started Startrucking across Europe with headlining over the likes 
of Lou Reed, John McGlaughlin, Climax Blues Band, and Tina Turner. 
Three days before the Lou Reed was due to arrive his boyfriend, Rachel, 
called Miles on Lou's behalf to ask about the "rumored tour." Rumored? 
Lou was to be there in 3 days time! Rachel informed Miles that Lou was 
locked in the toilet, had been there 3 days and was not expected out 
in time for the tour. The William Morris Agency had signed the contract, 
had just been fired by Lou. This was the first bad omen for the tour. 
The promoters took advantage of Lou's non-appearance to not pay the 
contracted fees. Although the tour was a sell out in most places, it 
ended up in a financial disaster for Miles, forcing him to liquidate all 
his companies and skirt with bankruptcy for the next two years. 

13 September 1975
Flew to America.

19th September 1975  
Miles and Wishbone meet at Martin's house in Connecticut and decide 
to part company. 

23 September - 12 November 1975
Seventh album with Tom Dowd. Our first for Atlantic Records.

The beginning of 1976 was our first experience of living through an 
American winter. More snowfall than we had ever seen before, it was great.

4 March 1976 - 10th May 1976 
Tour of America starting in Lubbock, Texas. Graham Maitland was playing 
keyboards on tour with the band for the first time. 

May to August 1976
Rehearsals and writing for new album. Built studio in Martin's house 
and recorded all new material. Decided to record album and brought 
in a mobile studio to lay down the backing tracks for "New England." 
Ronnie and Howie Alpert produced. Mixing and vocals done at 
Criteria Studios, Miami. LP was the second and the last for 
Atlantic Records. 

22 September 1976  Finished album.