A POCKET HISTORY OF WISHBONE ASH
By: STEVE UPTON
August 1987 One-off gigs in Germany and Spain.6 December 1987 Flew to Leningrad, USSR. Played twelve concerts in nine days in a sports stadium. Many of the fans were aware of the band due to the fact that we had been to East Germany and they had seen the press. The weather was twenty degrees below zero, yet the people still came to the concerts. There were five interpreters who were always with us. The security at the concerts was handled by soldiers who also acted as road crew. When we were not playing we were taken to many of the sights of Leningrad. These included the Czar's palace, which is now called the Hermitage and is a museum full of some the finest collections of paintings and treasures in the world. The palace itself had been built by some of the best European architects of the day. The churches are now museums, although we did visit an active Russian Orthodox Church, which was memorable. At this church, we found many people, mostly women and priests, and in one section workman were renovating next to people praying. Not far away a service for three old ladies, who were lying on open topped coffins, was being held with surrounding family mourners. No one seemed to notice us there, but the poignancy of the scene will always be remembered. We were also taken to the Pushkin Museum just outside Leningrad. This was another fine example of Russia's past, it also indicates how close the Russians and Europeans were as far their past awareness of the arts of the day. 17 December 1987 Traveled to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and one of the five Republics of the USSR. These people are strongly independent and would love to be autonomous, as they don't like the ruling Russian Republic. We played five shows in three days and had a very warm response from the audience. There was a very different feeling from these people to the people in Leningrad. They were more open and warmer in their personality. After the last show we were taken to the railway station to catch an overnight train to Moscow. The scene of a cold misty night, dim yellow station lights and thongs of people and solders was like a scene from a movie. The train had sleeping compartments and each carriage its own military looking female attendant who served food and hot tea to us throughout the twelve-hour journey. On our arrival in Moscow we were taken to the hotel and then on to the sight of red Square. Again, a very memorable day. That evening we flew back to London. It was the 21st of December, 1987. 27 February - 29 March 1988 Played our first gig together in fourteen years, as the original line-up, in Folkstone, England. A magical moment for all of us. This gig was the first of the UK tour and was not believed until it was over. 6 April - 6 May 1988 European tour. First show in Ascher, Germany. 12 July - 24 October 1988 Rehearsals and recording our 16th album "Here to Hear," Martin Turner producing. November 1988 Andy and Ted join the "Night of the Guitar Tour" of the UK, which was recorded and filmed for subsequent live LP and videocassette. January 1989 Andy Powell and Ted Turner play dates with "The Night of the Guitars" in Europe. Martin Turner re-mixes "Argus" for CD releases of Wishbone early back catalogue. June 1989 Steve Upton digs through all his diaries for the last twenty years so he can help compile a biography and at the same time learn to type. July 14 - 19, 1989 Played first tour of Brazil, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. July 20, 1989 Start first USA tour with original band. To Be Continued…..
