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Eyes Wide Open: True Tales Of A Wishbone Ash Warrior
In 1969, Andy Powell was one of four founder members of progressive rock pioneers Wishbone Ash. Forty-five years later, with no sabbaticals, he is still a member of Wishbone Ash. And he has seen a lot of interesting things along the way.
Watching the birth of rock’n’roll in the 50s; stepping into the swinging 60s mod scene as a teenager; breaking through to the big time and touring the States with The Who; selling hundreds of thousands of copies of Argus; being managed by industry legend Miles Copeland; outliving punk and moving to America; battling former bandmates over the right to use the name Wishbone Ash, and fighting to keep that name alive through decades of changing tastes and styles—Andy Powell has been there, done it, and seen it all. And he’s still doing it today.
Eyes Wide Open is not just the story of one man’s adventures in music but also a journey through some of the most thrilling years of rock history. Honest, unpretentious, and often wryly amusing, it draws on half a century of mingling with the great and the good—not to mention the occasional nutcase. It’s a book that will appeal strongly to fans of Wishbone Ash but also to anybody with even a passing interest in classic rock of the 70s and beyond.
Watching the birth of rock’n’roll in the 50s; stepping into the swinging 60s mod scene as a teenager; breaking through to the big time and touring the States with The Who; selling hundreds of thousands of copies of Argus; being managed by industry legend Miles Copeland; outliving punk and moving to America; battling former bandmates over the right to use the name Wishbone Ash, and fighting to keep that name alive through decades of changing tastes and styles—Andy Powell has been there, done it, and seen it all. And he’s still doing it today.
Eyes Wide Open is not just the story of one man’s adventures in music but also a journey through some of the most thrilling years of rock history. Honest, unpretentious, and often wryly amusing, it draws on half a century of mingling with the great and the good—not to mention the occasional nutcase. It’s a book that will appeal strongly to fans of Wishbone Ash but also to anybody with even a passing interest in classic rock of the 70s and beyond.
- GenresBiography
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2015
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24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 6, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; not surprising as I've been a long-time fan of Wishbone Ash.
When I say "long-time", I mean into the mid-80's, although I did buy "Strange Affair" in the early 90's. Unlike many people, I'd say my favourite album is "New England." To me, every single song on this one is a winner, the standouts being "Runaway", "Lorelei" and "Outward Bound." I've always enjoyed Ash's signature twin guitars and they're used to great effect on this record.
But to the book itself! It is, of course, written from the viewpoint of one member of the original band, guitarist Andy Powell (he of the Flying V). If you know anything at all about Wishbone Ash, you may be aware that he's the only original member to carry on a band bearing that name, although Martin Turner also laid claim to it. This resulted in courtroom dramas, with Andy Powell winning the right to retain the rights to the name.
If you're a die-hard fan, I guess you'll come down on either Andy's or Martin's side. Me, I don't care. I'm just happy there's still a band with the name that continues to produce great music, retaining those signature twinned guitars. Hmm. That probably puts me slightly in Andy's camp.
It's a really interesting look at how a band forms, grows, struggles with success, fractures, reforms, fractures, and rises anew (like a "Pheonix" from "Argus") to chart new paths. It's a personal reminiscence from someone who's been in the music biz since the late 60's and still continues to this day.
It's most of interest to Ash fans, of course, but it's very readable and probably has a wider appeal than that. Excellent.
When I say "long-time", I mean into the mid-80's, although I did buy "Strange Affair" in the early 90's. Unlike many people, I'd say my favourite album is "New England." To me, every single song on this one is a winner, the standouts being "Runaway", "Lorelei" and "Outward Bound." I've always enjoyed Ash's signature twin guitars and they're used to great effect on this record.
But to the book itself! It is, of course, written from the viewpoint of one member of the original band, guitarist Andy Powell (he of the Flying V). If you know anything at all about Wishbone Ash, you may be aware that he's the only original member to carry on a band bearing that name, although Martin Turner also laid claim to it. This resulted in courtroom dramas, with Andy Powell winning the right to retain the rights to the name.
If you're a die-hard fan, I guess you'll come down on either Andy's or Martin's side. Me, I don't care. I'm just happy there's still a band with the name that continues to produce great music, retaining those signature twinned guitars. Hmm. That probably puts me slightly in Andy's camp.
It's a really interesting look at how a band forms, grows, struggles with success, fractures, reforms, fractures, and rises anew (like a "Pheonix" from "Argus") to chart new paths. It's a personal reminiscence from someone who's been in the music biz since the late 60's and still continues to this day.
It's most of interest to Ash fans, of course, but it's very readable and probably has a wider appeal than that. Excellent.
April 14, 2020
Enjoyable and interesting, The legal trade mark issue gave me a view i hadnt considered about having different versions of a band, loss of earnings, ext. worth reading to open your eyes.
April 13, 2021
This is a few steps above the average rock memoir in language and insight.
February 1, 2024
For me it was a surprisingly long book. Being a slow reader I struggled at times to stay with it. However, there was enough in it to keep my attention, a good insight into the trials and tribulations of a band that's 'been around'.
June 20, 2022
Per chi ama i Wishbone Ash, una grande rock band. Questo libro è ovviamente il punto di vista di Andy Powell, l'unico che non ha mai mollato, l'unico che ha tirato avanti anche nei lunghi anni dell'oblio e del ritorno alla polvere e alla gavetta, dopo il crollo della popolarità. Ovvio, molto spazio è dedicato, oltre che agli ottimi dischi e ai tour, anche alla sofferta parentesi giudiziaria con Martin Turner e Steve Upton. Una sofferenza anche per i fan, chiaro.
December 3, 2022
I found this an interesting biography with an alternative but similar view to the other author on the same band. The writing is good and the insights into the era of seventies rock music appealing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews