Bands you saw before they were famous

[Moodybluebird]

Bobh

Wishbone Ash not famous ??!! Are you mad? Argus was and is a super album and the band itself were innovative, influential, have a huge following to this day and still appear with other bands of that era such as the Moody Blues, Procol Harum, Alan Parsons Project and artists such as Roger Daltrey and Art Garfunkel on rock cruises out of Miami. For the record they were absolutely fantastic when I saw them earlier this year.

[bobh]

Bobh

Wishbone Ash not famous ??!! Are you mad? Argus was and is a super album and the band itself were innovative, influential, have a huge following to this day and still appear with other bands of that era such as the Moody Blues, Procol Harum, Alan Parsons Project and artists such as Roger Daltrey and Art Garfunkel on rock cruises out of Miami. For the record they were absolutely fantastic when I saw them earlier this year.

Just going by my experience
When I mentioned them or put on their album, all I got was "who?"- and that was in the 70s as well as now!

[Enoch Mort]

Bobh

Wishbone Ash not famous ??!! Are you mad? Argus was and is a super album and the band itself were innovative, influential, have a huge following to this day and still appear with other bands of that era such as the Moody Blues, Procol Harum, Alan Parsons Project and artists such as Roger Daltrey and Art Garfunkel on rock cruises out of Miami. For the record they were absolutely fantastic when I saw them earlier this year.

Absolutely correct. Wishbone Ash definitely famous. Totally agree about Argus- an excellent album. I still play it. To think that I bought that album when it was released 47 years ago makes me wonder where the years have gone. Anyway, a really good band

[The Lone Gunman]

Absolutely correct. Wishbone Ash definitely famous.

I'm sure lots of music fans have heard of Wishbone Ash (or at least know the name), but I reckon describing them as famous is pushing it. They never had a hit single for starters. As for the band having a 'huge following', the venues they're playing these days would suggest otherwise.

[Moodybluebird]

Gunman

Famous just means well known, prominent or popular and the band certainly were all of those back in the day, as well as Andy Powell and Ted Turner being voted as two of the most influential and best guitarists of their generation. In my book that qualifies them as famous, not in a Beatles, Michael Jackson, David Bowie way but famous nonetheless.

Not all bands were singles bands and as for venues, there are only a handful of groups still going from that period who can sell out massive venues or sporting arenas. However, Wishbone Ash and many others of their ilk are still capable of filling decent sized venues.

A few months ago we saw Colin Blunstone at the British Legion club in Whitchurch only a few weeks after he and the rest of The Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in the US, probably the most prestigious music ceremony of its type on the planet. So it just goes to show, that size of venue isn't a good yardstick to measure an artist's fame. By the way The Zombies are fantastic live 🙂

[The Lone Gunman]

Gunman

Famous just means well known, prominent or popular and the band certainly were all of those back in the day, as well as Andy Powell and Ted Turner being voted as two of the most influential and best guitarists of their generation. In my book that qualifies them as famous, not in a Beatles, Michael Jackson, David Bowie way but famous nonetheless.

Not all bands were singles bands and as for venues, there are only a handful of groups still going from that period who can sell out massive venues or sporting arenas. However, Wishbone Ash and many others of their ilk are still capable of filling decent sized venues.

A few months ago we saw Colin Blunstone at the British Legion club in Whitchurch only a few weeks after he and the rest of The Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in the US, probably the most prestigious music ceremony of its type on the planet. So it just goes to show, that size of venue isn't a good yardstick to measure an artist's fame. By the way The Zombies are fantastic live ��

I've no doubt Wishbone Ash were influential and well-known enough in their heyday, but as I've already said I think famous is pushing it. I'm a fan of plenty of late-Sixties and early-Seventies stuff but I can honestly say I've never heard a track by Wishbone Ash that I'm aware of, and that is genuinely surprising considering I attend a music quiz most Tuesday evenings where my team are considered 'the youngsters' (we're all in our fifties) and all sorts of tracks from that era are played regularly.

I don't think you can put the Zombies in the same category. They had one of the most easily-recognised and regularly-covered hits of their day - a track which still gets regular radio play today. I've definitely heard stuff by them - I have both of their 1960's albums.

Fame is difficult to quantify. For instance, I saw Skunk Anansie play in support of other bands on several occasions before they even had a record deal. Would they qualify as famous? I wouldn't say so, although I guess others would and they did have plenty of hit singles.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

I've no doubt Wishbone Ash were influential and well-known enough in their heyday, but as I've already said I think famous is pushing it. I'm a fan of plenty of late-Sixties and early-Seventies stuff but I can honestly say I've never heard a track by Wishbone Ash that I'm aware of, and that is genuinely surprising considering I attend a music quiz most Tuesday evenings where my team are considered 'the youngsters' (we're all in our fifties) and all sorts of tracks from that era are played regularly.

I don't think you can put the Zombies in the same category. They had one of the most easily-recognised and regularly-covered hits of their day - a track which still gets regular radio play today. I've definitely heard stuff by them - I have both of their 1960's albums.

Fame is difficult to quantify. For instance, I saw Skunk Anansie play in support of other bands on several occasions before they even had a record deal. Would they qualify as famous? I wouldn't say so, although I guess others would and they did have plenty of hit singles.

The problem here is defining the word 'famous' when we and the general public have different areas of knowledge. I know of Wishbone Ash and have an album of theirs but most people in the street wouldn't have known about them at the height of their success.
A version of them is still doing the rounds, by the way.....