SLIPKID'S Concert Photo Archives - Wishbone Ash 2000 U.K. Tour

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U.K. Spring 2000

Andy Powell - guitar, vocals
Mark Birch - guitar, vocals
Bob Skeat - bass, backing vocals
Ray Weston - drums

The spring of 2000 marked the 30th year anniversary of the band, which was celebrated in style with a major gig at the Shepherd's Bush Empire on April 22nd. This was a not-to-be-missed affair as it presented the opportunity to see the band in a major venue with professional sound and video crew. The concert was nothing short of spectacular due to the show being augmented with non-stop video images presented on two huge screens above the band during the entire concert. About half of the images were live feeds taken during the concert which presented an eerie sense of deja-vu as the band loomed large in stereo above the stage, seemingly recreating every song three times if you counted the view on stage. It was hard for the eyes to decide on what to look at during the show, made even more surreal when images from the past, both still photography and film, were also presented, giving the viewer non-stop sights of the band from their history, sometimes different images on each of the two screens at the same time. So while down below on the stage today's lineup were busy jamming away, up above on the screens were all sorts of photographs from the years of Andy, Martin, Ted, Steve, Laurie, Roger, Tony, Mike, Ray, Bob, Mark, Trevor, John, etc.

The presentation was quite remarkable, and the whole show was of course captured on miles and miles of videotape, with a release planned for the near future on DVD! Special guests were also featured, mostly highlighting the new Ash unplugged 'BARE BONES' album, but from their rocking past Claire Hammill and Laurie Wisefield also joined the band on stage for several rousing numbers. I had not seen Laurie since 1983 (!) and his appearance on the classic 'LIVING PROOF' was very thrilling to say the least. He also played on a few other numbers during the evening, and on an interesting note I guess he forgot to bring his own guitar because he ended up playing one of Ben Granfelt's custom strat models!! Ben and his band were once more brought over from Finland to open for Wishbone, and also played a few gigs of their own whilst in London (if interested in live shots of Ben please click here).

- Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, England 4/22/2000 -

Once again I did not take many concert shots but I have some of various friends milling about, plus some shots from the after show party held at a small bar called "Blues West 14" just down the road. The party was hosted by the promoter of the Shepherd's Bush show, Ramona da Gama, and she went all out providing not only a tremendous spread of assorted edible goodies, but also a celebratory 30th year anniversary cake in the shape of a Flying V guitar (what else?). The cake also served as a birthday cake for Andy Powell who just turned, uh, let's just say that he got a year older. It was a great party, and I felt most fortunate to be able to "sneak" in despite not being on the official guest list. Ironically, this small venue was host to a Wishbone Ash CONCERT just six months prior which I attended, and here I was again and this time it was simply a party, and both times it was filled to capacity. Wierd....