Andy Powell runs Wishbone Ash much the way that Mick Box has resurrected, and kept alive, Uriah Heep. The band continue to write music, perform around the globe and take great care to please their loyal fan base. On the band’s latest DVD, Andy has decided to let the curtain down between band and fan and allow an insider’s look into the who the band is and their latest writing sessions.

The band went to paradise in the form of a fan’s manor in the countryside to set up shop. Wishbone Ash decided to make this bold move and record in France. Powell explains the reasoning behind this decision, “It was a brave decision by us, to get a French perspective on the band, since everyone knows the French documentary tradition always goes that little bit further, rarely shirking from showing the human condition, warts and all. A lot of faith and trust is needed from the artist to allow all of this to be displayed, but I was happy to hand things over to Christian, no nonsense professional. It was also through him that we were introduced to our charming French hosts, Michel and Nathalie, who opened their house, and wine cellar, to the Ash. Rock & Roll is sometimes hard to play host to, but these folks, now firm friends, did it with both style and grace.”

Powell also contemplates if Ash would have ever been this open in the past, “I question whether, back in the day, Wishbone Ash could or would have allowed such an intimate view behind the scenes during the creation of our music. It’s not always a warm and fuzzy feeling watching yourself navigate through the creative process. You have to be prepared to open yourself up. As a drummer looking for the groove for example, or in my case, when playing the role of band leader or in Christian’s case, as director, working to get the results he was looking for. Christian had a very subtle technique and an almost soft way of cajoling us to produce the results he was after. Though, we were mostly unaware when he and his camera team would come in for a ‘sneak attack.’ That is the true skill of the documentarist.”

The end result is a true look inside a long running classic bands life several decades down the line. The music is great, the intimacy felt by the viewer and the interviews interesting and intriguing. This one is a winner.