ROCK legends Wishbone Ash play Newport City Live Arena next week. It's part of the band's 35th anniversary tour which is taking in most of Europe.

The band first wailed into life alongside the likes of Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper as the 60s died and the 70s began.

With a harder edged sound than the hippies and with bigger amplifiers, Wishbone Ash et al set about defining a new sound which was to dominate the decade - hard rock.

Albums like Wishbone Ash, Argus and Pilgrimage are now regarded as classics for the band's distinctive twin-lead-guitars.

In turn the band influenced the next generations of rockers from Thin Lizzy to Iron Maiden both of whom wired their guitars accordingly.

Throughout the decades many notable musicians contributed their talents to the band, including Asia's John Wetton, Trevor Bolder from Uriah Heep and Laurie Wisefield, who would later play guitar for Joe Cocker and Tina Turner.

Late in 2004, founding guitarist Andy Powell, bassist Bob Skeat and drummer Ray Weston were joined by Finnish guitarist Muddy Manninen who replaced fellow Finn Ben Granfelt.

One of Helsinki's top players, Manninen is a natural fit with the Ash. Wishbone Ash play The Community Theatre, Abertillery (01495 350360) on Thursday, April 21 and Newport City Live Arena (01633 259661) on Sunday.