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Mark Ashton 

Started playing in Bands age of 12.

Supported most of the English Big bands at 16, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Yard Birds, etc.

Rare Bird Sympathy - 1970 / Charisma Records

1969 in London, he joined  "Rare Bird​", 1970 "Sympathy" ​becames N° 1 in France, in Italy and Netherland, sold more than 2 millions albums.  And over 350 cover versions.

 

En 1969 à Londres, il a rejoint le groupe​ "Rare Bird", l'année suivante "Sympathy" ​qu'il a co-composé devient le n° 1 des ventes en France, en Italie et aux Pays Bas, plus de 2 millions albums sont vendus. On compte quelques 350 versions de ce seul titre.

 

Beautiful Scarlet / Germain TV

 

Sympathy / Top Of The Pops, UK TV

Rare Bird - What You Want to Know

BBC 1971 THE OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST

1974 - 1975  :  HEADSTONE    TRIDENT PRODUCTIONS - EMI LONDON

                Producer John Anthony​ ​​​(producer of the 1st Album of​ "Yes" (1968) and "Queen" (1973).

In 1974, Mark Ashton formed "HEADSTONE" and made 2 albums with Trident Production - EMI Records.

Guitarist Steve Bolton later joined The Who Tour.

1st Bassist Philippe Chen joined JEFF BECK "Wired" & ROD STEWART "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy".

2nd Bassist Jerome Rimson joined VAN MORRISON.

Bad Habit / Headstone (1974)

HEADSTONE / Headstone (1975)

Producer : John Anthony​

Vocal / RhythmGuitar : Mark Ashton​

Guitar : Steve Bolton

            (Atmic Rooster)

Bass : Philippe Chen

           (Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart)

Drums : Chili Charles

Vocal / RhythmGuitar : Mark Ashton​

Guitar: Steve Bolton

Bass: Jerome Rimson

          (Van Morrison)

Drums : Peter Van Hook  

Violin : Joe O'Donnel 

1976  :  Mark Ashton L.A.  -  20th Century Records. Los Angels

1st solo album. Producer : Chris Bond (producer of Hall & Oats, co-producer of Jeff Beck )

Bizarre In L.A.

Mark Ashton : Vocals, Rhythm Guitar​

​Chris Bond​ : Guitar

​Leyland Sklar : Bass​​ (James Taylor)

Scotty Edwards​ : Bass (Stevie Wonder)

​Jim Gordon​ : Drums (Derek & The Dominos)

​Tom Scott​ : Lyricon & Sax (Joni Mitchel)

David Paich : Keyboards (Toto)

​​Produced by Alan Callan (X-exec of Led Zeppelin)

 

Vocals​, Guitar : Mark Ashton

Guitar : Bob Weston, Steve Gould,

             Winston Delanero

Bass : Mick Feat, Terry Wilson (3)

Keyboards : Derek Austin :

Drums :  Peter Van HookePhil Wainman

              Tony Braunagel

Steel Drums : Miguel Barrados

Percussion : Chris Fletcher

​​Keyboards, Synth Derek Austin​​

Cover Design & Photography by Hipgnosis

Manufactured and distributed

by PYE Records Sales Ltd

℗ & © Ariola Eurodisc Ltd.
Ariola Records

1988 : Modern Pilgrims / Ashton   RCA Records, Los Angeles - BMG

                                  Producer : Paul Rothchild​   (Producer of The Doors, Janis Joplin)

Watch Youtube

A Place To Go

In 1988, formed "ASHTON" in Los Angeles.

Signed wirh "R.C.A. Records" by "Sanctuary Management Company".

​​

Bob Birch​ (bass)  Guy Babylon (keyboards), after this album, both joined Elton John and played more than 20 years.

Guy Babylon R.I.P. in 2010 :  "Grammy Award Winner"

Bob Birch R.I.P. in 2012    "Both were incredibly talented." / Mark Ashton​

Mandy Mayer : guitarist of "Asia" and  "Unisonic".

Mark Adams (guitar) played with John Entwhistle (The Who)

Jonathan Valen (drums) : Fuel Tour of Judas Priest (1985-87), Andy Taylor

1991 : Rcorded and produced "New Volum of Music" in L.A.

1993 - 1996 : Signed with Sony Music Publishing Paris as a composer.

1996 - 2002 : Directeur exclusif for APG Music

                      (independent label) in New York.

​1996 - : Begining of  vey-art​​

2008 ---

Mark Ashton moved to Nice, Côte d'Azur as an international painter and formed his new band "Mark Ashton project"

with young french musiciens in 2012. 

1979 Mark Ashton Solo - Ariola Eurodisc Ltd

Before RARE BIRD

Before RARE BIRD

Turnstyle​ 1967

Formed his first band "Turnstyle" at 17 years old, began composing and released thier first single "Riding A Wave" (Side B "Trot") on "Pye Records. They opened for the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Yardbirds, etc.

Turnstyle​ 1967

Il forme son 1er groupe "Turnstyle" à l'âge de 16 ans.

Il commence à écrire et à composer la musique, et

le groupe sort le 1er Single "Riding A Wave" (face B: "Trot").

​Il est propulsé à jouer les premiers parties des groupes

connus comme Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd et les Yardbirds.

Riding A Wave / Turnstyle

Vikings
​He joined his first band "The Vikings" as a drummer at 12 years old.​

Childhood

Mark Ashton learnt singing, "chanter" and "Bagpipes".

Corvettes

Voted the best band in Kent, U.K​​​

Corvettes​

​Remporte le titre de meilleur groupe de Kent, U.K​​​

Vikings

Le 1er groupe que Mark intègre en tant que batteur,​

Mark a douze ans, il vit dans le Kent, Angleterre.

Son Enfance

Enfant, Mark Ashton apprend le chant et aussi la chanterelle,

c'est un petit instrument que les enfants écossais apprennent

à jouer avant de passer à la "Cornemuse".

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