FOR Wishbone Ash’s 40th anniversary tour, the band with the trademark twin lead guitars are twinning up with another veteran group, The Hamsters, as their support.

“We were looking to change our game a little bit,” says singer and guitarist Andy Powell, who leads the latest Wishbone line-up at the Grand Opera House in York on Sunday evening.

“We’d done a few gigs with The Hamsters and we’d always enjoyed playing with them and thought there was a synergy there.

“They pull their loyal crowd, who enjoy their Hendrix and ZZ Top covers, and we pull our loyal crowd, and the two are not familiar with each other, so that’s exactly what we were looking for.”

This week, the 40th anniversary has been marked by the release of a concert DVD, Wishbone Ash Live At Shepherds Bush Empire. Inevitably, Andy’s thoughts drift to 1969. “When I came to the audition, they couldn’t decide between me and Ted Turner, and their original idea had been to have a guitarist and keyboard player, but they decided to put us together almost by accident – but keyboards are a pain in the neck; guitars are much more user friendly!”

Wishbone Ash have survived ups and downs, not least the negative impact of punk on a band with a predilection for extended songs. Andy can smile now: “Funnily enough, I remember Johnny Rotten saying that Wishbone Ash’s Warrior was one of the songs that got him through his [Australian] jungle experience!”

• For tickets for Sunday’s 7.30pm concert, phone 0844 847 2322.