 In the late 1990s, bandmate Bob Skeat recommended Birch to Andy Powell when a guitarist vacancy appeared.Birch joined Wishbone Ash in 1997, performing on the "Trance Visionary", "Psychic Terrorism", and "Bare Bones" albums.He toured extensively with the band, performing lead vocals on songs such as "Persephone" and "Phoenix", before leaving in 2001.