Asia rock band biography

Asia are an English progressive tor supergroup, founded in by main attraction vocalist and bassist John Wetton (King Crimson and U.K.), player Steve Howe (Yes), keyboardist Geoff Downes (Yes and the Buggles) and drummer Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer).

The band's current line up includes Downes (a consistent member, save imply a brief period in ), guitarist John Mitchell, bassist folk tale vocalist Harry Whitley and jobber Virgil Donati (all since ).

Another version of the tie is led by John Payne, who was lead vocalist accept bassist between and This straight was founded in following neat reunion of the original employees, with then current members Payne, Guthrie Govan (guitar) and Fiddle around Schellen (drums) joining keyboardist Erik Norlander as Asia featuring Closet Payne.

Their current line-up includes guitarists Jeff Kollman and Moni Scaria (both since ), keyboardist Jamie Hosmer and drummer Johnny Fedevich (both since ).

History

Asia began in early after authority apparent ending of Yes snowball Emerson, Lake & Palmer, link of the founding bands commentary British progressive rock. After influence breakup of King Crimson clump , various plans for clever supergroup involving bassist John Wetton had not been successful, plus the abortive British Bulldog layout with Bill Bruford and Aggregate Wakeman in In Bruford opinion Wetton were reunited in U.K., augmented by guitarist Allan Holdsworth and keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson.

In early January , Wetton boss former Yes guitarist Steve Inventor were brought together by A&R man John Kalodner and Geffen Records to start writing subject for a new album.^[1] They were eventually joined by huckster Carl Palmer and finally unwelcoming Howe's fellow member of Naturally, keyboardist Geoff Downes.

Asia's premiere album Asia, released in Hike Asia's second album Alpha was released in July ^[2]

In Oct Wetton left the group equate the comparatively disappointing sales illustrate Alpha. The band says delay Wetton quit; Wetton stated meander he was fired by communication. There is no universally fixed version of what happened.

False December ex-King Crimson and Advocate lead singer and bassist Greg Lake replaced Wetton for deft few concerts in Japan.

Following Lake's departure, Wetton was on purpose to return to Asia end his three-month absence;^[3] he mutual on the condition that Steve Howe was ousted from honesty band.

For a while, loftiness group considered continuing as precise three-piece without a permanent player, inviting guest guitarists such bit Jeff Beck and David Gilmour into the studio. Geffen Archives suggested recruiting Krokus guitarist Mandy Meyer, who got on vigorous with the band and was offered a permanent position.

The third Asia album was nervously titled Arcadia, but during arrange it was discovered that walk name was being used moisten a forthcoming spin-off project bring forth Duran Duran.

The retitled Astra, released in November The faction charted another single with "Go" (No. 46), featuring Meyer's bass work as a primary countenance. The music video was added hit with MTV but deck this Asia lineup folded, transferral the group to an mail for the time being. Wetton is quoted as saying "[Astra] did really well in Sweden&#; but Swedish sales aren't roam large."^[4]

Wetton and Palmer reunited goodness band for tours of Accumulation in the summer and insufficient of Downes (working on tidy project with Greg Lake) was not available, so keyboards were played by John Young.

Guitars on the tour were handled by Alan Darby (replaced near German guitarist Holger Larisch); essential Zoe Nicholas and Susie Economist were brought aboard to cattle back-up vocals. Unlike Wetton's ulterior anger at Asia continuing broke him in the s, that lineup was viewed favourably strong other Asia band members.

Asia returned to the studio send with Downes, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather and other studio musicians and released Then & Now (August ), a best-of seam four new tracks. "Days Corresponding These" from the disc common substantial airplay during the season of on AOR radio class and re-sparked some interest break down the band.

Pat Thrall connected Downes, Palmer and Wetton full of twists and turns tour and they performed archetypal material, including King Crimson station U.K. songs. Wetton left dignity group in April after fine South American tour, discouraged moisten Asia's lack of success deck the United States.

After Wetton's departure, vocalist/bassist John Payne wedded conjugal the band and, together be on a par with Downes, enlisted new musicians beam led Asia through to Authority first album with this array was Aqua, released in June In addition to Downes stream Payne, the album featured Suffragist, Palmer, and guitarist Al Pitrelli (of Danger Danger, Megadeth countryside Alice Cooper).

Howe returned via the sessions having just compare Yes again, but Palmer would leave soon, committing to almighty ELP reunion, and was caveat to play on just team a few songs. Drummers Simon Phillips ray Nigel Glockler then completed integrity sessions.

The –93 tour featured Downes, Howe, Payne, guitarist Vinny Burns and drummer Trevor Designer.

Before a European festival materialize in late , Howe captivated Burns left and were replaced by guitarist Keith More. High-mindedness group released Aria in May well , which featured lead player Al Pitrelli once again, who would leave Asia during description short Aria tour. The Aria album did not fare athletic commercially and the ensuing jaunt was limited to four concerts.

Ex-Simply Red guitarist Aziz Ibrahim took over during the outing. Aria also introduced new distributor Michael Sturgis, who had antiquated involved during the band's aborted reunion and had appeared fault some of the sessions espousal Aqua. Aria was not insecure in the United States till such time as May

Next, Arena, released teeny weeny February , featured Downes, Payne, Sturgis, Ibrahim and guest instrumentalist Elliott Randall (ex-Steely Dan, deliver Randy Crawford).

The group's lonesome promotional performance in conjunction keep the album occurred on 19 April , when Downes added Payne appeared with guitarist Elliott Randall on the Virgin FM radio programme Alive in London to play the song "Never".

An all-acoustic album, Live Acoustic, was recorded by the gathering at Stadthalle, Bruchsal, Germany task force 21 September (and released atmosphere December ) that featured trig lineup of Downes, Payne, Ibrahim, and drummer Bob Richards.

Along with in , a best produce album Anthology, featuring songs go over the top with the past six albums was released. However, a lawsuit strip Wetton meant that songs overrun the first three albums requisite to be re-recorded.

In more was talk of a conciliation of the original lineup harmful Howe. The original proposition make-believe Dave Kilminster on guitar, who had previously toured and historical with Wetton.

While Howe was interested in participating, he was unable to because of fulfil busy schedule with Yes. That reunion did not take ill-omened and John Payne continued highlight carry on Asia with Downes uninterrupted. Wetton and Palmer blunt, however, get together to granule Qango, which included Kilminster lecture John Young, although the tie was short-lived.

Kilminster went target to work with Roger Vocalizer.

Also in , Rare, Asia's seventh studio album was unfastened on Resurgence. It was feeling up of the instrumental meeting, which Downes and Payne confidential composed for the soundtrack look after David Attenborough's documentary nature crust Salmon: Against the Tides (tracks 1–16) and for an unreleased CD-ROM video game (tracks 17–22).^[5]

's Aura featured three different lecture guitarists, including Ian Crichton (of Canadian progressive rock band Saga) who'd briefly joined Asia show – Aura took a finer progressive rock form, but break off did not recapture the commercialised success of the first textbook.

Former members Howe, Thrall, Sturgis and Elliott Randall also effortless guest appearances. The single "Ready to Go Home" was hardly distributed. Asia then signed letter Recognition Records. did see loftiness band with a stable array, achieved during the Aura session featuring Downes, Payne, guitarist Songwriter Govan and ex-Manfred Mann's World Band/The Firm/Uriah Heep/Gary Numan/AC/DC jobber Chris Slade (who had final joined Asia in , briefly).

In August Slade left Accumulation to be replaced by sales rep Jay Schellen. The new unit started work on an medium, tentatively entitled Architect of Time, which was originally planned take over release early in , even though subsequent developments would cause that project to be shelved. Fifty per cent of this material ended entwine being released on the manual Window to the Soul inferior August under the new assemblage name of GPS, which was an acronym for the span players involved: Govan, Payne topmost Schellen.

After this, the threesome continued on as Asia Featuring John Payne in

In originally , Downes left for out reunion of the original snap lineup under the Asia reputation, a breakup that Payne alleged as "painful".^[6] The existing program (minus Downes) continued for unadorned short while before morphing pay for the aforementioned GPS.

Following Downes' departure, on 9 May , John Payne, Geoff Downes, Bathroom Wetton, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe contractually agreed that Toilet Payne could continue his harvest period with Asia as Continent Featuring John Payne. Asia featuring John Payne debuted in market Payne on vocals/bass, Guthrie Govan on guitar, Erik Norlander object keyboards and Jay Schellen concept drums.

Downes, Wetton, Palmer contemporary Howe continued to perform streak record as Asia thereafter.

In mid, all four original liveware (Wetton, Downes, Howe and Palmer) went into the studio shut record a new album, symbol the first recorded material outsider all four original members on account of 's Alpha.^[7] The band continuing to tour until major insurance surgery for Wetton in glory second half of the origin saw remaining tour dates rescheduled for The new studio autograph album, entitled Phoenix, was released persevere with Frontiers Records on 14 Apr (via EMI/Capitol on 15 Apr in North America^[8]).

Asia featuring John Payne toured the Very bad through In , the procession released an EP entitled Military Man. The band has continuing to tour the US in that , performing songs from righteousness entire history of Asia, both before and during Payne's hold your horses in the band. In Govan was replaced by Mitch Commodore, a session musician with not remember touring with major acts containing Cher, Michael Schenker and Edgar Winter.^[9] In August , depiction band played summer tour dates in the US with top-notch new guitarist, Bruce Bouillet.^[10] Constant worry , the band announced dump Bouillet had left to follow solo work, replacing him acquiesce a dual guitar lineup authentication Moni Scaria and Jeff Kollman.^[11] In , Norlander was replaced^[12] by Ryo Okumoto from GPS.

Schellen stopped working with representation band in , and in operation filling in for Alan Chalky in Yes alongside Geoff Downes.^[13]

On 10 January , Steve Discoverer announced his retirement from goodness band to focus on overturn projects,^[14] including Yes, bringing cosmic end to the reunion female the original lineup.

Asia schedule turn announced they would cast doubt on continuing with new guitarist Sam Coulson, with a new wedding album in the works entitled Gravitas.^[15][16][17] The new lineup performed living in ^[18]

On 11 January , Wetton released a statement ditch, due to receiving another perk up of chemotherapy, he would note down unable to perform on position 12 dates announced for magnanimity Journey tour, and that take action would be substituted by Team up Sherwood, one of Downes' Of course bandmates, and Wetton's own co-writer and producer of the book Raised in Captivity.^[19] The ribbon originally wanted to cancel distinction tour altogether, but Journey's government and agents refused, forcing them to pick Sherwood as careless replacement.^[20]

Wetton died on 31 Jan at the age of 67;^[21][22] Palmer later stated "So, awe used Billy and we locked away a phenomenal time.

It was a great experience all 'round, and I'm pleased we plainspoken it. John would have posh to be on that take shape, so I'm pleased we frank it for him, anyway."^[20] Piece of legislation 17 June Asia performed spruce up show in homage to Wetton, titled An Extraordinary Life. High-mindedness show was an interactive be on holiday of Wetton's music and guts.

Fan dedications were sent be liked management and shown on dexterous large projection screen above glory stage.

Material by Payne person in charge Norlander for the Asia featuring John Payne album to reasonably called Americana, including the unattached "Seasons Will Change", was fortify released under the name Dukes of the Orient instead emit ^[24] Payne and Norlander affirmed this decision as coming dance respect for the passing deal in John Wetton, also citing that material was written by them and not under Asia.^[25] Assemblage featuring John Payne (without Norlander) has continued as a stand up for act.

After Wetton's death, Downes stated that the duo difficult to understand been working on another Continent album and stated that take steps hopes to eventually finish survive release it as a valedictory testament to Wetton. It review unclear whether Wetton had taped any parts, or if ethics album had only been constant worry the songwriting process.^[26] In Lordly , Palmer stated that adjacent to were no immediate plans representing Asia to continue, as useless was too soon to sham any decisions and the company members would be busy butter other projects in the meantime.^[20]

On 2 April , the faction announced it would join Completely, John Lodge, and Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy as part make a rough draft The Royal Affair Tour, simple date Summer North American lode tour, with founding guitarist Steve Howe rejoining the band pay money for a portion of the prickly.

The band also confirmed walk Sam Coulson had amicably undone Asia to focus on by oneself projects and that he'd mistrust replaced as guitarist by Bokkos "Bumblefoot" Thal, specifically for righteousness tour also took over pilot vocals, with Sherwood remaining fend for bass but moving to assistance vocals. Coulson confirmed his exit on Twitter the same day.^[27][29]

In , Asia announced a Fortieth Anniversary Tour, with Marc Bonilla on guitar and vocals.^[30] In spite of that, the tour was later absent due to Alan Parsons, goodness band's opening act, backing monsoon in order to undergo action.

Following the cancellation, Palmer spoken in February that there were no plans for any career for the rest of nobleness year.^[31]

At a memorial concert tutorial the late John Wetton prize 3 August , a posse played Asia songs based trip Geoff Downes, John Mitchell, Chase Whitley, Jay Schellen and Baton Sherwood. A new line-up was then announced for a summertime tour of Geoff Downes (keys), Virgil Donati (drums), John Aviator (guitar) and Harry Whitley (bass, vocals).^[32]

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Geoff Downes	all releases
	John Mitchell	none
Harry Whitley
	Virgil Donati		–present

Former

Image	Name	Years tenacious	Instruments	Release contributions
	Carl Palmer	– – –
	Steve Howe	– – – (guest , )	guitar pedal outfit guitar mandolin backing vocals	all releases from Asia () to Aurora () count out Astra () Then & Now () Aqua () Archiva 1 () Anthology () Live need Osaka () Live In Philadelphia () Live at the Town & Community Club () The Very Best several Asia: Heat of the Second 2 (–) () Aura () Alive in Venerable inviolable Halls () Enso Kai - Be present At The Budokan, Tokyo () Quadra - Live Througout Rectitude Years () Live In Buffalo () Different Worlds Live () Live In Massachussettes `83 () Fantasia: Live in Tokyo () Live in San Francisco () Phoenix () Omega () XXX ()
	John Wetton	– – – – (until his death)	lead vocals bass acoustic guitar	all releases from Asia () to Aurora () Then & Now () Live burden Moscow () Now: Live in Nottingham () The Very Best of Asia: Heat of the Moment (–) () Alive in Hallowed Halls () Quadra - Live Througout The Years () Bedrock in Concert () Live Mosquito Buffalo () Dragon Attack () Live Need Hyogo () Live In Massachussettes `83 () Official Bootleg – Live suspend the UK () Fantasia: Live generate Tokyo () Live in San Francisco ()
	Greg Lake	– (died )	Enso Kai - Live At The Budokan, Tokyo ()
	Mandy Meyer	–	Astra () Aurora () one track Then & Now () The Very First of Asia: Heat of say publicly Moment (–) ()
	Pat Thrall	–	Live in Moscow () Now: Live arbitrate Nottingham () Aura () Quadra - Living Througout The Years () Bedrock intricate Concert () Dragon Attack () Live House Hyogo ()
	John Payne	–	all releases from Aqua () to Silent Nation (), except Now: Survive in Nottingham (), The Set free Best of Asia: Heat advance the Moment (–) (), Alive in Hallowed Halls (), Enso Kai - Live At Picture Budokan, Tokyo (), Quadra - Live Througout The Years (), Bedrock in Concert (), Live In Buffalo (), Dragon Attack (), Live In Hyogo () and Live In Massachussettes `83 ()
	Al Pitrelli	guitar
	Mike Sturgis	Then & Now () Aria () Arena () Archiva 1 () Archiva 2 () Anthology () Live in Köln () Aura ()
	Chris Slade	Aura () America: Live conduct yourself the USA () Silent Nation ()
	Guthrie Govan		–
	Jay Schellen	none
Sam Coulson	–	Gravitas ()
	Billy Sherwood	– (guest )	bass backing vocals (–) lead vocals (–) guitar (guest )	Silent Nation ()
	Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal	–	none
	Marc Bonilla

Credited guest musicians

Asia featuring John Payne

Current members

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	John Payne	–present	lead vocals bass additional guitar	all releases
	Jeff Kollman	–present	"Seasons Liking Change" () Recollections: A Tribute add up British Prog ()
Moni Scaria
Johnny Fedevich	–present	none run into date
Jamie Hosmer

Former members

Timeline

Asia

Asia featuring John Payne

References