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Asia (band)

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Asia
Musical artist

Asia is a rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup and included former members of veteran progressive rock bands Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Uriah Heep, U.K., and The Buggles. As of 2008, there are two distinct groups using the Asia name: a reunion of the band's original line-up performing as Asia, and Asia Featuring John Payne featuring several members from later incarnations of Asia.

History

Formation

Asia began with the apparent demise of Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, two of the flagship bands of British progressive rock. After the break-up of King Crimson in 1974, various plans for a supergroup involving bassist John Wetton had been mooted, including the abortive British Bulldog project with Bill Bruford and Rick Wakeman in 1976. In 1977, Bruford and Wetton were reunited in UK, along with guitarist Allan Holdsworth and keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson. Their eponymous debut was released in 1978. By 1980, after UK's demise and Wetton's departure from UK, a new supergroup project was suggested involving Wetton, Wakeman, drummer Carl Palmer and (then little known) guitarist Trevor Rabin, but Wakeman walked out of the project shortly before they were due to sign to Geffen and before they had ever played together. Rabin, in a filmed interview from 1984 and included in the recently released and updated DVD 9012Live, said that his involvement with this project never went anywhere because "there was no chemistry" among the participants.

In early 1981, Wetton and Yes guitarist Steve Howe were brought together by A&R man John Kalodner and Geffen Records to start working and writing. They were eventually joined by Carl Palmer, and finally by Howe's recent Yes cohort, keyboardist Geoff Downes. The band's early offerings, under the auspices of Geffen record label head David Geffen and Kalodner, were considered disappointing by music critics and fans of traditional progressive rock, who found the music closer to radio-friendly AOR pop-rock. However, Asia clicked with fans of arena acts such as Journey, Boston, and Electric Light Orchestra. Rolling Stone gave Asia an indifferent review , while still acknowledging the band's musicianship was a cut above the usual AOR expectations.

Early years

Asia's eponymous debut album, released in the spring of 1982 enjoyed considerable commercial success, spending nine weeks at number one in the U.S. album chart selling over 4 million copies in the US alone. The album sold over 10 million worldwide. The singles "Only Time Will Tell" (#17) and "Heat of the Moment" (#4) became huge Top 40 hits, with the latter cracking the Top Five, and remaining a stadium favourite at U.S. sporting events.

"Sole Survivor" also received heavy air play on rock stations across the US.

The US tour also did extremely well, selling out every date on the debut tour, which began in theaters but quickly expanded into arenas due to high ticket demand. Asia would also receive a Grammy nomination as Best New Artist Of The Year. ] also played Asia videos on heavy rotation, as many as 5 times a day. Billboard named the Asia debut as album of the year. Asia's logo and cover art would be handled by famed artist Roger Dean of Yes and Uriah Heep fame.

Asia became known as pioneers of phase two of the progressive rock era by avoiding long-winded forays, and by including (to at least a greater extent than phase one) enough commercial polish to attract radio airplay outside of album-rock circles. Yes' 90125 and Big Generator, ELPowell's Emerson, Lake & Powell in 1986, and the GTR album would all follow in the Asia debut album's footsteps.

However, neither the second nor any following Asia album repeated the chart success of the first. "Don't Cry" was a Top Ten single in the summer of 1983 and the video was played non-stop on MTV, while "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," a fan favourite for John Wetton vocal performance, charted inside of Billboard's top 40. The video for "Smile" also scored heavy MTV play. But Rolling Stone panned Alpha as an over-produced commercial album , while others lamented that Howe and Palmer were effectively reduced to session musicians. However, many Asia fans favour Alpha over the debut. The tracks "Eye To Eye" and "My Own Time" became huge fan favourites. "Open Your Eyes" and "The Heat Goes On" became concert staples. Alpha received indifferent reviews from various critics, while still attaining platinum status. Alpha reached #6 on the USA Billboard album chart.

In 1983, Wetton was forced out of the group on the heels of the comparatively disappointing sales of Alpha. The band stated that Wetton quit and it remains debateable to this day what really happened. In any event, the next leg of the US tour, scheduled for the fall was cancelled. Ex-King Crimson and ELP frontman Greg Lake replaced Wetton for the highly publicised "Asia in Asia" concert in Japan on Dec. 6, 1983, which was the first concert broadcast over satellite to MTV in the US, and later made into a home video. The songs had to be played in a different key to suit Lake's voice and he read most of the lyrics from a teleprompter. The Japanese dates were successful financially, but not musically. Lake left in early 1984, and Asia reunited with Wetton in 1985 to start work on their next album, but Steve Howe soon left to be replaced by Krokus guitarist Mandy Meyer. Howe then enjoyed brief success with GTR, another supergroup, formed with Steve Hackett of Genesis and produced by Downes.

Astra to the USSR

The third Asia album, Astra, was not as commercially successful as the first two. Geffen cancelled the tour due to lack of interest. Howe's replacement, Mandy Meyer of Krokus, provided more of a hard-rock guitar approach. The band enjoyed a modest hit single, "Go," (#46) with Meyer's guitar heroics center stage. The music video was another hit with MTV. In 1985, this Asia line-up ended, although Wetton resurfaced with a 1987 album with guitarist Phil Manzanera, Wetton-Manzanera, based on Asia material. Asia were also credited with a contribution to the Sylvester Stallone film soundtrack to Over the Top, although Wetton was the only original band member involved. Wetton formed a band line-up without Downes for a short tour in 1989 with Palmer; keys were played by John Young, guitars by Alan Darby who would then be replaced by German guitarist Holger Larisch. Unlike Wetton's later anger at Asia continuing without him in the 1990s, this project was viewed favourably by other Asia band members.

Asia returned to the studio in 1990 with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather and other musicians (see discography below) and released "Then & Now", a best-of with 4 new tracks. Pat Thrall joined Downes, Palmer, and Wetton, on tour who performed classic material and even King Crimson and UK songs. The band toured the former Soviet Union in 1990 to play in front of 20,000 fans, two sold out nights. "Days Like These" charted at #64 in 1990 and climbed all the way to #2 on the Album Rock Tracks charts. A video was planned but was scrapped due to various problems hampering the single's chance at the Top 40. Asia received the RIAA gold album award for Then and Now many years later, but the initial response was poor as the album failed to dent the Top 100. The decision not to tour the US for this album did not help any. A DVD and CD can be bought of the Asia concert in the USSR. John Wetton left in 1991 after a South American tour, disgusted by Asia's lack of success in the States. He went on to focus on recording solo albums, none of which have yielded any hits.

The Payne era

Downes teamed up with vocalist/bassist John Payne, thrusting Asia into a new era; enlisting new musicians and leading Asia through to 2005.

The comeback album, Aqua (1992) also featured Steve Howe and Carl Palmer and new guitarist Al Pitrelli (ex-Alice Cooper)and was released on Great Pyramid/JRS Records. Howe returned during the seesions having just left Yes, but Palmer would leave soon, committing to an ELP reunion and was able to play on just three songs. Sessionmen would complete the drumming. Downes' environmentalist single "Who Will Stop The Rain?" (originally written for Max Bacon and the aborted Rain project, later appearing on Bacon's album From the Banks of the River Irwell) attracted some radio attention, but the Aqua club tour featuring Howe (whose presence was heavily promoted) was well received by most of the band's supporters, with Howe taking the stage after the fifth song. However, the tour was successful enough to warrant the band's continuation. The 1992-93 tour featured Downes, Howe, Payne, guitarist Vinnie Burns and drummer Trevor Thornton. Prior to a European festival tour in late 1993, Howe and Burns left replaced by guitarist Keith Moore. Payne acquitted himself well on the tour, but many fans refused to support an Asia lineup without Wetton.

The group released Aria in 1994 and Arena in 1996. Aria featured former Danger Danger and then future Megadeth lead guitarist Al Pitrelli once again, who would leave Asia during the short Aria tour. This illustrates how the keyboard-driven band often faced trouble keeping a regular guitarist. Aria sold horribly and the ensuing tour did even worse. Ex-Simply Red guitarist Aziz Ibrahim took over during the tour. Aria also introduced new drummer Michael Sturgis, who did some of the sessions on Aqua.

Next, Arena featured Downes, Payne, Sturgis, Ibrahim and new guitarist Elliot Randall (ex-Steely Dan, Randy Crawford). The album featured Asia's longest track ever in "The Day Before The War". The album was released on Resurgence Records and there was no tour due to lack of interest. 2001's Aura featured three different session guitarists, including Ian Crichton of Canadian prog rock band Saga. In the late 1990s, Downes and Payne opened the Asia vaults, releasing the double-disc Archiva, a collection of unreleased tracks recorded during the first three Downes/Payne albums.

In 1999 there was talk of a reunion of the original lineup (minus Howe). The original proposition included Dave Kilminster on guitar, who had previously toured and recorded with John Wetton. While Howe was interested in participating, two of the band members vetoed his involvement. This reunion did not take place and John Payne continued to carry on Asia with Downes uninterrupted. Wetton and Palmer did, however, get together to form Qango, which included Dave Kilminster and John Young, although the band was short-lived. Dave Kilminster went on to work with Keith Emerson and Roger Waters. In 2000, Geffen/Universal released a best-of entitled "The Very Best Of Asia: Heat Of The Moment (1982-1990)" which also included three rare b-sides from the early days.

Aura (2001) album took a more progressive rock form, but did not recapture the commercial success of the first album. Former members Howe, Thrall, Sturgis and Randall all made guest appearances. The single "Ready To Go Home" was barely distributed. As usual, Asia were unable to get a real record deal, this time signing with Recognition. 2001 did see the band with a stable lineup, acheived during the Aura sessions featuring Downes, Payne, guitarist Guthrie Govan and ex-Manfred Mann's Earth Band/The Firm/Uriah Heep/Gary Numan/AC/DC drummer Chris Slade. Asia would tour for the first time since 1994, including the first US dates since 1993. A live album and DVD "America: Live In The USA" was released in 2003, recorded at the Classic Rock Festival in Trenton, NJ in October 2002 which they co-headlined with Uriah Heep.

In the summer of 2003, Downes and Payne did the "Asia Across America Tour" which got some national media attention. Performing "unplugged", the duo would reportedly play anywhere in the US that fans requested, provided there was a venue and the fans put up $3,000 to cover costs. From New Jersey to Alaska gigs took place and the fans were treated to "meet and greet" sessions after each show as well, and given a rare chance to see Downes in an intimate setting.

Marking a departure from convention, for the first time a studio release was not titled as a single word starting and ending with the letter A. Released on Asia's newly-signed label SPV/Inside Out Records, 2004's Silent Nation (name influenced by the Howard Stern vs. FCC incident) picked up some unexpected exposure on the Internet.

In 2004, an acoustic Asia toured, featuring only Downes and Payne. In early 2005, the full band toured in Europe and the Americas, playing settings ranging from small clubs to medium-sized theaters. Again, in the US attendance was poor at best. Meanwhile, Wetton and Downes released some archival Asia material under the name Wetton/Downes and they then reunited to record a full-length album (Icon, released in 2005), and an accompanying EP and DVD.

In August 2005, Slade left the group to be replaced by Jay Schellen. The new band started work on an album, tentatively entitled Architect of Time, which was originally planned for release in 2006, though later developments would cause this project to be shelved for the time being.

Two bands

In early 2006, the partnership between Downes and Payne was dissolved when Downes left for a reunion of the original band line-up under the Asia name. The existing line-up minus Downes continued for a short while before morphing into GPS. Payne, Govan and Schellen subsequently launched the Asia Featuring John Payne name in 2007 with a new line-up.

The Four Original Members of Asia

Geoff Downes and the other three original members (Wetton, Palmer, and Howe) convened a group meeting in England, in early 2006, in anticipation of formally reforming for work that year, and after a slew of rumors, announced that this original line-up of Asia were planning a CD, DVD and world tour to celebrate the band's 25th anniversary. The band appeared in May 2006 on U.S. cable channel VH-1 Classic and began a world tour largely focused on the U.S. The band secured ownership of the Asia name and toured under the description of the Four Original Members of Asia. The setlist featured most of the first album as well as a couple of songs from the second, along with one selection each from Yes, ELP, King Crimson, and the Buggles to acknowledge the history of each member of the band.

The tour began on Aug. 31, 2006 in Atlantic City, NJ. "The Definitive Collection" was released by Geffen/Universal to tie into the tour in September and peaked at #183 on the US album charts—the first time Asia had made the charts since 1990. A limited edition release available only at Best Buy stores also included a DVD of all the band's music videos.

The reunion tour continued into 2007, with venue size based on the success of the 2006 shows where the band was mainly playing in clubs and theaters, many of which sold out, including all 7 dates in Japan. Also in 2007, the band released Fantasia: Live In Tokyo on CD and DVD through Eagle Records, commemorating the 25th Anniversary and documenting the success of the 2006-2007 tour.

In mid-2007, all four original members (Wetton, Downes, Howe and Palmer) went into the studio to record a new album, marking the first recorded material from all four original members since 1983's Alpha. The band continued to tour until major heart surgery for Wetton in the second half of the year saw remaining tour dates rescheduled for 2008. The new studio album, entitled Phoenix, will be released on Frontiers Records in April 2008, along with a world tour to promote it. The 12-track album is planned to include "An Extraordinary Life", based on Wetton's experience of ill health; rockers such as "Never Again" and "Nothing's Forever"; and power ballads such as "Heroine" and "I Will Remember You". The world tour starting in March will feature a couple of the new songs. The album will feature Roger Dean artwork.

Asia Featuring John Payne

Payne, Govan and Schellen continued working together after Downes' departure for the aforementioned reunion. This included continuing work on what had been planned as the next Asia album, Architect of Time. They began to work under the name GPS with Ryo Okumoto of Spock's Beard on keys. Their debut release, Window to the Soul (2006), included material developed for Architect of Time.

In May 2007, Payne, Govan and Schellen announced the new band name, "Asia Featuring John Payne", adding Erik Norlander on keys. The first release under this name at the end of 2007 was a live recording of the late 2005 Asia line-up of Downes, Payne, Govan and Schellen, entitled Extended Versions in the US and Scandinavia in the UK.

The band is planning to release a completed Architect of Time and tour in 2008 under the Asia Featuring John Payne name. Meanwhile, Payne, Govan, and Schellen are also continuing work as GPS.

Personnel

Many musicians participated through the years, especially during the 1990s, when the band consisted essentially of Geoff Downes and John Payne plus an ever-changing set of guests. The current reunited original lineup is highlighted in bold.

Other musicians joined and left after a short time, without recording any studio material with the group. The most notable collaboration of this kind was the participation of Greg Lake in the "Asia in Asia" concert in bass guitar and lead vocals. Yet more musicians played as session, guest or live artists without formally joining Asia. Some of the names include Simon Phillips, Steve Lukather, Ian Crichton, Ant Glynne, Ron Komie, Scott Gorham, Vinny Burns (touring guitar for Aqua), Tony Levin, and Vinnie Colaiuta.

Discography

Albums

  • 1982 - Asia (Downes, Wetton, Howe, Palmer) #1 US, #15 JP
  • 1983 - Alpha (Downes, Wetton, Howe, Palmer) #6 US, #4 JP
  • 1985 - Astra (Downes, Wetton, Meyer, Palmer) #67 US, #15 JP
  • 1986 - Aurora (Japanese-only EP) #66 JP
  • 1990 - Then & Now (New tracks: Downes, Wetton, Lukather, Komie, Meyer, Gorham, Palmer) #114 US, #24 JP
  • 1990 - Live in Moscow (Downes, Wetton, Palmer, Thrall) 14 tracks including "Kari-Anne"
  • 1992 - Aqua (Downes, Payne, Howe, Pitrelli, Palmer, Glynne, Phillips, Glockler) #21 JP, #51 GE
  • 1994 - Aria (Downes, Payne, Pitrelli, Sturgis) #20 JP, #89 GE
  • 1996 - Arena (Downes, Payne, Sturgis, Ibrahim, Randall, Hotei, Jardim) #48 JP
  • 1996 - Archiva Vol. 1 (Downes, Payne, Howe, Pitrelli, Gorham, Glynne, Dessent, Sturgis, Glockler, Nye)
  • 1996 - Archiva Vol. 2 (Downes, Payne, Pitrelli, Randall, Gorham, Glynne, Dessent, Palmer, Sturgis, Glockler, Thornton, Hayman, Nye, Jardim)
  • 1997 - Anthology (New tracks: Downes, Payne, Sturgis, Randall, Ibrahim)
  • 1999 - Rare (Downes, Payne)
  • 2000 - The Very Best of Asia: Heat of the Moment (1982-1990)
  • 2001 - Aura (Payne, Downes, Howe, Crichton, Randall, Thrall, Govan, Slade, Sturgis, Colaiuta, Jardim, Levin) #115 GE
  • 2004 - Silent Nation (Downes, Payne, Govan, Slade) #77 GE
  • 2006 - Definitive Collection (Downes, Wetton, Howe, Palmer; compilation) #183 US
  • 2007 - "Extended Versions" (Live, "Featuring John Payne") (Downes, Payne, Govan, Schellen)
  • 2007 - Fantasia: Live in Tokyo (Wetton, Downes, Howe, Palmer)
  • 2008 - Phoenix (Wetton, Downes, Howe, Palmer) forthcoming; due April

There have been several further archival live releases.

Singles

  • "Heat of the Moment" (1982) #4 US, #1 US Mainstream Rock, #46 UK, #90 JP
  • "Sole Survivor" (1982) #10 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Wildest Dreams" (radio only) (1982) #28 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Only Time Will Tell" (1982) #17 US, #8 US Mainstream Rock, #54 UK
  • "Here Comes The Feeling" (radio only) (1982) #40 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Time Again" (radio only) (1982) #43 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Don't Cry" (1983) #10 US, #1 US Mainstream Rock, #33 UK, #76 JP
  • "The Heat Goes On" (1983) #5 US Mainstream Rock
  • "True Colours" (radio only) (1983) #20 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Daylight" (radio only) (1983) #24 US Mainstream Rock
  • "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" (1983) #34 US, #25 US Mainstream Rock, #81 UK
  • "Go" (1985) #46 US, #7 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Too Late" (1986) #30 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Wishing" (1986) didn't chart in the US
  • "Days Like These" (1990) #64 US, #2 US Mainstream Rock
  • "Prayin' 4 A Miracle" (promo) (1990) didn't chart in the US

note: no singles charted in the US from this point on

  • "Who Will Stop The Rain?" (1992)
  • "Lay Down Your Arms" (promo) (1992)
  • "Heaven On Earth" (1992)
  • "Little Rich Boy" (1992)
  • "Crime Of The Heart" (promo) (1992)
  • "Love Under Fire" (promo) (1992)
  • "Back In Town" (promo) (1992)
  • "Anytime" (1994)
  • "Summer" (promo) (1994)
  • "Military Man" (promo) (1994)
  • "Turn It Around" (1996)
  • "Wherever You Are" (promo) (2000)
  • "Estoy Listo Para Ir A Mi Casa" (limited edition mail-order) (2000)
  • "Long Way From Home" (2004)
  • "What About Love" (promo) (2004)

Cultural references

  • Asia's hits and some deep tracks from the debut can be heard today on various classic rock stations around the world and on Satellite radio like XM's channels 46 and 8. In 2005, DJ Manian's dance remix of "Heat Of The Moment" was released to nightclubs.
  • "Heat of the Moment" is also featured in the film The Matador in the scene in which Pierce Brosnan's character must commit an assassination at a horse race. Since horse races are run in "heats," this usage could be considered a musical pun.
  • In reference to Korean scientists successfully cloning an Afghan hound, Comedy Central's the Colbert Report held a special Bring 'em Back or Leave 'em Dead: Asian Edition offering the studio audience the chance to decide which deceased Asians should be brought back to life. After clamoring to bring back military strategist Sun Tzu and China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang, the studio audience decided to leave the 80's supergroup Asia dead.
  • THX certified videos play a distinctive audio logo called Deep Note. Apart from the key in which it is played (differing by as much as a whole step), it is identical to the synthesized crescendo played during the intro to Countdown to Zero on the 1985 album Astra.
  • In the film The 40 Year-Old Virgin, main character Andy Stitzer is mocked for having a framed Asia poster in his apartment. Also, Heat Of The Moment is played during the scene in which Andy chases Trish's car after she leaves his home.

See also

References

  1. http://www.originalasia.com/
  2. Press release
  3. Interview with John Payne

External links

Http://Asiafanclub.com The Authorized Asia Fanclub
Asia
Studio albums
Extended plays
Live albums
Compilations
Singles
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