Asia frontman John Wetton dead (1 Viewer)

[LAUNCH]

http://www.tmz.com/2017/01/31/asia-singer-john-wetton-dead/

https://youtu.be/cpxsMyoXUZQ

Asia frontman John Wetton died Tuesday morning in his sleep after battling cancer ... according to the band. 

Wetton was a fixture in the '70s and '80s British rock scene, playing with bands like King Crimson, Roxy Music, and Uriah Heep -- but his biggest popularity came when he formed the supergroup, Asia, in 1981. The group is best known for its huge hits "Heat of the Moment" and "Only Time Will Tell."

Wetton eventually left the group and worked on solo projects, but later returned for some of their final albums. He was 67.

 

[General Malaise]

I bless the rains down in Africa

 

[Buzzbait]

I had both of Asia's first two albums and saw them play at a festival once long ago.

RIP John

 

[Parrothead]

great voice..  RIP

 

[James Daulton]

Must resist sarcastic and inappropriate reply...

 

[Phase of the Game]

I bless the rains down in Africa

Great song by Kansas.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Shame - apparently one too many incidents arose from circumstance. Good work in Crimson, tho. RIP -

 

[mr. furley]

well, all of his dime dancing is through

 

[jwb]

I bless the rains down in Africa

Great song by Kansas.

So glad Paul Rodgers formed them.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

That sucks RIP 

 

[DocHolliday]

I like Asia.  It was not really my normal taste in music but it was easy to listen to. 

 

[Eephus]

UK was a decent 70s supergroup.  I thought they were better when Wetton stopped singing and they just played but I feel that way about a lot of prog.   Anything Bill Bruford played on is worth a listen and original guitarist Alan Holdsworth had a unique sound.

 

[higgins]

God bless...

eta if you prefer the original video...

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

You framed an Asia poster?

 

[Amused to Death]

Shame - apparently one too many incidents arose from circumstance. Good work in Crimson, tho. RIP -

My favorite era of KC - '73/'74 with Wetton.  That and his time in UK with Bruford, Holdsworth and Eddie Jobson.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Damn good bass player (listen to the way his bass line just climbs and climbs in the middle of King Crimson's Starless), and one of rock's more underrated singers.   People love to make fun of Asia, but their first album is awesome from start to finish, and Heat of the Moment was an MTV staple at the time we first got cable TV, so the nostalgia is strong with me on that one. R.I.P. 

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

People love to make fun of Asia, but their first album is awesome from start to finish, and Heat of the Moment was an MTV staple at the time we first got cable TV, so the nostalgia is strong with me on that one. R.I.P. 

Nostalgia for MTV was what came to mind when I heard of Wetton's death. In those early days, videos were either literal in the absolute sense or abstract to the point where it was just random images floating by. Asia hit both extremes in back-to-back video. "Heat Of The Moment" was Wetton singing over visuals that matched the lyrics exactly, and then in "Only Time Will Tell", there was a girl hurdling and somersaulting over TV sets. 

 

[Tom Skerritt]

Also didn't know that the great Carl Palmer was their drummer.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Also didn't know that the great Carl Palmer was their drummer.

...and Buggles (Video Killed the Radio Star) Geoff Downes  played all things keyboard and electronic. Steve Howe (Yes) played guitar.

Just saw CP last fall here in Detroit.  Still awesome.

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Listened to a lot of Asia in the 80s.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

UK was a decent 70s supergroup.  I thought they were better when Wetton stopped singing and they just played but I feel that way about a lot of prog.   Anything Bill Bruford played on is worth a listen and original guitarist Alan Holdsworth had a unique sound.

Well said. I felt the same about Asia in that even their more commercialized version of prog rock was better when Howe, Palmer & Wetton were just allowed to play without the sometimes silly lyrics getting in the way.

 

[ffldrew]

UK was a decent 70s supergroup.  I thought they were better when Wetton stopped singing and they just played but I feel that way about a lot of prog.   Anything Bill Bruford played on is worth a listen and original guitarist Alan Holdsworth had a unique sound.

Saw them in a small bar in St. Louis - a real treat sitting in front of Holdsworth and watching his fingers stretch. 

 

[saintfool]

I would only pay attention to him for Crimson. 

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Well said. I felt the same about Asia in that even their more commercialized version of prog rock was better when Howe, Palmer & Wetton were just allowed to play without the sometimes silly lyrics getting in the way.

"more commercialized...prog[ressive] rock is" not a description I have seen before. I don't even understand it. Might as well be sanskrit.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

"more commercialized...prog[ressive] rock is" not a description I have seen before. I don't even understand it. Might as well be sanskrit.

Since you didn't ask, this would be an example of "less commercialized" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5SWc_k_Hmk

 

[RedmondLonghorn]

Since you didn't ask, this would be an example of "less commercialized" : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5SWc_k_Hmk

My older sister had a boyfriend who had a progressive rock band called Damascus. They were unlistenable and unsuccessful. Before I click on that link, this isn't them, is it?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

My older sister had a boyfriend who had a progressive rock band called Damascus. They were unlistenable and unsuccessful. Before I click on that link, this isn't them, is it?

No, but I have to mention that Damascus was a great race horse back in the day.

 

[wikkidpissah]

No, but I have to mention that Damascus was a great race horse back in the day.

Last great horse of the Teddy thorughbred sire line

 

[dhockster]

A bad year to be a prog rock bassist. Chris Squire, Greg Lake, John Wetton. Throw in Keith Emerson, and it has been a bad year for prog in general.

If I am Tony Levin, I am looking over my shoulder as 2 King Crimson bass players have died recently. It's like Spinal Tap Drummers.

 

[wikkidpissah]

A bad year to be a prog rock bassist. Chris Squire, Greg Lake, John Wetton. Throw in Keith Emerson, and it has been a bad year for prog in general.

If I am Tony Levin, I am looking over my shoulder as 2 King Crimson bass players have died recently. It's like Spinal Tap Drummers.

Someone should have told them to be in a sitcom with MTM,.....

 

[Todem]

Damn good bass player (listen to the way his bass line just climbs and climbs in the middle of King Crimson's Starless), and one of rock's more underrated singers.   People love to make fun of Asia, but their first album is awesome from start to finish, and Heat of the Moment was an MTV staple at the time we first got cable TV, so the nostalgia is strong with me on that one. R.I.P. 

Loved Asia's first album. The first three tracks were simply fantastic rock/pop/prog all neatly wrapped in under 6 minute tunes. And he was a great singer to boot.

RIP.

 

[QuizGuy66]

:(

 

[NCCommish]

The first album was real good. I am a little meh on the others. He had a hell of a voice in his prime.