Asia (band)

Despite this impressive pedigree, the band's early offerings were considered disappointing by fans of the genre, being closer to formulaic heavy pop than traditional complex progressive rock. However, at a time when the world was starved of output from progressive rock stalwarts, the first eponymous album enjoyed considerable commercial success. The second album was more of the same, but less so. The third album was a commercial failure, and in 1985 the band died. It was revived in 1989 and has been in and out of existence ever since. The Arena album showed a return to progressive rock form, without recapturing the commercial success of the first album.

Personnel:

• Geoff Downes[?] - keyboards and vocals (ex Yes and Buggles)
• John Wetton[?] - bass and lead vocals (ex UK)
• Steve Howe[?] - guitar and vocals (ex Yes)
• Carl Palmer[?] - drums (ex Emerson Lake and Palmer)
• Mandy Meyer[?] - guitar and vocals
• Pat Thrall[?] - guitar
• Al Pitrelli[?] - guitar
• Michael Sturgis[?] - drums
• John Payne[?] - bass and lead vocals
• Aziz Ibrahim[?] - guitar
• Ian Crichton[?] - guitar
• Elliot Randall[?] - guitar
• Luis Jardim[?] - percussion
• Tomoyasu Hotei[?] - guitar
• Guthrie Govan[?] - guitar
• Chris Slade[?] - drums
• Vinnie Colaiuta[?] - drums
• Tony Levin[?] - bass, stick

Other musicians joined and left after a short time (including Greg Lake[?]), without recording any material with the group. Yet more played as session, guest or live artists without formally joining Asia.

Discography (studio albums only):

• 1982 Asia (Downes, Wetton, Howe, Palmer)
• 1983 Alpha (Downes, Wetton, Howe, Palmer)
• 1985 Astra (Downes, Wetton, Meyer, Palmer)
• 1992 Aqua (Downes, Payne, Howe, Pitrelli, Palmer)
• 1994 Aria (Downes, Payne, Pitrelli, Sturgis)
• 1996 Arena (Downes, Payne, Sturgis, Ibrahim, Randall, Hotei, Jardim)
• 2001 Aura (Payne, Downes, Howe, Chrichton, Randall, Thrall, Govan, Slade, Sturgis, Colaiuta, Jardim, Levin)

External links:

• Asia World (http://www.asiaworld.org)