John Wetton

Thu
12
Oct

JOHN WETTON'S AKUSTIKA ‘Live In Amerika & Akustika II - Return To Amerika’ 2CD Now Available

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John Wetton's AKUSTIKA – LIVE IN AMERIKA & AKUSTIKA II - RETURN TO AMERIKA 2-CD
Now Available

Features previously unreleased acoustic show from 2005!

London - JOHN WETTON was the lead singer & bassist of ASIA, UK and the Red era of KING CRIMSON, with an extensive solo catalogue. This 2-CD set AKUSTIKA – LIVE IN AMERIKA & AKUSTIKA II - RETURN TO AMERIKA includes a 2017 remaster of the acoustic album AKUSTIKA and a previously unreleased acoustic show from 2005.

The booklet features specially written recollections of close friends and fans who attended the 2005 show with previously unseen photographs. The release is on the imprint label John Wetton started during his lifetime, Primary Purpose, via Cherry Red Records.
 
John Wetton rose to fame with King Crimson in the early 70s during the iconic Red era and later formed the band UK. In the early 1980s he was a founder member of supergroup ASIA which was his biggest commercial success. The band's 1982 self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album in the world that year and gave fans and mainstream radio the mega-hit 'Heat of the Moment.'
John also enjoyed a successful solo career, including the seminal album Battle Lines, and formed iCon with ASIA bandmate Geoff Downes. In 2006 the original line-up of ASIA reformed and toured the world several times to promote four new studio albums.
 
John Wetton sadly passed away on the 31st January 2017, after a long and courageous battle against colon cancer. This new release was personally selected by John before his passing as one of the many back catalogue titles to be reissued in the near future.
 
TRACK LIST
DISC ONE
1. VOICE OF AMERICA
2. HOLD ME NOW
3. RENDEZVOUS 6:02
4. CHRISTINA
5. 30 YEARS
6. ONLY TIME WILL TELL
7. BOOK OF SATURDAY
8. DON'T CRY
9. BATTLE LINES
10. THE SMILE HAD LEFT YOUR EYES
11. HEAT OF THE MOMENT
12. YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE
 
DISC TWO
1. WALKING ON AIR
2. MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT
3. SOLE SURVIVOR
4. BOOK OF SATURDAY
5. EMMA
6. DAYS LIKE THESE
7. THIRTY YEARS / HOLD ME NOW
8. ARKANGEL
9. RENDEZVOUS 6:02
10. STARLESS
11. VOICE OF AMERICA
12. WOMAN
13. THE NIGHT WATCH
14. THE SMILE HAS LEFT YOUR EYES
15. HEAT OF THE MOMENT
 
Released October 6, 2017.
 
To purchase:
Amazon CD: http://geni.us/PP008CD
iTunes: http://geni.us/PP008DIG
John Wetton's official website: http://www.johnwetton.com/
 
Wed
01
Feb

JOHN WETTON Loses Battle With Cancer

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Official Press Release / Rock music legend John Wetton sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday 31st January 2017, after a long and courageous battle against colon cancer.
 
John rose to fame with King Crimson in the early 70s during the iconic Red era and later formed the band UK. In the early 1980s he was a founder member of supergroup ASIA which was his biggest commercial success. The band's 1982 self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album in the world that year and gave fans and mainstream radio the mega-hit Heat of the Moment.
 
John also enjoyed a successful solo career, including the seminal album Battle Lines, and formed iCon with ASIA bandmate Geoff Downes. In 2006 the original line-up of ASIA reformed and toured the world several times to promote four new studio albums.
 
John had been planning to tour with ASIA for the band's forthcoming US arena tour with Journey and following the success of his solo Studio Recordings Anthology, to continue working on the ongoing re-issue programme of his solo albums, via his own Primary Purpose label.
 
John valued his over 11 years of sobriety and volunteered time in fellowship with other alcoholics to share his experience, strength and hope with them. John is survived by his recently wed wife Lisa and 18 year old son Dylan, brother Robert and mother Peggy.
 
The very last studio song of John Wetton's career was the closing track on the most recent and indeed final ASIA album 'Gravitas' and included the profound lyrics 'Think the best of me, till we meet again.'
 
A statement by Geoff Downes:
 
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart, that I have to report we have lost my dearest friend, brother, bandmate and long term musical collaborator, John Wetton, who has passed away after a long and tenacious battle with cancer. He will be remembered as one of the world's finest musical talents, and I for one of many was wholly blessed by his influence. It was a massive privilege for me to have worked with this genius so closely on our numerous projects together over the years. His bass playing was revolutionary. His voice was from the gods. His compositions - out of this world. His sense of melody and harmony - unreal. He was literally a 'special one'.
 
But John was much more than a gigantic and unique musical talent. He was a supremely intelligent man, marked with his great observations and wisdom about life; all couched within his wicked sense of humour. The wit was dark and deep, only fully perceptible to those on his same wavelength. I was fortunate enough to be able to be on that wavelength, and discover that we had much in common. Many of his personal life experiences were reflected in his lyrical contributions to the songs. His heart was always in the music. That was John, through and through. It was always about - the music.
 
As a person, he was fiercely loyal, loving and generous, particularly to those he cared about. But he could be as stubborn as a mule or as gracious as a nobleman, depending on the mood that grabbed him on any particular day. There were some who couldn't read his brilliant mind and complex personality. Some found him charming, others infuriating. But however you found John, there was no denying his rare talent as a musician and songwriter was second to none.
 
Both of us having been brought up with similar backgrounds in provincial England, we shared a love of many things - sport, and in particular - football, English church music, current affairs, comedy, literature, you name it....pretty much everything that 2 kids from the sticks were exposed to in our youth.
 
Our planets seemed to be immediately in alignment when we first met in early 1981. There was a laddish camaraderie that grew between us as we became as close as two non-related brothers could be. He was an avid reader and film enthusiast, something he pursued with great interest. This helped inspire him to some wonderful lyrics to the literally hundreds of songs we composed together. Back then, we immediately hit the ground running as we composed much of the debut ASIA album together and forged a formidable partnership which lasted right up until now. It was a wholly natural process for us, whereby we could knock out 2 or 3 songs in an afternoon. They were always greeted with our gentlemanly handshake and smiles once we had wrapped up another one in the bag.
 
Above all else though, his passion for life was to the fore. The battles he endured throughout were immense and well documented. Firstly with alcohol, which he so resolutely overcame, then open heart surgery and finally cancer, which sadly was to take his life in the end. He once observed to me that this disease is a "merciless assassin". Just another example of his perception and the descriptive language that he was so richly blessed with. He took all of these battles on board with great bravery and almost a 'laissez-faire' attitude, tinged with his inimitable wry wit.
 
To say I will miss my him greatly is beyond understatement. He was such an inspiration to me. We were planning another album, but sadly he was not well enough to complete it. I feel heartbroken about this, as I knew John thought it was to be one of our finest albums to date. I remain as proud as ever of our Wetton/Downes writing partnership. I am hoping one day that I will be able to finish it, and that it will be appreciated by all those who loved his and our music, and most importantly, a legacy he would have been proud of.
 
Life will not be the same without him. And words are not really enough to describe the loss I feel right now, and the many friends and fans all over the World will also be feeling. It is the end of an era for all of us. But we will soldier on - the music of John Wetton needs to be heard loud and clear from the rooftops.
 
Dearest John, may you rest in peace brother.
X
Geoffrey
Please join me in sending our sincerest thoughts and prayers to Lisa, Dylan and the entire Wetton family at this difficult time.
 
A statement by Carl Palmer:
 
With the passing of my good friend and musical collaborator, John Wetton, the world loses yet another musical giant. John was a gentle person who created some of the most lasting melodies and lyrics in modern popular music. As a musician, he was both brave and innovative, with a voice that took the music of ASIA to the top of the charts around the world. His ability to triumph over alcohol abuse made him an inspiration to many who have also fought that battle. For those of us who knew him and worked with him, his valiant struggle against cancer was a further inspiration. I will miss his talent, his sense of humor and his infectious smile. May you ride easy, my old friend.
 
 
Thu
12
Jan

A Personal Statement From ASIA’s JOHN WETTON

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Tour News

 

From John Wetton:

I am disappointed to announce that, on the advice of my medical team, I have to withdraw from Cruise to the Edge, and from the first leg of the Journey tour, March 15 – April 4.
I will soon be starting a new medical chemotherapy procedure, under which I will not be able to fly.

I am grateful to the promoters of the cruise. I wish them pleasant sailing and I know my friends on the cruise, both artists and fans, will have a ball on the ocean wave, I will be with you all in spirit.

My good friend Billy Sherwood will fill in for me within Asia, keeping my seat warm during the initial 12 Journey dates. While I am naturally disappointed to miss the beginning of what I know will be an historic ASIA tour, I am intending to return to the stage with Asia later in 2017, dates soon to be announced. I know this decision will be in the best interests of my health and our fans, in the long run.

John Wetton
Bournemouth
England
January 11th. 2017

 

 
Mon
28
Nov

JOHN WETTON Opens Up The Live Vaults

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King Crimson / Asia Legend John Wetton Releases “Official Bootleg Archive Vol 1” Six CD Set! OUT NOW!

London, UK - John Wetton is best known as lead singer and bassist of Asia, UK and the Red-era of King Crimson, with an extensive solo catalogue. The “Official Bootleg Archive” collects together three of Wetton's previously released “Official Bootlegs” - which have been out of print for nearly 10 years!

The “Official Bootleg Archive Vol 1” six CD set's audio has been remastered and includes new artwork, fully approved by John Wetton. The set is the seventh title released on John Wetton’s own Primary Purpose imprint via Cherry Red Records.

As a singer, bassist and songwriter, John Wetton initially rose to fame in King Crimson and the third album that line-up released was Red, cited by so many artists as a core influence. After his period with King Crimson, Wetton co-founded UK and later he was the frontman and co-principal songwriter of the supergroup Asia, his biggest commercial success. The band’s self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album in the world in 1982 and gave the world the mega hit Heat of the Moment.

Since 1980 Wetton has had a successful solo career releasing a number of studio and live albums and later formed the duo iCon with Geoff Downes (YES, Buggles and ASIA).  As a writer and musician Wetton has collaborated with many music artists including Ringo Starr, Jim Peterik, Robert Fripp, David Gilmour, Agnetha Fältskog, Phil Manzanera, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, Alan White, Carl Palmer, Simon Phillips, Steve Lukather, Terry Bozzio, George Martin, Bryan Ferry, Ron Nevison and Steve Hackett.

To purchase John Wetton's “Official Bootleg Archive Vol 1”: http://geni.us/PP007CD

Official Website: www.johnwetton.com

Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/arkangel2605
 
Mon
12
Oct

King Crimson and Asia Legend JOHN WETTON Releases 'Live Via Satellite'

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2015
Monday, March 9, 2015
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London, UK - JOHN WETTON is the lead singer of ASIA, UK and the 'Red' era of KING CRIMSON, with an extensive solo catalogue, which now includes 'Live via Satellite'
 
This 2 CD set collects together both of John Wetton's acoustic solo concerts for radio broadcasts. The XM radio broadcast was only available for sale via his website over 10 years ago and has never had a commercial release.
 
The Swedish radio broadcast (previously unreleased) was thought lost in a fire, until a duplicate of the master tapes was found thanks to a long and tireless search by John Wetton's fans.
 
Of the release, John Wetton said: 'Both of these shows are from the same time period, but come from very different sources. The first, a Circus tent-like venue in a funfair in Stockholm: the second, a state-of-the-art facility in Washington DC, so the repertoire is similar, but venues could not be more different. Recording production is superb on both, it's a document of a slice of my life.'
 
As a lead singer, bassist and songwriter, John Wetton initially rose to fame with King Crimson and after that Wetton co-founded UK. In the early 1980s he was the frontman of the super-group Asia, his biggest commercial success.  ASIA’s self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album in the world in 1982 and the band continues to this day.
 
He later formed the duo Icon with Geoff Downes (YES and The Buggles) and has had a successful solo career releasing a large number of studio and live albums, including the recent compilation The Studio Recordings Anthology.
 
John Wetton's 'Live via Satellite' will be released 9th October 2015 and is part of the ongoing release schedule of his own Primary Purpose label, working via Cherry Red.
 
Disc One
1. The Circle Of St. Giles
2. Heat Of The Moment
3. Book Of Saturday
4. Battle Lines
5. Arkangel
6. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
7. Easy Money
8. Emma
9. 30 Years
10. Hold Me Now
11. Rendezvous 6:02
12. The Night Watch
13. You're Not The Only One
14. Starless
 
Disc Two
1. Introduction
2. The Circle Of St. Giles
3. Heat Of The Moment
4. Mondrago / Book Of Saturday
5. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
6. 30 Years
7. Hold Me Now
8. Arkangel
9. Emma
10. Sole Survivor
11. Rendezvous 6:02
12. The Water Is Wide
13. Starless
14. Battle Lines
15. The Celtic Cross
 
To purchase:
Amazon Digital: http://geni.us/1jj0
 
John Wetton's official website: http://www.johnwetton.com
 
Tue
26
May

JOHN WETTON Undergoes Surgery

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Release Year: 
2015
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NEWS from John Wetton/ASIA's management: 
May 25th 2015 --- JOHN WETTON STATEMENT - On May 16, John Wetton underwent surgery for the successful removal of a 1 kilo [2.2lb] malignant mass. John wishes to extend his thanks to Dr. Chan and his team. John is also beyond grateful for the wonderful wishes and prayers received. John is recuperating. Messages can be sent via the management office to jw@qedg.co.uk
 
Tue
10
Mar

John Wetton to Release Solo Career Retrospective 'The Studio Recordings Anthology' and Live Album 'New York Minute'

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Monday, March 9, 2015
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Asia and King Crimson Lead Vocalist John Wetton to Release Solo Career Retrospective 'The Studio Recordings Anthology' and Live Album 'New York Minute'
 
London, UK - Legendary John Wetton, best known for his work with Asia, UK and King Crimson, is releasing two new albums this month: The Studio Recordings Anthology 2CD Set and New York Minute - John Wetton & The Les Paul Trio, on Primary Purpose via Cherry Red Records.
 
As a singer, bassist and songwriter, John Wetton initially rose to fame as the lead singer of King Crimson and thereafter Wetton formed UK with Eddie Jobson and later he was the lead vocalist of the supergroup Asia, his biggest commercial success. The band’s self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album in the world in 1982.
 
Wetton also has a successful solo career releasing a large number of studio and live albums and these are showcased on the 2CD ‘The Studio Recordings Anthology’ meanwhile a unique live album with The Les Paul Trio includes a number of songs Wetton has never sung elsewhere.
 
The Studio Recordings Anthology 2CD Set
 
The Studio Anthology collects together the best of John Wetton's six solo studio albums within a 2-CD set with extensive new liner notes.
 
DISC ONE
1. The Circle Of St. Giles
2. The Last Thing On My Mind
3. Hold Me Now
4. Where Do We Go From Here?
5. Another Twist Of The Knife
6. I've Come To Take You Home
7. I Can't Lie Anymore
8. Lost For Words
9. Battle Lines
10. Caught In The Crossfire
11. Arkangel
12. Right Where I Wanted To Be
13. Nothing's Gonna Stand In Our Way
14. Second Best
15. Woman
16. Real World
 
DISC TWO
1. Heart Of Darkness
2. Say It Ain't So
3. Cold Is The Night
4. You're Not The Only One
5. Raised In Captivity
6. Steffi's Ring
7. Walking On Air
8. Take Me To The Waterline
9. Silently
10. Battle Lines (Acoustic)
11. I Lay Down
12. Rock Of Faith
13. Who Will Light A Candle?
14. You Against The World
15. Emma
16. After All
 
 
New York Minute - John Wetton & The Les Paul Trio
 
New York Minute sees John Wetton playing a selection of the songs that inspired him, many of which are not available on any other release. This new live album also includes unique renditions of his solo hit BATTLE LINES and the ASIA mega hit HEAT OF THE MOMENT.
 
Track Listing:
 
1. Do It Again
2. What’S Going On?
3. God Only Knows
4. Can’t Find My Way Home
5. All Along The Watchtower
6. New York Minute
7. Lady Madonna
8. Heat Of The Moment
9. Battle Lines
 
 
John Wetton is embarking on a number of live projects in 2015 including the final tour of UK and a German 'Rock Meets Classic' orchestral arena tour.
 
John Wetton's official website: http://www.johnwetton.com
 
To purchase:
The Studio Recordings Anthology
Amazon Digital: http://geni.us/2C6v
 
New York Minute
Amazon Digital: http://geni.us/3Fij
 
  
 
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