John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
01-31-17 | 03:38 PM
#1
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John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
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.
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.
01-31-17 | 03:41 PM
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Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
Damn. I'm seeing Asia in a April and just saw the note a few weeks ago that he was pulling out of the tour. It didn't sound good at the time, but I didn't realize it was that bleak.
01-31-17 | 03:46 PM
#3
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DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
OK, so I did hear something. Really is horrible to constantly hear of cancer taking lives.
01-31-17 | 04:09 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
Too bad. I'm a pretty big fan of Asia.
01-31-17 | 06:17 PM
#5
Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
I was a huge Asia fan right form the beginning. Was really bummed when the original lineup broke up and then ecstatic when they got back together. Wetton was the guy I wasn't aware of since I wasn't a King Crimson fan at that time. RIP John.
01-31-17 | 08:40 PM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
Some of Asia's recent albums were among their best (Omega (2010), Phoenix (2008), XXX (2012)), while I found Silent Nation (2004) and Gravitas (2014), their last album, to be their two worst.
01-31-17 | 09:12 PM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
I'm a King Crimson and Asia fan, John Wetton's voice was always unmistakeable. Sad that he's gone, and it's a sad day for the world of music.
01-31-17 | 09:24 PM
#9
Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
I was looking into Wetton's discography today and discovered I never knew he did three albums with just him and Downes (Icon 1-3). Ill be checking those out.
02-02-17 | 06:22 AM
#10
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Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
Not a huge fan...a little too slick & poppy ("Heat of the Moment"-era was sort of guilty pleasure...kind of like later-era, "Lonely-Heart"-era Yes or Hager-era Van Halen). But I bought their first three albums & still spin the greatest hits collection(s?) from time to time.
I'll have to check out the albums you recommend to see if my opinion has changed.
(Edit: Just now sampled the first half of "Phoenix" on Youtube. Not bad at all. I think they're one of those bands like S.Perry-led Journey or .38 Special or other more pop or pop-rock groups that I can enjoy when in the right mood. Like Rick Wakeman's solo projects.
And those albums covers sure are purty!)
Last edited by creekdipper; 02-02-17 at 06:34 AM.
02-02-17 | 02:25 PM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: John Wetton (Aisa) Dead at 67
Thanks, Norm. I had no idea that they had done anything in recent decades.
Not a huge fan...a little too slick & poppy ("Heat of the Moment"-era was sort of guilty pleasure...kind of like later-era, "Lonely-Heart"-era Yes or Hager-era Van Halen). But I bought their first three albums & still spin the greatest hits collection(s?) from time to time.
I'll have to check out the albums you recommend to see if my opinion has changed.
(Edit: Just now sampled the first half of "Phoenix" on Youtube. Not bad at all. I think they're one of those bands like S.Perry-led Journey or .38 Special or other more pop or pop-rock groups that I can enjoy when in the right mood. Like Rick Wakeman's solo projects.
And those albums covers sure are purty!)
Not a huge fan...a little too slick & poppy ("Heat of the Moment"-era was sort of guilty pleasure...kind of like later-era, "Lonely-Heart"-era Yes or Hager-era Van Halen). But I bought their first three albums & still spin the greatest hits collection(s?) from time to time.
I'll have to check out the albums you recommend to see if my opinion has changed.
(Edit: Just now sampled the first half of "Phoenix" on Youtube. Not bad at all. I think they're one of those bands like S.Perry-led Journey or .38 Special or other more pop or pop-rock groups that I can enjoy when in the right mood. Like Rick Wakeman's solo projects.
And those albums covers sure are purty!)
My favourite song of their recent albums is "Holy War" from Omega. The guitar crescendos throughout the song are simply exquisite.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yVQetuDX56s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
"Bury Me in Willow" from XXX is also a nice tune, if a bit slathered in schmaltz.
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jU9G4axvc7w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
