Asia (band)
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{{Infobox musical artist
|Name = Asia
|Img =
|Img_capt =
|Img_size =
|Background = group_or_band
|Origin = [[England]]
|Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[progressive rock]]
|Years_active = 1981 - 1986; 1989- present
|Label = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]], Great Pyramid, Musidisc, [[Warner Music Group|WEA Japan]], Mayhem Recordings, [[Voiceprint Records|Resurgence]], [[Snapper Music|Snapper]], [[InsideOut Music|InsideOut]], [[Frontiers Records|Frontiers]], [[EMI America Records|EMI America]], [[King Records|King]]
|Associated_acts = [[Yes (band)|Yes]], [[King Crimson]], [[Emerson, Lake and Palmer]], [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]], [[UK (band)|U.K.]], [[The Buggles]]
|URL = http://www.originalasia.com/
|Current_members = [[Geoff Downes]]<br/>[[John Wetton]]<br/>[[Steve Howe (guitarist)|Steve Howe]]<br/>[[Carl Palmer]]
|Past_members = See: [[#Personnel|Asia band members]]
}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|Name = Asia Featuring John Payne
|Img =
|Img_capt =
|Img_size =
|Background = group_or_band
|Origin =
|Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[progressive rock]]
|Years_active = 2007 - present
|Label = Devgel
|Associated_acts = [[GPS (band)|GPS]]
|URL = http://www.theasiaband.com/
|Current_members = [[John Payne (singer)|John Payne]]<br/>[[Jay Schellen]]<br/>[[Guthrie Govan]]<br/>[[Erik Norlander]]
|Past_members =
}}
'''Asia''' is a [[Rock music|rock]] group formed in [[1981 in music|1981]]. The band was labelled a [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] and included former members of veteran [[progressive rock]] bands [[Yes (band)|Yes]], [[King Crimson]], and [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]], [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]], [[UK (band)|U.K.]], [[Roxy Music]], [[Wishbone Ash]] 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 three members from later incarnations of Asia.
==History==
===Formation===
Asia began with the apparent demise of [[Yes (band)|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 super group 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 (band)|UK]], along with guitarist [[Allan Holdsworth]] and keyboardist/violinist [[Eddie Jobson]]. Their [[eponymous]] debut was released in 1978. By 1980, after UK's demise, a new super group 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 (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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/165/biography|title=Asia Biography|publisher=Simon & Schuster|work=The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll|date=2001}}</ref> and fans of traditional progressive rock, who found the music closer to radio-friendly [[Album Oriented Rock|AOR]] pop-rock. However, Asia clicked with fans of arena acts such as [[Journey (band)|Journey]], [[Boston (band)|Boston]], and [[Styx]]. Rolling Stone gave ''Asia'' an indifferent review<ref>{{web cite|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/101939|title=CD Reviews Archive|publisher=Rolling Stone Magazine}}</ref>, while still acknowledging the band's musicianship was a cut above the usual AOR expectations.
===Early years===
Asia's eponymous debut album, released in March 1982, received considerable commercial success, spending nine weeks at number one in the U.S. album chart and 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.
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:AsiaAsia.jpg|right|thumb|''Asia'', 1982]] -->
"Sole Survivor" also received heavy air play on rock stations across the US, as did "Wildest Dreams."
In the US the band did extremely well, selling out every date on their debut tour, which began in theaters but quickly expanded into arenas because of high ticket demand. Asia would go on to receive a Grammy nomination as Best New Artist Of The Year. [[MTV]] 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 was handled by famed [[illustrator]] [[Roger Dean (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]]'', [[Emerson, Lake & Powell|ELPowell]]'s ''[[Emerson, Lake & Powell]]'' in 1986, and the [[GTR (band)|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 [http://www.asiaworld.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=995& fan favourite] for John Wetton's vocal performance, charted inside of Billboard's top 40. The video for "Smile" also scored heavy MTV play. But ''Rolling Stone'' panned ''[[Alpha (album)|Alpha]]'' as an over-produced commercial album<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/165/albums/album/133986|title=Asia: Alpha - album review|date=September 15, 1983|author=J.D. Considine|publisher=Rolling Stone Magazine}}</ref>, while others lamented that Howe and Palmer were effectively reduced to session musicians. 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 October 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 debatable to this day what really happened. In any event, the next leg of their 1983 US tour (which had begun in the summer but shut down suddenly on September 10th after a performance at [[Pine Knob]] in [[Detroit]]), scheduled for the fall, was abruptly cancelled, reportedly because of low ticket sales. Ex-King Crimson and ELP front man [[Greg Lake]] replaced Wetton for the highly publicised "Asia in Asia" concert at the [[Nippon Budokan]] Hall in [[Tokyo, 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 that same year to start work on their next album. But Steve Howe soon left to be replaced by [[Krokus (band)|Krokus]] guitarist [[Mandy Meyer]]. Howe then enjoyed brief success with [[GTR (band)|GTR]], another supergroup, formed with [[Steve Hackett]] of [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] and produced by [[Geoff Downes|Downes]].
===Astra to the USSR===
The third Asia album, ''Astra'', released in November 1985, was not as commercially successful as the first two. Geffen cancelled the projected tour because of lack of interest. Howe's replacement, [http://www.mandymeyer.ch Mandy Meyer] of [[Krokus (band)|Krokus]], provided more of a hard-rock guitar approach. The band enjoyed a modest charting single, "Go," (#46) with Meyer's guitar heroics centre stage. The music video was another hit with MTV. In 1986 this Asia line-up folded, bringing the group to an end for the time being. Wetton resurfaced with a 1987 album with guitarist [[Phil Manzanera]], ''[[Wetton-Manzanera]]'', based on material that had been originally intended for Asia. 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 and Downes' attempt to restart the group in 1987 with guitarist [[Scott Gorham]] (formerly of [[Thin Lizzy]]) and drummer [[Michael Sturgis]] (ex-[[A-ha]]) fizzled when they were unable to land a recording deal. Wetton and Palmer were more successful in reuniting the band for a few tours of Europe in 1989. Downes (who was working on a project with Greg Lake) was not available at this time, so keys were played by [[John Young (musician)|John Young]]. Guitars on this tour were handled by [[Alan Darby]] (who was replaced shortly after by German guitarist [[Holger Larish]]) and [[Zoe Nicholas]] and [[Susie Webb]] were brought aboard to provide back up vocals. Unlike Wetton's later anger at Asia continuing without him in the 1990s, this lineup was viewed favourably by other Asia band members.
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Asia Alpha.jpg|right|thumb|''Alpha'', 1983]] -->
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 and they performed classic material, including [[King Crimson]] and [[UK (band)|UK]] songs. The band toured the former [[Soviet Union]] in November 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 chart. A video was planned but was scrapped because various problems hampered 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 would yield any hits.
===The Payne era===
In 1991, vocalist/bassist [[John Payne (singer)|John Payne]] joined the band, and together with Geoff Downes, enlisted new musicians and led Asia through to [[2005]]. The first album with this line-up, ''Aqua'' (1992), also featuring Steve Howe and Carl Palmer and new guitarist Al Pitrelli (ex-[[Alice Cooper]]), was released on Great Pyramid/JRS Records in the US. Howe returned during the sessions having just left Yes again, but Palmer would leave soon, committing to an ELP reunion, and was able to play on just three songs. Session men then completed 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. The ''Aqua'' club tour featured Howe (whose presence was heavily promoted), who took the stage after the fifth song. The tour was successful enough to warrant the band's continuation. The 1992-93 tour featured Downes, Howe, Payne, guitarist [[Vinny Burns]] and drummer [[Trevor Thornton]]. Before a European festival tour in late 1993, Howe and Burns left replaced by guitarist [[Keith More]]. Payne acquitted himself on the tour, but many fans refused to support an Asia lineup without Wetton.
The group released ''[[Aria (album)|Aria]]'' in 1994 and ''[[Arena (Asia album)|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'' did not fair well commercially and the ensuing tour was limited to four concerts. Ex-[[Simply Red]] guitarist [[Aziz Ibrahim]] took over during the tour. ''Aria'' also introduced new drummer [[Michael Sturgis]], who had been involved during the band's aborted 1987 reunion and had appeared on some of the sessions for ''Aqua''.
Over New Year's Eve in 1996 a broken pipe inundated the control room in Downes and Payne's recording studio, Electric Palace, in London. Amid the lost equipment, a vault containing unreleased material was found intact. The band decided to release the double-disc ''[[Archiva]]'', a collection of unreleased tracks recorded during the first three Downes/Payne albums. Next, ''Arena'' featured Downes, Payne, Sturgis, Ibrahim and guest 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 but there was no tour because of lack of interest. 2001's ''[[Aura (Asia album)|Aura]]'' featured three different session guitarists, including [[Ian Crichton]] (of Canadian progressive rock band [[Saga (band)|Saga]]) who'd briefly joined Asia in 1998-1999. An all acoustic album, ''Live at the Town & Country Club'', was recorded by the group in September 1997 (and released in 1999) that featured a lineup of Downes, Payne, Ibrahim and Bob Richards on drums.
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, he was unable because of his busy schedule with [[Yes (band)|Yes]]. 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 (band)|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.
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Asiaastra.jpg|right|thumb|''Astra'', 1985]] -->
''Aura'' (2001) took a more [[progressive rock]] form, but still did not recapture the commercial success of the first album. Former members Howe, Thrall, Sturgis and guitarist Elliot Randall all made guest appearances. The single "Ready To Go Home" was barely distributed. Asia then signed with Recognition. 2001 did see the band with a stable lineup, achieved during the ''Aura'' sessions featuring Downes, Payne, guitarist [[Guthrie Govan]] and ex-[[Manfred Mann's Earth Band]]/[[The Firm (band)|The Firm]]/[[Uriah Heep]]/[[Gary Numan]]/[[AC/DC]] drummer [[Chris Slade]] (who had first joined Asia in 1999, briefly). Asia would tour for the first time since 1994, including the first US dates since 1993. A live album and DVD "Asia: 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 (album)|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 2005 the full band toured in Europe and the Americas playing settings ranging from small clubs to medium-sized theatres. 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 (album)|Icon]]'', released in 2005), and an accompanying EP and DVD.
In August 2005, Chris 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 - a breakup which Payne describes as "painful" <ref>http://www.theasiaband.com/2008/06/03/scranton-pocono-500-fanfest-interview-with-john/#more-52</ref>. The existing line-up (minus Downes) continued for a short while before morphing into [[GPS (band)|GPS]]. Payne, Govan and Schellen subsequently launched the Asia Featuring John Payne name in 2007 with a new line-up. The official websites of each band reflect a split between the shared history of Payne's tenure with the band, as the reunited Asia acknowledge only pre- and post-Payne albums, whereas "Asia Featuring John Payne" claim Payne-era albums ''Aqua'' through ''Silent Nation'' as part of their own discography. Although Asia's live set lists reflect this, Asia Featuring John Payne has stated that they will perform songs from the entire history of Asia. <ref>http://www.theasiaband.com/2008/06/03/scranton-pocono-500-fanfest-interview-with-john/#more-52</ref>
====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 rumours, they 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 October 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. 31st, 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 theatres, 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''.<ref name="NewAlbum">{{cite web|url=http://www.originalasia.com/images/press%20release%20-%20november%2026th%20-%20fan.pdf|format=[[PDF]]|title=Release of a brand new studio album on Frontiers Records Press release|publisher=originalasia.com}}</ref> 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 (Asia album)|Phoenix]]'', was released on [[Frontiers Records]] on 14 April 2008 (via [[Capitol Records|EMI/Capitol]] on April 15 in North America<ref>{{cite web|url=http://originalasia.com/images//emi%20press%20release.pdf|format=[[PDF]]|title=Asia’s original supergroup line-up returns|publisher=originalasia.com|date=February 27, 2008}}</ref>), along with a world tour to promote it. The 12-track album includes "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 features a couple of the new songs. The [[album cover]] features [[Roger Dean (artist)|Roger Dean]]'s [[illustration]] and [[graphic design|design]].<ref name="NewAlbum"/>Additionally, the Phoenix album has done extremely well in both the American and European/Japanese markets. The album even debuted at #73 on the American Billboard pop Charts. Quite an amazing feat for only one week in release. (Billboard Magazine April 2008)
====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 (band)|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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dingwall.jp/artist/gps/interview.html Interview with John Payne|publisher=Dingwall Music Inc.|title=John Payne & Guthrie Govan Interview|date=April 3rd, 2007}}</ref>
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.
In June 2008, the band released an EP entitled "Military Man" with a tie-in to the [[USO]] <ref>http://www.theasiaband.com/2008/06/26/military-man-uso-cd-ep-to-be-released/</ref>. The band is also planning to release a completed ''Architect of Time'' and tour in 2008 under the Asia Featuring John Payne name <ref>[http://www.theasiaband.com/2007/11/20/new-keyboardist-joins-asia-featuring-john-payne/ Asia featuring John Payne » Blog Archive » New Keyboardist Joins “Asia Featuring John Payne”<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, with all songs written by Payne and Norlander. The band is currently playing festivals and small venues, performing songs from the entire history of Asia, including "Heat of the Moment". <ref>http://www.theasiaband.com/2008/06/03/scranton-pocono-500-fanfest-interview-with-john/#more-52</ref> Meanwhile, Payne, Govan, and Schellen are also continuing work as GPS.
==Personnel==
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Asia Aria.jpg|right|thumb|''Aria'', 1994]] -->
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.
Current Members of "Asia" are:
*'''[[Geoff Downes]]''' - [[keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] (former member of [[Yes (band)|Yes]] and [[The Buggles]]) - founding member
*'''[[John Wetton]]''' - [[singing|lead vocals]], [[Bass guitar|bass]], [[guitar]] (former member of [[King Crimson]], [[UK (band)|UK]], [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]] , [[Roxy Music]] and [[Family (band)|Family]]) - founding member
*'''[[Steve Howe (guitarist)|Steve Howe]]''' - guitar, [[mandolin]], backing vocals (also a member of [[Yes (band)|Yes]] and [[GTR]]) - founding member
*'''[[Carl Palmer]]''' - [[drum kit|drums]], [[percussion instrument|percussion]] (former member of [[Emerson, Lake and Palmer]]) - founding member
Current members of "Asia Featuring John Payne" are:
*'''[[John Payne (singer)|John Payne]]''' - lead vocals, bass, guitar (also in [[GPS (band)|GPS]])
*'''[[Guthrie Govan]]''' - guitar (also in [[GPS (band)|GPS]])
*'''[[Jay Schellen]]''' - drums and percussion (also in [[GPS (band)|GPS]])
*'''[[Erik Norlander]]''' - keyboards
Previous members of "Asia" are:
*[[John Payne (singer)|John Payne]] - lead vocals, bass, guitar (now in [[GPS (band)|GPS]] and "Asia Featuring John Payne")
*[[Guthrie Govan]] - guitar , backing vocals (now in [[GPS (band)|GPS]] and "Asia Featuring John Payne")
*[[Jay Schellen]] - drums, percussion (former member of [[Hurricane]], [[World Trade (band)|World Trade]] and [[Conspiracy (band)|Conspiracy]], now in [[GPS (band)|GPS]] and "Asia Featuring John Payne")
*[[Greg Lake]] - lead vocals, bass (former member of [[King Crimson]] and [[Emerson, Lake and Palmer]]). Heard on ''Asia in Asia'' and "Heat of the Moment" (live) is on Lake's ''From the Underground... the Official Bootleg'' album (1998).
*[[Mandy Meyer]] - guitar, backing vocals
*[[Pat Thrall]] - guitar, backing vocals
*[[Al Pitrelli]] - guitar (former member of [[Savatage]] and [[Megadeth]] and current member of [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]])
*[[Mike Sturgis]] - drums, percussion (former member of [[21 Guns]], later a member of [[Wishbone Ash]], [[The Untouchables (rock band)|The Untouchables]] and [[Psycho Motel]])
*[[John Young]] - keyboards, backing vocals
*[[Alan Darby]] - guitar
*[[Zoe Nicholas]] - backing vocals
*[[Susie Webb]] - backing vocals
*[[Vinny Burns]] - guitar, backing vocals
*[[Trevor Thornton]] - drums
*[[Keith More]] - guitar, backing vocals
*[[Aziz Ibrahim]] - guitar, backing vocals
*[[Holger Larish]] - guitar
*[[Bob Richards]] - drums
*[[Ian Crichton]] - guitar
*[[Chris Slade]] - drums, percussion (former member of [[AC/DC]], [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]], and [[The Firm (band)|The Firm]])
Certain musicians have 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 have played as session or guest artists without formally joining Asia. Some of these names include: [[Simon Phillips]] , [[Steve Lukather]] , [[Elliot Randall]] , [[Luis Jardim]] , [[Ant Glynne]] , [[Tomoyasu Hotei]] , [[Ron Komie]] , [[Scott Gorham]] , [[Tony Levin]] and [[Vinnie Colaiuta]].
==Discography==
{{Main|Asia discography}}
;Studio albums
* ''[[Asia (album)|Asia]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Alpha (album)|Alpha]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Astra (album)|Astra]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Aqua (album)|Aqua]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Aria (album)|Aria]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Arena (Asia album)|Arena]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Rare (Asia album)|Rare]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Aura (Asia album)|Aura]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Silent Nation (album)|Silent Nation]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Phoenix (Asia album)|Phoenix]]'' (2008)
==Cultural references==
*Although Asia has not recaptured the success from the early Eighties in its later years, the band's legacy endures, and occasionally Asia references are found in the media. Some of these references are not altogether flattering. The [[Mystery Science Theater 3000]] episode "[[Overdrawn at the Memory Bank]]" features Professor Bobo (played by [[Kevin W. Murphy]]) singing part of verse two from "Heat of the Moment". In addition, the doorbell of the Satellite of Love plays the intro to "Only Time Will Tell."
*In an episode of the animated TV series ''[[South Park]]'', [[Eric Cartman]] and the United States Congress sing "[[Heat Of The Moment]]" [[a cappella]].
*In the [[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]] episode "Mystery Spot", [[Sam Winchester]] is reliving a day over and over again. Every time he wakes up to relive the day, the song playing on the radio that wakes him up is "Heat of the Moment". [[Dean Winchester|Dean]] tells him to admit that he loves the song. He says he'll kill himself if he ever hears it again, and Dean proceeds to dance around and lip sync to it.
*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 clamouring to bring back military strategist [[Sun Tzu]] and [[China]]'s first emperor [[Qin Shi Huang]], the studio audience decided to leave the 80's super group 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''.
* A cover of the song "Heat Of The Moment" is playable in the Playstation 2 game ''[[Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s]]''.
* 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.
* In the Mexican Soap Opera ''[[Alcanzar una Estrella]]'' (1991) starring singers ''[[Ricky Martin]]'' and ''[[Sasha]]'' the intros of all four new songs from the album Then and Now were used at the closing of each scene before a commercial break.
==See also==
*[[List of bands named after places]]
*[[Progressive rock]]
*[[Qango (band)]] - spin-off band
*[[GPS (band)]] - spin-off band
*[[Roger Dean (artist)]] - graphic artist, responsible for most of the Asia and Yes album covers.
*[[Rodney Matthews]] - fantasy artist responsible for some of the album covers during the 1990s.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
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*[http://www.originalasia.com/ Asia Reunion] - Official site
*[http://www.theasiaband.com/ Asia Featuring John Payne] - Official site
*[http://www.myspace.com/originalasia Asia Reunion - Official Myspace site]
*[http://www.myspace.com/asiafeaturingjohnpayne Asia featuring John Payne - Official MySpace site]
{{Asiaband}}
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[[Category:Supergroups]]
[[Category:1980s music groups]]
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