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Asia and King Crimson Singer John Wetton Dead at 67

The singer and bassist had been battling cancer since 2015. Asia drummer Carl Palmer who just lost his two old ELP compadres Keith Emerson and Greg Lake last year said, “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.”

Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes said, “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.'”

Wetton helped juice up some impressive acts in Rock and Prog including joining King Crimson for their tasty 5th album, ‘Larks’ Tongues in Aspic.’ He was also on 1974’s ‘Starless and Bible Black,’ and ‘Red.’ After Robert Fripp put the band on hiatus Wetton worked with Roxy Music and Uriah Heep and then came UK. The singer was trying to get King Crimson back on track with their drummer Bill Bruford but it wasn’t jelling so the pair formed UK with Eddie Jobson on keys and violin. Their second album, ‘Danger Money’ was a big part of my high school years. In keeping with the revolving doors in Prog rock that album featured only Wetton, Jobson and drummer Terry Bozzio. I loved Wetton’s haunting vocals on UK’s ‘Rendezvous 602.’

After the breakup of UK he released his first solo album ‘Caught in the Crossfire’ in 1980. In all he has six solo albums.

If you didn’t know the name John Wetton up to that point everything would change in 1982 when he joined up with Geoff Downes, known then for the Buggles but now for Yes, Steve Howe of Yes, and Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. With the help of the huge hit, ‘Heat of the Moment’ their self titled debut was the biggest album of 1982. They’ve released 14 studio albums. Wetton sang on 8 of them.

Yes‘ Billy Sherwood will be doing Asia’s dates in March and April which also includes their stint on the ‘Cruise to the Edge’ hosted by Yes and also featuring Kansas and Steve Hackett which sets sail on Feb. 11.

May he rest in peace – by John Beaudin