John Wetton
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| John Wetton | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 12, 1949 Willington, Derby, England |
| Genre(s) | Rock, progressive rock |
| Instrument(s) | Bass, guitar |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Associated acts | Mogul Thrash Family King Crimson Roxy Music Uriah Heep UK Wishbone Ash Asia Phenomena Renaissance |
| Website | www.johnwetton.co.uk |
John Kenneth Wetton (born 12 June 1949) is an English singer, bass guitarist and guitarist.
Born in Willington, Derbyshire, Wetton grew up in Bournemouth, Dorset. He has been a professional singer/songwriter/musician since the late 1960s as a member of such progressive rock bands as Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson (working with childhood friend Robert Fripp), Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry band, Uriah Heep, UK and Wishbone Ash. Wetton found worldwide fame in 1982 with the band Asia, whose self-titled debut album sold millions and became Billboard magazine's #1 album of 1982. This album remains one of only four to remain at the #1 position of the Billboard chart for nine consecutive weeks.[1]
[edit] Career
Wetton has achieved an original bass guitar sound utilising a 1961 Fender Precision Bass amplified through tubes. The sound is overdriven and very aggressive. This style and approach was particularly evident during his stint with King Crimson from 1972 until 1974. Known initially for his powerful bass guitar sound, Wetton's vocal and songwriting abilities garnered attention with his work in the band Asia in the early 1980s. Early recorded highlights of Wetton's career include King Crimson's Larks' Tongues In Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), Red (1974), UK's self-titled album (1978) (reuniting the King Crimson rhythm section of Wetton and Bill Bruford) and Asia's self-titled album (1982), the last being the biggest seller of his career. In 1986 he contributed also to Phenomena II and had a #1 hit with the single "Did It All For Love" in South America. Since the early 1990s, Wetton has released four solo albums (Voice Mail/Battle Lines, Arkangel, Sinister/Welcome to Heaven, and Rock of Faith), and a number of live recordings from his solo tours around the world. Wetton also created the ICON project with fellow Asia bandmate Geoff Downes. The duo recorded two studio albums of original material (ICON and ICON II/Rubicon) and one live album (Never in a Million Years) from their ICON European tour.
Wetton has done extensive work as a session musician with acts such as Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera.[2] Through his connection with George Martin, Wetton also played bass on 'Only Visiting This Planet' by Larry Norman, recorded in 1972 and produced by Martin. The album has been voted "The Best Contemporary Christian Album of All Time" by Contemporary Christian Music magazine.[3]
Wetton rejoined the other original members of Asia (Downes, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer) in early 2006 to announce a 25th anniversary world tour. This line-up performed a series of dates in the United States in September 2006, and in the United Kingdom in November/December 2006. The band also spent much of 2007 on the road, with shows in North and South America, Europe and Asia. A new Asia studio album, the original band's first since 1983's Alpha, was released in April 2008 (entitled "Phoenix").Billboard Interview</ref>
[edit] Personal life
Wetton has struggled with alcoholism in the past. In 1983, while on tour with Asia, due to his drinking problem Wetton was replaced in the band by ex-Emerson, Lake & Palmer bassist and vocalist Greg Lake. At the present time, Wetton declares himself sober.[4]
In August 2007 Wetton underwent heart surgery which placed the remainder of Asia's 2007 tour and recording plans on hold until he recovered. The band, including Wetton, released their new album entitled Phoenix worldwide in April 2008. Artist Roger Dean, was commissioned to create the cover art. This release will be followed by a world tour.
[edit] Discography
[edit] With Mogul Thrash
- Mogul Thrash, 1971
[edit] With Family
[edit] With Larry Norman
- Only Visiting This Planet, 1972
[edit] With King Crimson
- Larks' Tongues in Aspic, April 1973; US #61 UK #20
- Starless and Bible Black, June 1974; US #64 UK #28
- Red, October 1974; US #66
- USA, (Recorded live June 1974, released 1975, expanded edition 2002)
[edit] With Bryan Ferry
- Another Time, Another Place, July 1974; UK #4
- Let's Stick Together, September 1976; UK #19, US #160
- In Your Mind, February 1977; UK #5, US #126, Aust #1
- The Bride Stripped Bare, September 1978
[edit] With Roxy Music
- Viva!, July 1976
[edit] With Peter Banks
- Two Sides of Peter Banks, 1973
[edit] With Uriah Heep
- Return To Fantasy, 1975
- High and Mighty, 1976
[edit] With UK
- U.K., 1978
- Danger Money, 1979
- Night After Night, 1979 - Live
- Concert Classics, Vol. 4, 1999 - Live, unauthorized
[edit] With Wishbone Ash
- Number the Brave, 1981, MCA Records
[edit] With Asia
- Asia, 1982; #1 US, #15 JP
- Alpha, 1983; #6 US, #4 JP
- Astra, 1985; #67 US, #15 JP
- Then & Now, 1990; #114 US, #24 JP
- Live in Moscow, 1990
- The Very Best of Asia: Heat of the Moment (1982-1990), 2000
- Definitive Collection, 2006; #183 US
- Fantasia: Live in Tokyo, 2007
- Phoenix, 2008
[edit] Solo albums
- Caught in the Crossfire, 1980, E'G/Polydor Records
- King's Road, 1972-1980, 1987, E'G/Virgin Records
- Voicemail / Battle Lines, 1992, Pony Canyon/JWL
- Arkangel, 1997, Eagle Records
- Chasing the Deer (film soundtrack), 1998, Blueprint Records
- Monkey Business (with Richard Palmer-James), 1998, Blueprint Records
- Welcome to Heaven / Sinister, 2000, Avalon Records
- Rock of Faith, 2003, Giant Electric Pea Records
[edit] With Phil Manzanera
- Diamond Head, 1975
- K Scope, 1978
- Wetton Manzanera, 1987, Geffen Records
[edit] With Geoff Downes
- Wetton Downes (Demo Collection), 2001, Stallion Records
- Icon, 2005, Frontiers Records/UMe Digital (US)
- Acoustic TV Broadcast, 2006, Frontiers Records
- Icon II: Rubicon, 2006, Frontiers Records (US)
[edit] EPs
- Heat of the Moment '05 (with Geoff Downes), 2005, Frontiers Records
[edit] Live albums
- Chasing the Dragon, 1995, Eclipse Records
- Akustika, 1996, Blueprint Records
- Hazy Money Live in New York, 1998, Blueprint Records
- Live in Tokyo, 1998, Blueprint Records
- Sub Rosa Live in Japan, 1998, Blueprint Records
- Nomansland Live in Poland, 1999, Giant Electric Pea Records
- Live in Argentina, 2002, Blueprint Records
- Live in Stockholm 1998, 2003, Blueprint Records
- Live in Osaka, 2003, Blueprint Records
- Live in the Underworld, 2003, Classic Rock Legends
- One Way or Another (with Ken Hensley), 2003, Classic Rock Legends
- Amorata, 2004, Metal Mind Records
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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