Asia (band)

(studio albums only). Past members include Isobel Campbell (vocals and cello) and Stuart David (bass). Yet more played as session, guest or live artists without formally joining Asia. The current members of the band are Stuart Murdoch (vocals, guitar and keyboards), Stevie Jackson (vocals and guitar), Chris Geddes (keyboards), Sarah Martin (violin and vocals), Mick Cooke (trumpet and bass), Bobby Kildea (guitar and bass) and Richard Colburn (drums). Other musicians joined and left after a short time (including Greg Lake), without recording any material with the group. The band's name is taken from Belle et Sébastien, a children's book by French writer Cécile Aubry about a boy (Sébastien) and his dog (Belle), on which was based a 1965 French live action tv series and later a 1981 Japanese anime (see below). The 2001 Aura album showed a return to progressive rock form, but without recapturing the commercial success of the first album. In January 2005 Belle and Sebastian were voted Scotland's greatest band, beating Idlewild, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, and The Proclaimers, among others.

Downes' environmental single, "Who Will Stop The Rain" attracted some attention, but the "Aqua" club tour featuring Howe (whose presence was heavily promoted) angered even the band's most ardent supporters, when a clearly indifferent Howe only took the stage halfway through the show. Thus, being in possession of their complete discography is a mark of true devotion. "Aqua" 1992 featured sessions from Steve Howe and Carl Palmer, but John Payne's raspy voice was ill-suited to replace John Wetton. Some of this loyalty is due to the fact that until 2003 the band did not include singles on their albums. Enlisting new musicians, he led Asia through the 1990s with a series of well-produced but unremarkable albums. Presenting a slightly fey image to the public at large, Belle and Sebastian's bittersweet love songs inspire a fanatical loyalty amongst their fans, similar to that experienced by The Smiths during their heyday. However, Downes found a new lease on life with Asia. The album Dear Catastrophe Waitress was shortlisted for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize.

John Wetton left in 1992 to focus on writing new albums. In the summer of 2003 they had their first mainstream hit in the United States with "Step Into My Office, Baby". Pat Thrall joined Downes, Palmer, and Wetton, who performed classic material and even King Crimson songs. In July 2002 they announced the switch to Rough Trade Records. "Days Like These" charted briefly in 1991, generating a small amount of MTV airplay. The band was then proclaimed Best Newcomer at the 1999 Brit Awards. Geoffrey Downes revived Asia in 1989, to a mediocre reception even from its former fans. They toured the former Soviet Union in 1990, while "Then And Now" featured their previous hits and new singles. Their third album, The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998), was a top-20 hit in the UK.

Asia also made a contribution to the Sylvester Stallone film soundtrack to "Over The Top.". Signing for the slightly larger Jeepster Records they released the album If You're Feeling Sinister in 1996 and a sequence of EPs through 1997. In 1985, this Asia line-up died, although Wetton resurfaced with a 1987 solo album, Wetton-Manzanera, based on Asia material. Built mostly around the creative mind of Stuart Murdoch, their first album, Tigermilk, was recorded as part of the course and released on the independent Electric Honey label. Yet the band enjoyed a modest hit single, "Go," with Meyer's guitar heroics center-stage. Belle & Sebastian is a Scottish twee pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996 under the aegis of a training scheme and music business course. Mandy Meyer of Krokus provided more of a hard-rock guitar approach, in keeping with the trend. Books (EP), 2004.

The third Asia album, Astra, was a commercial failure, largely because Geffen cancelled the tour due to lack of interest. I'm a Cuckoo (single), 2004. However, Howe would enjoy a brief success with GTR, another super-group formed with Steve Hackett of Genesis, and produced by none other than Geoffrey Downes. Step into My Office Baby (single), 2003. Thereafter, Asia reformed without Steve Howe, who also despaired that Yes had enjoyed a successful rebirth with Trevor Rabin as its new guitarist. Fans Only (compilation DVD), 2003. In 1984, Wetton left the group briefly, while ELP frontman Greg Lake replaced him for the highly publicized "Asia in Asia" tour in Japan. Dear Catastrophe Waitress, 2003.

Unsurprisingly, John Wetton and Steve Howe quarrelled over the direction of Asia. Storytelling, 2002. Rolling Stone rightfully panned "Alpha" as an over-produced commercial album, while others lamented that Howe and Palmer were effectively reduced to session musicians. I'm Waking Up To Us (single), 2001. The power-ballad "Don't Cry" barely entered the Top Ten in 1983, while "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," an affable John Wetton vocal performance, barely charted in the U.S. Jonathan David (single), 2001. However, neither the second album, Alpha nor its singles did not repeat the chart success of the first. Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, 2000.

tour also did extremely well, while the MTV channel played their videos on heavy rotation. Legal Man (single), 2000. The U.S. Lazy Line Painter Jane (box of first three singles/EPs), 2000. "Soul Survivor" also remains a memorable track, reminiscent of Yes. This Is Just A Modern Rock Song (single), 1998. But in comparison with their next two "classic" albums, "Asia" did tend toward progressive rock, with the anthem "Wildest Dreams" showcasing Carl Palmer's superlative drumming. The Boy With The Arab Strap, 1998.

One criticism remains that Wetton and Downes' songwriting relied too heavily on love balladry and keyboard hooks. Seconds Of Light (EP), 1997. Both songs featured Geoffrey Downes' keyboard wizardry, with John Wetton's throaty voice at the helm. 9. sporting events. 6. The singles "Only Time Will Tell" and "Heat of the Moment" became huge Top 40 hits, with the latter cracking the Top Ten, while remaining a stadium favorite at U.S. 3.