| John Wetton |
John Wetton playing bass live |
| Background information |
| Birth name |
John Kenneth Wetton |
| Born |
(1949-06-12) 12 June 1949 (age 64)
Willington, Derby, England |
| Genres |
Progressive rock, hard rock, pop rock, jazz fusion |
| Occupations |
Singer-songwriter, musician, producer |
| Instruments |
Bass, vocals, guitar, keyboards |
| Years active |
1965–present |
| Labels |
E.G., Atlantic Records, Geffen, Universal Records, Island, Eagle, Avalon, EMI, King Records, Frontiers |
| Associated acts |
Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, UK, Jack-Knife, Wishbone Ash, Asia, Phenomena, Renaissance, Qango, Brian Eno |
| Website |
Official website |
| Notable instruments |
Fender Precision Bass
Zon Legacy |
John Kenneth Wetton (born 12 June 1949) is an English singer, bassist, and songwriter.[1] He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He initially rose to fame in progressive rock with bands such as Mogul Thrash, Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry, Uriah Heep, UK, Jack-Knife, and Wishbone Ash.[2] His biggest commercial success was as the frontman and principal songwriter of the supergroup Asia.[3] Their self-titled debut album sold 8 million copies worldwide and was Billboard magazine's #1 album of 1982.
Wetton grew up in Bournemouth and was in a number of early bands, often with Richard Palmer-James.[4] A key early band was Mogul Thrash and work with Family and various sessions followed.[5]
Wetton's first big break came when he joined Wimbourne, Dorset musician Robert Fripp in his new line-up of King Crimson in 1972, allowing Wetton to come to the fore as a lead singer and composer. Palmer-James also worked with the band as a lyricist. Wetton remained with the band until Fripp unexpectedly disbanded it in 1974. Wetton continued to work on various projects, often with Palmer-James or Crimson drummer, Bill Bruford. Wetton and Bruford formed UK, the band emerging out of a failed King Crimson reunion.[6]
Wetton released his first solo album, Caught in the Crossfire, in 1980 after the break-up of UK. He then started working with Steve Howe, who had recently been in Yes. They went on to form Asia.[7] Wetton left the band and re-joined on two occasions. The 1990s saw Wetton out of Asia and focusing on a solo career, but in the 2000s, he re-united with Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes for iCon and later an Asia reunion. He is currently touring and recording with Asia. The studio album titled Phoenix, the original band's first since 1983's Alpha, was released in April 2008 and peaked at #73 on the North American Top 200 albums charts.[8]
Wetton has done extensive work as a session musician with acts such as Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera.[9][10] More recently, he has worked on several projects with Billy Sherwood and been part of a UK reunion with Eddie Jobson.
Discography[edit]
- With Mogul Thrash
- With Gordon Haskell
- With Family
- With Larry Norman
- With Malcolm and Alwyn
- With Peter Banks
- With Brian Eno
- With Pete Sinfield
- 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, UK #45
- USA, recorded live June 1974, released 1975, expanded edition 2002
- The Great Deceiver, recorded live 1973-1974, released 1992
- The Night Watch, recorded live 23 November 1973, released 1997
- With Bryan Ferry
- With Roxy Music
- With Uriah Heep
- With UK
- With Jack-Knife
- With Roger Chapman
- With Wishbone Ash
- With Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash
- 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 #73 US #28 JP
- Omega, 2010
- XXX, 2012
- With Steve Hackett
- Solo albums
- Caught in the Crossfire, 1980, E'G/Polydor Records
- King's Road, 1972-1980, 1987, E'G/Virgin Records
- Voice Mail / Battle Lines, 1994, Pony Canyon / Magnetic Air Records
- Arkangel, 1997, Eagle Records
- Chasing the Deer (film soundtrack), 1998,
- Monkey Business (with Richard Palmer-James), 1998,
- Welcome to Heaven / Sinister, 2000, Avalon Records
- Rock of Faith, 2003, Giant Electric Pea
- Raised in Captivity, 2011, Frontiers Records
- With Phil Manzanera
- With Daniele Liverani
- Genius A Rock Opera - Episode 1, 2002
- With Alan Simon
- Excalibur - The Celtic Ring
- Excalibur III
- With Geoff Downes
- Wetton Downes (Demo Collection), 2002, Stallion Records
- Icon, 2005, Frontiers Records/UMe Digital (US)
- Heat of the Moment '05 EP, 2005, Frontiers Records
- Icon Live: Never in a Million Years, 2006, Frontiers Records
- Acoustic TV Broadcast, 2006, Frontiers Records
- Icon II: Rubicon, 2006, Frontiers Records
- Icon 3, 2009, Frontiers Records
- With Duncan Mackay
- With Atoll
- Live albums
- Chasing the Dragon, 1995, Eclipse Records
- Akustika, 1996,
- Live in Tokyo, 1998,
- Nomansland Live in Poland, 1999, Giant Electric Pea
- Hazy Monet Live in New York, 1999,
- Sub Rosa Live in Milan Italy, 1999,
- One Way or Another (with Ken Hensley), 2002, Classic Rock Legends
- More Than Conquerors (with Ken Hensley), 2002, Classic Rock Legends
- Live in Argentina, 2003,
- Live in Stockholm 1998, 2003,
- Live in Osaka, 2003,
- Live in the Underworld, 2003, Classic Rock Legends
- Amata, 2004, Metal Mind Records
References[edit]
- ^ "My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton", by Kim Dancha, 1997
- ^ "My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton", by Kim Dancha, 1997
- ^ "My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton", by Kim Dancha, 1997
- ^ [1]
- ^ "My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton", by Kim Dancha, 1997
- ^ "My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton", by Kim Dancha, 1997
- ^ "My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton", by Kim Dancha, 1997
- ^ Billboard magazine, April 2008
- ^ JOHN WETTON music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews
- ^ "My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton", by Kim Dancha, 1997
External links[edit]
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John Wetton
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- Live in Moscow
- Alive at Hallowed Halls
- Now (Nottingham)
- Live In Buffalo
- Dragon Attack
- Asia Enso Kai (Live in Tokyo 83)
- Quadra
- Live in Massachusetts
- Fantasia: Live in Tokyo
- Extended Versions
- Under the Bridge
- Spirit of the Night - Live in Cambridge
- Resonance - The Omega Tour 2010
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Wetton, John |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
British musician |
| Date of birth |
12 June 1949 |
| Place of birth |
Willington, Derby, England |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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