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John Wetton

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John Wetton
John Wetton playing bass live
John Wetton playing bass live
Background information
Birth nameJohn Kenneth Wetton
Born (1949-06-12) 12 June 1949 (age 75)
Willington, Derby, England
GenresProgressive rock, hard rock, pop rock, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician, producer
Instrument(s)Bass, vocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active1965–present
LabelsE.G., Mesa, Eclipse, Eagle, Avalon, Giant Electric Pea, Frontiers, Voiceprint
WebsiteOfficial website

John Kenneth Wetton (born 12 June 1949) is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s. 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. His biggest commercial success was as the frontman and principal songwriter of the supergroup Asia. Their self-titled debut album sold 8 million copies worldwide and was Billboard magazine's #1 album of 1982.

Career

Wetton has done extensive work as a session musician with acts such as Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera.[1] 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. He also played bass on the 1973 Malcolm and Alwyn gospel beat music album Fool's Wisdom, another Larry Norman connection.

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 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.[2]

UK reformed with John Wetton, Eddie Jobson and Terry Bozzio for a world tour in 2012.

Personal life

Wetton has struggled with alcoholism in the past. After the first leg of Asia's 1983 tour, Asia replaced him temporarily with bassist and vocalist Greg Lake (previously of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and also a King Crimson alumnus), in part because of his drinking problem. Wetton has been sober since June 2005.

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 was followed by a world tour.

Wetton is left-handed but plays bass and guitar right-handed.[citation needed]

Discography

With Mogul Thrash
With Gordon Haskell
  • It Is and It Isn't, 1971
With Family
With Larry Norman
With Malcolm and Alwyn
  • Fool's Wisdom, 1973
With Peter Banks
With Brian Eno
With Pete Sinfield
With King Crimson
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
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
  • Score 1977
With Atoll
  • Rock Puzzle 1979
Live albums
  • Chasing the Dragon, 1995, Eclipse Records
  • Akustika, 1996, Blueprint Records
  • Live in Tokyo, 1998, Blueprint Records
  • Nomansland Live in Poland, 1999, Giant Electric Pea Records
  • Hazy Monet Live in New York, 1999, Blueprint Records
  • Sub Rosa Live in Milan Italy, 1999, Blueprint Records
  • 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, Blueprint Records
  • Live in Stockholm 1998, 2003, Blueprint Records
  • Live in Osaka, 2003, Blueprint Records
  • Live in the Underworld, 2003, Classic Rock Legends
  • Amata, 2004, Metal Mind Records

References

  1. ^ JOHN WETTON music, discography, MP3, videos and reviews
  2. ^ Billboard magazine, April 2008

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