Today, many rock lovers are aware of such a unique phenomenon as the Asia group. However, even among them you can count only a few of those who really appreciated the work of this legendary team. For some reason, it occupies a secondary position in comparison with the grandees of art rock, but true fans of this style think differently.
Asia Group: Sunrise on the Wave of Art Rock
If you look at the history of the development of such a musical trend as rock, at the dawn of the 80s several main directions formed, which many of today's idols followed. Heavy metal and thrash metal were especially popular, however, against the background of all this, art rock, which made the listener think about music, developed no less successfully, even though the days of Yes and King Crimson seemed to have passed.
No matter how! These two groups, their participants and creativity served as the basis for creating such a successful team as Asia. The group today is positioned as one of the most prominent representatives of the second wave of 80s art rock.
Outside influence
Not to mention Yes and King Crimson, it’s worth mentioning separately that since its inception in 1981, the group has been influenced by such giants as ELP and UK. In addition, the production of the newly created project was taken by none other than Mike Stone, who at one time was distinguished by unique works with the groups Queen and Foreigner. It is not surprising that the new project received an interesting enough sound that was simultaneously between everyone and at the same time was not like anyone else.
Asia. Group. Biography
The starting point in the history of Asia is 1981. In the 1980s, then-famous vocalist and bass player John Wetton, who had been on such giants as Uriah Heep, UK, King Crimson, Wishbone Ash and Roxy Music, recorded Caught In The Crossfire. As he claimed, he lacked something - he wanted something more solid and permanent.
It was at this time that he met with the representative of Atlantic Records John David Calodner, who advised John to assemble his own team, and as the first member of the new project, Wetton invited a keyboard player named Jeff Downs, who did not differ in special equipment, but he was very peculiar to selection of tones for the overall sound of the group.
The former Yes band member Steve Howe became the guitarist, and the drums were entrusted to Karl Palmer (ELP - Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Such was the group "Asia" at the time of its creation. The composition speaks for itself. Is it necessary to explain that it was under his influence that the group's creativity was formed, aimed exclusively at art rock?
The group "Asia" released its self-titled debut album in 1982. Unprecedented success awaited him. The circulation amounted to 10 million copies, and the record itself became multi-platinum. This album lasted at the top of the British charts for 9 weeks.
After such commercial success, the Asia group, in support of the album, went on a world tour, which became a real sensation. The fact is known that the revenues only in Britain were so great that the musicians had to hurry to leave the country in order to avoid paying taxes, which at that time amounted to about 90% of concert fees.
Dashing 90s
In the 90s, the group toured extensively around the world. Most concerts took place in Brazil, Japan, Germany and England.
However, our listener got it. How not to recall two amazing concerts at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex in Moscow, the first of which took place in 1991?
The audience literally roared with delight when such world-famous hits as Only Time Will Tell and Heat Of The Moment were performed. At the same time, a video was shot for the famous song Praying For A Miracle, which showed harsh Soviet reality and almost fell under the ban in the then USSR. But everything worked out, and the clip was successfully shown even on Soviet television. Nevertheless, the fact remains, no matter how anyone wants it.
On the other hand, Asia became one of those groups that visited the Soviet Union in the first wave along with Metallica and Pantera. And for that time it was a truly amazing event.
Disintegration and reunion
Despite all the successes, the group ceased to exist for some time, and the new and, it must be said, long-awaited album was released only in 2008. It was called Phoenix. A very symbolic name, because the phoenix bird, burning, is reborn from the ashes. So is the Asia group. That the public, that the critics accepted the new work, is simply enthusiastic. What can I say? On the Billboard internet chart, the album entered the TOP-10.
Concerts are organized very simply. The emphasis is not even on the light show, but on the performance technique and the material presented. It is not surprising that all the attention of the audience is focused on the music and the people who perform it. And if you take into account the age of today's art rockers, in general, many wonder how the "old men" can perform such virtuoso parts. We must pay tribute - not all modern musicians own such technology.
The most famous compositions
The group "Asia" performs songs masterfully. They are popular with numerous fans and are released regularly. Not to mention the above-mentioned hits, the compositions Here Comes The Feeling (something like a 70s-style symphonic progressive), Don't Cry, Kari-A »ne, Who Will Stop The Rain? and many others.
Unfortunately, the general public does not particularly know the group, but real connoisseurs of art venerate these musicians very highly, despite even the small number of released albums. The important thing is not the quantity, but the material itself. Well, the group "Asia", no matter what the song is a hit.
It is worth noting that the musicians of that time (Yes, King Crimson, Rush, ELP) had a serious influence on the team. And the group itself became a kind of starting point for many other artists. Nowadays, interest in art rock, as such, has somewhat weakened, but the classics of the genre always remain in demand. And the constant re-release of Asia's albums is a clear confirmation of this.