2006.E2.80.9313: .22Original Asia.22 reunion Asia (band)

in 2006, partnership between downes , payne dissolved when downes left reunion of original band lineup under asia name, breakup payne described painful . existing lineup (minus downes) continued short while before morphing aforementioned gps.

when downes left in 2006, payne owned significant portion of rights band name asia , until legal agreement set both bands management. original members exclusively continued perform , record asia. on 9 may 2006, john payne, geoff downes, john wetton, carl palmer , steve howe contractually agreed john payne continue 15-year period asia asia featuring john payne. asia featuring john payne debuted in 2007 payne on vocals/bass, guthrie govan on guitar, erik norlander on keyboards , jay schellen on drums.

the official websites of each band reflect split between shared history of payne s tenure band, reunited asia acknowledge pre- , post-payne albums, whereas asia featuring john payne claim payne-era (1991–2006) albums aqua (1992) through silent nation (2004) part of own discography. asia featuring john payne perform songs entire history of asia.

downes , other 3 original members (wetton, palmer , howe) convened group meeting in england in 2006 in anticipation of formally reforming work year. , after slew of rumours, announced original lineup of asia planning cd, dvd , world tour celebrate band s 25th anniversary. band appeared in october 2006 on united states cable channel vh-1 classic , began world tour largely focused on united states band secured ownership of asia name , toured under description of 4 original members of asia. set list featured of first album couple of songs second, along 1 selection each yes, elp, king crimson , buggles acknowledge history of each member of band. in 2006 interview, guitarist steve howe states, real asia. there have been other incarnations of band, 1 public embraced .

asia in 2006; left-to-right: howe, palmer , wetton (off-camera: downes)

the tour began on 29 august 2006 in rochester, new york. definitive collection released geffen/universal tie tour in september , peaked @ no.183 on united states album charts--—the first time asia had made charts since 1990. limited edition release available @ best buy stores included dvd of band s music videos.

the reunion tour continued 2007 venue size based on success of 2006 shows, band playing in clubs , theatres. many of these sold out, including 7 dates in japan. in 2007, band released fantasia: live in tokyo on cd , dvd through eagle records, commemorating 25th anniversary , documenting success of 2006–2007 tour.

in mid-2007, 4 original members (wetton, downes, howe , palmer) went studio record new album, marking first recorded material 4 original members since 1983 s alpha. band continued tour until major heart surgery wetton in second half of year saw remaining tour dates rescheduled 2008.

the new studio album, entitled phoenix, released on frontiers records on 14 april 2008 (via emi/capitol on 15 april in north america), along world tour promote. 12-track album includes extraordinary life , based on wetton s experience of ill health; rockers such never again , alibis ; , power ballads such heroine , remember . world tour featured couple of new songs. album cover featured roger dean s illustration , design. phoenix album did in both american , european/japanese markets. debuted @ no.73 on american billboard 200; band had not charted studio album since 1985.

as special finale phoenix tour, band performed, first time ever, entire first asia album beginning end @ san francisco concert @ regency center on 5 may. album comprised entire 2nd set of evening s concert.

in summer 2009, asia toured united states yes. asia opened 55-minute show, while yes closed 1-hour , 50 minute set. asia s set included extraordinary life phoenix, rest of songs coming first 2 albums plus 1 cover each buggles ( video killed radio star wetton on lead vocals , downes on vocoder), king crimson ( court of crimson king , recorded original incarnation of band greg lake on lead vocals) , emerson, lake & palmer ( fanfare common man ). yes songs omitted tour s setlist, though asia covered roundabout on earlier legs of 4 original members tour. contrary expectations, downes did not perform yes, although set list included 2 songs 1980 album drama, featured downes on keys. series of shows late in tour featured special appearance ian mcdonald (flute , vocals on court of crimson king , co-wrote, , backing vocals on heat of moment ).

in late 2009, band began working on follow-up cd phoenix. according wetton s website in late november 2009: news new album starting leap, rather creep (or sleep) in terms of progress. week have 2 completed lead vocals, complete harmony/chorus voxes on three. s me, geoff [downes], steve r[ispin], , mike paxman in studio--- carl [palmer] pretty done, steve h[owe] half done, , returns fold after yes tour. sounds absolutely wonderful . follow-up, titled omega, released in uk on 26 april 2010.

the band finished new studio album timed coincide band s thirtieth anniversary, titled xxx, , released in u.k. on 2 july 2012 , worldwide around same time. in september 2012 played 4 shows in japan , north american tour started on 11 october 2012. uk tour, however, had cancelled after number of shows due palmer contracting serious case of e. coli.