ASIA is a slick 80's 'supergroup', originally comprising personnel from some of the most esteemed names in British Progressive Rock, that achieved enormous American chart success with their early albums. ASIA's original and now recognised as classic line-up comprised guitarist STEVE HOWE, keyboardist GEOFF DOWNES, both former members of YES, frontman JOHN WETTON, ex-URIAH HEEP, KING CRIMSON and ROXY MUSIC, and drummer Carl Palmer, who had earned his reputation, naturally, in EMERSON LAKE & PALMER.

Prior to combining to form ASIA, John Wetton was in the final stages of UK, an abortive supergroup with Eddie Jobson and Terry Bozzio, and involving himself with hid solo album 'Caught In The Crossfire'. Wetton had also figured in WISHBONE ASH for their 'Number The Brave' album. Quite incredibly, many of the hit songs to feature on the debut ASIA album had been previously rejected by WISHBONE ASH.

Downes was recording pre-YES, with Pop group THE BUGGLES (of 'Video Killed The Radio Star' infamy). Pre-ASIA Palmer had taken his final bow with EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER touring to promote the 'Love Beach' album and issued one album under the band title of PM.

Before Howe became involved ex-RABBITT guitarist TREVOR RABIN rehearsed with an embryonic ASIA, then untitled and featuring Wakeman, Wetton and Palmer, before creating CINEMA with ex-YES members. With the addition of original YES front man JON ANDERSON the band CINEMA evolved into YES just as Howe was completing the line-up of ASIA.

ASIA's first album has long been considered a supreme AOR effort, produced by Mike Stone in the grandiose classical Rock tradition and packaged complete with distinctive Roger Dean sleeve artwork. This debut affair spent nine weeks at number 1 in the American Billboard charts and consequently sold nine million copies. The single, 'Only Time Will Tell' reached number 5 in America.

ASIA's first British tour included sold out two nights at Wembley Arena and expectations were high for a follow up record. The second album, 'Alpha', once again was produced by Mike Stone and featured another Roger Dean piece of cover art. The album fared well, peaking at number 6 in America and provided the band with another top ten single in the form of 'Don't Cry'.

But all was not well in the ranks and John Wetton departed in 1983, to be replaced by Carl Palmer's former EMERSON LAKE & PALMER associate GREG LAKE who lasted a mere two months before departing to reform EMERSON LAKE & PALMER, allowing Wetton's return to ASIA. During this period of flux ex-ARGENT and PHOENIX man John Verity was approached but declined the offer.

The band's third album, 'Astra', saw the departure of Howe to create another 'supergroup' GTR with STEVE HACKETT of GENESIS. ASIA meantime saw the arrival of former COBRA and KROKUS guitarist Mandy Meyer. The album failed to live up to sales expectations and a projected world tour was cancelled. Meyer, never to have performed onstage with ASIA, created KATMANDU with ex FASTWAY singer Dave King.

Downes handed in his cards in 1986 and the band splintered. With ASIA on hold Wetton kept his hand in live putting in two London Marquee dates that included Palmer, guitarist ROBIN GEORGE, ROXY MUSIC's Phil Manzanera and DON AIREY. Wetton and Manzanera also cut an album suitably titled 'Wetton Manzanera'.

GEOFF DOWNES released his solo album 'The Light Programme' in the following year. Wetton put together an ASIA track 'Gypsy Soul' for the Sylvester Stallone movie soundtrack 'Over The Top'. Along with Wetton the recording featured GIANT guitarist Dan Huff and famed producer Giorgio Moroder. Other Wetton activity include sessions for the PHENOMENA album 'Dream Runner'.

Before 1987 has run its course Wetton and Downes were ensconced in a studio with ex-THIN LIZZY guitarist Scott Gorham and drummer Michael Sturgis from Gorham's 21 GUNS outfit for a possible ASIA reunion. This line-up splintered though when no record deal outside of Japan could be found. Downes allied himself with former PASSION vocalist John Payne and erstwhile NIGHTWING and GTR singer MAX BACON on a project titled RAIN.

1988 had Palmer back in collusion with KEITH EMERSON for the 3 band with ROBERT BERRY. By the close of the year, Downes and Lake were back in rehearsals with Payne from the previous RAIN project. Payne had also been an early member of ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA II and featured on the eponymous BITE THE BULLET album.

The ASIA story was by no means over and by 1989 the band had reformed. Wetton had received an invitation to re-assemble ASIA for an American stadium tour with the BEACH BOYS and IT BITES. A quartet of Wetton, Palmer, keyboard player Jeff Young and ex-CADO BELLE, SKIDS and FASHION guitarist Alan Darby was put together for the dates which proved demand for ASIA was still alive. German dates found Darby out of the picture and German guitarist Holger Larish of SCAM LUIZ in the frame. Darby's later work included touring with ERIC CLAPTON and BONNIE TYLER.

As Downes was coaxed back into the fold Young decamped followed swiftly by Larish. ASIA's line-up at this point comprised Wetton, Palmer, Downes and former AUTOMATIC MAN, PAT TRAVERS and HUGHES THRALL guitarist Pat Thrall. The track 'Days Like These' rekindled radio interest prompting heavy touring. The subsequent world tour included two sold out shows at the 20'000 capacity Olympijski stadium in Moscow in 1990, which was filmed for the 'Live Mockba' video. After the final world tour shows in Brazil Wetton bailed out to concentrate on his solo career. Palmer drifted off too back to EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER. With activity in the ASIA camp suspended Thrall took an offer from MEAT LOAF recording and touring with the larger than life star. Later work found Thrall appearing on GLENN HUGHES 1995 'Feel' album.

1991 dawned with Downes acting as producer for IF ONLY's 'No Bed Of Roses' album. ASIA's line-up had changed once again, now involving Downes, Palmer, a returning Steve Howe, ex PASSION vocalist John Payne and New York born guitar hot shot Al Pitrelli, the latter having made a mark for himself whilst working with ALICE COOPER and briefly with TALAS.

In Between work on ASIA Downes joined the reformed TRAPEZE for American dates before embarking on a second solo outing 'Vox Humana'. The ASIA 'Aqua' album, which saw a session from IF ONLY's Greg Hart. signalled a full blown world tour with Howe billed as special guest with the band fleshed out by erstwhile DARE guitarist VINNIE BURNS and former WALK ON FIRE drummer Trevor Thornton. Burns left in the summer of 1993 to tour with electronic pop act ULTRAVOX and is now an integral part of Brit AOR hopefuls TEN. His replacement was Keith More who completed a bout of European festival dates.

KEITH MORE left to pursue the formation of his Progressive Rock act ARENA, the Jazz Rock band NETWORK and issue solo albums. ASIA was once again joined by Pitrelli and Sturgis for 1994's 'Aria'. Touring took ASIA around Europe and to Japan although Pitrelli packed his bags before the conclusion of these shows. His replacement was former SIMPLY RED man Aziz Ibrihim. Pitrelli joined ex TWISTED SISTER vocalist Dee Snider's act WIDOWMAKER (and later turned up in SAVATAGE, BLUE OYSTER CULT then MEGADETH).

By 1996 only Downes remained from the original ASIA line-up for the brand new 'Arena'. Vocals were handled by Payne with various guest guitarists including Hotei Tomoyasu, session maestro and STEELY DAN man Elliot Randall together with Ibrahim (by now a member of TEN). Drums were once more supplied by Sturgis.

ASIA performed at European festivals during 1997 which saw the addition of ex SHOGUN and present day MAN drummer Bob Richards on percussion. Sturgis would then leave to join PSYCHO MOTEL.

However, the same year a compilation of older and rare material was issued over two CDs titled 'Archiva', on some of the re-works ex ATOMIC ROOSTER drummer Preston Hayman filled in as did SAXON man Nigel Glockler. Also making their presence felt were ex THIN LIZZY star Scott Gorham on guitar and former MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP keyboard player Andy Nye.

The 1998 'Anthology' set is worthy of note due to the inclusion of re-recordings of previously unreleased early material, Sturgis returning for these sessions.

'Aura' found Downes, Payne and Howe joined by QUEEN guitarist BRIAN MAY, SAGA's Ian Crichton, ex AC/DC drummer Chris Slade, former STEELY DAN guitarist Elliot Randell, KING CRIMSON's Tony Levin, TOTO drummer Simon Phillips and their old ASIA colleague Pat Thrall. The album was produced by Simon Hanhart. There was talk of a 'Classic' line up reunion tour comprising of Downes, Palmer and Wetton, billed for 1999 and projected to climax with a millennium date in China. However, this proposed union fragmented as American dates were pushed back from their original kick off dates.

ASIA announced touring plans for 2001 to include a European tour alongside KANSAS. The 2001 archive live album 'Alive In Hallowed Halls' was of note to collectors being a Detroit concert recording of the last ever classic 1983 line up. 'Enso Kai', also boasting the 1983 line-up, but this time recorded at the Budokan in Tokyo, also arrived during May.

ASIA was back on tour in the UK during March 2002 supported by VAUGHN. A brand new studio record, 'Silent Nation', emerged on the Inside Out Music label in 2004. Sessioning would be former PHANTOM BLUE and WRAITH bassist Kim Nielsen. That same year Downes donated guest keyboards to the album 'If Ain't Broke - Break It!' from Los Angeles Rockers STARWOOD.

The band, pulling in THE FIRM and AC/DC credited Chris Slade on drums and Guthrie Govan on guitar, embarked upon a lengthy tour schedule throughout 2005. BADFINGER, SIRCLE OF SILENCE, UNRULY CHILD and HURRICANE veteran Jay Schellen took over the drum position in August. November saw the band on the UK gig circuit once again, partnering up with joint headliners URIAH HEEP.

A new studio album, billed 'Architects Of Time' was announced but then cancelled as in January 2006 the classic ASIA line-up, JOHN WETTON, STEVE HOWE, GEOFF DOWNES and Carl Palmer, finally relented to conduct a 25th anniversary tour and record a new album. In the wake of these events, John Payne, Guthrie Govan and Jay Schellen, working with Ryo Okumoto from SPOCK'S BEARD, formed a new outfit billed ONE, signing to Inside Out Music. The WETTON / DOWNES partnership issued the 'Rubicon' album in November.

ASIA formed up a triple header with FOREIGNER and STYX for US touring throughout June 2007.