Asia

Asia are a London-based English rock group formed in 1981 and active to the present day. They are associated with hard rock, progressive rock and rock, and are best known as a progressive rock supergroup built around established musicians from earlier bands.

Original line-up

The original line-up consists of vocalist and bassist John Wetton, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Geoff Downes and drummer Carl Palmer. Wetton comes from King Crimson, Uriah Heep and U.K.; Howe from Yes; Downes from Yes and the Buggles; and Palmer from Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Early success

The band’s self-titled debut album appears in 1982 and becomes their best-selling release. It reaches number one in several countries and is listed by Billboard as the top album in the United States that year. Their best-known single, “Heat of the Moment”, reaches the US Billboard Hot 100 top five and tops the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, while also charting in more than a dozen markets.

Line-up changes and later activity

Asia go through several line-up changes before the original four members reunite in 2006. From 1991 to 2006, John Payne fronts a separate version of the band under the name Asia featuring John Payne. In 2013, Steve Howe retires from the group and is replaced by Sam Coulson. Billy Sherwood later steps in for an ailing Wetton on a 2017 tour with Journey. The band then pauses before returning in 2019 with Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal replacing Sherwood on vocals and Coulson on guitar. Marc Bonilla joins in 2022 as guitarist and vocalist, although that line-up does not perform or record. In 2024, Downes announces a touring line-up including himself, Virgil Donati, John Mitchell and Harry Whitley.

Studio albums

Their studio albums are Asia (1982), Alpha (1983), Astra (1985), Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Rare (1999), Aura (2001), Silent Nation (2004), Phoenix (2008), Omega (2010), XXX (2012) and Gravitas (2014).