Prog News, Press Releases - Asia featuring John Payne, new single and album

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Asia featuring John Payne, new single and album

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Topic: Asia featuring John Payne, new single and album

Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Subject: Asia featuring John Payne, new single and album
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 11:35

From http://www.theasiaband.com/

http://www.theasiaband.com/asia-featuring-john-payne-announces-first-single-and-video-from-forthcoming-album/" rel="nofollow - ASIA Featuring John Payne Announces First Single and Video from Forthcoming Album

"Los Angeles, California – AOR/Prog rockers ASIA Featuring John Payne are set to make the music industry stand up and listen with their first single release “Seasons Will Change” now available as a digital single on iTunes and other mainstream online media outlets. Co-written by John Payne and Erik Norlander, “Seasons Will Change” is the first track unveiled from the band’s forthcoming album “Americana”, scheduled for release by Sony Music Japan in 2013. To promote the single, ASIA Featuring John Payne has released a promotional video for “Seasons Will Change”.

Replies:

Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 12:15

As much as I like the original Asia, this is much better in every regard IMO. The original Asia sounds tired and this sounds fresher. The songwriting, like with the original Asia is not great, but the music is much better.

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A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!

Posted By: davemuttillo
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 15:42

Much more vibrant and lively than original Asia. I have been looking forward to this release for a while.

Sounds like it will have benn worth the wait, if this new single is any indication of what is to come.

Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 16:31

I know I should know this---but how can their be two Asia's--I mean legally ---could John Payne not come up with another name?

Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 18:27

Asia with John Payne as lead vocalist was together longer than the original Asia!! I think he was given short shrift when Asia reformed and Geoff Downes et al took the name with them!!

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A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!

Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 19:50

well, hate this kind of music but I think John Paynes Asia 2.0 would have been a less confusing name LOL

Posted By: Thandrus
Date Posted: January 20 2013 at 21:34

twosteves wrote:

I know I should know this---but how can their be two Asia's--I mean legally ---could John Payne not come up with another name?

John Payne and original Asia members have officially settled about it Smile

Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: January 21 2013 at 03:20

Again from the official website:

"ASIA Featuring John Payne has been touring North America since 2008 and playing to enthusiastic fans across the USA and from Canada down to Mexico. A high-powered spinoff of the original ASIA group formed in 1981, ASIA Featuring John Payne consists of John Payne (lead vocals, bass), Jay Schellen (drums), Erik Norlander (keyboards), Moni Scaria (guitar) and Jeff Kollman (guitar). While Payne, Schellen and Norlander have been working together since the band’s inception, the current lineup with guitarists Scaria and Kollman was finalized just this year in 2012.

John Payne became the frontman of the supergroup ASIA in 1992 at the invitation of keyboardist Geoff Downes, replacing vocalist/bassist John Wetton. With John Payne fronting the band, ASIA released 8 stunning studio albums, several live albums, a live DVD, and toured the world extensively for 14 years.

In 2006, Geoff Downes left the band to reform the 1982 line up for their 25th anniversary. On the 9th of May 2006, John Payne, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe contractually agreed that John Payne would continue his 14 year legacy with ASIA as “ASIA Featuring John Payne."

Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: January 21 2013 at 04:42

Oh no, not John P.I.T.A.........

Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: January 21 2013 at 07:53

Tom Ozric wrote:

Oh no, not John P.I.T.A.........

Huh?

Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 21 2013 at 15:07

Cliched as heck.

Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: January 21 2013 at 15:31

richardh wrote:

Cliched as heck.

Sure, but there is good cliché and bad cliché, and this is the good variety. I agree with some the above posters that this is much more fresh and vibrant than the "original" Asia (who are not all that original anymore, since Steve Howe has left). I have always preferred Payne over Wetton, and Erik Norlander is a brilliant keyboard player and composer. Jay Schellen is a great drummer too.

Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: January 21 2013 at 19:08

I dug up this Asia featuring John Payne video blog from 2010. This part has focuses on Norlander.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1464535494316" rel="nofollow - http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1464535494316

Posted By: RoyFairbank
Date Posted: January 22 2013 at 07:39

I hope this is on rhapsody. I really like Payne-Asia. The album Aria is a favorite of mine.

Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: January 22 2013 at 11:11

Not a disaster but still so AOR.... no thanks.

And I don't like this double Asia name thing, c'mon, it's not like the Asia name is worth as much as the Yes or Genesis brands.

Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: January 22 2013 at 11:48

I think that it is probably worth more, and since I love AOR this sounds great to me.

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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: January 22 2013 at 14:32

SouthSideoftheSky wrote:

richardh wrote:

Cliched as heck.

not sure what is 'fresh' about it , sounds to me a bit like something the band Europe would have churned out in the eighties.

Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: January 22 2013 at 14:49

Who the heck would want a rotten name like Asia for a band name anyway?

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Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: January 23 2013 at 12:09

Well, maybe I'm being optimistic, but I still hope that Norlander is able to inject some progressive spirit into the band (like Ryo Okumoto did in GPS). The above song is after all a single, and it is usually the album tracks that are the most proggy.

I also hope they will have the great Rodney Matthews to do the cover art (as he did for the Aqua and Arena albums).

Posted By: huge
Date Posted: January 29 2013 at 13:50

Thoroughly enjoyed hearing this - a long time since I've heard from JP. I remember going to see the 'Silent Nation' tour at Wolverhampton Civic and being blown away, my only regret was there was no live material released from this tour. As I've been unable to find any material from the Asia feat, JP since the split and I will definitely be looking out for this release. I, for one, will remember the JP period as well as the JW period wth equal delight and am more than happy to see that both versions are flourishing (even though SH has departed once again!)

Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: January 29 2013 at 15:56

huge wrote:

Thoroughly enjoyed hearing this - a long time since I've heard from JP. I remember going to see the 'Silent Nation' tour at Wolverhampton Civic and being blown away, my only regret was there was no live material released from this tour. As I've been unable to find any material from the Asia feat, JP since the split and I will definitely be looking out for this release. I, for one, will remember the JP period as well as the JW period wth equal delight and am more than happy to see that both versions are flourishing (even though SH has departed once again!)

Me too I saw the band on the Silent Nation tour. It was in Copenhagen, and it was a mini-festival with three bands: Asia, Uriah Heep, and Dio. I actually came primarily to see Uriah Heep, but while I was somewhat disappointed with Heep's performance (some technical problems), both Asia and Dio were excellent!

If you are not already familiar with GPS, you should check them. It's Guthrie Govan, John Payne, and Jay Schellen, with Ryo Okumoto on keyboards. Like a bit more progressive Asia.

Posted By: huge
Date Posted: February 01 2013 at 16:51

Yes I did get that album - and as you probably know some of the tracks were intended for a new Asia album which, for what became apparent, was never released. I would have enjoyed an album in a similar style to 'Silent Nation' as a follow up.