Reigniting John Wetton’s Legacy: Widow Thrilled with New Asia Line-Up Continuing his Musical Vision!
John Wetton’s widow Lisa has revealed that Wetting would have “have endorsed” the recently announced new-look Asia line-up and upcoming North American tour as “he wanted the music to live on,” and adding “the current lineup gives the music a fresh energy which I haven’t experienced since John was alive.”
Asia recently announced that a new line-up of founding member Geoff Downes, John Mitchell (It Bites, Lonely Robot, Kino, Frost* and more), Planet X drummer Virgil Donati, and newcomer Harry Whitley, who performed with the Asia line-up at last year’s John Wetton An Extraordinary Life tribute show.
While generally well-received, the announcement also came under fire from some fans complaining about a lack of original members, despite the fact the original Asia line-up were together for only two years and the band’s line-up has fluctuated wildly in the ensuing years.
With Steve Howe seemingly settled in his role as leader of Yes and Carl Palmer busy with his own live work, it seems difficult to see how the three might have been able to make a modern-day reunion work. One can probably assume relations between Downes and John Payne, who replaced Wetton for the 90s incarnation of the band, are not at their best currently.
In a statement, Lisa Wetton says: “When my beloved husband John Wetton realized that he was coming to the end of his life, he revealed in earnest, the wish for his musical legacy to be upheld by those who were closest to him. Consequently, and with great passion Geoff Downes has been at the forefront of keeping that wish alive by touring the music of Asia throughout the past seven years. Last August, Geoff brought together an amazing group of musicians to present the best of Asia at the John Wetton Tribute concert in England.”
“Most everyone, including myself, was stunned by Harry’s evocative voice which shares an eerily similar tonal quality to that of John Wetton. Geoff introduced Whitley to a wider audience and we all knew this would be the start of something very special – a new chapter for Asia,” she added.
“Fast forward nine months, and the musical legacy continues as Geoff Downes, along with Harry Whitley on lead vocals and bass, John Mitchell on guitar, and Virgil Donati on drums takes Asia’s music to the US East coast along with legends Focus, Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash, and Curved Air,” she continued.
Lisa emphasized that John Wetton himself would have endorsed this tour as he wanted the music to live on. She believes that the current lineup gives the music a fresh energy not experienced since John was alive.
Regarding the upcoming tour, Lisa expressed, “I am personally thrilled to get behind this tour, and I know you will be thrilled too. Please support the legacy by coming to a show near you.” Tickets for the tour are on sale now.
Asia Heat Of The Moment 2024 tour dates:
Jul 3: CT Ridgefield Playhouse
Jul 4: NY Niagara Falls Fallsview Casino
Jul 6: OR Medford Chevalier Theatre
Jul 7: PN Huntingdon The Paramount
Jul 9: NJ Englewood Bergen Performing Arts Center
Jul 10: NJ Red Bank Count Basie Center
Jul 12: NJ Atlantic City Tropicana Showroom
Jul 13: PA Bethlehem Wind Creek Event Center
Jul 14: PA Lancaster American Music Theatre
Jul 16: SC Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Jul 17: TN Nashville Ryman Auditorium
Jul 18: CO Evans Columbia County Performing Arts Center
Jul 20: FL Orlando Hard Rock Live
Jul 21: FL Pompano Beach Amphitheater
Jul 22: FL Tampa Seminole Hard Rock
Jul 24: SC North Charleston PAC
Jul 25: GA Macon City Auditorium
Jul 26: AL Mobile Saeger Theatre
Jul 28: AL Huntsville VBC Mark Smith Concert Hall
Jul 30: MO St Charles The Armada Theatre
Jul 31: WI Milwaukee The Pabst Theatre
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the fresh energy of Asia’s music with the new lineup. Get your tickets now and support the musical legacy that John Wetton wished to uphold.
