A lawsuit waiting to happen: two bands called "Asia."

[bbernardini]

It seems that the guy who was singing lead for Asia before the original lineup got back together has formed a new band, cleverly called "Asia, featuring John Payne."

I've seen the reunion of the original lineup, and it kicks the ass of any Payne-led version all over the place.

Disparaging comments about Asia and prog rock in general to be posted in 5...4...3...

(Comments about Asia not really being prog to follow shortly thereafter.)

[flvegan]

1. Cartman did it best

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGWc-x_CGkc

[ghostsofgiants]

2. Oh that Cartman.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. I had never seen that. Thanks! lol with tears forming in my eyes!

[TrogL]

3. Is Greg Lake going to be in it?

[Orsino]

4. If the new band doesn't suck like the original...

...then claims of infringement are going to be hard to support.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. Payne formed a post-Asia band called GPS after the original band reunited

GPS= "Guthrie" (Guthrie Govan, guitarist from the final Payne-fronted Asia lineup), "Payne" (John Payne), and "Schellen" (Jay Schellen). The CD "Window To The Soul" also featured Spock's Beard keyboardist Ryo Okumoto.



Amazon is selling it as "used and new" through its resellers so I assume it's "officially" out of print. Like every Payne Asia album, the weak link is the songwriting. The songs sound OK unless you pay attention to the lyrics.

The final Payne Asia album, "Silent Nation" (featuring Guthrie on guitar, Payne on vocals & bass, founding member Geoff Downes on keyboards and former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade)was actually VERY good, but if there was ever a performer who should hire a lyricist, it's John Payne.



Meanwhile, the official piece of product from the Asia reunion tour, "Fantasia" Live In Tokyo," won't change the "Disparaging comments about Asia and prog rock in general" or "Comments about Asia not really being prog" situation, but as a long-time fan of Yes and the Wetton-Bruford King Crimson, I give these guys a pass. YES, it's prog pop, but hey...if anyone's deserved the right to earn a steady paycheck, it's John Wetton and Steve Howe. I was never a big fan of ELP but I never had anything against them, either.



"Asia Featuring John Payne" is basically GPS with well-known prog second-stringer Erik Norlander replacing Okumoto.

http://www.theasiaband.com/

New Keyboardist Joins “Asia Featuring John Payne”
November 20th, 2007

John, Jay and Guthrie are pleased to officially announce that the band lineup has finally been completed with the addition of keyboard wizard par excellence Erik Norlander. Erik’s evocative synthesizer technique and style is reminiscent of the legendary Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson and Jon Lord while still creating a very unique musical voice of his own.

Erik has stayed active with his own solo releases and his Rocket Scientists project, and he also produces, performs and writes with his wife, Lana Lane, for her highly regarded solo albums.

Vocalist John Payne adds, “We know that the keyboard position is extremely critical to this band and therefore much time was invested to find the right person and all roads lead us to Erik.”

The band has commenced recording the much-anticipated album ‘Architect of Time’ to be released in 2008.

Red Entertainment is currently booking worldwide tour dates.

This has happened before with Electric Light Orchestra (drummer Bev Bevan fronting a version of the band in which he was the only original member) and Yes (the "Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe" camp versus the Trevor Rabin band, resulting in the "Union" album which featured both bands but no collaborations between them).

Then there was the famous (or infamous) "Fleetwood Mac's manager sends a bogus band on the road" incident, shortly before the Buckingham-Nicks lineup. NO actual members of Fleetwood Mac! At one concert, according to Rolling Stone, an audience member yelled "Who the fuck are YOU?" and the singer replied "We're Fleetwood Mac! Who the fuck are YOU?"

Can't we all just get along?

:rofl:

[bbernardini]

7. I'm still waiting for the live "Union" album...and don't forget about the fake Deep Purple.

They recorded a ton of shows for various reasons during the "Union" tour, but there's still no live (audio) release.

There was a fake Deep Purple in the late 1970s or early 1980s featuring the original lead vocalist, Rod Evans. Quite an interesting read.