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John Wetton and Asia

#42
Well, Greg Lake did sing and play bass on "In the Court of the Crimson King" and played bass on "Fanfare for the Common Man". One of the themes of Asia's current concerts is to play one song from one of each member's previous bands. So, "Video Killed the Radio Star", (Geoff Downes/Buggles), "Roundabout" (Steve Howe/Yes), "Fanfare for the Common Man" (Carl Palmer/ELP) and "In the Court of the Crimson King" (Wetton/King Crimson). John Wetton had nothing to do with the song he does and there are a few worthy choices for him to do.
 
#46
"Court", "Roundabout", "Fanfare", and lots of other songs like them are prog rock standards. There will be bands playing those songs 50 years from now. Also, don't think that some producer somewhere will get his newly signed Fall Out Boy clone band to cover "Heat Of The Moment" or "Tom Sawyer".

I work at a college radio station and I can tell you that half the demo's and first albums we get have a cover on them. I have heard a local band cover Yes' "Silent Wings Of Freedom". It is TERRIBLE. (to be honest, it is the mix on the CD... not so much the band. The bass isn't out front where it should be. I have seen the band play the local dive... they are pretty good live).

Sorry.. end of rant.
 
#52
Some of these arguments are Cutting It Fine. Time and Time Again people engage in arguments such as these. It's been going on for over Thirty Years. I'm sure it even happens in Alaska. Is there a Fracture in the goodwill among the participants? Will some become Exiles from our community? Who will be a Fallen Angel and who will be the Sole Survivor? Only Time Will Tell...
 
#55
pedro said:
Otis Redding wrote and sang the original 'Respect'.
Click to expand...

Point being? That's 100% nothing to do with what I'm talking about. Did Wetton ever record a classic version of the song which eclipsed the Lake sung version in popularity and influence? Or is it that Aretha Franklin was the replacement singer for Otis Redding? Any way you slice it, a bad comparison. I didn't say a hit cover can't eclipse the original by a totally different artist.
 
#57
Sneckumhaw said:
Point being? That's 100% nothing to do with what I'm talking about. Did Wetton ever record a classic version of the song which eclipsed the Lake sung version in popularity and influence? Or is it that Aretha Franklin was the replacement singer for Otis Redding? Any way you slice it, a bad comparison. I didn't say a hit cover can't eclipse the original by a totally different artist.
Click to expand...

It was merely a response to your statement that the original singer has more of a claim.
 
#58
Cool thread. I love the stuff from that era.

I saw ELP's first USA concert, at the Fillmore East, in 1971, when I was a senior in high school. They were touring to support Tarkus, which actually had not been released yet, but was released shortly after I saw them. I went with a bunch of friends who were mostly on hallucinogens (not me) and my job as "designated keeper" in addition to going to hear the music, was to keep track of them and make sure they all got back home. Wasn't easy. Especially in the East Village!!! Ah, the not-so-good old days....

It was a really great show. Emerson was a wild man. This is how I remember them....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-B3UrB_dex8&feature=related

Have seen Yes many times over the years, but never any of the Crimson clan or Asia.
 
#59
IMHO, John Wetton is one of the great underrated bassists. See/hear any of his work with King Crimson, UK and to a lesser degree, Asia. He can play practically anything, but is more about singing and delivering the song than anything else. But his bass tone has inspired many, many more players than most can imagine (even Billy Sheehan has talked about it in one interview I saw).

He developed carpal tunnel in his right hand a couple of years ago, and had to stop using a flatpick because (I asked him this following an Asia show in '06) he had very little feeling in that hand. Despite all that, he still managed to play "Roundabout" and sing it, not to mention everything else. He has that remarkable ability to play something complicated and sing something completely different. He had surgery on the hand not long after, and apparently, it made a difference. He started playing the Zon basses because, he said, their action is incredibly low yet still sounds good.

A couple of the recent vids I've seen look like he's gone back to the flatpick in some tunes.
 
#60
edmidlifecrisis said:
Cool thread. I love the stuff from that era.

I saw ELP's first USA concert, at the Fillmore East, in 1971, when I was a senior in high school. They were touring to support Tarkus, which actually had not been released yet, but was released shortly after I saw them. I went with a bunch of friends who were mostly on hallucinogens (not me) and my job as "designated keeper" in addition to going to hear the music, was to keep track of them and make sure they all got back home. Wasn't easy. Especially in the East Village!!! Ah, the not-so-good old days....

It was a really great show. Emerson was a wild man. This is how I remember them....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-B3UrB_dex8&feature=related

Have seen Yes many times over the years, but never any of the Crimson clan or Asia.
Click to expand...


Yea I saw ELP just about the same time at Pirates World in Dania, Florida. I have 1 or 2 photos I took somewhere. They put on a great show and for an added bonus Humble Pie opened for them. Outstanding performance from Steve Marriott.
 

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