John Wetton is a man who scarcely needs an introduction. Where many musicians dream of playing professionally in a world famous band someday, John has been fortunate enough to have played in several. With an illustrious career that has involved some of the biggest names in rock, and with millions of album sales to his name, John Wetton has become a respected icon in the progressive and AOR rock scene.

John honed his skills as an aspiring rock musician with various local bands in the Bournemouth area of England during the 1960's. It was there that he had a fateful meeting with a fellow musician who would one day play a bigger part in his musical career, Robert Fripp. The late 60's was a boom time for the British music scene and it was during this period that John found a niche with hit cult band of the time, Family. After recording two albums with the band (Fearless and Bandstand, which included a top ten single), John realised that his dreams of composing and singing would never be attained in Family.

In 1972 a chance meeting with his old friend Robert Fripp sparked the formation of what is now considered by many to be the classic King Crimson line up with Bill Bruford and David Cross. The band recorded four projects together (Larks Tongues In Aspic, Starless And Bible Black, Red and USA Live) and toured the USA and Europe extensively to sold out crowds. Although the outfit met with considerable success, John felt once more that it was time to express his musical creativity elsewhere.

Shortly after departing King Crimson, John recorded alongside Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno in Roxy Music. It was during this stint that John met with talented keyboard player Eddie Jobson and in 1978 John teamed up with Jobson, ex- Soft Machine guitarist Allan Holdsworth and old Crimson colleague Bill Bruford to form the band UK. Their eponymously titled debut album is still considered by many to be a critical and commercial milestone. Hot on the heels of their successful debut, the band followed up with the album Danger Money a year later.

In 1980 John recorded his first solo album, Caught In The Crossfire which garnered the attention of A&R guru John Kalodner of Geffen Records. Eighteen months later Asia was born - a new supergroup featuring John, Carl Palmer (ELP), Steve Howe (Yes) and Geoff Downes (Yes/Buggles). With the release of their first album, Asia in May 1982, John had finally achieved the commercial recognition that had previously eluded him as Asia went on to be the biggest selling album of that year in the USA.

Not only did the album reach Gold and Platinum status; it also spawned two Top 20 singles (Heat Of The Moment and Only Time Will Tell). After five albums with Asia (Asia, Alpha, Astra Live In Moscow and Then & Now) and millions of album sales later, providence moved John to California.

John released his second solo album, Battle Lines, produced by the legendary Ron Nevison in late 1994. The album featured the trademark Wetton sound along with a cast of many talented musicians such as Robert Fripp, Steve Lukather and Simon Phillips (both of Toto). An extensive tour of Japan, Europe and the US followed the album's release. The tour spawned a self produced live album entitled, Chasing The Dragon which encompassed live versions of hits such as Heat Of The Moment, In The Dead Of Night and Easy Money. The following year saw a gruelling promotional tour of both Europe and the USA and in June 1996 an acoustic album, titled Akustika was issued as a memento from the shows played.

After spending the latter part of 1997 recording and playing live with Steve Hackett, John returned to the fore in May of the following year with the successfully received follow up to the Battle Lines album. Arkangel again saw John collaborate with a talented cast of musicians including John Young, Steve Hackett, Bob Marlette and Robert Fripp. A lengthy tour with a fresh new band ensued taking in much of Europe where many of the performances were recorded for a possible future live album.

June 1999 saw the release of the celebrated “Nomansland – Live In Poland” CD, John’s first release for the GEP label. “Nomansland”, which also features Dave Kilminster on guitar, Martin Orford (IQ) on keyboards and Steve Christey (Jadis) on drums, contains live recordings of songs from throughout John's career, including Sole Survivor, Book Of Saturday, Rendezvous 6:02 and a full version of King Crimson's classic Starless, together with songs from Arkangel.

After a brief spell in the short-lived Qango, with Carl Palmer, John spent much of 2000 getting the material together for a new studio CD. Some of this material originated from sessions with Canadian and U.S. based songwriters Jim Valance and Jim Peterik a few years back, but with contributions from John’s musical collaborators in Britain (including Robert Fripp and Steve Hackett), the album began to take on a truly transatlantic flavour.

With other songs co-written with Ringo Starr and even David Cassidy (of Partridge Family fame!) the new CD, now entitled “Sinister” is a very varied piece of work, though fans of the multi-million selling first Asia album will find much to their liking on it. “Sinister” was released in February 2001 and is sure to push John’s career onto further heights.

Official John Wetton Website

The following John Wetton CD's are available through G.E.P. Limited:

1. Intro-Guitar Concerto

2. The Last Thing On My Mind

3. Sole Survivor

4. Book Of Saturday

5. Emma

6. Tatras

7. In The Dead Of Night

8. Bygosh!!

9. Easy Money

10. Rendezvous 6:02

11. The Birth Of Igor

12. After All

13. Starless

14. The Night Watch

ROCK OF FAITH
GEPCD 1033

1. Mondrago
2. Rock Of Faith
3. A New Day
4. I've Come To Take You Home
5. Who Will Light a Candle?
6. Nothing's Gonna Stand In Our Way
7. Altro Mondo
8. I Believe In You
9. Take Me To The Waterline
10. I Lay Down
11. When You Were Young