Asia (band)

Asia
Original lineup in 1982 (clockwise from bottom left): John Wetton, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Progressive rock art rock[1] AOR hard rock pop rock
Discography	Asia discography
Years active	1981–1986 1989–present
Labels	Geffen Great Pyramid Musidisc WEA Japan Mayhem Recordings Resurgence Snapper Inside Out Frontiers EMI America King Sony Music Entertainment
Spinoffs	Qango GTR Wetton/Downes Asia featuring John Payne
Spinoff of	Yes
Members	Geoff Downes John Mitchell Harry Whitley Virgil Donati
Past members	Carl Palmer John Wetton Steve Howe Greg Lake Mandy Meyer Pat Thrall John Payne Al Pitrelli Mike Sturgis Chris Slade Guthrie Govan Jay Schellen Sam Coulson Billy Sherwood Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal Marc Bonilla
Website	originalasia.com

Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in London in 1981. The most commercially successful lineup was its original, which consisted of four members of different progressive rock bands who had enjoyed great success in the 1970s: lead vocalist and bassist John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep and U.K.), guitarist Steve Howe (Yes), keyboardist Geoff Downes (Yes and the Buggles) and drummer Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Their debut album, Asia, released in 1982, remains their best-selling album and went to number one in several countries. Billboard listed it as the top album in the U.S. in 1982. The lead single from the album, "Heat of the Moment", remains their top charting and best-known song, reaching the top 40 in over a dozen markets. It peaked at #4 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

The band underwent multiple lineup changes before the original four members reunited in 2006. As a result, a band called Asia Featuring John Payne exists as a continuation of John Payne's career as Asia's frontman from 1991 until Wetton's return in 2006.^[2] In 2013, the original lineup was broken once again when Howe retired from the band and was replaced by guitarist Sam Coulson.^[3] After a few years of inactivity, Billy Sherwood (of Yes, World Trade and Circa:) replaced an ailing Wetton (who died shortly thereafter) in Asia for a summer 2017 tour with Journey.^[4][5] Following the end of the tour, the band went on hiatus again, re-emerging in 2019 with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal replacing both Sherwood on vocals and Coulson on guitar.^[6] In 2022, Marc Bonilla joined the group as guitarist and vocalist in place of Thal.^[7] In 2024, Downes announced a new touring line-up of himself, Virgil Donati, John Mitchell and Harry Whitley.