Asia Story began in 1980, when Yes decided to disband. Long-serving member Steve Howe and Buggle Geoff
Downes were looking for outlets for their musicianship, now that their band was folded. Howe met with John
Wetton and suggested that Geoff Downes join them in a new group. Wetton had played with Family, King Crimson,
Roxy Music and Uriah Heep. The quartet was completed in 1981 when Carl Palmer, one third of Emerson, Lake &
Palmer, joined the band. A supergroup had been assembled. Then, they began to record their first album, and rock
critics en masse were pre-judging the record, arguing that, in an age of new techno-rock, this amalgamation of old
seventies megastars was a total irrelevance. When the "Asia" album was released in April 82 the reviews were
predictable. Asia held the number 1 spot on the Billboard album chart for nine weeks and ended up as America's
biggest selling album for 1982. It's first two tracks, "Heat Of the Moment" and "Only Time Will Tell" were both
top 20 singles. The group was less well received in their native country. 1983's follow-up "Alpha" was a weaker
version of the same formula and consequently a little less successful. Shortly after it's release, bassist and lead
vocalist John Wetton departed to be replaced by Greg Lake...

written by Bob McDonald

After "Asia" and "Alpha", Asia recorded his third album. At this time, John Wetton was on the bass and the vocals
again, but guitarist Steve Howe departed from the band. Mandy Meyer was recruited by the band. Then they
release "Astra". Five years later, they release "Then & Now", with old and new songs. After this album, John
Wetton abandoned the band. In 1992 they released "Aqua" with another great line-up. They were Geoff, Howe,
Palmer and two new members... Al Pitrelli on guitars and John Payne on the bass and the vocals. This album make
a change in the music of the band. They released another four albums, and they probably be the best rock
progressive band in the world.