WETTON / DOWNES
Frontiers Records is pleased to unveil all details of the highly anticipated brand new studio album from JOHN WETTON and GEOFFREY DOWNES - ICON entitled "Rubicon" due for European release on November 10th 2006
John Wetton (KING CRIMSON, UK, ROXY MUSIC) and Geoffrey Downes (BUGGLES, YES) came together for the first time in 1981 when they both joined the supergroup ASIA. Their eponymous release was the best selling album in the world in 1982, number 1 in the USA for 9 weeks, turning gold and platinum on every continent. The second and third ASIA albums were also big sellers worldwide and enjoyed several hit singles. Unfortunately, messers Wetton and Downes went their separate ways in 1985 and since then Asia has been through several incarnations.
Wetton and Downes' paths crossed again when they graced the same stage together during 2002's John Wetton fan convention in Philadelphia. Geoff consequently contributed to the writing and playing on Wetton's 2003 solo album, "Rock of Faith" and it became clear that the two had some unfinished business.
During 2004 they finally entered the studio with ideas and energy, sat round the same piano upon which they had written the 1980s anthems and emerged with the first album of their renewed partnership christened "ICON".
The recording was easily their best artistic product for many years and immediately became very popular among the fans. John and Geoff have therefore decided to pursue this collaboration, giving birth to a brand new album which follows a very busy year made up of one EP, one acoustic album/DVD and one live album - "Never In A Million Years" - recorded during a series of successful European dates from October 2005 to spring 2006 and due for release on October 20th.
During summer 2006 the two artists followed their new spark of inspiration. In Geoff Downes' words: "John and I had to face and cross our individual Rubicons during critical moments in our lives when circumstances and fate entangled, obliging us to face defining moments of truth. Both of us realized that having examined our choices, it resolved to there being no choice at all. These experiences reminded us of an analogous set of historical circumstances faced by Julius Caesar in 49BC, similar in scope if not in scale, similar in style if not in substance. Inevitably our creative antennae were tweaked. The follow up to Icon should reflect autobiographical experience set against historical scenery".
With the help of longtime John Wetton collaborators Steve Christey (JADIS) on drums and John Mitchell (ARENA, KINO) on guitars and Hugh McDowell (ELO), along with the special appearance of Anneke van Giersbergen (THE GATHERING) - who duets on "To Catch a Thief" and "Tears of Joy" - and violin 15-years old prodigy Katie Jacoby, John and Geoff cut the new album, "Rubicon" in the southern England countryside.
The new record will include the following tracks:
The Die is Cast; Finger on the Trigger; Reflections (of my life); To Catch a Thief; Tears of Joy; Shannon; The Hanging Tree; The Glory of Winning; Whirlpool; Rubicon.
A new stream of magical music is about to hit the fans on November 10th 2006. Don't miss it !