Icon (band)

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Wetton / Downes, Icon
General information
Genre (s) Progressive rock , art rock
founding 2005
Current occupation
Bass , guitar , vocals
 John Wetton
Geoff Downes

Icon is a duo project by British musicians John Wetton (guitar, bass, vocals) and Geoff Downes (piano, keyboards), which is also known under the name Wetton / Downes .

prehistory

John Wetton (formerly King Crimson , Uriah Heep and UK ) teamed up in 1980 at the suggestion of Yes manager Brian Lane with guitarist Steve Howe , who had just ended his engagement with the progressive rock pioneers Yes. Next, drummer Carl Palmer , previously with Emerson, Lake and Palmer , and keyboardist Geoff Downes, who had previously written the hit video killed the Radio Star ( The Buggles , 1980), were brought into the new band . The four musicians called themselves Asia .

The songs Heat of the Moment , Only Time will tell , Sole Survivor , Wildest Dreams , Don't Cry and The Smile has left your Eyes from the albums Asia (1982) and Alpha (1983) became hits.

Independently of Asia, both worked on new songs whenever they met. Apart from the Asia albums, this collaboration is first documented on the 2001 Wetton / Downes sampler . It contains demo recordings from 1982 to 1995, including some demos for Asian pieces such as Oh! Carolann / Kari-Anne and Summer as well as Lost In America , which appeared on the ABWH album Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe under the title Long lost Brother of Mine , and Christina , a solo piece by Wettons. At Kari-Anne drummer Michael Sturgis and the guitarist are Scott Gorham to hear, which had tried unsuccessfully to revive Asia 1987 Wetton and Downes.

The CD was initially only released in Japan and was also available in the USA for a short time. For legal reasons, it will no longer be re-pressed.

Icon

Martin Darvill, Wetton's manager, had long been trying to bring Wetton and Downes back together. In 2002 Wetton invited Downes to a fan club convention. Downes agreed, and for the first time in ten years the two were back on stage together, supported by guitarist John Mitchell, keyboardist John Young (briefly with Asia) and drummer Steve Christey. On Wetton's 2003 album Rock of Faith were two new songs that he had written with Downes. This announced a renewed collaboration between the two musicians.

In 2005 Wetton and Downes released their first jointly developed duo album under the project name Icon (or (John) Wetton / (Geoff) Downes , it is not entirely clear whether Icon is the name of the band, the project or the album). In contrast to Wetton / Downes, it only contained new material. John Wetton, who wrote his own texts as always, processed his alcohol problems in the texts for Icon , which he finally got under control the following year after a long time, as well as his expulsion from Asia ( Let me go ) caused by these problems . In the same year, the single Heat of the Moment '05 was released , which contained a version of this old Asian hit as well as a new version of The Smile Has Left Your Eyes , also from Asia. The following year another CD was released with unplugged versions of old and new songs, including the Asian hit Heat of the Moment ( Acoustic TV Broadcast , 2006). Wetton and Downes were only supported by the cellist Hugh McDowell. A tour followed, on which the two were accompanied by guitarist John Mitchell and drummer Steve Christey. This tour is documented on the live album Icon Live - Never in a Million Years (Live) (2006).

In November 2006 the second studio album with the line-up of Wetton, Downes, Mitchell, Christey and McDowell was released with the title Icon II - Rubicon , which takes up the alcohol issue again - but now from a different angle: Wetton had overcome his problems (hence the title of the album). Two tracks on this album, The Glory of Winning and Tears of Joy , were made in collaboration with Eddie Jobson .

Meanwhile, a reunification of Asia in the original line-up was emerging. Wetton and Downes see Icon as musically completely independent of Asia and continue both formations in parallel: During the breaks on the Reunion world tour, Wetton and Downes gave some Icon concerts, and work on new Asia and Icon albums will also be continued separately .

One of the long-term consequences of Wetton alcoholism had discovered to the spring of 2007 just happen by atherosclerosis induced coronary heart disease out, which made after much back and forth in August of that year, a heart surgery necessary. The OP went well, but Icon (and Asia) appearances announced for autumn had to be canceled until further notice. In spring 2008 Asia went on tour again.

A press release appeared on July 11, 2008, announcing a new album and an accompanying tour of Wettons and Downes for the spring of 2009. At the end of January 2009, March 13, 2009 was finally announced as the release date.

occupation

With

  • Hugh McDowell (cello)
  • John Mitchell (guitar)
  • Steve Christey (drums)
  • Mike Stobbie (keyboards on Icon )
  • Ian McDonald (flute on Icon )
  • Anneke van Giersbergen (vocals on Icon 2: Rubicon )
  • Katie Jacoby (violin on Icon 2: Rubicon )

Discography

As John Wetton & Geoffrey Downes or Wetton / Downes

  • Wetton / Downes (2001, demo recordings from 1982 to 95), Stallion Records

As an icon

  • Icon (2005), Frontiers Records / UMe Digital (US)
  • Acoustic TV Broadcast - Live, 2006, Frontiers Records
  • Icon II: Rubicon 2006, Frontiers Records (US)
  • Icon Live - Never in a Million Years (Live) (2006), Frontiers Records (US)
  • Heat of the Moment '05 (single, 2005), Frontiers Records (US)
  • Icon III 2009, Frontiers Records (US)
  • Urban Psalm Live , February 21st 2009, St Mary-Le-Bow-Church London, 2017 Epicon Records

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Source: John Wetton's website , accessed January 31, 2009