This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/arts/music/john-wetton-rocker-with-king-crimson-and-asia-dies-at-67.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
John Wetton, Rocker With King Crimson and Asia, Dies at 67 John Wetton, Rocker With King Crimson and Asia, Dies at 67
(about 17 hours later)
John Wetton, a bass player, vocalist and songwriter who adapted the dense, progressive rock he performed with bands like King Crimson into mainstream hits with the supergroup Asia in the early 1980s, died on Tuesday near his home in Bournemouth, England. He was 67.John Wetton, a bass player, vocalist and songwriter who adapted the dense, progressive rock he performed with bands like King Crimson into mainstream hits with the supergroup Asia in the early 1980s, died on Tuesday near his home in Bournemouth, England. He was 67.
His manager, Martin Darvill, said the cause was colon cancer.His manager, Martin Darvill, said the cause was colon cancer.
A technically adept bassist with a smooth tenor voice, Mr. Wetton came up musically in London in the late 1960s and early ’70s. He was part of a cohort of musicians, in groups like Pink Floyd and Yes, who were known for an ornate, maximalist brand of rock.A technically adept bassist with a smooth tenor voice, Mr. Wetton came up musically in London in the late 1960s and early ’70s. He was part of a cohort of musicians, in groups like Pink Floyd and Yes, who were known for an ornate, maximalist brand of rock.
King Crimson, founded in 1968, was another such band, and Mr. Wetton joined an incarnation of it in 1972, playing alongside the group’s original guitarist, Robert Fripp, the drummer Bill Bruford, formerly of Yes, and others. He appeared on the group’s albums “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” (1973), “Starless and Bible Black” (1974) and “Red” (1974).King Crimson, founded in 1968, was another such band, and Mr. Wetton joined an incarnation of it in 1972, playing alongside the group’s original guitarist, Robert Fripp, the drummer Bill Bruford, formerly of Yes, and others. He appeared on the group’s albums “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” (1973), “Starless and Bible Black” (1974) and “Red” (1974).
Mr. Fripp disbanded the group in the mid-1970s, when it appeared to be on the brink of reaching a wider audience. “I didn’t understand Robert’s reasons then,” Mr. Wetton said in 1999, “and I still don’t.”Mr. Fripp disbanded the group in the mid-1970s, when it appeared to be on the brink of reaching a wider audience. “I didn’t understand Robert’s reasons then,” Mr. Wetton said in 1999, “and I still don’t.”
Mr. Wetton went on to perform with groups like Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and U.K. before forming Asia in 1981 with the drummer Carl Palmer, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and the guitarist Steve Howe and the keyboardist Geoff Downes, both of Yes. Asia’s sound was more accessible than the bandmates’ earlier endeavors, and the group became an instant success after the release of its debut album, titled simply “Asia,” in 1982.Mr. Wetton went on to perform with groups like Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and U.K. before forming Asia in 1981 with the drummer Carl Palmer, of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and the guitarist Steve Howe and the keyboardist Geoff Downes, both of Yes. Asia’s sound was more accessible than the bandmates’ earlier endeavors, and the group became an instant success after the release of its debut album, titled simply “Asia,” in 1982.
The group’s single “Heat of the Moment” reached No. 4 on the Billboard chart. With melodious three-part harmony on its chorus, it has often been compared to anthems like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.” Another Asia single, “Only Time Will Tell” reached No. 17.The group’s single “Heat of the Moment” reached No. 4 on the Billboard chart. With melodious three-part harmony on its chorus, it has often been compared to anthems like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.” Another Asia single, “Only Time Will Tell” reached No. 17.
“Asia” sold millions of copies, and the band was soon playing stadium shows. Audiences were thrilled; critics were often underwhelmed.“Asia” sold millions of copies, and the band was soon playing stadium shows. Audiences were thrilled; critics were often underwhelmed.
“In Yes, early King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Asia’s members played music full of technical hurdles and symphonic pomp,” Jon Pareles wrote in reviewing a 1983 concert in The New York Times. “Soon groups like Kansas and Styx picked up on the pomp, minus any experiments. Asia imitates the imitators, inflating conventional pop songs with pseudosymphonic grandeur.”“In Yes, early King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Asia’s members played music full of technical hurdles and symphonic pomp,” Jon Pareles wrote in reviewing a 1983 concert in The New York Times. “Soon groups like Kansas and Styx picked up on the pomp, minus any experiments. Asia imitates the imitators, inflating conventional pop songs with pseudosymphonic grandeur.”
Asia continued releasing albums throughout the 1980s, but none had the success of the first. The band members’ outsize personalities clashed at times, and the lineup changed periodically. In 1991 Mr. Wetton left Asia to focus on other projects.Asia continued releasing albums throughout the 1980s, but none had the success of the first. The band members’ outsize personalities clashed at times, and the lineup changed periodically. In 1991 Mr. Wetton left Asia to focus on other projects.
“We hit it at the top and went down,” he said of Asia’s trajectory in an interview with The Birmingham Post in 1998. “We should have hit it somewhere in the middle and gone up.”“We hit it at the top and went down,” he said of Asia’s trajectory in an interview with The Birmingham Post in 1998. “We should have hit it somewhere in the middle and gone up.”
John Kenneth Wetton was born in Willington, Derbyshire, England, on June 12, 1949, and grew up in Bournemouth. He became interested in music after watching his brother play organ in church.John Kenneth Wetton was born in Willington, Derbyshire, England, on June 12, 1949, and grew up in Bournemouth. He became interested in music after watching his brother play organ in church.
He played with local bands while in high school and, after graduating, moved to London, where he played in the groups Mogul Thrash and Family before joining King Crimson.He played with local bands while in high school and, after graduating, moved to London, where he played in the groups Mogul Thrash and Family before joining King Crimson.
He married Lisa Nojain in December. She survives him, as do a son, Dylan, from an earlier relationship; his brother, Robert; and his mother, Margaret Wetton. He married Lisa Nojaim in November. She survives him, as do a son, Dylan, from an earlier relationship; his brother, Robert; and his mother, Margaret Wetton.
Asia’s popularity endured long after the band’s apex in the early 1980s. The original group reunited in 2006 and released the album “Phoenix” in 2008.Asia’s popularity endured long after the band’s apex in the early 1980s. The original group reunited in 2006 and released the album “Phoenix” in 2008.
Mr. Wetton was supposed to join the band on a United States tour with Journey beginning this March, but this month his doctors advised him not to participate. Billy Sherwood of Yes is scheduled to replace him.Mr. Wetton was supposed to join the band on a United States tour with Journey beginning this March, but this month his doctors advised him not to participate. Billy Sherwood of Yes is scheduled to replace him.