Died On This Date (January 31, 2017) John Wetton / King Crimson; Asia

John Wetton
June 12, 1949 – January 31, 2017

Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

John Wetton was an English bassist and singer who is best remembered for his time with King Crimson and for fronting his own popular prog-rock band, Asia.  After several years of playing and singing in local bands, Wetton was invited by Robert Fripp to join King Crimson as bassist and lead singer.  The year was 1972, and over the next two-plus years, he performed on the band’s critically acclaimed Larks’ Tongues in AspicStarless and Bible Black, and Red.  Following the release of Red, King Crimson went on hiatus, s0 Wetton worked with several other groups, including Roxy MusicWishbone Ash, and Uriah Heap.  In 1980, he formed Asia, a super group with Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, and Carl Palmer.  The band’s self-titled debut of 1982 reached #1 on the US and UK charts and went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide.  In later years, Wetton released several solo albums while collaborating with the likes of Steve Hackett and Renaissance. In 2006, he reunited with the original members of Asia to release Phoenix, their first since 1983.  They went on to release a handful of new studio albums over the next several years.   John Wetton died of colon cancer on January 31, 2017.  He was 67.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Died On This Date (May 21, 2013) Trevor Bolder / Bassist For David Bowie & Uriah Heep

Trevor Bolder
June 9, 1950 – May 21, 2013

Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF
Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Trevor Bolder was an influential rock bassist who is most often associated with Uriah Heep and David Bowie‘s early to mid ’70s back up band, the Spiders From Mars.  Born in East Yorkshire, Bolder cut his teeth in British R&B bands of the ’60s.  By the end of the decade, he was playing alongside Mick Ronson in a rock band of some local notoriety called the Rats.  In 1971, he and Ronson  were invited to join Bowie’s band.  Besides backing Bowie on his now legendary tours and television appearances of the era, Bolder played on his landmark albums as Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Aladdin Sane, and Pin-Ups.  When Bowie decided to retire the Spiders From Mars in 1976, Bolder went on to replace John Wetton in Uriah Heep.  He can be heard on such albums as Firefly, Fallen Angel and Conquest.  He stayed with the band until 1981, but reunited with them a couple of years later and continued on until the time of his death.  The list of other acts with whom he played throughout his career includes Wishbone Ash, Ken Hensley, and Dana Gillespie.  He also appeared on Ronson’s Slaughter On 10th Avenue and Play Don’t Worry.  Trevor Bolder was 62 when he passed away on May 21, 2013.  He had been battling pancreatic cancer.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com