Died On This Date (January 31, 2017) John Wetton / King Crimson; Asia
themusicsover John Wetton
June 12, 1949 – January 31, 2017
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 Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, and Red. Following the release of Red, King Crimson went on hiatus, s0 Wetton worked with several other groups, including Roxy Music, Wishbone 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
Robbie France was a respected rock drummer whose resume includes stints with Diamond Head, UFO, Wishbone Ash, and Skunk Anansie. Born in England, France moved to Australia when he was around 10 years old, and by the time he was 15, he was teaching drums at the Australia Academy of Music. He soon formed the jazz fusion group, Carnival, who built a respectable following throughout Australia. As a session player, France worked with most major Australian acts and played on over 1000 pieces for television and film. In 1982, France returned to England, and within a year, he was invited to play with Diamond Head, one of the premier bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. He can be heard on their third album, Canterbury, as well as one of its biggest hits, “Makin’ Music.” After leaving the group in 1985, France quickly found himself playing in UFO, but his tenure with the group was short-lived. France went on to form One Nation who put out three releases on I.R.S Records. He later played with Wishbone Ash, Skunk Anansie and Alphaville. In 2011, France released his first novel, Six Degrees South. Robbie France was 52 when he passed away on January 14, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
