John Wetton

Progressive rock encompassed few trajectories as diverse as John Wetton’s, whose bass and vocals appeared with most of the genre’s leading acts, frequently during their definitive lineups. Family marked his initial major affiliation when he entered the lineup in 1971, appearing on Fearless that same year and on Bandstand the next, where his primary duty centered on bass despite handling multiple roles. Earlier sessions had already placed him with Edwards Hand and Mogul Thrash. Departing Family, he stepped into the King Crimson chair once occupied by Greg Lake, an exchange the two musicians would repeat later; his time there yielded Larks’ Tongues in Aspic in 1973, Starless and Bible Black and Red in 1974, and USA in 1975 before Robert Fripp dissolved the band, an era many listeners regard as the ensemble’s peak.

While still a member of King Crimson, Wetton began contributing to Roxy Music, an association formalized when Bryan Ferry invited him aboard; the 1975 tour produced a live album issued the following year. Parallel side projects during the Crimson years included two discs with former Yes guitarist Peter Banks, one with Gordon Haskell, and further recordings alongside Eno, Phil Manzanera, Peter Sinfield, and Bryan Ferry. Immediately afterward he joined Uriah Heep, tracking Return to Fantasy in 1975 and High and Mighty in 1976 before exiting to collaborate with Bill Bruford and Rick Wakeman on an ultimately unrealized project. Bruford and Wetton persisted, forming UK; during the interim Wetton added three more Bryan Ferry albums and one by Duncan Mackay. The self-titled UK debut appeared in 1978, followed in 1979 by Danger Money and the live set Night After Night, alongside separate work with Jack Knife and another Phil Manzanera album.

Wetton launched his solo output with Caught in the Crossfire in 1980. Between 1980 and 1981 he recorded two albums for Roger Chapman, one for Philip Rambow, and one for Wishbone Ash. In 1982 he co-founded Asia alongside Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, and Steve Howe; their debut arrived that year, as did another Manzanera session. Alpha followed in 1983; after Wetton briefly stepped away and was replaced onstage by Greg Lake, he rejoined for Astra in 1985. A further collaboration with Phil Manzanera produced the Wetton/Manzanera album in 1987. Activity resumed in 1990 with another Manzanera release and two Asia projects; Jacknife appeared the next year. Voice Mail and Asia’s Aria both emerged in 1994. Three more Wetton titles arrived in 1995—Chasing: Live in Japan, Live: Chasing the Dragon, and Battle Lines—followed in 1996 by Akustika: Live in Amerika. Two albums each with David Cross and Phil Manzanera, plus two with Steve Hackett, appeared in 1997; 1999 brought Live in New York and Live at the Sun Plaza Tokyo, together with Hackett’s Darktown and Ian McDonald’s Driver’s Eyes, plus Wetton’s own Arkangel.

Qango, formed with Carl Palmer, issued Live in the Hood in 2000, the same year Wetton played on Martin Darvill & Friends’ The Greatest Show on Earth. The original Asia foursome reconvened in 2006 for Phoenix; subsequent releases Omega, XXX, and Gravitas followed in 2010, 2012, and 2014 respectively. In January 2017 Wetton announced that declining health would prevent him from joining Asia’s scheduled spring and summer U.S. dates. He died in his sleep at his Bournemouth home on January 31 at age 67 after what his website termed “a long and courageous battle against colon cancer.”