Biography
U.K. emerged in the late 1970s as a standout progressive rock supergroup, drawing its personnel from Yes, King Crimson, Roxy Music, and Soft Machine. Guitarist Allan Holdsworth, keyboardist and violinist Eddie Jobson, bassist and vocalist John Wetton, and drummer Bill Bruford had crossed paths in earlier projects, yet 1977 marked their initial collaboration as a single unit. The configuration proved fleeting: Holdsworth and Bruford departed after the first album, with Terry Bozzio, previously of Frank Zappa’s band, stepping in for Bruford. Though the ensemble dissolved by the early 1980s, it retained a loyal cult audience long afterward.
Before U.K. assembled, Bruford and Wetton had worked together in King Crimson, while Holdsworth contributed guitar to Bruford’s solo debut, Feels Good to Me, issued in 1978. Immediately following those sessions, the three musicians launched U.K. and recruited Jobson, a former Roxy Music member, to complete the lineup.
The self-titled debut appeared in 1978 and quickly drew notice from progressive rock and jazz fusion listeners, an interest sustained by the accompanying tour. Once the dates ended, Holdsworth and Bruford exited to establish the group Bruford, leaving Jobson at the helm. Without recruiting a replacement guitarist, the band enlisted Bozzio on drums. This revised edition issued Danger Money in 1979 and embarked on another tour; upon its completion, U.K. disbanded. The live recording Night After Night surfaced shortly thereafter. In the aftermath, Jobson joined Jethro Tull, Bozzio formed Missing Persons, and Wetton co-founded Asia alongside Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and Geoffrey Downes.
Before U.K. assembled, Bruford and Wetton had worked together in King Crimson, while Holdsworth contributed guitar to Bruford’s solo debut, Feels Good to Me, issued in 1978. Immediately following those sessions, the three musicians launched U.K. and recruited Jobson, a former Roxy Music member, to complete the lineup.
The self-titled debut appeared in 1978 and quickly drew notice from progressive rock and jazz fusion listeners, an interest sustained by the accompanying tour. Once the dates ended, Holdsworth and Bruford exited to establish the group Bruford, leaving Jobson at the helm. Without recruiting a replacement guitarist, the band enlisted Bozzio on drums. This revised edition issued Danger Money in 1979 and embarked on another tour; upon its completion, U.K. disbanded. The live recording Night After Night surfaced shortly thereafter. In the aftermath, Jobson joined Jethro Tull, Bozzio formed Missing Persons, and Wetton co-founded Asia alongside Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and Geoffrey Downes.
Albums
Live
