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Asia Featuring John Payne
2011-2012 lineup. Left to right: Jay Schellen, Erik Norlander, John Payne, Bruce Bouillet. Photo provided by BIS Management.
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles
Genres	Progressive rock, hard rock
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Devgel, Sony Music Japan, Voiceprint, InsideOut Records
Members	John Payne Jeffrey Kollman Moni Scaria Ryo Okumoto
Past members	Erik Norlander Guthrie Govan Mitch Perry Bruce Bouillet Jay Schellen
Website	johnpayneasia.com

Asia Featuring John Payne are a rock group formed in 2007 following a schism in the line-up of Asia. The band are a continuation of singer and bassist John Payne's career as the band's frontman, which lasted from 1991 until 2006, when Asia's original 1982 lineup reunited.

History

Asia before John Payne

Asia are a supergroup formed in 1981 by John Wetton (formerly of King Crimson and UK), Steve Howe (formerly of Yes), Carl Palmer (formerly of Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and Geoff Downes (formerly of Yes and The Buggles). The group had a successful career with their eponymous debut album, released in March 1982, receiving considerable commercial success, spending nine weeks at number one in the US album chart and selling over 4 million copies in the US alone. Wetton and Downes became the core songwriters in the band. Howe had left before the band released their third album, while Wetton later left the band in 1991.

John Payne in Asia

In 1991 Downes invited John Payne to join a new lineup of the band, and together they enlisted new musicians to the band.

Downes and Payne continued as Asia, releasing multiple albums, but they struggled to maintain a stable line-up around them. 2001's Aura featured multiple guitarists, including another guest appearance from Howe and a new player Guthrie Govan. Among the drummers on the album was Chris Slade, who had briefly worked with the band in 1999. A stable touring line-up now emerged of Payne, Downes, Govan and Slade.

The split

The existing line-up minus Downes, i.e. Payne, Govan and Schellen, continued working together. They recruited Ryo Okumoto on keyboards to form new band GPS, using some of the material planned for Architect of Time on their debut album, Window to the Soul (2006).

On 9 May 2006, John Payne, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe contractually agreed that John Payne could continue as "ASIA Featuring John Payne."

On tour and the future

Asia Featuring John Payne toured the US through 2008. In 2009, the band released an EP entitled "Military Man". The band have continued to tour the US since 2008, performing songs from the entire history of Asia, both before and during Payne's time in the band. In 2009 Govan was replaced by Mitch Perry, a session musician with experience touring with major acts including Cher, Michael Schenker and Edgar Winter.

Currently the band have a 3-album deal with Sony Music Japan in said country. A studio album, originally called Architect of Time (the name ultimately used for a Payne side project instead) and now Americana, was underway and expected for release late in 2012, but has been delayed. A digital single and video "Seasons Will Change" was released in late 2012.

In August 2011, the band played summer tour dates in the US with a new guitarist, Bruce Bouillet. In 2012, the band announced that Bouillet had left to pursue solo work, replacing him with a dual guitar line up of Moni Scaria and Jeff Kollman. Also in 2012, the group released a live album "Risen Sun" on Sony Japan, which was the third release of Extended Versions with a different title. On April 15, 2014 the group released an album of covers called Recollections: A Tribute To British Prog.

Personnel

Current members

• John Payne - lead vocals, bass, guitar (2007–present)
• Jeffrey Kollman - guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
• Moni Scaria - guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
• Ryo Okumoto - keyboards (2014–present)

Former members

• Erik Norlander - keyboards, backing vocals (2007–2014)
• Guthrie Govan - guitar, backing vocals (2007-2009)
• Mitch Perry - guitar, backing vocals (2009-2011)
• Bruce Bouillet - guitar (2011-2012)
• Jay Schellen - drums, percussion (2007–2016)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

• Recollections: A Tribute to British Prog (2014)

EPs & singles

• Military Man EP (2009)
• Seasons Will Change Digital Single and Video (2012)

Live Albums

• Extended Versions/Scandinavia (2007); re-released as Risen Sun (2012)

References

1. Ling, Dave. "ASIA". Classic Rock magazine. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
2. ^ "ASIA Featuring John Payne official biography". ASIA Featuring John Payne. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
3. Pardo, Pete. "A Chat With John Payne From Asia". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
4. Interview with John Payne "John Payne & Guthrie Govan Interview". Dingwall Music Inc. April 3, 2007. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
5. Moon, Jill. "Touring Asia: Longtime frontman John Payne brings own band version". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
6. McCarthy, Caitlin. "Twenty Questions With Rock Star JOHN PAYNE (of ASIA Featuring John Payne)". Celebrities in Disgrace. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
7. "Studio Clips from "Americana"". Retrieved 1 August 2012.
8. "Seasons Will Change Official Video". Retrieved 31 March 2014.
9. "ASIA Featuring John Payne Welcomes Grammy®-Winning Guitarist Bruce Bouillet on Summer Live Dates", Asia Featuring John Payne press release, 9 August 2011
10. "Welcome to Jeff Kollman and Moni Scaria on Guitar". Retrieved 1 August 2012.
11. "ASIA Featuring John Payne Risen Sun Discogs listing". Retrieved 31 March 2014.
12. "ASIA Featuring John Payne Facebook Timeline Photos". Retrieved 29 March 2014.

External links

• Asia Featuring John Payne - Official site
• Facebook - Official Asia Featuring John Payne Facebook Page

• Musical groups established in 2007
• 2007 establishments in California
• Musical groups from Los Angeles
• Progressive rock musical groups from California