concert

All in the timing

Hot in the '80s, the pop music group Asia is back and feeling nostalgic.

By STEVE SPEARS
Published June 14, 2007

It's been 25 years since (from left) Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe and John Wetton released their solo album. Listen to the Carl Palmer interview on the Stuck in the 80s podcast.
	[Publicity photo]

They were the "Heat of the Moment" - 25 years ago. Despite a self-titled album that stood at No. 1 for nine weeks in 1982 and slew of hit singles including Heat of the Moment, Only Time Will Tell and Sole Survivor, the 1980s supergroup Asia wasn't able to stay together beyond two albums.

Facing squabbles over songwriting and corporate pressure for more hits, the band's four members - each established rock veterans with distinguished careers when they formed Asia - scattered away to other ventures, leaving Asia to continue quietly through the years, never duplicating its early '80s success.

But today, all four original members have reunited, and they're marking the 25th anniversary of their debut album with a North American tour. The shows begin this week in Florida and includes a stop tonight at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Days before rehearsing for the tour, drummer Carl Palmer spoke with tampabay.com's Stuck in the '80s podcast about the band's history and its reunion.

Tell us about the recording sessions for that first album. Did you know early on you had a hit record?

I personally didn't. I've never been able to tell myself. The music business is about timing, and if it's the first place and the right time for your product, something's going to happen. But it was perfect timing because of MTV. . . . If we were to rerelease that album again or an album as good, I doubt it would have the impression that it created then.

How did that success change the writing and direction of Alpha, your second album?

The second album was very poppy. It wasn't very deep. There wasn't anything musically complicated about it. Saying that, there was quite a big hit from it called Don't Cry. But at the end of the day, it didn't have the wonderful mixture that the first album had. . . . You know what they say, it takes you 20 years to write that first album, and you've got to write the second one in 20 minutes.

The band's world tour last year got raves from fans and critics. Did that surprise you?

I've been incredibly surprised. I didn't think the band would be accepted as well as it has been after such a long layoff. It is nostalgia; we're fully aware of that. I think if Asia were to make a brand new album today - and who knows, in the future we might - I doubt it would be played on the radio. . . . But people only really want the old songs anyway.

Does Asia plan to stick together after the tour?

We've decided we might record some retro material. There's a DVD (Fantasia: Live in Tokyo) that we just finished. . . . And we'll look at new material. . . . We're in no rush to do it. The world is not waiting for an Asia album, we all know that. We've got plenty of time.

-- Steve Spears is host of the Stuck in the '80s podcast and blog. Click here to hear the complete interview at blogs.tampabay.com/80s.

The Asia family tree

Why is Asia called a "supergroup?" All four members had extensive recording careers before getting together in 1982. On their current tour, for the first time, they will perform songs from their previous careers.

John Wetton (vocals, bass): Best known for working with King Crimson, he also worked with Roxy Music and Uriah Heep. Enjoyed a solo career after leaving Asia in the mid '80s.

Carl Palmer (drums): Best known for Emerson Lake & Palmer and Atomic Rooster. Has his own band, the Carl Palmer Band, which is popular in Europe.

Geoff Downes (keyboards): A member of the Buggles, whose hit Video Killed the Radio Star was the first video shown on MTV. Also played a short time with Yes.

Steve Howe (guitar): Played with Yes during its glory years. Formed another supergroup, GTR, after he left Asia.

If you go

Asia

The 1980s supergroup is with the Alan Parsons Project at 7:30 tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. $39.50. (727) 791-7400; rutheckerdhall.com.

[Last modified June 14, 2007, 11:04:18]