John Wetton & Geoff Downes - Icon: Heat Of The Rising Sun

180-gram double vinyl edition limited to 1,000 copies

Fans and critics alike have yearned for more music from John Wetton and Geoffrey Downes, whose song writing fashioned much of the fabric of Asia's recorded output since the progressive rock supergroup's 2008 reunion. In 2009 Wetton and Downes were finally happy to oblige with a third ICON album and a tour in support of the new release. On tour the impressive power of Geoff Downes' keyboards and John Wetton's jaw-dropping voice and stellar bass playing were enhanced by compelling guitar virtuoso Dave Kilminster — fresh from victorious tours with Roger Waters and Keith Emerson. One of the best drummer's on the planet, Pete Riley, whose skills span all types of music from rock to complex fusion and jazz, and whose work with Keith Emerson, Kilminster and extensive live and session work shows an extraordinary breadth and depth of style, completed the iconic line-up.

Both Kilminster and Riley also played on the third ICON studio album, so they were obviously thrilled to join Wetton and Downes on tour to perform classic ICON and Wetton-Downes songs, plus songs from their heritage bands including King Crimson, UK, Buggies, and Yes, as well as a premiere of new music from the eagerly anticipated third album.

The concerts presented here included four gigs in Japan, which took place in Fukuoka (February 7), Osaka (February 9), concluding with two performances in Tokyo, on February 11 and 12. Happy to return to Japan after their successful sold out 2007 and 2008 tours of the country with the reunion of the four original members of Asia and their sold out tours with the Wetton-Downes' ICON project in prior years, Wetton and Downes decided to record the performances for subsequent release of an ICON double vinyl issue.

 

1. Countdown To Zero

2. Go

3. Elstree

4. Die Is Cast

5. Book Of Saturday

6. Tempus Fugit

7. Rendezvous 6.02

8. Rubicon

9. The Night Watch

10. In The Dead Of The Night

11. Heat Of The Moment

12. Video Killed The Radio Star

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