Scranton Pocono 500 Fanfest Interview with John
by Matt Smith
Sole Survivor: Asia Featuring John Payne
First things first: Asia featuring John Payne - the group headlining the Scranton Pocono 500 Fanfest - is a separate entity from Asia, the current reunion of the early 1980s rock supergroup. So go the convoluted family trees and legal battles in the rock world.
That initial lineup of Asia - John Wetton, Steve Howe, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer - featured former members of King Crimson, Yes, Buggles, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Its eponymous 1982 debut album sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and spawned the hit singles “Heat of the Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell.” When the follow-up failed to recapture that success, Asia continued on with a varied roster of musicians through the rest of the decade. John Payne - he of the aforementioned Asia featuring John Payne - replaced original vocalist/bassist Wetton in 1991, partnering with original keyboardist Downes as Asia until 2005. But now that the original Asia has reunited, Payne is carrying on under that different name. Got all that?
Calling from his California home recently, Payne said he initially didn’t want to use the moniker “Asia featuring John Payne.”
“I hate it when people get pretty well-known and they talk about themselves as a third party,” noted the congenial musician in his British accent. “John Payne should be doing this. John Payne should be doing that. I find that really weird. But after being in Asia for 16 years, when the original guys got together to do a reunion tour, we had to legally settle on something.”
Payne said that the break with Downes was a painful one.
“I knew (a reunion) might happen one day,” he noted. “There’s a huge nostalgia thing in the world with a lot of bands, but it was still a difficult time.”
Payne said the validation to carry on came when Sony encouraged the release of the live album Extended Versions, which came out last year. Asia with John Payne is made up of Payne (vocals/bass), Guthrie Govan (guitar), Jay Schellen (drums) and the recently added Erik Norlander (keyboards). The Scranton appearance will mark the first live appearance of this lineup.
Payne called his group a “celebration” of his long run in Asia, but also an “homage” to the original group’s early ’80s success. So, to answer your question, Asia featuring John Payne will perform “Heat of the Moment” at the Fanfest.
“We have to,” said Payne. “I remember as a kid going to see Foreigner and if they didn’t play ‘Juke Box Hero’ or ‘Waiting on a Girl Like You,’ people are going to be disappointed.”
Asia featuring John Payne is currently working on a new album, Architect of Time, and Payne is currently settling into a writing partnership with newbie Norlander. “We’ve written all the songs and we’re recording them at present, but it’s a new thing for me. I wrote only with Geoff (while in Asia). … But the songs we’ve come out with - I know everyone says this about the new album - but I’m excited by the strength of these songs.”
Tags: live