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The return of ASIA, with new album next year

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What grew from the John Wetton memorial concert in 2023 to last year’s North American tour, now sees Geoff Downes’ new line-up of ASIA signing to Frontiers, with a new album expected next year. I saw the band last year, and really liked it. New singer/bass player Harry Whitley is a great choice to front the band, he has a voice not far off from John Wetton’s, and he is young, enthusiastic, and sincere in performing the band’s classics; so a new album (despite no Carl Palmer or Steve Howe) sounds fine by me! Check out the press info and links below. Hopefully someone recorded one of last year’s shows for live release (but, who knows!?)

Scruffy Bear Media

Frontiers Music Srl proudly announces the signing of legendary English rock supergroup ASIA, for an exciting new chapter in their celebrated history.

2024 was the Year of the Dragon – and with it came a powerful rebirth: a new ASIA lineup featuring founding member, keyboardist Geoffrey Downes, acclaimed drummer Virgil Donati, virtuoso guitarist John Mitchell, and stunning vocal newcomer and bassist Harry Whitley. This new chapter promises to reignite the band’s iconic spirit, stepping into a promising new creative era.

Founder member, songwriter, producer, and keyboardist Geoff Downes expressed his excitement for the signing:

“ASIA is thrilled to have recently signed a new deal with Frontiers Music Srl. Having been loyally supported by the label throughout the ASIA reunion period from 2005-2015, we are now entering an exciting new chapter in the band’s 45-year history with a sequence of live albums, DVDs & a brand new studio album scheduled for a 2026 release. It’s very much a homecoming for the band, and so we are greatly looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with them in the future. Watch this space!”

Mario de Riso, A&R and Business Affairs VP of Frontiers, commented:

“So proud and excited for the label to be able to bring back this iconic band. There was certainly unfinished business to deal with and, thanks to this fabulous new line-up, new music from ASIA can now come to fruition. It will be a blast!”

In the Summer of 2023, Geoff Downes spearheaded a memorial concert to remember and celebrate the life of his late, much-loved friend and ASIA co-founder member, the great John Wetton. At the concert, he invited rock ‘n roll veteran John Mitchell, who had played with both Wetton and Downes in Icon and in Wetton’s own band, to join him on stage, taking on lead guitar duties. The duo was joined by newcomer Harry Whitley, whom Downes had discovered and whose vocal talents so closely resembled those of Wetton’s, it was nothing short of spine-tingling. 

In 1982, John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer, and Steve Howe became the founding fathers of supergroup ASIA, responsible for a string of multi-million-selling albums and chart-topping hits across the globe. ASIA’s self-titled 1982 debut album was the biggest-selling album in the world that year. The band dominated the airwaves and for many, “Heat Of The Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” and “Sole Survivor,” amongst others, were the soundtrack to their youth.

Another multi-million seller, “Alpha” followed in 1983, and in 1986 “Astra” completed the trio of MTV era hits. Greg Lake briefly joined the band for a Japanese tour, where ASIA’s show from the fabled Budokan was the first intercontinental simulcast.

In 2006, the founding members reformed ASIA and released several new albums before John Wetton’s untimely passing in 2017. Since John’s passing, Geoff and Carl have toured with Sam Coulson, Billy Sherwood, Ron Bumblefoot Thal, and Steve Howe guesting.

Busy touring the globe, Carl Palmer is now immersed in a project very dear to his heart, the ‘Return Of Emerson Lake & Palmer’, while the legendary Steve Howe remains at the helm of progressive rock legends, Yes. So, Geoff made the decision to take a fresh, new-looking ASIA back out on the road, recruiting Mitchell and Whitley as new members and bringing in the drumming excellence of the incomparable Virgil Donati, who had played with Wetton in the UK.

ASIA has entertained and delighted a multitude of audiences over the last forty years. Some of the world’s greatest musicians have taken up the ASIA baton during that time. However, Geoff Downes believes that the time is right to bring a fresh, new-looking ASIA out into the light.

The Year of the Dragon foretells good fortune, abundance, and prosperity. The Dragon blessed 1982, the year ASIA was first unleashed into the world, and now the journey has come full circle. Time for the dragon to take flight once more.

LINKS:

Home

https://www.facebook.com/asiatheband/

https://www.instagram.com/asiatheband/?hl=en

https://www.harrywhitley.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/frontiersmusicsrl

https://johnmitchellq.com

http://www.virgildonati.com

HONEYMOON SUITE – announce new album

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Honeymoon Suite have a new album coming out this summer. Check out the press info, ordering info, and videos below….

Legendary Canadian Rockers HONEYMOON SUITE Announce New Studio Album ‘Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down’ – Out July 25th via Frontiers Music Srl Pre-Order HERE

Famed Rockers HONEYMOON SUITE are proud to announce that their highly anticipated ninth studio album is dropping this summer! Entitled ‘Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down,’ this new full-length will be released via Frontiers Music Srl and hits on July 25, 2025.
As a follow-up to their electrifying 2024 release ‘Alive,’ ‘Wake Me Up…‘ marks another exciting chapter in the band’s storied career. Known for their infectious blend of melodic rock, powerful hooks, and captivating lyrics, this legendary Canadian band continues to honor its classic 80s-inspired sound while embracing contemporary production techniques. The new album showcases the group’s signature style — a fusion of hard-hitting rock energy and smooth, melodic anthems — but with an updated sonic twist, adding a modern touch that fans have come to expect after their previous successes.
Celebrating the announcement, HONEYMOON SUITE shares the album’s first single, “I Fly,” along with a new music video.
About the single, Derry Grehan comments:
“I had originally come in with the music that ended up becoming ‘I Fly.’  We had a great chorus, and we knew the track could be super cool if we finished it right. There were several re-writes over the course of a few months, but we finally hit on a really great verse and pre-chorus that rolled perfectly into the ‘I Fly’ chorus. I felt bad for Johnnie as Mike pushed him to his limits when cutting the vocal, but sometimes that’s what it takes, and the results speak for themselves. Johnnie is singing better than ever!
“The lyrics are metaphorical. They talk about being on a plane, taking off into a new life, and leaving a bad situation behind on the ground. Finding a new freedom and the strength it takes to change. It’s a very positive song, and I think a lot of people can relate.”

‘Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down‘ sees the band continuing their commitment to the rock genre, staying true to the powerful, melodic music that made them a household name in the 1980s. Fans can expect driving rhythms, soaring guitar solos courtesy of Derry Grehan, and the signature emotive vocals of lead singer Johnnie Dee. HONEYMOON SUITE’s earlier work, including iconic hits like “New Girl Now,” “Feel It Again,” and “Lethal Weapon,” established them as one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands, and their ability to evolve while keeping their classic sound intact continues to resonate with both old and new listeners alike.
Once again, the band has joined forces with acclaimed producer and songwriter Michael Krompass (Steven Tyler, Theory of a Dead Man, Smash Mouth), who helped shape the sound of their 2024 album ‘Alive.’ Krompass’s ability to blend the past and present is evident here, as the album resonates with the same nostalgic vibe that has defined HONEYMOON SUITE’s enduring legacy, while incorporating the latest production trends that elevate their sound to new heights.
Derry comments on ‘Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down‘:
“The new album actually came together pretty quickly compared to ‘Alive.’ We didn’t have a pandemic to deal with. Also, our producer, Mike Krompass, had moved back to Canada, and this put us all much closer together. We recorded most everything at Mike’s home studio outside of Toronto. A lot of the songs were written quickly by Johnnie, Mike, and me in the studio, and I think they have a very fresh, live sound with a sense of urgency and excitement. I had also brought in a few much older ideas that we re-worked and made into great new songs. The album is classic HONEYMOON SUITE. Every song is different and great in its own way. It’s an album that will grow on you the more you listen, and we think people are going to love it.”
From their self-titled debut album in 1985 to the success of ‘Racing After Midnight’ and ‘Monsters Under the Bed,’ HONEYMOON SUITE has maintained a loyal fan base, producing a series of chart-topping records that continue to define the rock genre. Their latest effort proves that, nearly four decades later, the band is still firing on all cylinders.
With this new album, HONEYMOON SUITE demonstrates their ability to stay relevant and energized in today’s music scene while still tapping into the timeless essence that made them a staple of the 80s rock era. The album delivers a collection of tracks brimming with both high-octane rockers and more introspective moments, all marked by the band’s trademark energy and musicianship. From its anthemic choruses to its emotive lyrics, ‘Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down‘ reaffirms that HONEYMOON SUITE remains one of rock’s most enduring and exciting acts, ever evolving but never straying from the heart of what made them legends.

Track List:
1. I Fly 2. Way of the World 3. Every Minute 4. Way Too Fast 5. Stay This Time 6. Crazy Life 7. Live On 8. Keep Our Love Alive 9. Unpredictable 10. Ever Leave You Lonely

pic – : Allan Zilkowski

HONEYMOON SUITE are: Johnnie Dee – lead vocals Derry Greham – guitars / keyboards / backing vocals Dave Betts – drums Gary Lalonde – bass Peter Nunn – keyboards

Pre-Order ‘Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down’ HERE

LINKS;

https://linktr.ee/honeymoonsuiteband

https://www.facebook.com/HMSLive

Honeymoon Suite – Wake Me Up When the Sun Goes Down – Blue/Red Splatter LP

NORWAY – Rising Up From The Ashes Revisited & Band Update

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Norway was (is?) a band from New Jersey. Many years back I received the band’s 2nd album – Arrival (on Frontiers). It was a good disc of AOR/Hard rock featuring excellent cuts like “Givin’ It All”, “One Night Alone”, and “Find My Way Home”.

The band featured Jim Santos (guitar, synth prog), Glenn Pierson (vocals, keyboards), Joe Slattery (bass) & Marty Brasington (drums). In 2006 the band changed singers with Pierson being replaced by Dave Baldwin (ex Voices), and issued Rising Up From The Ashes (MTM). Not sure how this album did at the time, but I was unaware of it til I stumbled on it a few months ago. The songs and performances here are still just as good than the previous 2 albums, though the production and approach comes up a bit more AOR than Arrival. Plenty of appealing radio friendly tracks like “Save Me”, this could’ve been a hit in a slightly different era, But there’s plenty of good pop/rock songs here – “Anything At All”, “The Power of Gold”, as well as ballads like “Haunted”, and “The Only One I Need”

Much of this stuff bordering on Bon Jovi and Journey. type tunes and sound not so much keyboards, but in the backing vocals. Guitarist Jim Santos notes that the album did not turn out as planned- “MTM basically released our demos;-the drums and guitars were supposed to be re-done in a proper studio — didn’t happen.”

Santos is planning to put together a ‘Best of Norway‘ for possible release later this year, and having heard one of his much improved remixes, it sounds like it will be a welcome release for those who dug those Norway albums – “There are 5 songs from Night Dreams and 5 from Arrival, and 2 from Rising Up-that Glenn will redo the lead vocals that were sung by Dave Baldwin, plus we’re thinking of 2-3 brand new tunes and a pile of ‘extra’s’ -demo’s, lost unreleased tracks, and possibly a few special collector editions. Might be two discs. We’ll see what happens.”

Although Santos insists the band never really broke up, the members have gone on to other things, but intend to get back together for the upcoming Best of – “Drummer Marty Brasington had moved to Columbus Ohio shortly after Rising , which made it “difficult”. There were other individual personal matters that each of us had to handle. I moved to California for 5 years which didn’t make it any easier, lol. For my part I stay active playing everyday, recording, songwriting. I wrote lyrics for one song on the forthcoming new Frozen Rain album, and played guitar on a couple of things for Adry A (Mattsonn) and we wrote one song together. I know Marty plays with a classic rock band in Ohio. He has a small recording setup, and will be working on drums for a couple of new songs for the Best Of. Glenn also just writes and plays piano at home. Now he moved to South Carolina only 3 1/2 hours away from me, so we’re planning some catchup sessions. Bassist Joe Slattery, I think still lives in NJ, not sure what he is doing these days.”

https://www.norwayrocks.com/