Artist: JOHN WETTON/ GEOFFREY DOWNES
Album: "ICON 2 - RUBICON (CD)"

Year: 2006
Media type: CD

In late 2004 the esteemed ProgRock partnership of JOHN WETTON and GEOFF DOWNES was re-established for the album 'Icon'. Both came to the fore globally in 1981 with the multi-platinum debut ASIA album. Wetton's career beforehand had travelled through such illustrious names as MOGUL THRASH, FAMILY, KING CRIMSON, ROXY MUSIC, UK, URIAH HEEP and WISHBONE ASH. Downes had made his mark with ISOTOPE, Pop act BUGGLES and YES, gaining international prominence with the latter during the controversial ‘Drama’ period. Since ASIA's break up, both artists had maintained a steady output of solo product.

Collaborators on the 'Icon' album, issued in May 2005 through the Frontiers label, included Steve Christey of JADIS on drums, John Mitchell of ARENA and KINO on guitars, along with Annie Haslam of RENAISSANCE, Ian McDonald of FOREIGNER and KING CRIMSON repute and cellist Hugh McDowell of the ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA. European editions hosted an exclusive bonus track in 'I Wish I Could Be In Your Bed'. In August the duo released an EP including a re-recording of the ASIA hits 'Heat Of The Moment' and 'The Smile Has Left Your Eyes'.

On the live front, the band performed as co-headliners of the 'United Forces Of Rock' festival, alongside LEGS DIAMOND, SEVENTH KEY, JADED HEART, CASANOVA, PUMP, BLANC FACES and PRIDE OF LIONS, in October at the Rockfabrik in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Both Wetton and Downes, somewhat enevitably, used their renewed partnership to segue into a full blown reformation of the classic ASIA line-up in early 2006 with Carl Palmer and STEVE HOWE. Before engaging in this project though, a new live album and DVD emerged, simply billed 'Acoustic TV Broadcast'.

The November 2006 album 'Rubicon' includes duets with Anneke van Giersbergen of THE GATHERING on 'To Catch A Thief' and 'Tears Of Joy'.

TRACKLIST:

1. The Die Is Cast
2. Finger On The Trigger
3. Reflections (Of My Life)
4. To Catch A Thief
5. Tears Of Joy
6. Shannon
7. The Hanging Tree
8. The Glory Of Winning
9. Whirlpool
10. Rubicon