ASIA RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM “XXX” WITH ORIGINAL LINE-UP: GEOFF DOWNES, STEVE HOWE, CARL PALMER & JOHN WETTON

BRITISH SUPERGROUP CELEBRATES 30th ANNIVERSARY WITH UK TOUR AND 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF DEBUT ALBUM

Thirty years after its eponymous debut album, ASIA ascended to the top of the Billboard Top 100 chart (where it remained No.1 for nine consecutive weeks), the legendary British classic rock band returns with a brand new studio album, a 30th Anniversary edition of their debut album, 2 DVDs, and a world tour that includes UK, Europe, Japan and America.

ASIA will release their new studio album “XXX” (pronounced Triple X) on Frontiers Records on June 29th in Europe and July 3rd in North America.  The new record, produced by Mike Paxman, which is being hailed as ASIA’s best album since its classic early 80s releases, will be released as a CD, collector’s edition CD/DVD (featuring new music videos and behind the scenes footage), and on vinyl (limited edition Europe only). Original artwork for “XXX” album courtesy of Roger Dean.

The first single taken from the highly anticipated new album is entitled “Face On The Bridge”, released worldwide on May 14th. The videoclip can be seen on Youtube now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BnTSkqNG_o

“We’re very pleased with, and confident about XXX,” says John Wetton. “It encapsulates, lyrically and instrumentally, the essence of ASIA today.  However, it is the very same four people that gave you the original, iconic album 30 years ago.  If you loved it then, you will love it now.”

“We wanted to recapture the energy of the first album,” adds ASIA’s guitarist, Steve Howe.  “ASIA has always been about great songs, and fantastic musicianship.  I’m sure fans of the first album, will fall in love with XXX.”

“XXX” CD EDITION – TRACK LISTING

1. Tomorrow The World (Wetton/Downes) 6:47
2. Bury Me In Willow (Wetton/Downes) 6:01
3. No Religion (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 6:36
4. Faithful (Wetton/Downes) 5:37
5. I Know How You Feel (Wetton/Downes) 4:53
6. Face On The Bridge (Wetton/Downes) 5:59
7. Al Gatto Nero (Wetton/Downes) 4:36
8. Judas (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 4:43
9. Ghost Of A Chance (Wetton/Downes) 4:21

Total Time 49:41

“XXX” SPECIAL EDITION 11-TRACK CD (+ BONUS DVD)  – TRACK LISTING

1.  Tomorrow The World (Wetton/Downes) 6:47
2.  Bury Me In Willow (Wetton/Downes) 6:01
3.   No Religion (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 6:36
4.   Faithful (Wetton/Downes) 5:37
5.   I Know How You Feel (Wetton/Downes) 4:53
6.   Face On The Bridge (Wetton/Downes) 5:59
7.   Al Gatto Nero (Wetton/Downes) 4:36
8.   Judas (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 4:43
9.   Reno (Silver and Gold) (Howe/Wetton) 5:15 (Bonus Track)
10. Ghost Of A Chance (Wetton/Downes) 4:21
11. I Know How You Feel (Midnight Mix) (Wetton/Downes) 5:23 (Bonus Track)

Total Time: 60:20

BONUS DVD

1. Face On The Bridge (Music Video) (4:33)
2. Faithful (Music Video) (4:34)
3. The Making of XXX (Featurette) (20:33)

Total Time: 29:40

In addition ASIA has also completed “Resonance”, a DVD concert film of the group’s 2010/2011 Omega World Tour, captured live in Switzerland which will be released later in the fall.

To celebrate their 30th Anniversary, ASIA will release a collector’s edition box set based on their legendary 1982 eponymous debut album, supported by a myriad of ASIA releases in 2012.  The 30th anniversary edition of their debut album will feature 2 audio CDs (a re-mastered edition of the debut album, plus a CD of live rare tracks), an expansive historical booklet, a limited edition ASIA T-shirt, goodies from ASIA’s 1982 tour, plus a DVD of the new band documentary: ASIA – 30 Years On.  A newly commissioned painting by Roger Dean updates the symbolic dragon and pearl from 1982 to 2012, the Year of The Water Dragon (in the Chinese calendar).

Confirmed tour dates so far include:

Japan

24th September – Tokyo Shibuya Kokaido
25th September – Tokyo Shibuya Kokaido
26th September – Osaka Sankei Hall Breeze
27th September – Zepp Nagoya

America

17th October       Red Bank, NJ                Count Basie
18th October       Boston, MA                   Wilbur Theater
19th October       Westbury, NY                Westbury Theater
20th October       Philadelphia, PA            Keswick
21st October       Wilmington, DE             Opera House
23rd October       Syracuse, NY                Turning Stone Casino
25th October       Ridgefield, CT                Ridgefield Playhouse
26th October       Uncasville, CT                Mohegan Sun
27th October       NY, NY                         Best Buy Theater
28th October       York, PA                       Strand Capital

UK Dates

2nd September – Weyfest Festival, Weyfest, UK

15th December – The Wharf, Tavistock, UK
16th December – The Picturedrome, Holmfirth, UK
17th December – Queens Hall, Edinburgh, UK
18th December – TBA
19th December – City Hall, Salisbury, UK
20th December – Town Hall, Birmingham, UK
21st December – RNCM, Manchester, UK
22nd December – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK

ASIA

Geoff Downes – keyboards
Steve Howe – guitars
Carl Palmer – drums
John Wetton – bass and vocals

Source: Frontiers Records