We asked a few hardcore Asia fans to submit questions for the band, in preparation for today’s instore appearance. You can check out the bands’ responses below.

You can also check out photos from today’s performance on our Flickr account.

Enjoy!

How does it feel to see a classic-era Asia fan bring his or her child to a concert, to know that your music is spanning generations?

Geoff Downes: That’s one of the really rewarding sides of touring and taking our music to the people. Last night in New York State where we played, a young kid (and his dad) on the front row, had a huge grin on his face and was smiling at me the whole time during the show. I guess I made him laugh with my antics, or just amused him because he thought I looked like some kind of a clown!

How do you feel while viewing a 1983-era Asia music video, 25 years later?

Geoff Downes: It’s kind of nice that period of your life has been captured in vision - an extension and memories of the music made at the time, no less. So I reckon that’s a good thing. I think it also helps remind people of what was - like flicking through an old family photo album. But the real downside is that some of the ludicrous outfits and embarrassing hair-styles can come back to haunt you in a big way! “Did I really think I looked cool in that”?! No way!

Although prog rock fans are stereotypically male, Asia had more than its share of female fans in the 80s. Did you get ladies’ underwear thrown at you on stage, and does that still happen today?

Geoff Downes: Fortunately this doesn’t happen these days. The sizes would be undoubtedly larger than 25 years ago, and the offending items considerably more baggy! Ouch! Did I really say that? But seriously, most ladies at our shows are dragged along by their partners - thankfully, for the most part they seem to enjoy the experience. Some of the female fans look too young to have been around in the 80’s though…(flattery will get you everywhere, so I’m told!)

What prompted the reunion of the 4 original members of Asia?

Carl Palmer: 25th Anniversary started the idea.

Once the reunion was announced, it seemed that the band would be content to feature the classic Asia material on tour. What led to the decision to record a new full-length album?

Carl Palmer: We were all on the same page for the first time in 23 years. It was a natural move for us.

How have the advances in recording technology affected the crafting of Asia songs in the studio?

Carl Palmer: Makes it all that much quicker to record albums.

Many 40-ish year old progressive rock fans discovered their love for the style upon hearing Asia. Please comment on Asia’s place in the history of this much maligned genre.

John Wetton: We’re not really a progressive band. We came from progressive bands but we were making the transition into the 80s, with more of an emphasis on the song. What we did when we first came out was to offer the musicality of progressive music, without all the fat. We trimmed it down and made it more accessible.

Will you be playing classic songs from Yes, ELP, King Crimson, UK etc. while on tour?

John Wetton: We do a few. Steve offers up “Roundabout;” Carl does “Fanfare For The Common Man,” Geoff does “Video Killed The Radio Star” and I contribute “Court Of The Crimson King”. It feels natural to do some of the stuff from the other bands this time around, and the fans seem to love it.

Over the past 10 or so years there has been an underground resurgence of prog rock, through various websites and fan-promoted festivals. Are there any “unknown” prog bands you’ve heard recently that our readers should check out?

John Wetton: Goldfrapp from the UK, they’re incredible.

How has your recent heart surgery and recuperation affected the lyrical tone of the new album?

John Wetton: It has to a certain degree. It is very much about living within the moment and living within the day, and not relying too much on tomorrow, as exemplified in the song “Extraordinary Life,” which we will be doing on this tour. Among one of the most prominent themes of the record is that of “gratitude and re-birth.”

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This entry was posted by RNYK on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm