Asia (often stylised as ASIA) are a British rock band. The band was formed in 1981 as a supergroup of four members from different progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton (former bassist/vocalist of such bands as King Crimson, Roxy Music, and Uriah Heep), Steve Howe (guitarist of Yes), Geoff Downes (keyboardist of Yes and The Buggles) and drummer Carl Palmer (of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and Atomic Rooster).
The band has gone through many line-up changes throughout its history, but in 2006, the original line-up reunited. As a result of this, a second band called Asia Featuring John Payne exists as a continuation of John Payne's career as Asia's frontman from 1991 until Wetton's return in 2006.
Valkyrie is an upcoming studio album by British rock band Asia, expected for release in 2013.[1] It will be the group's first album to feature their new guitarist, Sam Coulson, who replaced Steve Howe in January 2013 after the latter retired from the band.[2] This will also make Valkyrie the first album not to feature the band's original lineup since 2004's Silent Nation, after which the founding members would eventually reunite in 2006.
