Thirty years after its eponymous debut album, Asia ascended to the top of the Billboard Top 100 chart (where the album remained No.1 for 9 consecutive weeks). The legendary British classic rock band returns with a 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) via Frontiers Records, on Monday July 2nd. The new album, produced by Mike Paxman, has been hailed as Asia's best album since its classic early 80s releases. The album will be released on CD, collector’s edition CD/DVD (featuring new music videos and behind the scenes footage), and on a limited edition vinyl.
The first single taken from the highly anticipated new album is entitled "Face On The Bridge," released digitally worldwide on Monday May 14th. [I'm listening to it now (here)- classic Asia; I like it -ed.]
"We’re very pleased with, and confident about, XXX," says John Wetton. "It encapsulates, lyrically and instrumentally, the essence of the band 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."
Says Asia’s guitarist, Steve Howe; "We wanted to recapture the energy of the first album, Asia has always been about great songs, fantastic musicianship and I am sure fans of the first album, will fall in love with XXX."
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 subsequently.
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).
XXX Tracklisting (special edition):
Tomorrow The World
Bury Me In Willow
No Religion
Faithful
I Know How You Feel
Face On The Bridge
Al Gatto Nero
Judas
Reno (Silver And Gold)
Ghost Of A Chance
I Know How You Feel (Midnight Mix)
Bonus DVD:
Face On The Bridge (music video)
Faithful (music video)
The Making Of XXX (featurette)
Planet Rock will launch an exclusive 48-hour ticket pre-sale for Asia's UK-leg of the 30th Anniversary tour at 9am on Wednesday April 25th. Fans can order their tickets from www.planetrock.com. From Friday April 27th, tickets will go on sale to the general public from the 24 Hour Ticket Hotline: 0844 478 0898, www.thegigcartel.com.
Asia will play the following UK concerts in December 2012:
Tavistock - The Wharf - Saturday 15th December
Holmfirth - Picturedrome - Sunday 16th December
Edinburgh - Queen’s Hall - Monday 17th December
Salisbury - City Hall - Wednesday 19th December
Birmingham - Town Hall - Thursday 20th December
Manchester - Royal Northern College of Music - Friday 21st December
London - 02 Shepherds Bush Empire - Saturday 22nd December
