John Wetton is a famous musician, a bass player from the United Kingdom

John Wetton is a famous rock musician, composer, vocalist. He was born in 1949 in the city of Derby (Great Britain). Widely known as the bass player of King Crimson.

Trip to America

Started John with participation in numerous teenage groups, played the guitar, trying to imitate the legendary "Beatles". Later, John Wetton moved to London, but he did not succeed there. Then he decided to try his luck overseas, lent money for a ticket and left for the US. However, in the country of blues musicians from England it was difficult to break through, after a few months, John Wetton went to his homeland.

This time he was a success, the talent was revealed to the full. Upon his return, he met with the musicians of the popular Family group, was accepted into the composition, recorded several albums and, figuratively speaking, believed in himself.

Education

John began his conscious musical activity after getting to know David Calondner, manager of the representative office of Atlantic Records, which revealed the main principles of the work of rock and pop bands and taught him how to succeed. Along the way Kalodner advised me to part with the Family group and find a place to better apply my talent.

After gaining healthy ambitions, John left Family and became a regular member of King Crimson. He was accepted unconditionally as a promising rock musician. As it turned out later, the choice was made right, the bass guitar and good vocal data allowed Wetton to record with the King Crimson musicians three albums in the studio format, which later entered the Golden Fund. These were the discs "Filling Larks", "The Nezvezdnaya Black Bible" and "Red."

In 1974, to the surprise of all, the group was dissolved at the peak of its popularity. So decided its head Robert Fripp.

Uriah Heep

Rock musicians of Great Britain are a friendly community where everyone knows each other. Each talented guitar player became famous two or three weeks after his appearance in London. John Wetton did not last long after the collapse of King Crimson. Once he received an envelope with an invitation to visit the rehearsal of the famous band "Juraj Hip", which needed a professional bass player.

In early 1975, "Juraj Hip" lost one of his musicians, Gary Tain, who died of a drug overdose. John Wetton replaced it, and very successfully. The appearance in the group of an experienced musician changed the atmosphere radically. John, a powerful generator of new ideas, has become a real leader of the group.

"Jurai Hip" toured a lot, immediately after the arrival of Wetton musicians went on a regular world tour. A multi-million audience and 30,000 miles in a plane - these are the statistics of these tours. Group leader Mickey Boxing at one of the concerts broke his arm and walked in a cast.

"Asia"

By 1981, Wetton left "Juraj Hip" and was ready to work with high-class musicians of the group Asia. Cooperation lasted until 1985 and was very fruitful. Together with "Asia" Wetton released four albums. As part of the group, John visited Moscow, where the musicians gave two full concerts in the "Olympic". Then in "Asia" there was a decline, and the group in 1989, took a timeout.

USA

In the early nineties John again decided to visit America. This time everything was different, Wetton was already well-known around the world as a bass player and did not need to be introduced. In 1994 he recorded a solo album Battle Lines, in the 95th - Chasing The Dragon, in 1997 - "Archangel". In 2000, another Uetton CD "Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven" was released in Japan. In 2003, the album "Rock of Faith" was released.

In the summer of 2006 the musicians of "Asia" gathered again, they invited Wetton and together with him recorded CDs "Categorical collection", "Fantasy: Life in Tokyo" and "Phoenix".

UK

The last group, which was able to cooperate with Wetton John, was a sextet playing progressive rock. The musicians were called "United Kingdom" (UK). The group acts in the making structure:

• John Wetton - vocals and bass guitar (from 2011 to the present);
• Eddie Jobson - violin, keyboards (2011 - to the present day);
• Alex Makhachek - guitar (2011-2016);
• Virgil Donati - drums (2011-2016);
• Alan Holsworth - guitar (2011-2016);

A few more musicians are invited to tour. The composition of the temporary participants is constantly changing, this makes it possible to refresh the instrumental accompaniment of the vocalist, as well as to give pleasure to the fans who know by heart the texts of the posters and are happy when new names of musicians who did not participate in the concerts appear.

Discography

During his career, the famous bass player recorded more than fifty discs. John Wetton, whose albums were created from 1970 to 2012 in conjunction with various rock bands in the UK, is preparing to release several more CDs. Below is a sample list of albums with his participation.

• "Fearless" (1971);
• "Estrada" (1972);
• "The Wisdom of Laughter" (1973);
• "Red" (1974);
• "The Bride" (1978);
• "Money is a danger" (1979);
• "Number" (1981);
• "The Royal Road" (1987);
• "Sphere" (1989);
• "The Archangel" (1997);
• "One way" (2002);
• "More than" (2002);
• "Rock of Faith" (2003);
• "Icon" (2005);
• "Phoenix" (2008);
• "Omega" (2010);
• "Raised from captivity" (2011).

Currently, John Wetton is preparing for another tour of Europe.