After his period with King Crimson, Wetton formed UK, and later he was the frontman and principal songwriter of the supergroup Asia, which proved to be his biggest commercial success. Their self-titled debut album sold eight million copies worldwide and was Billboard magazine's No. 1 album of 1982. He later formed the duo Icon with Geoff Downes (ex-Yes, ex-Buggles), and since the 1990s had a successful solo career releasing a large number of studio and live albums.
He had a long career as an in-demand session bass player, and collaborated with many members of progressive rock bands such as Yes (including Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, Geoff Downes, Alan White, Billy Sherwood and Peter Banks), Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry, and Genesis (Steve Hackett).
Wetton grew up in Bournemouth and was in a number of early bands with Richard Palmer-James, on bass and vocals, including, The Corvettes, The Palmer-James Group (formed with Alec James), Tetrad, and Ginger Man.[2] A key early band was Mogul Thrash; after live work with Renaissance, he joined Family and also did various sessions.
Wetton's first big break came when he joined Wimborne, Dorset, musician Robert Fripp in his new line-up of King Crimson in 1972, allowing Wetton to come to the fore as a lead singer and composer. Palmer-James also worked with the band as a lyricist. Wetton remained with the band until Fripp unexpectedly disbanded it in 1974. Wetton continued to work on various projects, including a tour with Roxy Music and two albums with Uriah Heep. In 1977, after failed attempts to reunite King Crimson and create a new band with Rick Wakeman, Wetton and Bruford formed U.K.. Wetton brought into UK keyboard/violin wizard Eddie Jobson, while Bruford brought in guitarist Allan Holdsworth. Upon Bruford and Holdsworth's departure, American percussionist Terry Bozzio joined, making U.K. a threesome a la Emerson, Lake and Palmer. This version of U.K. released the studio album Danger Money and toured in support of Jethro Tull.
Wetton released his first solo album, Caught in the Crossfire, in 1980 after the break-up of U.K. Later that same year, he had a brief stint in Wishbone Ash, contributing bass and vocals to Number The Brave. In 1981, at the urging of Geffen Records' John Kalodner, Wetton started working and writing with Steve Howe, who had most recently been in Yes. They went on to form Asia. with whom Wetton worked until 1983. In that year, Wetton was fired from Asia at the insistence of Geffen Records, ostensibly because of less-than-expected sales of the Alpha album. Wetton was brought back to Asia in 1985, with Mandy Meyer replacing Steve Howe, to complete Astra.
In the late 1980s, Wetton's collaboration with former Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera was released as Wetton/Manzanera, with drums provided by Yes's Alan White. Also around this time, Wetton began working again with Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer in an attempt to restart Asia without Steve Howe. Some of the material by this incarnation of Asia made its way onto 1990's Then & Now CD.
The 1990s saw Wetton mostly out of Asia and focusing on a solo career. In 1999, another attempt to reform Asia resulted in Wetton participating in the short-lived progressive rock group Qango with Carl Palmer, John Young, and Dave Kilminster. The group performed several shows in the U.K. and recorded one live album, Live in the Hood, before disbanding when Wetton and Palmer returned to their solo projects.
In the early 2000s, he reunited with Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes for iCon. In 2006, an official reunion of the original Asia line-up (Wetton, Downes, Howe, and Palmer) finally occurred. The studio album titled Phoenix, the original band's first since 1983's Alpha, was released in April 2008 and peaked at No. 73 on the North American Top 200 albums charts. The original line-up released two more studio albums, Omega and XXX before Howe departed in January 2013. With new guitarist Sam Coulson, Asia released Gravitas in March 2014.
In 2013 he guested on the album Grandine il vento with Renaissance, with whom he had played live 42 years before.
Wetton also did extensive work as a session musician with acts such as Brian Eno, Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera.
Wetton died on 31 January 2017, from colon cancer.
Band timeline
Mogul Thrash (1971)
Gordon Haskell (1972)
Family (1971-1972)
Larry Norman (1972)
King Crimson (1972-1974)
Uriah Heep (1975-1976)
U.K. (1977-1980, 2011-2015)
Jack-Knife (1979)
Wishbone Ash (1980)
John Wetton (1980–2017)
Asia (1981–1983, 1984–1986, 1989–1991, 2006-2017)
Qango (1999-2000)
Icon (Wetton/Downes) (2002, 2005-2009)
Bohemian Rhapsody
John Wetton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Caught in a landslide no escape from reality
Open your eyes look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooh, ooh
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooh (anyway the wind blows) I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
I see a little silhouette of a man
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me
Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro magnifico
But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go will you let me go
Bismillah, no we will not let you go, let him go
Bismillah, we will not let you go, let him go
Bismillah, we will not let you go, let me go
Will not let you go, let me go (never)
Never let you go, let me go
Never let me go, ooh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
For me, for me
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Oh baby, can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah nothing really matters
Anyone can see nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me
Anyway the wind blows
John Wetton's cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a rock ballad with a slow and emotive beginning leading into a dramatic instrumental and vocal crescendo. The song's lyrics are introspective, exploring the idea of reality versus fantasy, life and death, and freedom versus imprisonment. The lyrics at the beginning of the song seem to question whether what the singer is experiencing is real or simply a fantasy, and ultimately, it doesn't matter. As the song progresses, the lyrics delve into the singer's personal crisis and the revelation that he has killed a man. He feels regret and worry for his mother and apologizes to her for causing her pain. He then accepts his fate and acknowledges that he is just a poor boy no one loves. When the chorus hits in its high, almost operatic tones, it calls for the listener to let the singer go, but the repeated refrain from a chorus indicates that he will not be free. In the end, the song concludes that nothing really matters to the singer and he feels unencumbered.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?
Wondering if what's happening is real or just a dream
Caught in a landslide no escape from reality
Feeling trapped in a situation with no way out
Open your eyes look up to the skies and see
Encouraging to look beyond immediate circumstances and seek truth
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Stating that he's just an ordinary person and doesn't need pity
Because I'm easy come, easy go
Explaining that he doesn't hold onto things for long, and experiences are temporary
A little high, little low
Describing his fluctuating emotions, from happiness to sadness
Anyway the wind blows
Suggesting that he'll just go with the flow and let fate decide what happens
Doesn't really matter to me, to me
Concluding that none of it ultimately matters to him
Mama, just killed a man
Confessing to murder
Put a gun against his head
Describing how the murder was committed
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Stating that the murder was intentional and successful
Mama, life had just begun
Reflecting on how his life had recently started anew
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Regretting making a decision that has ruined his life
Mama, ooh, ooh
Calling out to his mother in distress
Didn't mean to make you cry
Apologizing for causing pain to his mother
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Recognizing that his life may end soon
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters
Encouraging others to continue living even if he is gone
Too late, my time has come
Acknowledging that his death is inevitable
Sends shivers down my spine
Describing the fear he feels about dying
Body's aching all the time
Explaining that he's ill and in pain
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Saying farewell to everyone before his death
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Accepting that death is coming and preparing to face what comes next
Mama, ooh (anyway the wind blows) I don't want to die
Begging his mother not to let him die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all
Expressing deep regret for his life and all that's occurred in it
I see a little silhouette of a man
Imagining a small figure in the distance
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Addressing the figure and asking them to dance
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me
Experiencing fear due to a storm
Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo, Gallileo Figaro magnifico
Mentioning the names of historical figures and creating a chant
But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
Acknowledging that people don't care about him
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Referring to himself and his humble upbringing
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Asking for someone to save him from his impending death
Easy come easy go will you let me go
Suggesting that his life was fleeting and asking if he can die in peace
Bismillah, no we will not let you go, let him go
Opposing his request to let him go and asking to release another person instead
Will not let you go, let me go (never)
Refusing to let him go and insisting that he stay
Never let you go, let me go
Asking to die and not be held against their will
Never let me go, ooh
Continuing to plead for release
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Emphasizing the refusal to let them go
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Calling out to his mother again, begging her to let him go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
Claiming that he's destined for punishment in the afterlife
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye
Reflecting on being abused and discriminated against
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Feeling betrayed and left to suffer
Oh baby, can't do this to me baby
Rejecting the idea of being mistreated and asking for mercy
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here
Desperately wanting to escape from the pain and suffering
Ooh yeah, ooh yeah nothing really matters
Concluding that nothing has meaning or importance, as death is imminent
Anyone can see nothing really matters
Stating that this truth is obvious and can be understood by all
Nothing really matters to me
Affirming that nothing has value or significance anymore
Anyway the wind blows
Repeating the earlier statement that he will accept what comes and let fate decide
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ger R
Wow.....John's vocals.......No words. ♡
Jon Spencer
Pretty good! Especially the choral/operatic part in the middle. The bass being so forward in the mix sounds cool.
ombrax5
This is the best progrock cover version.
kurtmorr
I wonder if John and freddie are singing this together now?
Andy M
This is good! Does anybody know who else is in the band?
Gil Carvalho
Alan White, the drummer of Yes.
Migouel Sanchez
The drum track really sucks.
Gil Carvalho
Alan White, the drummer of Yes.