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)
Emma
John Wetton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could have sworn it was a trick of light
I've been haunted, I been so alone
In no-man's-land, in a twilight zone Oh Emma, oh please
Help now I'm on my knees
Oh Emma, hold tight
Just don't let go of me tonight Like a wrung-out rag, I've been hanging on a line
I'm washed-out and I'm empty, and I'm barely alive
The grain of truth remaining tells me how I need you now Oh Emma, don't leave me
I'm on my knees believe me
Oh Emma, hold tight
Don't let me slip away tonight Give me hope and give me strength, pull me back into this world
Give me life again to love you, and I promise that I will? Oh Emma, please help me
These feelings overwhelming me
Oh Emma, hold tight
Just don't let go of me tonight?
The song "Emma" by John Wetton is a heartfelt plea to someone close to the singer to not leave his side. The opening lines express his surprise at seeing the person and the need for the person's presence in his life. He has been struggling with loneliness and a sense of being lost in a world that is neither here nor there. He implores Emma to hold him tight and not let go of him tonight.
As the song progresses, we get a sense of how desperate the singer's situation is. He describes himself as a wrung-out rag, barely alive, and weary of running away from his problems. He acknowledges that he needs Emma to keep him grounded and give him hope and strength to face the challenges ahead. He promises to love her again if she helps him through this difficult time.
The chorus repeats Emma's name and emphasizes the urgency of the singer's situation. He's on his knees, overwhelmed by his feelings, and needs her to hold him tight and not let him slip away. The song is a beautiful representation of the importance of having someone to rely on through tough times.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so good to see your face tonight
I am happy to be in your presence today
I could have sworn it was a trick of light
I thought I was hallucinating when I saw you
I've been haunted, I been so alone
I have been struggling with loneliness and distressing thoughts
In no-man's-land, in a twilight zone
I feel stuck in a place where I do not belong and I am unsure of my surroundings
Oh Emma, oh please
I am reaching out to Emma for help
Help now I'm on my knees
I am in a vulnerable position and in need of assistance
Oh Emma, hold tight
I am pleading with Emma to support and comfort me
Just don't let go of me tonight
I am afraid of being alone and I need Emma to stay with me for the night
Like a wrung-out rag, I've been hanging on a line
I feel drained and exhausted, like a useless piece of fabric
I'm washed-out and I'm empty, and I'm barely alive
I feel depleted and my energy is fading away
Way too tired of running, and my luck is all burned out
I am exhausted from constantly trying to escape my struggles, and I feel like I have no luck left
The grain of truth remaining tells me how I need you now
Despite feeling defeated, I know that I need Emma's help to get through this
Oh Emma, don't leave me
I am fearful that Emma will abandon me
I'm on my knees believe me
I am pleading with Emma to trust me and stay by my side
Don't let me slip away tonight
I am desperate for Emma to keep me grounded and prevent me from slipping back into despair
Give me hope and give me strength, pull me back into this world
I am asking Emma to give me motivation and help me feel connected to the world again
Give me life again to love you, and I promise that I will?
If Emma helps me regain my love for life, I vow to reciprocate that love
These feelings overwhelming me
I am struggling to cope with my intense emotions
Just don't let go of me tonight?
I am begging Emma to stay with me and not let me face this alone
Writer(s): Kasia Livingston
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jusei777
His amazing voice lives on forever !!
@malewhoshouldknowbetterbut5079
What a performer. I consider myself very fortunate to see him live. RIP.
@joshcharles7985
One of my favorite JW songs. Such a beautiful chord progression for example -
and watching him perform it in this video, reminds me of how passionate and serious John always is when performing. Always inspirational for me!!
@bagrippa
R.I.P. John . :-(
@dgsam9167
Another person, another musical idol of mine gone. I so wish I could have expressed to him and the others how integral they were to my coming of age and how their performances shaped my musical taste.
@IIIIKARENIIII
What a gift John gives, I just heart so much
@vardebo
Beautiful!
@Rascapalian
Very nice. I'd never before heard the song. Thanks for posting.
@tibmikeo
I have no Words...
@SPECTRE1961
Yes ... Oh, Lord ... Abençoe o bom John Wetton ! שָׁלוֹם