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)
Space and Time
John Wetton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flashing eyes, inscribed on my soul
I reach to you, through another dimension
So if you feel a shiver, you′ll know
I can see you clearer and clearer
Through the mist like a beacon's light
You reflect in a distant mirror
I am calling you, can you reach me?
All alone on a midnight flight
Is it foolish to think that feelings flow
Through space and time tonight?
It chills the air, like the feeling of danger
A presence felt, an ethereal light
A silhouette, the scent of a stranger
I know it′s you, with me tonight
I can see you clearer and clearer
Concentrate with all your might
You reflect in a distant mirror
Altering space and time tonight
I am calling you, can you reach me?
All alone on a midnight flight
Is it foolish to think that feelings flow
Through space and time tonight?
I am thinking about you right now
I'll arrive with the morning light
It's a message I rush to you, alone
Through space and time tonight
Tell me do you believe in what can′t be explained?
What our reason will not allow
Moving out of this world, passing through space and time
To a love that is here and now?
The lyrics to John Wetton's song Space and Time are full of passion, longing and a yearning for a love that transcends ordinary human experience. The song is about a person who has had a fleeting but intense encounter with someone they feel a deep connection to, a connection that seems to defy space and time. The opening verse sets the tone for the song by describing the impact of the other person's face, which flashes before the singer's eyes and leaves an indelible mark on their soul. From there, the song becomes a plea to the other person to reach across the void between them and make contact, to try to connect despite the distance and the obstacles in their way.
Throughout the song, the singer's emotions are heightened by the sense of mystery and danger that accompany their efforts to reach out to the person they desire. They describe a "feeling of danger" that pervades the air around them, a sense of a presence that is somehow otherworldly and ethereal. Despite this, the singer is undeterred and continues to call out to the other person, hoping that they too will feel the shiver of recognition and respond in kind. The song ends with a rhetorical question that sums up the theme of the song: "Tell me do you believe in what can't be explained? What our reason will not allow / Moving out of this world, passing through space and time / To a love that is here and now?" It is a question that asks us to consider whether there is more to life than what we can see and touch, and whether love can truly conquer all.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a face, I saw for a moment
I caught a glimpse of someone's countenance
Flashing eyes, inscribed on my soul
Their eyes left a lasting impression on me
I reach to you, through another dimension
I attempt to connect with you in a different state
So if you feel a shiver, you'll know
If you sense a tidal of emotions, it's me seeking you
I can see you clearer and clearer
Your image becomes more vivid with every passing moment
Through the mist like a beacon's light
I penetrate the haze like a guide pointing the way
You reflect in a distant mirror
Your reflection appears in a far-off looking glass
Moving through space and time tonight
You move through the dimensions at this instant
I am calling you, can you reach me?
I am beckoning to you, are you able to respond?
All alone on a midnight flight
I'm flying solo in the dead of the night
Is it foolish to think that feelings flow
Is it unwise to believe emotions are traveling
Through space and time tonight?
In the context of the wider dimension, now?
It chills the air, like the feeling of danger
It cools the atmosphere, similar to the sense of peril
A presence felt, an ethereal light
A spirit sensed, an otherworldly glow
A silhouette, the scent of a stranger
A figure, the aroma of an unknown
I know it's you, with me tonight
I am aware that you are here with me
Concentrate with all your might
Focus with all your strength
Altering space and time tonight
Changing the dimensions in this moment
I am calling you, can you reach me?
I am beckoning to you, are you able to respond?
All alone on a midnight flight
I'm flying solo in the dead of the night
Is it foolish to think that feelings flow
Is it unwise to believe emotions are traveling
Through space and time tonight?
In the context of the wider dimension, now?
I am thinking about you right now
I am contemplating you at this very moment
I'll arrive with the morning light
I will appear when illumination arrives
It's a message I rush to you, alone
It is an urgent message I send to you, singularly
Through space and time tonight
Across the dimensions, in the present moment
Tell me do you believe in what can't be explained?
May I ask if you have faith in the unexplainable?
What our reason will not allow
What common sense cannot permit
Moving out of this world, passing through space and time
Fleeing this reality, traversing dimensions
To a love that is here and now?
Towards affection that is present at this point?
Writer(s): Jim Peterik, John Kenneth Wetton
Contributed by Joshua L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@robpetrone2459
Your presence and etherial light will always be felt through space and time, John. Rock in Peace. Your music lives on.
@dorobrojek
Amen❤
@argwyth
His unmistakable voice and lyrics that touch the soul make for an incredibly romantic song. Every song on "Battle Lines" is excellent. Thank you so much for posting it! :-)
@cynthiafradelizi4288
JOHN had the best voice ever. So smooth, comforting , and passionate. He could sing anything and make it beautiful. CF
@patriciatownend331
Rest in peace John we will miss your thought provoking lyrics and fantastic voice. Taken too soon.
@DeVipressZephoria
I love you, John Wetton. Tomorrow is two years in heaven, and it doesn't hurt less. Some people of this world are not living well without you, but we try. Just because you'd want us to.
@Defender80s
John Wetton and Jim Peterik! Two Legends of Rock!
@tripper1151
i´m still with tears in my eyes his voice is a piece of my soul
@nicolemorris8553
Wow, John Wetton, loved this album since we worked with his promoter in Toronto, when John went solo, incredible album!
@cynthiafradelizi4288
The perfect voice. Great writing! He will be forever remembered!