The supergroup ASIA returned with a new line-up featuring only one original member, the keyboardist Geoff Downes. His bandmate in YES, the guitarist Steve Howe won't be part of the reunion, nor the drummer Carl Palmer, who is busy with the ELP tour (Band which he is the only surviving member). Besides Downes, ASIA's new line-up has: Harry Whitley (Bass and vocals), John Mitchell (Guitar) and Virgil Donati (Drums). Geoff Downes talked about the comeback after signing a contract with Frontiers Music Srl. company."ASIA is thrilled to have recently signed a new deal with Frontiers Music Srl. Having been loyally supported by the label throughout the ASIA reunion period from 2005-2015, we are now entering an exciting new chapter in the band's 45-year history with a sequence of live albums, DVDs and a brand new studio album scheduled for a 2026 release." "It's very much a homecoming for the band, and so we are greatly looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with them in the future. Watch this space!" The band already played in Japan and United Kingdom this year. With whom the new ASIA members have already worked Virgil Donati He has recorded and toured with the likes of Planet X, Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth, Tony MacAlpine, Steve Walsh, Bunny Brunel, Scott Henderson, Seven The Hardway, Erik Norlander and UK, amongst many others. John Mitchell John is a highly versatile musician who predominantly sings and plays guitar. He is a member of several popular progressive rock bands including Frost*, It Bites, The David Cross Band and Arena. John releases his solo music under the pseudonym Lonely Robot, and has so far released four solo albums. He also masterminded the bands Kino and The Urbane and played bass for alternative rock band A. John was a founder member of the Wetton Downes side project ICON, touring with them and appearing on the first two studio albums. For many years he performed as a member of John Wetton’s live band. He has worked with a large variety of musicians including Martin Barre, Peter Cox, Steve Hogarth, Nik Kershaw and British actor Lee Ingleby. John is also a renown record producer and sound engineer, running his own studio facility, Outhouse, in Reading, UK. He has recorded and produced music for a number of mainstream rock artists including Enter Shikari, You Me At Six, Steven Wilson, Don Broco, Lower Than Atlantis, Architects, Funeral For A Friend, McFly and many more. Harry Whitley Whitely uploaded a number of Asia covers to his YouTube channel and soon noticed how these videos were performing far better than any others. It didn’t take long for Harry’s performances to come to the attention of Geoff Downes – and at that moment the die was cast. When a recent charity tribute concert was planned to celebrate the life of John Wetton, Downes invited Whitley to step up and take charge of the Asia lead vocals. Alongside Billy Sherwood (YES) on bass, Jay Schellen (YES) on drums and John Mitchell (It Bites, Frost*) on guitar, Whitely took his place on stage next to Geoff Downes. You can see the entire info about the musicians on ASIA's website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwP4ifUeuoM&pp=ygUOYXNpYSBiYW5kIDIwMjQ%3D
