John Wetton

Sinister

An album featuring many talented people. Jim Vallance, who wrote so many lyrics for Bryan Adams, Richard Wagner (maybe a pop singer, but one with an amazing voice), David Cassidy (no, that’s not a typo), Steve Hackett (playing the Harmonica) and Ringo Starr, among others.

For his newest solo effort, Wetton continues in the tracks of Battle Lines, more than his previous Arkangel.

It’s a bit more pop than what we’re used to from Wetton, but, as usual, it is brilliantly executed. Heart of Darkness, the first track immediately grabs your attention.

My favourite moment on the album is a piece called E-Scape. Apart from its inherent beauty, it also features two of John’s old colleagues, Ian MacDonald and Robert Fripp. If Bill Bruford had been present, that would have made up the lineup of King Crimson’s Red. A beautiful, albeit short, moment of a sort of Crimson revival.

All in all, a good album, perhaps not his best, but one that is certainly worth having.

My Own Time: The Authorized Biography of John Wetton

It is difficult for an author to chose between an authorized biography and an unauthorized one. Kim Danch chose the former position. No one should argue this position with her.

Unfortunately, this does not give enough insight into one of the key figures of 70’s and 80’s music world.

Someone once said that John Wetton has been in more bands than some of us have had hot meals. It’s an exaggeration. But only a slight one…

1969: Mogul Thrash (bass/vocals) 1971: Family (featuring Roger Chapman) 1972-74: King Crimson (featuring Robert Fripp) 1974: Roxy Music (Featuring Bryan Ferry) 1975: Uriah Heep (Featuring Ken Hensley) 1976: The Bryan Ferry Band 1978-80: U.K. (Featuring Eddie Jobson, Alan Holdsworth, Bill Bruford and Terry Bozio) 1978: Jack Knife (Featuring Richard Palmer-James 1982-84, 1985-89, 1990: Asia (Featuring Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe) 1996: Steve Hackett (Featuring Chester Thompson and Ian MacDonald)

And those are just the bands he recorded with. It doesn’t count the aborted project with Rick Wakeman and the bands he played with before recording. It also doesn’t include soundtracks he participated in, nor his solo career.

Definitely, this man has had a profound influence on the music world and, even if only with Asia, everyone has heard his voice (nobody could listen to “Heat of the Moment” and claim they never heard it before).

So it’s great to take a look into the man’s career and find out more about him. What has brought him to greatness, what has taken him to the four corners of the world and made him a legend.

Who is this man who figured prominently on MTV in the early 80s? Kim Dancha will answer most of your questions.

I personally would have preferred a deeper look into the man’s darker side (the one without which you can’t be an artist), but Kim chose to go the “Authorized” way. Meaning that Wetton had to approve every word in the book. Although nobody can blame her for doing this and nobody can blame Wetton for not wanting to reveal certain facets of his personality, I just think that some of what he doesn’t wish to be revealed is probably not as dark as he thinks it is. But I still respect his choice in the matter.

John Wetton: Hazy Monet and Sub Rosa

Hazy Monet (live in New York City, May 27, 1997) and Sub Rosa (live in Milan, July 5, 1998)

While awaiting the new studio album from John Wetton (King Crimson, UK, Asia, Family, Mogul Thrash, Wishbone Ash, Roxy Music, etc), Blueprint Records offer us two live albums.

The line-up of both albums includes John Wetton (obviously) on guitars (not bass!) and vocals and Martin Orford on keyboards, flute and harmony vocals. Hazy Monet has, as a third musician, Ian McDonald (King Crimson, Foreigner) on flute and harmony vocals. Sub rosa completes its trio with rising guitarist David Kilminster. Remember that name, he is destined to greatness. Not a flashy guitarist, but one who accomplishes his tasks with great skill and innovation.

As far as the music goes, both albums contain, mostly, the same songs, an interesting collection of King Crimson, Asia, UK and Wetton solo material. Both have a nice piece called Quilmes, which is a solo by Orford.

The main difference between the two albums is the recording method. Hazy Monet is an audience recording, while Sub Rosa is a board recording. Hence, the quality of Sub Rosa is much better. However, Hazy Monet offers in-between-songs (often funny) monologues. Therefore, it gives a better impression of the show than Sub Rosa does. However, Sub Rosa was recorded the day following the birth of Wetton’s son, Dylan. There is an understandable wealth of emotion in the performance of this album.

Both are noteworthy efforts, yet I would not recommend that the average listener buy both. For someone wanting an introduction to Wetton’s music, I would recommend Sub Rosa. Yet the collector will want both of them.

John Wetton: Chasing the Deer

After recording his solo album Battle Lines, John Wetton sent a copy of it to film producer Bob Carruthers. Upon listening to it, he found the title track to be perfect for his new film, Chasing the Deer. Two weeks later, he asked Wetton to do a soundtrack for the whole film. Which took Wetton all of six seconds to make up his mind.

The album starts with a slightly different version of Battle Lines. Then it goes into four very melodic instrumental pieces. Very Scottish (the film was made in Scotland). Bagpipes, orchestra. A very different sound for Wetton. The album closes with an acoustic version of Battle Lines. An excellent song, worth the listen.