Concerts: Jobson, Wetton - UK Zero-11 Tour
Eddie Jobson and John Wetton are touring together this April, with their April 8 show at The Regent Theater in Arlington (nr Boston), MA, which markes the first U.S. live reunion of the two founding members of UK! Billed as "Two of progressive-rock's biggest legends, with a virtuoso band, performing the music of UK, King Crimson and more..." Also joining the pair on the "UK Zero-11 Tour" are guitarist Alex Machacek and drummer Marco Minnemann.
From the press release: When UK was formed in 1977, it was considered the last best hope for a progressive-rock movement increasingly overshadowed by the "new wave" of pop and punk bands emerging out of London. Fans of more richly complex music had every reason to be hopeful as the three founding members were already well-established as pioneers of the genre. Eddie Jobson had established himself as the teenage rock prodigy from two of England’s most popular and innovative bands, Curved Air and Roxy Music, and was fresh from a one-year stint with Frank Zappa.
John Wetton was the voice of King Crimson, his distinctive bass an essential part of the powerful sound that would influence a generation of musicians. And Bill Bruford, the most innovative drummer of the genre, had already carved a new role for the drums as a pivotal member of both Yes and King Crimson. Finally adding future guitar icon Allan Holdsworth, the prog supergroup would not disappoint, producing an album that is still regarded as a classic by musicians of all ages.
But four musicians of such caliber weren’t destined to remain a unit, and UK would soon morph into a keyboard power trio with Jobson and Wetton being joined by Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio to produce the equally revered, yet more mainstream Danger Money album.
With the ‘80s rapidly approaching, and punk, new wave, and metal dominating the music scene, UK called it quits - leaving behind only two studio albums, and Night After Night, the trio’s swan song--recorded live in Japan on their final tour.
Though the support for progressive rock was waning, their careers were far from over however, with Wetton going on to multiple-platinum success as the voice and principal songwriter of radio-prog band Asia, as well as producing a long string of solo albums; while Jobson, after his own brief solo career and short stints with Jethro Tull and Yes, would become an award-winning television and film composer, and run his own musicians' label, Globe Music.
But even the passage of 30 years couldn’t keep the two prog legends from the pull of revisiting their shared legacy, finally joining together on stage in Poland in November 2009, with Wetton as a guest in Jobson’s all-star U-Z Project. With the recordings from those shows, the double CD Ultimate Zero Tour - Live, riding high on the Japanese charts (though not yet released in retail outside of Japan), UK fans of all generations have been able to hear Jobson and Wetton performing their classic material together once again.
Now, unapologetically billing the tour as a “UK Reunion” tour, the iconic duo are joining forces once more for a short string of major-city dates in Japan and the U.S. in April. Teamed with Austrian guitar virtuoso Alex Machacek, and German drumming phenom Marco Minnemann (both from Jobson’s other band project UKZ), progressive-rock fans will finally get a chance to experience first-hand what all the excitement was about three decades ago, and hear UK and King Crimson classics performed by two of the musicians who defined the genre.
Tickets for the April 8 show available through The Regent Theater
Prime tics $103 Reserved Seating $63
(Prime Seating Extras)
Eddie notes, "I am happy announce a Zealots-only pre-sale for the Jobson-Wetton-Machacek-Minnemann UK show at the Regent Theater, Boston (Arlington) for Friday, April 8.
"Prime seats ($100 + processing charges) are available NOW by emailing webmaster (at) zealotslounge.com for the link; mention "Boston," your real name AND your Zealots user name. No ticket limit. Non-Zealot prime ticket holders will also receive (after the show) a .01c first-year admission to the Zealots Lounge, and an invitation to the Zealots after-party."
Other dates on the tour are: April 11, Highline Ballroom, New York City, NY, US; April 15 & 16, Club Citta, Tokyo, JP; and April 23, Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, US.
[Whether the Japan date will be affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami hasn't been said, but it doesn't appear so -ed.]
[Source: NewEARS, UKZ website]