Tag Archives: Geoff Downes

Gig review: YES – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 24 May 2024

Posted on May 26, 2024 by david.wilson

Tonight’s show was another date in the current ‘Classic Tales Of Yes’ tour, a celebration of 50 plus years of Yessong with an emphasis on the band’s ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’ opus which turn 50 in 2023. You could argue … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 24th May 2024, Billy Sherwood, Geoff Downes, gig, Glasgow, Jay Schallen, Jon Anderson, Jon Davison, live, progressive, Rick Wakeman, rock, Roundabout, Royal Concert Hall, Steve Howe, Tales of Topological Oceans, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ASIA – The Official Live Bootlegs (10 CD Boxset)

Posted on November 20, 2021 by brianmc

BMG UK [release date 26/11/21] Asia : In 1997, Paul Stump wrote in “A History Of Progressive Rock” that the band’s “links with the genre were as tenuous as George Formby’s links with Mozart”. It is a memorable quote. And … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged albums, AOR, Bootlegs, boxset, Carl Palmer, ELP, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, King Crimson, live, progrock, Steve Howe, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: YES – The Quest

Posted on September 26, 2021 by brianmc

Inside Out Music [Release date: 01.10.21] Yes are a British institution. As much woven into the fabric of UK culture as many other artistic endeavours. An omnipresent rock band with a constantly changing line up, currently: Davison, Howe, Sherwood, Downes … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan White, album, Asia, Billy Sherwood, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, prog, review, Steve Howe, World Trade | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…ASIA (Every album, every song) by Peter Braidis

Posted on May 25, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Release date 14.05.21] Asia were formed in 1981, one of the enduring melodic rock “supergroups” of that decade and one of the most successful. Many readers will only remember the “classic” original line-up (and debut album) but this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, Asia, book, Carl Palmer, Every Album, Every Song, Geoff Downes, John Payne, John Weeton, melodic rock, On Track, Peter Braidis, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Howe | Leave a comment

Quick plays: PINK FLOYD TRIBUTE, UNTIL THE SUN, CIRCUS MIND

Posted on May 17, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

VARIOUS Still Wish You Were Here (Cleopatra Records) [Release date 28.05.21] Continuing the theme of “what do rock stars do in Lockdown?”, in this example Cleopatra’s A&R supremo John Lappen has opened his contact book. Unlike many of these offerings … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays | Tagged album, blues rock, Circus Mind, classic rock, Drowning In Blue, Edgar Froese, Geoff Downes, GEOFF TATE, Ian Paice, Joe Satriani, Joy Machine, Pink Floyd, R&B, review, Rick Wakeman, soul rock, Steve Hackett, Still Wish You Were Here, Todd Rundgren, tribute, Until The Sun | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Halcyon Hymns

Posted on January 28, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 05.02.21] Fourth album from DBA, the fruitful poprock collaboration between Geoff (Asia/Yes) Downes and uber songwriter/producer, Chris (Guetta/Aguilera) Braide. Halcyon Hymns is their living-in-the-lockdown album, and as the title more than subtly suggests, it’s a recording … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Chris Braide, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Halcyon Hymns, melodic, pop rock, review, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ZEBRAS DON’T SMOKE – Don’t Mention The Swedes (ABBA Tribute)

Posted on November 23, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Singsong Music [Release date 20.11.20] www.singsongmusic.com ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus said what he thought of streaming live music during Lockdown. He wasn’t impressed and thought kitchen gigs will never be a substitute. I wonder what he would have thought of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Abba, album, Deckchair Poets, Don't Mention The Swedes, Geoff Downes, Lynden Williams, Nick D’Virgilio, pop rock, review, tribute, Zebras Don't Smoke | 1 Comment

Album review: DAVID CROSS & PETER BANKS – Crossover

Posted on March 8, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

Noisy Records [Release date 17.01.20] David Cross will be best known for his time with King Crimson in the 1970s. His more recent solo works and collaborations (with the likes of one-time Van Der Graaf sax player David Jackson and … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, ambient, Billy Sherwood, Crossover, David Cross, fusion, Geoff Downes, instrumental, King Crimson, Peter Banks, review, Tony Kaye, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION (DBA) – Live In England (CD/DVD)

Posted on November 21, 2019 by GRTR! HQ

Magical Thinker Records [Release date 29.11.19] Geoff Downes has been involved in a whole range of projects over the years, outside of Asia and Yes. His collaboration with UK born, LA-based Chris Braide seems to be one of the more … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Live In England, pop, progressive, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – Skyscraper Souls

Posted on November 7, 2017 by jason

David Randall chatted to Chris Braide in October 2015 and this hour special provides background to the singer-songwriter’s career and on hooking up with Geoff Downes. First broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. Magical Think Tank Records [Release date … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Andy Partridge, Asia, Big Big Train, Buggles, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Marc Almond, melodic, pop, progressive, review, Skyscraper Souls, Tim Bowness, XTC, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ROBBY KRIEGER – In Session

Posted on April 10, 2017 by GRTR! HQ

Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra [Release date 24.02.17] Like the Cleopatra release before it by Joe Lynn Turner “In Session” collects together some of Robby Krieger’s session work over the years. The Doors guitarist was always a master of restraint in terms of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Billy Sherwood, Geoff Downes, guitar, guitaris, In Session, Jackson Browne, John Wetton, Nik Turner, review, Robby Krieger, rock, Rod Argent, THE DOORS, Tommy Shaw, Tony Kaye | Leave a comment

Album review: ASIA – Symfonia

Posted on March 19, 2017 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 24.02.17] Normally you’d think “not another live Asia album” as there have been a fair few to date, however this one is tinged with sadness with the sad passing of John Wetton shortly before the release of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, melodic rock, review, rock, Sam Coulson, Symfonia | Leave a comment

Album review: BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 06.11.15] Billy Sherwood, man of many talents and currently bassist for Yes, has assembled an impressive cast of guest musicians for his “Citizen” album…but the question has to be can it deliver when so many of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Alan Parsons, album, Billy Sherwood, Chris Squire, Citizen, Colin Moulding, Frontiers, Geoff Downes, Jerry Goodman, John Wesley, Jon Davison, Jordan Rudess, Patrick Moraz, Progressive Rock, review, Rick Wakeman, Steve Hackett, Steve Morse, Tony Kaye | Leave a comment

News: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION, Edgar Winter interview features – Sunday 25 October 2015

Posted on October 24, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

Pop rock duo Geoff Downes and Chris Braide release their second album as Downes Braide Association (DBA) on 6 November. Downes is best known as the keyboard maestro with bands like Asia and Yes whilst Chris Braide has written for … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, NEWS | Tagged 25 October 2015, Asia, blues, blues rock, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Edgar Winter, Geoff Downes, interview, pop, pop rock, progressive, radio, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION – (DBA) – Suburban Ghosts (Geoff Downes, Chris Braide)

Posted on October 12, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION - Suburban Ghosts

David Randall chats to Chris Braide about his music, songwriting, and collaboration with Geoff Downes (59:25) In this hour special, Geoff Downes chats about DBA and his career which has included high profile stints in Yes and Asia. He also … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Radio interview | Tagged album, Asia, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, interview, pop, review, rock, Suburban Ghosts, The Producers, Trevor Horn, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: JOHN WETTON – Anthology The Studio Recordings Vol.1

Posted on June 13, 2015 by GRTR! HQ

In this interview extract from April 2009 John Wetton tells David Randall about his early influences, and the immediate aftermath of his departure from Asia in 1991 which led to the release of his second, and favourite, solo album ‘Battle … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, anthology, Asia, Billy Sherwood, Dick Wagner, Family, Geoff Downes, Greg Bisonette, interview, John Wetton, King Crimson, Martin Barre, Michael Landau, review, rock, Roxy Music, Steve Hackett, Steve Lukather, The Studio Recordings Vol.1, Wishbone Ash | Leave a comment

Gig review: ASIA, Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 2 November 2014

Posted on November 4, 2014 by andynathan

For a so-called supergroup Asia have shown remarkable longevity, but their profile is now much lower than it was in the heady days when their 1982 debut went multi-platinum, judging by a disappointing turnout at their first headline London show … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 November 2014, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, gig, John Wetton, London, melodic rock, review, Sam Coulson, Shepherd's Bush Empire | Comments Off

Album review: CHRIS BRAIDE – Fifty Dollar Planets And Twenty Cent Stars

Posted on May 25, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Cherry Red Records [Release date 05.05.14] Towards the end of 2012 Chris Braide and Geoff Downes released an album that may forever be termed “one that got away”. DBA’s ‘Pictures Of You’ was arguably one of the best albums of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Chris Braide, DBA, Fifty Dollar Planets And Twenty Cent Stars, Geoff Downes, pop, review, rock, songwriter, The Producers | Leave a comment

Gig review: YES – Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 2 May 2014

Posted on May 3, 2014 by david.wilson

I am not the biggest Yes fan in the world. This may seem a strange statement to open a Yes gig review, but as they said on the X Files ‘the truth is out there’. That is not to say … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 2 May 2014, Alan White, Chris Squire, Close To The Edge, Clyde Auditorium, Geoff Downes, gig, Glasgow, Going For The One, Jon Davison, live, prog, progressive, rock, Steve Howe, The Yes Album, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: ASIA – Gravitas

Posted on March 6, 2014 by GRTR! HQ

Frontiers [Release date 24.03.14] Crop rotation is something those of us of a certain age will recall from O level geography – leaving land fallow and rotating crops leading to bigger and better harvests. Certainly over the years there’s been … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Asia, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, Gravitas, John Wetton, melodic, review, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: NEW DANCE ORCHESTRA – Electronica (feat. Geoff Downes/Anne-Marie Helder)

Posted on December 6, 2013 by GRTR! HQ

NDO Records [Release date 04.11.13] This is an intriguing release from the highly-talented Geoffrey Downes, or Geoff Downes as you know him, erstwhile keyboard tinkler from Asia and Yes. New Dance Orchestra is an ongoing project but to my knowledge … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Anne-Marie Helder, Asia, electronica, Geoff Downes, Geoffrey Downes, keyboards, Mostly Autumn, New Dance Orchestra, Panic Room, review, The Buggles, Yes | Leave a comment

Album review: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE – An All-Star Tribute To Steve Miller Band

Posted on August 14, 2013 by petefeenstra

Cleopatra Records [Release date 30.07.13] Producer, engineer and multi instrumentalist and sometime Yes member Billy Sherwood has carved out his a niche for himself with a number of wide ranging all star tribute albums, and now it’s the turn of … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged Billy Sherwood, Derek Sherinian, Fee Waybill, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Martin Turner, Peter Banks, Rod Argent, Roye Albrighton, Sonja Kristina, Steve Hillage, Steve Miller, Steve Morse | Leave a comment

News: ASIA announce new studio album and August festival appearance

Posted on June 24, 2013 by jason

ASIA Begins recording album tomorrow, new line-up live shows ‘amazing’ John Wetton, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer and new recruit guitarist Sam Coulson have certainly hit the ground running. Following Sam’s debut at a fully sold-out warm up show at … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Festivals & Large Events, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS | Tagged Asia, Carl Palmer, Frontiers, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Sam Coulson, Valkyrie | Leave a comment

DBA (Geoff Downes/Chris Braide) – Pictures Of You

Posted on December 22, 2012 by GRTR! HQ

X2X Records DBA is a collaboration of Geoff Downes (Asia, Yes) and Chris Braide (producer for Lana Del Rey and David Guetta amongst others). If it owes something to the duo’s overt pop sensibilites as evidenced by Downes with The … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Asia, Buggles, Chris Braide, DBA, Downes Braide Association, Geoff Downes, Pictures Of You, pop, rock, Yes | Leave a comment

PERMISSION TO ROCK book helping Movember

Posted on November 2, 2012 by jason

Permission To Rock is a collection of more than thirty interviews with selected classic rock, heavy metal and prog rock bands and artists. These extensive transcriptions and features are taken from the author’s own interviews spanning the period from 2007 … Continue reading →