... Anyway two quite different types of music. Greg and Geoff Downes wrote some songs together in a project called Ride the Tiger, in 1988-89. "Affairs Of the Heart" came out of that period ... a great, haunting tune
Well, Wakeman had a pretty big keyboard rig in his day, too, with a Hammond, two Mellotrons, multiple Mini-Moogs, an RMI electronic piano, and a grand piano. Even when I saw him playing with Yes in 2002, he was using a much larger keyboard rig than he needed (especially given that his Hammond and piano sounds were digitally recreated on that tour).
Geoff is my girls cousin and he said he was trying to set a Guinness record and this was his big chance since this was MTV's first major event. John, Geoff, and Greg are all friends of mine, John said he wished he could do what Greg did up there and Greg said he blew it. Well Greg had a couple of weeks to get ready and this was not ELP music. They were going to go on yet Greg had a vision with Steve and you know the rest.
@myownservant Now that's a good observation, servant ....... The instrument is used sparingly though, not all through the whole song, as in "Reaper" by BOC
How true! I believe that rig still stands as the largest ever assembled for a single show/tour (and probably with good reason). Though every time I see it, I can't help thinking how Rick Wakeman created more musical variety with just his Hammond C3 than Downes did with that monster bank.
The ridiculous thing about Downes' keyboard rig on those first two Asia tours is he really didn't need all of it. He could have probably gotten by with just one Hammond organ, a Fairlight, a Prophet-10, a Mini-Moog or two, and either a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano and/or a Fender Rhodes. He certainly didn't need two organs, a Solina, a Mellotron AND a Fairlight and multiple polyphonic synths. But like I said, it is kinda fun watching him trying to manage the rig and also sing!
ONe of the great things about watching this concert is watching Geoff Downes attempt to manage that ridiculously oversized keyboard rig. Even by pre-MIDI standards, that setup is ridiculous. I bet he had fun learning how to play the songs with that setup. And of course he's also singing back up vocals too!
Agreed it's a ridiculous amount of shit to manuever around. This was the 80s the Rick wakeman banks of keyboards from the 70s were on their way out... look at some of the ABWH video of the keytars👀🧐🤣🥁🎸🎹
Good posting! Great song ... here with good musicianship, unfortunate vocals (to if John Wetton was there). Lots of interesting history with this concert ... There's somebody who has said, all over the internet, actually, "Wow - You've got 2/3rds of ELP up there". 1. What does that have to do with how good of an ASIA concert this was, or could have been? ?? 2. I find it ridiculous that (for some people) Asia as a band doesn't manage get out of ELP's shadow; Asia made/makes more great songs
All I've ever seen is the video with the gymnast in the background....Your posting has given me a deeper respect for this song. Thank you.
I love this song. Thanks for the video.
... Anyway two quite different types of music. Greg and Geoff Downes wrote some songs together in a project called Ride the Tiger, in 1988-89. "Affairs Of the Heart" came out of that period ... a great, haunting tune
wonderful... thank you for this video
Don't forget Geoff Downes! One half of "Video Killed the Radio Star." And he even was in Yes!
Well, Wakeman had a pretty big keyboard rig in his day, too, with a Hammond, two Mellotrons, multiple Mini-Moogs, an RMI electronic piano, and a grand piano. Even when I saw him playing with Yes in 2002, he was using a much larger keyboard rig than he needed (especially given that his Hammond and piano sounds were digitally recreated on that tour).
man thats what music is all about
I always wanted to do a concert but facing the other way
Geoff is my girls cousin and he said he was trying to set a Guinness record and this was his big chance since this was MTV's first major event. John, Geoff, and Greg are all friends of mine, John said he wished he could do what Greg did up there and Greg said he blew it. Well Greg had a couple of weeks to get ready and this was not ELP music. They were going to go on yet Greg had a vision with Steve and you know the rest.
@myownservant Now that's a good observation, servant ....... The instrument is used sparingly though, not all through the whole song, as in "Reaper" by BOC
Lake is a better singer than Wetton IMO. But nobody sings Asia better than Wetton. This is still cool as hell though! Thanks for posting!
How true! I believe that rig still stands as the largest ever assembled for a single show/tour (and probably with good reason). Though every time I see it, I can't help thinking how Rick Wakeman created more musical variety with just his Hammond C3 than Downes did with that monster bank.
Jon Lord did more with a Hammond C-3 with nothing else onstage besides a ring modulator, than Wakeman and Downes put together!
The ridiculous thing about Downes' keyboard rig on those first two Asia tours is he really didn't need all of it. He could have probably gotten by with just one Hammond organ, a Fairlight, a Prophet-10, a Mini-Moog or two, and either a Yamaha CP-70 electric grand piano and/or a Fender Rhodes. He certainly didn't need two organs, a Solina, a Mellotron AND a Fairlight and multiple polyphonic synths. But like I said, it is kinda fun watching him trying to manage the rig and also sing!
ONe of the great things about watching this concert is watching Geoff Downes attempt to manage that ridiculously oversized keyboard rig. Even by pre-MIDI standards, that setup is ridiculous. I bet he had fun learning how to play the songs with that setup. And of course he's also singing back up vocals too!
Agreed it's a ridiculous amount of shit to manuever around. This was the 80s the Rick wakeman banks of keyboards from the 70s were on their way out... look at some of the ABWH video of the keytars👀🧐🤣🥁🎸🎹
Yeah but what's not epic is Greg's performance of the song. The only way someone would think it's ok is if they've never heard the original
Good posting! Great song ... here with good musicianship, unfortunate vocals (to if John Wetton was there). Lots of interesting history with this concert ... There's somebody who has said, all over the internet, actually, "Wow - You've got 2/3rds of ELP up there". 1. What does that have to do with how good of an ASIA concert this was, or could have been? ?? 2. I find it ridiculous that (for some people) Asia as a band doesn't manage get out of ELP's shadow; Asia made/makes more great songs
No John Wetton no Asia.
needs more cowbell!!!
I slightly disagree with the Greg is a better singer than Jonh post he's a better musician true but Jonh has a better range a is stronger in voice