| Geoffrey Downes |
Geoffrey Downes in concert with Asia, 2006
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Geoffrey Downes |
| Born |
25 August 1952 (1952-08-25) (age 57) |
| Origin |
Stockport, Cheshire, England |
| Genres |
Rock, progressive rock, electronica |
| Occupations |
Musician, Songwriter, Record producer, Composer |
| Instruments |
Keyboards, Piano |
| Years active |
1974-present |
| Labels |
Voiceprint Records
EMI America Records
Frontiers Records
Geffen Records
Universal |
| Associated acts |
The Buggles, Yes, Asia, New Dance Orchestra, Wetton/Downes Icon |
| Website |
www.geoffdownes.com |
| Notable instruments |
| Keyboards, Piano, Organ, Synthesisers |
Geoffrey Downes (born Stockport, Manchester, 25 August 1952)[1] is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the keyboardist for the bands Asia, The Buggles, and also his stint with Yes in 1980. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound. He was once entered for the Guinness Book Of Records for performing with most keyboards (28) on stage in one performance.
Biography
Downes was born at Stepping Hill Hospital, Hazel Grove in Stockport, Cheshire, England, the son of musical parents. His father was a church organist and his mother a pianist. He also took up the keyboards and played in a succession of local bands. He attended Stockport Grammar School before studying at music college in Leeds. After graduating he moved to London, where he played sessions and composed advertising jingles.
In 1976, he met Trevor Horn while auditioning for pop singer Tina Charles' band. They continued to work together, eventually forming The Buggles, and created a worldwide hit single in 1979 ("Video Killed the Radio Star"). It was Island Records' first number 1 in the UK, and the video of the song subsequently became the first ever to be played at the launch of MTV in August 1981.
The success of The Buggles led to Downes and Horn joining Yes for one album (Drama) and the associated tour in 1980. Downes was the first member of the band to have completed a music degree. Yes then split at the beginning of 1981. Downes subsequently joined forces with Yes' Steve Howe, Carl Palmer (from Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and John Wetton (from King Crimson) to form Asia in 1981. Asia was an immediate worldwide success upon the release of their eponymous début record in 1982, and has formed the backbone of Downes's career since then. The album remained at number 1 on the Billboard album charts for a record 9 successive weeks. For many years, he has remained the only founding member of the band. In recent years, Downes has since teamed up with John Wetton again in a separate project under the 'Icon' banner. They have released 2 studio albums thus far, Icon & Rubicon, with a third to follow early 2009.
In addition to recording and touring with Asia, Downes has also recorded a number of solo albums and collaborated with many other artists, including Glenn Hughes, Ride The Tiger with Greg Lake, Trapeze, in 1991 for a tour that produced the live album Welcome to the Real World, and a brief appearance on Kate Bush's Sat in Your Lap. In 2005, he joined Yes drummer Alan White's eponymous band White on their debut album.
He has also worked extensively as a producer with such acts as Mike Oldfield, Thompson Twins and GTR. As a songwriter, he has written for such acts as Agnetha Fältskog (of ABBA). He is also credited as a co-writer on Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe due to Howe re-using some musical ideas from Asia.
He has continued to release sporadic solo albums over the years, mainly under the banner of "The New Dance Orchestra". They include the critically acclaimed 'Light Program' album in addition to 'Vox Humana' & 'Shadows & Reflections' along with a quite a few others. He performed a sold out 'one-man' show in 2003 at St Cyprian's Church in London, which was recorded using 'ambisonic' technology.
In 2006, Downes reunited with the original members of Asia for a series of tours that continued into 2008, releasing a new album of studio material, "Phoenix", with more shows performed through Spring 2009. In the Summer of 2009, the original Asia toured the USA supporting Yes, with guitarist Steve Howe doing double duty performing with both bands nightly.
Influences and style
In an interview conducted December 2006,[2] Downes said the three players who had inspired him were Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson and especially Dave Sinclair. In the same interview, he identified his favourite Asia tracks as "Only Time will Tell", "Wildest Dreams", "Open Your Eyes" and "Voice of America".
Personal life
Downes has been married (and divorced) twice and has 2 daughters, Christina & Alexandra, from his first wife, Norwegian former model Wenche Steen. He has 1 older sister, Helen, and 2 older brothers, John Gordon & Andrew. He currently lives in South Wales in the UK with his long-term partner.
Latest Activities
2008-2009. Whilst currently active with the Original Asia, he has also finished working on a new album with John Wetton on their side project 'Icon', and they have recently recorded a live DVD in mid-February 2009 to promote the release of their 3rd studio album. The project includes guitarist Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters, Keith Emerson), Pete Riley (Keith Emerson, Ken Hensley), Hugh McDowell (ELO). In addition, Downes is also working on TV, Film and Production music for London West End film production company, 'Original Production Music Ltd.' There is a further NDO album scheduled for later in 2009.
Discography
Solo albums
- The Light Program, 1987, Geffen/Blueprint Records
- Vox Humana, 1992, J!MCO/Blueprint Records
- Welcome to the Real World with Trapeze, 1993
- Evolution, 1996, Blueprint Records
- Wetton Downes (demo album), 1996, Stallion Records
- Hughes/Downes: The Work Tapes, 1998, Blueprint Records
- The World Service, 2000, Blueprint Records
- Shadows & Reflections, 2003, Voiceprint Records
- The Collection, 2003, Voiceprint Records
- Live at St. Cyprian's
- Icon (with John Wetton), 2005, Frontiers Records
- Icon Acoustic TV Broadcast (with John Wetton), 2006, Frontiers Records
- Icon Live - Never in a Million Years (with John Wetton), 2006, Frontiers Records
- Icon II: Rubicon (with John Wetton), 2006, Frontiers Records
- Icon 3 (with John Wetton), 2009, Frontiers Records
Yes
- Drama, 1980 / expanded and remastered, 2004
- The Word is Live, 2005
The Buggles
- The Age of Plastic, 1979
- Adventures in Modern Recording, 1981
Asia
Singles
- "Heat of the Moment"
- "Only Time will Tell"
- "Days Like These"
- "Sole Survivor"
- "Don't Cry"
- "The Smile has Left Your Eyes"
- "The Heat Goes On"
- "Who will stop the Rain"
Albums
- Asia, 1982
- Alpha, 1983
- Astra, 1985
- Then & Now, 1990
- Live Mockba 09-X1-90, 1991
- Aqua, 1992; Aqua Special Edition, 2005
- Aria, 1994; Aria Special Edition, 2005
- Arena, 1996; Arena Special Edition, 2005
- Archiva 1, 1996
- Archiva 2, 1996
- Now - Live in Nottingham, 1997
- Live in Osaka, 1997
- Live in Philadelphia, 1997
- Anthology—The Best of Asia 1982-1997, 1997; Anthology Special Edition, 2005
- John Wetton—Geoff Downes—Asia—UK Compilation CD, 1997
- The Very Best of Asia: Heat of the Moment (1982-1990), 2000
- The Best of Asia Live, 2000?
- Aura, 2001
- Alive in Hallowed Halls, 2001
- Asia/Boston: Winning Combination, 2001
- Alive in Hallowed Halls, 2001
- Live at Budokan, 2002
- Quadra, 2002
- Anthologia, 2002/Gold, 2005
- Armada 1, 2002
- Live Acoustic
- Live at the Town & Country
- Different Worlds
- Dragon Attack
- History of Asia, 2004?
- Live in Buffalo, 2004?
- Live in Hyogo, 2004?
- Different Worlds, 2004
- Silent Nation, 2004
- Long Way from Home, 2005 (single)
- Phoenix, 2008
Instruments
The following list contains the various keyboards that have been used during his time with The Buggles, Yes, Asia, and his solo career.
EPs
References
- ^ Gregory, Andy. International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. P. 143. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 1857431618, 9781857431612
- ^ Geoff Downes - Asia 2007 Interview
External links
