ASIA Frontman Supports 'School Of Rock' Students
Launch Radio Networks has issued the following report from Bruce Simon:
You can count ASIA frontman John Wetton among the people who support the Paul Green School Of Rock. The School Of Rock All-Stars, which is made up of students from the various Paul Green School Of Rock locations around the country, have been on a nationwide tour this summer. Wetton became familiar with the School Of Rock when he spoke to and performed with some of the students over the course of a few days back in March. He told us that immersing young people so deeply in great rock music and teaching them how to play their instruments will keep them away from a far worse fate: "If you start learning music seriously, like these kids are... they're learning their instruments properly, you know, they're not just picking up a guitar and strumming it. They're learning from the really good players and good records, you know? And if they're doing that, then they're interested in quality music, and not pop."
After meeting some of the players earlier this year, Wetton told us, "There's two or three who could wipe the floor with most of the guitar players that I've played with... and they're still only in their teens."
The next School Of Rock All-Stars show is tonight (Wednesday, August 9th) in New York City.
The Paul Green School Of Rock Music teaches young people to be professional rock musicians through intensive training and live performances. For more information, go to the official schoolofrock.com website.
Wetton has reunited the original Asia lineup -- guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, and keyboardist Geoff Downes -- for a tour that starts August 29th in Rochester, New York.
In related news, as previously reported, Asia titles previously issued in Japan in paper sleeve editions will be reissued in that country, again in paper sleeves, on September 27th via Geffen.
Titles to be available again include: Asia (1982), Alpha (1983) and Astra (1985).