philosopher2king (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

You are going off on a tangent here. 1) I never said Meyer had total artistic creativity but he said in an interview he felt respected and allowed to do his thing (I've read everything on this album). 2) The ONLY guitar parts he didn't play on Astra was on Hard on Me, I believe.3) Never said Asia was a "metal band" but the use of axes was way more aggressive than previous albums. I mean, After the War has a pedal tone!4) Meyer never toured with Asia since their tour got canceled by Geffen.

drunksingsheep (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Please dude! C'mon! You can't be serious? Every-note Meyer played on Astra was dictated by Downes, trust me. Moreover it is very likely that Wetton played most if not all of the guitar parts, and Meyer Merely toured with Asia and shot Videos. Wetton booted Bill Bruford from U.K. because he couldn't stomach the great Allan Holdsworth. Bruford and Holdsworth were pals, so they both had to "Go". They could have offered Paul Gilbert the gig. Do I have to tell you Asia WAS NOT an 80's metal band?

philosopher2king (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

It's a chemical agent detox shower! Funny thing is, if she was worried about nuclear/chemical contamination, why didn't she wear long pants to begin with! :DLet's none of us forget that this was a Cold War angst video. Funny how quickly those types of videos, movies and books disappeared overnight.

philosopher2king (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Noooo! Wetton was tired (and jealous) of Howe, not of guitar heroes. By the time Astra came out the market was focusing more on metal/hard rock, so Meyer was a well-calculated decision. Production-wise (writing, "Wall of Sound", etc.) this was Wetton/Downes all the way, but Meyer gave the album a backbone. Go, Too Late, After the War are loaded with guitar heroics!In Alpha you could hardly hear Howe (except on Eye to Eye) but Astra was ax-driven from the get-GO (get it? Get it? Get it?). : )

drunksingsheep (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

I think Astra sounds how it does because Downes was now in more control, thus providing a more Buggles-like production. But honestly, Myer contributes very little to the record. I think at the time (howe has since reunited) Wetton especially was thoroughly tired of guitar heroes, and wanted to get on with writing pop music.

philosopher2king (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

I love Howe but I found Meyer's work more compelling and the music of Astra more "with the times" then. Howe is the man but had he played in Astra that album would have been totally different, and not for the better! : ) At least for my taste.

drunksingsheep (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Do you like Steve Howe?

philosopher2king (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Best guitarist Asia had, for my money. I'm a Payne fan myself but Astra is hands down my favorite Asia album.

philosopher2king (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

You know, she did walk in the rain AND sacrificed her life for that delivery.

ih8kit (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

They are worth seeing. I saw them April 12, 2008 at Westbury. They were excellent. They even came out to the lobby after the show and signed autographs.