UK (Eddie Jobson & John Wetton)

/UK (Eddie Jobson & John Wetton)

Band

UK (Eddie Jobson & John Wetton)

Details

Genre
Rock
Year Formed
1977
Country
England

About

Originally formed in England in 1977 by keyboardist and electric-violinist Eddie Jobson (Roxy Music, Frank Zappa); vocalist and bassist John Wetton (King Crimson); guitarist Allan Holdsworth (Soft Machine); and drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson, Genesis), UK represented the final statement of the classic progressive-rock era – first with their ground-breaking eponymous debut album, and then as a trio with drummer Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa) with their influential 'Danger Money' album (1978), followed by the band's swan song 'Night After Night'(1979) live album, recorded during their 1979 tour of Japan.

Now, 37 years after their debut, Jobson and Wetton will be joined by Austrian guitarist Alex Machacek and Australian drummer Virgil Donati to bring their renowned virtuosity and emotionally charged music back to audiences worldwide, one last time.

The music of UK has influenced two generations of progressive bands from Rush to Dream Theater, leaving the individual members of UK with unsurpassed reputations as the definitive 'musicians' musicians.'

EDDIE JOBSON's recognition has been almost exclusively from those 'in the know.' Musicians, music journalists, composers, producers, and knowledgeable fans from more than 50 countries revere his work and consider him a true music innovator and a pioneering figure in the development of early synthesizers, electric violin, progressive-rock, art-rock, computer graphics (he produced and starred in MTV's very first CGI music video), computer recording, new age, electronics, and contemporary world music. He is also an award-winning composer for television and film, a producer, conductor, lecturer, and acclaimed choral arranger.

Best known publicly as a ground-breaking rock violinist and keyboard icon – usually put on the same 'keyboard greats' list as Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman – he was a teenage rock prodigy, being signed to a record deal with Warner Bros. at the age of 17. As a pivotal member of Roxy Music, he helped the band attain their first No.1 album at the age of only 18; going on to replace both George Duke and Jean-Luc Ponty in Zappa's 'Mothers of Invention' at the age of 21. He has contributed to more than 60 albums, dozens of videos, and participated in world tours as a member of Curved Air, Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, UK, and UKZ. Additionally he has recorded and/or performed with King Crimson, Yes, Phil Collins, Jethro Tull, and with members of The Who, and Deep Purple.

After UK, JOHN WETTON went on to form multi-platinum supergroup Asia with Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, and Carl Palmer. As lead singer, bassist, and principal songwriter in the group, he helped lead them to international superstardom with a No. 1 album on the Billboard charts.

With more than 70 albums to his credit, including 8 solo albums, 6 studio Asia albums, 4 King Crimson albums, 3 UK albums, and appearances with Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, Roxy Music, Steve Hackett, and the Wetton/Downes duo Icon, John is regarded as a central figure and as one of the classic voices of the progressive-rock movement.

For fans of the genre, John is best-known and most beloved for his contribution to King Crimson's classic 'Red' period, which included the albums 'Larks' Tongues in Aspic,' 'Starless and Bible Black,' and 'Red' with Robert Fripp and Bill Bruford. His powerful and distinctive bass sound and playing have established him as a bass legend and an influence on bass players from Geddy Lee to Tony Levin.

A new-generation virtuoso guitarist, lauded by such legendary players as Allan Holdsworth and John McLaughlin –ALEX MACHACEK began studying classical guitar at the age of 8. Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, he was already a highly accomplished player by his early teens and was gravitating increasingly to the electric guitar, taking a strong interest in both British hard rock and electric jazz.

At the age of only 16, Machacek was accepted into the Music Conservatory of Vienna where he continued to study jazz guitar. At the age of 26, Machacek was awarded 'best guitar newcomer' in a European guitar competition; the following year would see a collaboration with Terry Bozzio at a jazz festival in Vienna. This pivotal meeting would eventually lead to the formation the 'Out Trio' with Bozzio, and to residence in the U.S.

Alex's several recordings include the brilliant '[Sic]' in 2006; 'Improvision' (2007); 'Radiation' (2009) as a member of Eddie Jobson's UKZ; and continue through to his work with the Fabulous Austrian Trio, and his latest 2014 release 'Now' with Gary Husband.

Machacek is now a regular participant in Jobson's live projects, having played guitar in UKZ and on all of the recent reunions of UK.

VIRGIL DONATI is regarded as one of the top technical drummers in the world. Born in Merbourne, Australia, Virgil moved to the U.S. at the age of 19 and soon became one of the most in-demand session drummers in both the U.S. and Australia working with musicians as diverse as Melissa Etheridge, Frank Gambale, Branford Marsalis, and Mick Jagger.

An accomplished pianist and composer, he is best known as an in-demand drum clinician and for his instructional videos and books. His solo albums include 'Just Add Water' and 'Stretch' and his ventures into the world of progressive rock have resulted in the acclaimed On The Virg project, as well as his progressive-metal collaboration Planet X, all the way to Eddie Jobson's U-Z Project, and several of the UK reunion tours, including this final European tour.

Starting the drums at the age of 3, and now after 40 years as a professional drummer, Virgil is recognized as not only one of the most technically proficient players in the world, but also as one of the most musically accomplished.

UK's Final World Tour will include select dates in Europe, N. America, and Japan between February and April 2015.