Geoff Downes - Latest Activities

Latest Activities

While currently active with the original Asia, he has also finished three albums with John Wetton on their side project 'Icon', and recorded a live DVD in February 2009 to promote the release of their third studio album. The project included guitarist Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters, Keith Emerson), Pete Riley (Keith Emerson, Ken Hensley), and Hugh McDowell (Electric Light Orchestra). In addition, Downes is also working on television, film and production music for a London West End film production company, Original Production Music Ltd.

He released a further 'The New Dance Orchestra' (NDO) album scheduled in October 2010, entitled Electronica and with vocals from Anne-Marie Helder (Karnataka, Panic Room, Mostly Autumn). It is a twelve-track album featuring Downes's orchestral style of keyboard playing.

On September 28, 2010, he reunited with Bruce Woolley and Trevor Horn as the band The Buggles, performing "The Lost Gig" to raise funds for the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability.

On March 22, 2011, he performed at the Roundhouse, London with Trevor Horn and Producers, along with Spandau Ballet & Alison Moyet to raise funds for a music charity for underprivileged children. The event raised over half a million pounds on the night.

On March 31, 2011, he was confirmed as participating in the recording of the new Yes album Fly from Here (2011), reuniting with them formally for the first time since 1980 and rejoining the band for an upcoming tour.

In May, 2011 he rejoined Yes as the full-time keyboard player, and the band toured during the summer period in the U.S. with Styx. They then embarked on a European in October, starting in Portugal and ending up in December in Stockholm. The band was forced to cancel the last 3 shows due to an illness of the lead singer Benoit David.

In January 2012, the band appointed a replacement vocalist, Jon Davison to continue with the world tour and in particular the Pacific Rim tour in April 2012, comprising New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, and Hawaii.

In 2012, Downes completed work on an album with Chris Braide under the name of DBA (Downes Braide Association) called Pictures of You. The album will be released later in the year.

Downes has also worked with Asia on a 30th Anniversary album called XXX and released 29 June 2012 as a CD, a CD/DVD, a LP and as a download, all of which feature Roger Dean artwork. Downes plays keyboards on the album and has co-composed 9 of the 10 original compositions on the album with long-time song-writing partner, John Wetton. The first single from the release, ”Face on the Bridge”, was released on 14th May 2012.