Mitch Perry: Asia joins Steve Vai's Favored Nations

ASIA Featuring John Payne has inked a recording deal with Steve Vai's Favored Nations record label. A June/July release is scheduled for the yet-to-be-named CD. Asia Featuring John Payne is currently planning worldwide tourdates to support the new album.

"I am very excited about working with Steve Vai and Dean Schachtel [Favored Nations A&R]," John Payne states. "Apart from being consummate professionals that I admire and respect, their added knowledge of the business is superlative. In a time of change within this industry and conglomerates run by bean counters, Favored Nations is the ideal company for our music and our future. I could not be more happy with this union."

"The artists signed to Favored Nations are a unique, dedicated breed that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments. If you're a music lover who is passionate about real musicianship, we know you will want to hear our albums. " - Steve Vai, from Favorednations.com

John Payne became the frontman of the supergroup Asia in 1992 at the invitation of keyboardist Geoff Downes, replacing vocalist/bassist John Wetton. Asia extensively toured the world for the next 14 years performing new classics and old favorites. With John Payne fronting the band, Asia released 8 stunning studio albums and several live recordings. In 2006, Geoff Downes left the band to reform the 1982 line up for their 25th anniversary. On the 9th of May 2006, John Payne, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe contractually agreed that John Payne would continue his 14 year legacy with ASIA as Asia Featuring John Payne.