Steve Howe Solo - Asia Tour 1982 Toronto

[dvaidr]

Why do the' people over the water' insist on spoiling half the track by whooping and whistling. Show some restraint and respect for God's sake.

[zfloid44]

I saw them in Saratoga, summer '82. Couldn't see much Geoff where I was, but had the good fortune to get up to the stage after the show as a stage-hand tossed out a piece of Carl's break-away shirt toward me. I let a girl take it (ahh..., youth!). yeah

[sober8]

I was at this show, and also the Bruford Moraz show. I would love to see more of any show you have filmed.

[spacecricket]

BAD ASS! Thanks for posting!

[yzerkeon]

Cool -- I was at that Massey Hall show (also saw them at Canada's Wonderland). Wow that clip brings me back! Thanks for posting.

[BetaRecluse]

If I could ever figger out how ta, ya know, "digitize" stuff, I could upload lots of early 80s Tull/Genesis/Gabriel/Roxy/J. Anderson/Asia/Crimson/Robert Plant/D. Gilmour/R. Waters and early 90s Yes/Howe solo/Tull....ya get the picture....but, alas, I am a semi-luddite with few technical skills. By the way, the bouncer at that Elmo Bruford & Moraz show stated that he was gonna show "the band" the "throw tape" he grabbed as we left that venue. I hope he enjoyed showing them "The Flintstones".

[BetaRecluse]

The massive, bulky tube camera was brought into the venue in a large "gym bag" along with some biology textbooks and a blue "Adidas" track suit. The separate "Zenith" brand remote recorder (roughly the size of a Costco cornflakes box) was brought in, disguised as a wrapped birthday present, by another concertgoer. Questions were asked by security staff......clever answers were given......and the two people met up in their seats in the balcony and recorded what you see here. I was there....

[torontomarkyes]

@BetaRecluse

Finally, SOMEONE has the whole sordid story to add. !!

It was amazing to be a little part of the proceedings... Nowadays, when you go to a show and everyone has their BB or i out and uploading the show.. its so "normal". Back in the day.. THIS was over the top.

We really should do a digital transfer of the Bruford-Moraz show at the El Mocambo - the security guard ended up with that afternoon's Flintstones instead of the show!! "Tonight you are going to see this on The New Music"

[avalanche344]

@BetaRecluse Well done brother. I was at the exact same concert!!

[TheProgNerd]

Any chance of posting more from this show? Footage from Asia's first tour is incredibly rare.

[torontomarkyes]

@TheProgNerd I have the whole show.. its stuck in a Beta machine at the moment.. I should take it to my shop friends and have them undo it and then i will take it to a place that will digitize it. I will keep you posted :)

[TheProgNerd]

@torontomarkyes

Excellent. Much appreciated.

[MOSKII58]

@torontomarkyes thanks for the upload- anythg else you do will be greatly appreciated..i never got to see Asia, although i did see Steve w/ the mostly original Yes band in Las Vegas in 1999, i believe it was give or take a year maybe!! Jon was great so were Chris & Alan, i thing Pat Moritz might have been the keys player and they had a young guy on 2nd guitar, don't remember his name some said he was connected w/ the production end of thgs..anyway they were great...thanx once more

[AmericanYesGuitars]

I've always preferred well thought out pieces to simple blues jams, though genius does come off the cuff at times I must admit. I loved Steve in those days, he always inspired me to be the best musician I could possibly be, showing it was never good enough to just be good.

[bigua1428]

STEVE HOWE THE FATHER OF ALL GUITARS PLAYERS ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ BUT I ALWAYS PREFER HIM ON YESSSS AND WITH JON ANDERSON ¡¡¡¡¡

[bigua1428]

STEVE HOWES RULESS ¡¡¡



[MOSKII58]

@bigua1428 Steve & Yes helped to bring prog rock into the mainstream and had alot to do w/ it being accepted here in the states a s well as worldwide..they paved the way for bands such as E,L,P, Rush,Genesis,& others...

[planetzass]

so surreal to see this. i was 15 and sitting in front of wetton. recall a strange set with a mammoth keyboard platform above palmer's kit. and wetton's bass and pedals overpowering everything else in the mix. odd. thx for posting.

[tzinanechumah]

An evening I will never forget.

[starstarstar42]

Purple is better than Blue!

C sharp is better than B flat!

The Sargaso Sea is better than the Gulf of Mexico!

Granite is better than Pumice!

Wide clouds are better than tall clouds!

Getting my point yet?

[tekguitar]

@starstarstar42 no!

[TheItalix]

@starstarstar42 bluegrass is better than hip-hop.

[TICETOCAR]

@starstarstar42 I agree with everything you've said! Except for wide clouds being better than tall clouds.. that's not true.. tall clouds are wahaaaay better ;-)

[foxgloved1]

apples and oranges.no comparison. did see their 82 tour inbaltimore at painters mill,chuck berry opened for asia.2nd row.loved it.love him.

[MrAbstractdesign]

I just gotta say that I've been around a long time and its just a mantra to say Hendrix was the best, we've all been brainwashed to think so but the truth is Hendrix couldnt come close to competing with Steve Howe, Hendrix was mostly gimmick. So many extraordinary guitar players today that would wipe the stage with Jimmy, sorry.

[Lewis1key]

Lot's of different styles, lot's of different talents.that is what makes music unique and that is what makes Mr. Howe unique.

[KillingLies1]

well, clapton beck page and hendrix are not better or worse than howe, they came from different schools, while the first four were blues fanatics, steve howe learnt classical and jazz music. One thing is totally clear : hendrix CANT PLAY HOWE'S STUFF.

Another point for Steve HOwe : he didnt use 5th chords to fill the songs , he always try to be more sofisticated :) Thats why yessongs are to hard for me :P

[ciliaris2]

The intro to SWTH was borrowed

[drunksingsheep]

Massey Hall is where Rush "All The World's A Stage" was recorded!

[2simontemplar]

did you record more of the show?

It would be great to see Midnight Sun here

[andrenyc]

He was stoned like hell. One of the best performance ever.

[kawiklx450r]

@andrenyc steve never drank booze while he played or do drugs do some research

[dnealcauley]

I saw this show in Kansas City on July 4, 1982. Steve Howe was in amazing form. He kept getting ovations during his solo, no-one wanted him to stop!

[jazzpsalti]

damn man lovely footage you had a camera back then???

[ronpaul2008rocks]

I saw them on this tour in SF. All my friends and I were big Yes fans, but we didn't really like Asia at all.

The crowd was very big on this Yes set, but was rather subdued through the rest of the show. I got that the rest of the audience was mostly like me and my friends: bit Yes fans who went to the show to see Steve Howe.

[vinnothelizard]

yeah ugly bastard!!

[blitzspeer]

Great guitarist but a real ugly man ,he reminds me of my friends cousin and he is a special kind of ugly too like Geddy Lee,it's a good thing they're great musicians or they would never get laid haha.

[ladyjawz]

looks like mr burns from the simpsons

[stalrunner]

My two favorite guitarists are Howe and Van Halen. They are both very ingenious and versatile but suited to different genres.

[BombBaller91]

The first song he plays is: Mood for a day, from the YES album fragile. The second one is: The Clap" and are also to be found on a YES album. Both Asia and YES rock anyway:)

[nghaha]

Just to add: the last song in this solo set is called "Ram", from Howe's first solo album "Beginnings".

Thank you torontomarkyes, for posting this video. I was there that night.

[robertnobody]

Wow! Asia in their prime, how did they get the video camera in the building? They were huge in those days!

[lsudude901]

A higher level might no be the best way to put it. I was getting out of bands like Led Zeppelin and into bands like this, but then I found that spell Zeppelin can put you into again.

[lsudude901]

I agree Page is a great guitarist, but I'm starting to think that Steve Howe is better. He might the best classical guitarist ever.

[dah145]

best guitarist doesnt exists, you cant judge music that way, there is no "best", there is no need for hella complex arrangement and knowledge to make good music, tell any blues player that, AKA Danny Gatton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, or Albert Lee.

[kingc56123]

i´m agree.....the best guitarrist doesn´t exist but we must recognized the most versatile and howe is one of them

[MOSKII58]

page is different as howe as compared w/ clapton,beck,allman,van halen,holdsworth, townshend, and on & on

its who ever moves you and not comparing one to another...that game doesn't make sense.

[BOTFA111]

people who really know about guitar just enjoy their music.

[foppa123]

I have many things from Jimi, and his live stuff is amazing, especially Woodstock. I agree that Page is overrated, maybe Clapton as well.

[0zzyfan44]

Damm good solo !!!

[foppa123]

I love Steve Howe and Zappa; I just think you have something against Jimi.

[foppa123]

close, but he's #2 behind Jimi. Any guitar player will tell you so.

[Orbit91]

No.

[Mikkysixx]

It is quite funny how peoples only mention the famous ones when they try to name the best guitarists...or the most obvious offcourse. While nobody knows that somewhere in a studio in Stockholm, Sweden sits one of the best guitarists this world has ever seen. Not famous at all. Yet still a living legend for everyone who has met him or heard him play.

If i have to mention a famous one though, i'd have to go with Tommy Emmanuel:)

[Moondancedenise]

maestro~ 5*****

[wkneumann]

Saw the 82 and 83 tour in Philly at the old Spectrum. 2nd row seats baby!

[foppa123]

saw Yes in Philly late 80's

[augfive]

complex shlomplex..who cares..just listn.. snd the more you ,isten the more you develope your ear and appreciatte what in your earlier years would have semed " complex" its all relative.. do you think Pat Metehny views any yes music as being complex? not hardly

[MoonchildTheKing]

Maybe you can learn Page but you will never play like him. Page and Howe are the best ever, I think.

[Spyes23]

I thought I had something to say... but then I realized there's no way I could describe how AMAZING Steve Howe is!!

[connord12]

lmao at 2:58 some dude yells at the very top of his lungs and is the only one screaming

[captaintanuki]

The audience should have STFU.

[normality123]

steve howe the best guitarist

i can't believe how people that Eric Clapton is looked at some model guitarist. Clapton was always overrated. Real guitarists know the truth. Steve Howe great virtuoso.

[foppa123]

maybe Hendrix is better

[torontomarkyes]

????????????

where did THAT come from?

I do not deny that Hendrix is great.. but I do not think you can begin a discussion here with that comment.

[foppa123]

Hendrix is better than Steve Howe...that sound better for you? Howe is #2 in my book though, not too shabby.

[zacharywild]

steve howe is far more creative than mr hendricks......get over your fantasy of what jimmy might have beem

[Devilbat]

wut about Buckethead

[Kanoppo]

awesome, steve is the best

ive never seen him play the clap and a modd for a day with the same guitar, i think its an acoustic

[Kanoppo]

idem (agreed)

[Svm777]

Hey guys, what's the name of the beautiful piece he plays in the middle of The Clap ?

[bighaiku]

He's too modest

[marifebruari]

very cool, wish i had been older at the time and seen them live- had to be content with asia in asia!

[hiltonml1]

awesome! a piece of music history. i love it when people share from their personal stash, wish i had this sort of thing. a million thanks, an absolute classic!

[AragornIsStrider]

Asia was a breath of fresh air for progressive rock. In order to survive the changing times, you had to change yourself. I love 20-minute songs about topographic oceans and Indian scriptures...but I also love a good arena rock prog-styled song which is concise, lyrically straightforward, and whote hot on the riffs. Asia had plenty of that, especially on the debut album.

[josecastroa123]

Steve Howe is so versatile that he reinvents himself depending the band he is in. His music is different in Yes as it is different in Asia and GTR. It is always a thrill to hear and see him with a guitar in hand.

[SEDGIS]

IMO, Asia didn't suck until Wetton & Downes came to the forefront. When the music was driven by Steve and Palmer they made better music.

[pdianno]

"Exactly!!! Everyone loves money:( "

That´s right! ASIA sells a lot more records and tickets than Yes or ELP! ASIA plays in stadiums for 40.000, 50.000 people while YES plays in small venues to 400, 500 people. Steve is in ASIA for money.

[mlmr11]

Asia is not a bigger draw than Yes.

[Ken5244]

Quote: "ASIA plays in stadiums for 40.000, 50.000 people while YES plays in small venues to 400, 500 people."

That's incorrect. ASIA never played to audiences anywhere near that big, unless it was a one-off festival with other big name bands on the bill.

I saw them on their first U.S. tour in '82, which was their commercial peak in terms of audience size and record sales, and they played the small 5-10,000 seat venues. Their second album didn't do well, and they've never recovered.

[pdianno]

I was being ironic when I said that ASIA plays in stadiums for 40.000, 50.000 people while YES plays in small venues to 400, 500 people. I wanted to prove that Steve isn´t in ASIA for money.

[pdianno]

"this is the stage in his career where he went backwards as a musician "

That´s right! He should have stayed with YES and played progressive, difficult songs like Owner of a Lonely Heart, Leave It, Rhythm of Love, Love Will Find a Way or Almost Like Love.

"ASIA!!! why Steve why???"

I agree. Those songs I mentioned above are soooooo much better than Sole Survivor, Wildest Dreams, Time Again, Open Your Eyes, Midnight Sun, etc.

[Firebird7478]

Yes it not Yes without Steve Howe. Those songs you mention are Trevor Rabin, Top 40 types tunes. IMO, Rabin can't hold a candle to Steve Howe.

[pdianno]

"Yes it not Yes without Steve Howe. " But even with Steve Howe Yes is not Yes anymore. UNION is terrible. KEYS TO ASCENCION has only one or 2 good songs. OPEN YOUR EYES is by far the worst Yes album ever. MAGNIFICATION... nevermind. The new ASIA album, PHOENIX, is as good as the old ones (ASIA, APLHA, ASTRA).

[Firebird7478]

The worst Yes album ever is Big Generator. How can you lay everything at the feet of Steve Howe when you know Jon Anderson is at the controls? There's a reason they call him Napoleon.

These guys are in their 60s. What are you expecting from them? I can make the same statement about Paul McCartney, who I am a huge fan of, but even I know he hasn't churned out anything decent since 1991.

I still stand by my statement, Steve Howe blows away Trevor Rabin.

[pdianno]

It´s not Howe´s fault that YES isn´t a good band anymore. It´s everyone´s fault. They are not a criative band anymore and Steve knows that. On the other hand, ASIA is as good as they were when they began.

I don´t see any future for Howe in Yes. I think Steve should stay with ASIA, couse at least they´re making beautiful music.

BIG GENERATOR isn´t a great record, but OPEN YOYR EYES is far far worse. I still can´t believe that Howe agreed to play on it.

[Firebird7478]

How do you know Steve knows that? Has he said it? Personally, I think Jon Anderson has done all he can with his writing. As for Asia's new album, I'm not entirely sold on it.

Best Yes album, IMO? The Ladder!

[pdianno]

I know that Steve has lost his faith in Yes becouse he is not a fool. He can see that they can´t write good stuff anymore, but he stays in the band because they´re friends, they have a history together, etc.

Best Yes album, IMO? 70s - Tales. 80s - Drama. 90s - Talk. I didn´t bother to hear LADDER, but I´ll give it a chance.

[Firebird7478]

I love "Tales" though I think "Revealing Science of God" is better live on "Keys". Not much of a fan of Drama, though "Tempus Fugit" is awesome. Though I am not a Rabin fan, I am a huge fan of Talk. I get chills whenever I listen to "Endless Dream".

[FloydManFloyd]

have none of you heard close to the edge or relayer or fragile or the yes album all better albums then the ones above!!!!!

[Firebird7478]

Yes, yes I HAVE heard of those albums, and they're in my collection, thank you for asking. I think "The Ladder" is a great album. That's my opinion and I am sticking to it. Just as I think one of the best "Yes" albums isn't a Yes album at all...and that's Anderso, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe.

[FloydManFloyd]

fair doo just checking lol

[Firebird7478]

No problem...great albums, one and all.

[Rachidth]

just give them some weed and they´ll be back in the game!!!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha

[dillwankster]

Steve is a pioneer and a genius. Any other Yes guitarist hasn't even come close. Regarding their age, Steve has a deeper passion and ability now, as a fine classical musician of his age would. Compare the Amsterdam DVD (or Magnification) to anything in the past 25 years - I think it surpasses anything done since GFTO!

And Wakeman, IMO, is not missed. His wall of sound and lack of soul has annoyed me for years, and the substitution by live orchestras and Mr. Brislin is a wecome change.

[Firebird7478]

So you would take Tony Kaye over Rick Wakeman?

[mlmr11]

Sole Survivor is a fantastic song.

As overplayed as it is , "Only time will tell" is a fantastic number.

The first Asia album , to me , is better than the Yes West albums.

Of course there is , or never will be again, no other Close to the Edge.

[marifebruari]

agreed

[Biguns]

ASIA!!! why Steve why???

well at least you got to do "Mood"

[seanseventy]

this is the stage in his career where he went backwards as a musician

[Phtysio]

Exactly!!! Everyone loves money:(

[theclash06013]

first, I LOVE Yes, i belive that Steve Howe is one of the best guitarists EVER. second I LOVE mood for a day. finally, Asia sucks, based on the people in the band (forget supergroup, they were a 'megagroup').

[luckyal888]

If you say Asia sucks, then you say Steve sucks. I've seen the Boys (Yes/Asia/solos) over 40 times. They are all great musicians

[polytwobeers]

How did you get this video did you bring in a big video camera?

Great video I love Steve

Thanks

[JavateamAndre]

Pure magic!

[maxigabrielg]

best!!!

[empistocles]

who knows the name of the first song?

[torontomarkyes]

"Mood for a Day"

[tacochild1]

Mood for a day

[Cocoburner]

I was at this concert. They did an autograph session at Sam the Record Man, or A&A (can't remember which) earlier in the day and I had Steve sign my copy of "The Steve Howe Album" which he plays a bit of on this video. Thanks for posting this. I thought Asia was a very ordinary band made up of extraordinary musicians. The only good parts of their show, I thought, were their solos.

[torontomarkyes]

Hi, you are right... I thought it was Sam's store - you may or not know this.. just closed a month ago.. for good. A real loss and an indication of where music is in the world of download and online shopping.

I too was at the record signing - Steve signed my Tales Tour Programme. I remember Steve was dressed in brown cord pants and looking pretty "regular". The guy who was from the record company had "silvered" pants on... it was very, very odd.

Anyhow, thanks for your post :)

Mark

[TonyNewman]

Well isn't that sort of a metaphor in general - the artists are the regular guys and those who market the artists are unnecessarily showy and fake

[GBJPhotoWorks]

I saw 1st show of this tour, Painters Mill in Balt., MD. U wish u did too. Steve's wife gave birth to a son while they were on the airplane over, and a celebratory Howe soloed for the better part of 45 minutes. It was awesome! Wetton sat on the steps of the in-the-round theater right next to my end of row seat.

[Tommygun1028]

Many regard Live at Queens Park Rangers Stadium as even better than Yessongs. Unbelievably it's one of the hardest videos to get. Not anymore, now the MASSES of Yes fans can have easy access to this concert by checking out our new 2DVD set - Yes A Celebration, 1969-1979. It features many Yes videos from the 70s as well as Live at QPR 1975 with improved audio. Click on my profile for clips

[NickCobra]

There is only 1 Asia! The Original 4! Period. This to me is the best band ever. They invented a new class of music back in 1982....Progressive Pop. I have had the pleasure of seeing them 9 times over the last 10 months. They are better now than they have ever been. Let all the naysayers talk all the shit they want. This band is Timeless, and they put on the greatest musical display of talent that I have ever seen.

[OctoberX]

i love your anus

[iggyfritz]

I just saw the original Asia in Detroit, it was they're last show. Carl Palmer 64yrs old is still one of the worlds best and could destroy most drummers half his age, Steve Howe-enough said, John Wetton; flawless and still sings like he did 25yrs ago. They were and still are amazing!! Anyone who has negitive comments are talking to they're ass. And todays Music is cursed with ignorant no talent foul mouthed circus freaks who are worthless genitic experiments gone wrong (WORD)

[asshairman09]

too bad govan doesnt play for this band anymore

[torontomarkyes]

Not exactly the comment I would expect to be posted on a video of STEVE HOWE playing non ASIA music.....

[Deviceroy]

you say that asia sucked, wth is wrong with you, these guys are ten trillion fold better than most of the two not morons that play today and you can take that to the bank, i mean these guys are in thier late fiftes now, Geoff was 40 years old in this video for christs sake and he is still kicking hard

[bonrocker]

Are you drunk?

[A440Hzzz]

Asia "all synth"? no guitar? no complex music? Which Asia are you listening to? What did Steve Howe play in Asia, a kazoo?

[Andy8519]

Exactly.

[winterafternoon]

I personally think both Yes and Asia are fantastic. I prefer Yes, and true Steve's guitarwork is perhaps a little under-used in Asia. But they are both great bands. And Steve is simply AMAZING!

[Andy8519]

Well said. I agree.

[TrueBeginner]

Whoa! "Arada" snuck into the middle of Clap!

[rman91]

fuck asia... but steve howe is a godlike figure

[bonrocker]

Yea. i cant believe steve joined asia. its all electric synthesizer and no guitar. asia also dosnt have the complex music that yes has.

[rman91]

it doesnt have anything, except insane musicians who choose not to use their talent?

[atomsmasher23]

you suck.

[bonrocker]

nice comeback. (sarcasm)

[atomsmasher23]

Agreed, weak comeback, but it's lame to carve on a band like Asia, the first record is a great record, just more commercial - as for guitar synths - a Roland GR 300 was used on only one track - Here Comes The Feeling, the rest features tons of different acoustic and electric guitar sounds - even a Japanese Koto is used in the instrumental section of Heat Of The Moment - maybe give it a second listen after all this time...

[Deviceroy]

when i wrote the comment i was pulling a third day no sleep, Sure Asia like you said did some commericial work but come on its made up of some of the best musicians of the last 40 years, And Personally some music anymore can be done on a computer not by guitar or bass. So it just goes to Show synth was a blessing and a Curse

[bonrocker]

do you read your comments before you read them. "Sure asia like you said did some commericial work but come on its made up of some of the best musicians of the last 40 years, And Personally some music anymore can be done on a computer not by guitar or bass." that doesnt make any sense.

[rman91]

"do you read your comments before you read them."

[bonrocker]

yup

[sweetjaneb]

LMFAO!!!

[pdianno]

"asia also dosnt have the complex music that yes has."

So what? Complex music means good music? Didn´t know that beautiful melodies were irrelevant.

[Ken5244]

Quote: " 'asia also dosnt have the complex music that yes has.'

So what? Complex music means good music? Didn´t know that beautiful melodies were irrelevant."

Well said. Unfortunately, there's a segment of musical pseudo-intellectuals who measure musical value by complexity alone.  Most top notch musicians come to realize it's harder to come up with a great melody than compose something complex. I'd rather listen to a great melody in 4/4 and the key of C than an inferior complex one.

[astacus]

worth watching, but playing is awesome, like steve allways does :-)