RIP John Wetton

Rock music legend John Wetton has sadly passed away following a long battle with colon cancer.

A statement on his website said he died in the early hours of Tuesday, 31 January.

Wetton rose to fame with prog aces King Crimson in the early seventies, joining their ranks during the Red album era.

He then went on to found prog supergroup ASIA in the early eighties with guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Geoff Downes of Yes and drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

The band’s 1982 self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album across the world that year and spawned the mega-hit Heat of the Moment.

Wetton also enjoyed a successful solo career, releasing the lauded 1994 album Battle Lines, and forming iCon with ASIA bandmate Downes.

ASIA then reformed in 2006 for a string of world tours and four new studio albums.

The band’s new live album, Symphonia — Live in Bulgaria 2013, is slated for release on the 24 February.

He is survived by his wife Lisa and 18-year-old son Dylan.