John Young is a well traveled British keyboard player. Having played with John Wetton [and w/ Asia], and numerous other acts, as well as being part of the new band QANGO which also features John Wetton, Carl Palmer, and [guitarist] David Kilminster. John is always on-line and very accessible to his fans. I recently swapped questions and answers with him for this interview - which I hope will provide you with a bit of an eye opener of who John Young is and what he's up to.

There's plenty of web sites on the guy and according to John :
"I'm quite happy for people to E-mail me either about buying CD's or just for a chat ...where possible. I have (as you know) a bi-monthly mail-shot and anyone who'd like to be on the mailing list is welcome to E-mail me." Check out his main site http://members.aol.com/Soblivious/oblivious.htm
Enjoy...........

Photos courtesy of :
Doug Anderson
Visit his site http://www.crosswinds.net/~gigreview/index.htm !
"I've included 2 pics of John, one from Whitchurch last year (John's fave), and one from the Qango shows, as well as one of Qango (both taken at their debut performance in The Dome, whitley Bay, near Newcastle on 2 Feb 2000."

Q) born where & when?
JY: I was born in Romford Essex in 1956 and grew up in Liverpool

Q) intro to music and keyboards?
JY: I started learning the piano at the age of 5 and entered the Cathedral Choir School in Liverpool at the age of seven. I stayed in the choir until I was 18 and achieved Grade VIII piano and A'level music. I missed out on prog as a performer ..by the time I was ready punk arrived.

Q) First recordings?
JY: First recordings were with a plethora of unknown Liverpool bands I worked with a great jazz rock outfit called England's National Sport, also a band called Empire and then a band called England!....I'm not that patriotic honest. I formed a band called Cathedral with Jon Camp of Renaissance ..we signed to Warners for lots of dosh and the management spent all the money! Shame cos it was a great band.

Q) first big break?
JY: My first 'proper gig was in Uli Jon Roth's Electric Sun in 1985 we toured Europe and the UK (Robin George supported ..that's how i know Rob) I played in the MTV band in 1988 and JW was a guest six months later

Q) First association with Asia / Wetton? Any details?
JY: I was asked (out of the blue) to join Asia and I stayed for two European tours. My two Asia tours were in 89/90 (after Robin George).

Q) What can you tell me about your associations [recordings] with Paul Rodgers, Uli Roth, Steeleye Span, Max Bacon, and Steve Hackett?
JY: I joined JW's band for a while but we drifted into our own things the last few years. I spent a little time with Cathedral (my own band ..not the one that's around now but one I formed with Jon Camp ex Renaissance).I also worked with Roy Wood for a while and then spent a many happy years working for Bonnie Tyler (a great lady with a fabulous voice).I also worked in The Law with Paul Rodgers and Kenney Jones. I did an album with Steeleye Span but they canned most of my parts because the whole thing was getting too much like Peter Gabriel.. i still have a copy of the original..it was fab! As far as writing and recording Max Bacon pinched six of my tracks for his 'Higher you Climb' CD ..I found out through the net six months later.

Q) When did you tour with Asia? Can you tell me the circumstances and line-up that you were involved in?
JY: My first association with JW was in the MTV band in 88 or 89 when he guested with Phil Manzanera.

Q) what can you tell me about the track "Crime Of Passion" [one of my faves on that album!] ?
JY: I had already written the verse and mid 8 for COP and approached JW with the song ..he loved it and wrote a great chorus. Meanwhile Geoff was back in Asia and my involvement apart from COP ceased.

Q) How did the co-writing between yourself and John W. work on the Arkangel project? Any favorites?
JY: came to me when Arkangel was underway and we worked together on 6 tracks I think we make a good team these days.

My solo CD's so far are:

• Life Underground released last year (a bit like JW's Arkangel) ..me singing!
• Scientific Breakthrough ...instrumental tunes a bit jarre meets Vangelis released also in 99.
• Political Agenda quite classical and orchestral ...released March 2000
• N.C.V. (No Commercial Value) ... subtitled ...thoughts for a progressive mind...a bit ambient, slightly proggy influences Sakamoto, Moraz, Vangelis etc....released Mar 2000.

Q) What sort of plans are already in the works for this group? Any record deals, recordings / tours lined up?
JY: Qango.. well full steam ahead ..we're just mixing the live CD from the recent shows. We have U.S.,U.K.,and European dates in the pipeline.... plus we will be recording a new studio CD ... we are as yet unsigned!

Q) Do you [or anyone else in it] see the obvious Asia links that may lead to some 'competition' for the old Asia fans? I guess you figure there'll at least be big comparisons drawn!?
[Aside from Geoff Downes - this is really the reformed Asia line-up proposed last year, correct!?] JY: Qango is most enjoyable ..the shows were great and all pretty much sold out. I hope we move forwards from here .. i don't think we'll lose any sleep over Geoff's band or vice versa.

Q) What can you say about John Wetton as a musician?
JY: John Wetton for me is a consummate musician I remember when I joined Asia we were sound-checking at some big-ish gig and JW was playing the bass pedals the bass guitar and holding a conversation with one of the road crew.. i had that 'we are not worthy feeling'!!! When I come up with writing ideas JW always has an answer if I'm stumped he is one of the finest creative musicians I've ever met (and I've met a few!) ..and it is a great pleasure to be one of his cohorts! Most recent live recordings were with JW in Tokyo in 97 and the as yet unreleased Qango live in 2000.

Q) What else are you involved with at this time?
JY: As well as Qango I'm busy with my solo ventures (gigs, CD's and writing music for TV and Film) plus I'm also in Greenslade and we are going into the studio at the beginning of March to finish the new CD .. I play second keys and sing lead vox!

Q) Can you give me your favorite keyboard players [3 or 4], favorite songwriters, singer.....?
JY: My favorite keys players are Patrick Moraz (first by far) and then Keith Emerson, Eddie Jobson, Dave Stewart, Rick van der Linden, Ryuchi Sakamoto , John Beck and Vangelis. Bands > Yes, Early Genesis, Led Zep (in my formative years),King Crimson, Focus, UK, Bruford, Weather Report, Breckers, Airto Moreira, Kings X (fabulous!), Zappa, Weapon of Choice and many more....

Q) Favorite LPs growing up?
JY: Zep 4, Queen 2, Lamb lies down (all time fave), Refugee, Trace, Caravan 'Girls who Grow plump', Peter Gabriel, UK (all 3 releases!), Bruford, Brand X 'Morrocan Roll', Weather Report 'Heavy Weather', Stanley Clarke 'Schooldays', Brecker Brothers 'Heavy Metal Be-Bop', Big Lad in the Windmill... It Bites. These days anything from Kings X to Sarah MacLachlan.

Q) Familiar with Uriah Heep? Any favorite keyboard players there, songs, or albums? :-))
JY: I saw Uriah Heap back in the 70's with David very enjoyable; and in the early 80's I ran a club in Liverpool and we booked David and Ken's solo outfits. We rehearsed with Cathedral around the corner from Heep in a studio called E-Zee Hire (I seem to remember some of the lads dropping by to tell us how much they liked our little beat combo..shame it never lived). I enjoyed the gig I saw in Liverpool at the Empire in the seventies. I was going to see 3 bands a week at that stage and I was already turning into a jazz rocker so I guess rock and prog at that time were not my main priorities.

Q) Thoughts on the current state of the music scene over there?
JY: As for the music scene in the UK these days it is fashion lead and has little to do with music .. I think it should be renamed..we should have pop and music so people can differentiate. A lot of my friends work for the top pop acts and they are just trapped in the money making spiral that looks after the 12-14 age group. Tom Lang the drummer I worked with in John Wetton's band plays with B'witched, 911,Geri Halliwell and Billie... he also plays Mr Zappa's Black Page like a demon...what a waste!

Interview written and copyright by Kevin J. Julie, February 2000.