John Payne announced a revised lineup for his Asia Featuring John Payne band in late July, including guitarist Francis Dunnery, with a tour set to begin Saturday, Aug. 2, in New Paltz, New York. Dunnery, known for his work with It Bites and the Syn, participated in only one performance.
“It is impossible for me to adapt to that role,” Dunnery wrote in a social media post on Monday. “I don’t have the personality or the playing style to fulfill what he needs. And I understand fully because it’s what I ask my band to do with It Bites.”
It Bites offered a similar prog-pop style, while the Syn once featured Asia co-founder Steve Howe’s Yes bandmate Chris Squire. Payne was with Asia for 14 years, during which he recorded eight albums as bassist and frontman. He began leading his own version of the group in 2007 after Geoff Downes reunited with the original Asia lineup, which included John Wetton and Carl Palmer. Wetton passed away in 2017, and Howe has since rejoined Yes.
The new group is contractually named Asia Featuring John Payne. Current Yes drummer Jay Schellen, who played with Asia before the reunion, is part of the lineup, which has undergone several changes. They perform songs from the entire Asia catalog, starting with their four-times platinum, self-titled debut album from 1982.
“John needs a guitar player who can come in and play all the styles and all the sounds that are on the records, and unfortunately, that’s not what I do,” Dunnery said. “There are much better people at doing that than me.”
Plans for a New Album From Asia Featuring John Payne
Before the tour, Payne announced that Dunnery’s involvement had sparked sessions for a new album titled “Aviana.” “Working with such a great songwriter and guitarist is so exciting,” Payne stated. “Our vocal harmonies both in the studio and live feel like we’ve been working together for years. It feels like our paths had to get here.”
The current lineup of Asia Featuring John Payne also includes keyboardist Ryo Okumoto from Spock’s Beard and drummers Thomas Lang and Aaron Olsen. Their U.S. tour is set to continue with performances in Texas later this month. Shows in Japan and the U.K. are also planned. A full list of dates and venues is provided below.
Dunnery emphasized his continued friendship with Payne. “I love old John. He’s a good lad,” he said. “There are absolutely no weird or hard feelings, and I wish him and the band all the success in the world. But now I have to close this brief chapter and go back to my crazy life. … I should stick to that and do myself and everyone else a favor.”
Meanwhile, Downes has continued with Asia, forming a new lineup last year with guitarist John Mitchell, who was part of the John Wetton Band and collaborated with Wetton and Downes in Icon.
Asia Featuring John Payne 2025 Tour Dates
– Aug. 12 – Tomball, Texas @ Main Street Crossing
– Aug. 13 – Arlington, Texas @ Arlington Music Hall
– Aug. 15 – Plymouth, Calif. @ Helwig Winery
– Aug. 17 – Saskatoon, Canada @ Rock the River Festival
– Aug. 30 – MacArthur, Calif. @ Inter-Mountain Fair (with Lou Gramm)
– Sept. 27 – Ashland, Ky. @ Page Landing Days
– Oct. 2-6 – Japan, Dates and Locations TBD
– Oct. 25 – Sellersville, Pa. @ Sellersville Theater
– Nov. 15 – Great Yarmouth, UK @ HRH Prog Festival
– Nov. 16 – London @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire