Greg Lake Interview Asia at the Budokan 1983

Interview with Greg Lake prior to Asia's concert at the Budokan in Japan 1983 from MTV broadcast

[@wearealloneexceptforthatgu7848]

Greg was a perfectionist, and cared completely about giving the audience the best possible performance to thank them for their goodness of buying a ticket and going to the trouble to come to the show. Greg was sincere that performers owed everything to their fans and supporters. Greg and Carl Palmer were generous and friendly to my brother, our friend Frank and me, when ELP arrived at the venue the first morning of two nights' shows my brother was treating me to - only my second and third rock concerts our parents had allowed me to attend. Meeting ELP was terrifying for me, because they were my musical idols; and when Greg invited us to stay for ELP's sound check, it was an exciting privilege. It was amazing to witness the energy and perfectionism Keith, Carl, and Greg put into rehearsing to make sure they put on the best possible performance. It doesn't surprise me that Greg would have a teleprompter handy to consult for Asia's songs, as he'd had to learn every word and note of their music in only a few weeks' time. In fact, at first Greg had declined his friend Carl Palmer's request to fill in, due to Greg's concern about learning the songs in the short preparation time - but Geffen Records then had offered Greg so much money to perform the few pre-booked shows (including the live MTV broadcast from the Budokan to the U.S.- the first in history) that Greg just couldn't say no. (First Greg talked to his friend John Wetton, who had left Asia suddenly and not harmoniously, and John encouraged Greg to do the shows.) Greg's baritone voice was deeper than John's, and some notes were adapted to accommodate their different ranges. As usual, Greg's concern was to perform his best show possible.

[@jwckauman]

A true gentleman of rock.

[@mikedrummer00]

Real MASTER, one of the greatest rock singers ever and perfect bass player. RIP Maestro

[@jazzenthusiast4353]

the ever greatest rock singer, bass player, acoustic and electric guitar player, and composer of some of the greatest ballads ever ...

[@cygnusrider]

Greg did an awesome job covering for John Wetton!!!

[@notgivinup]

He sure did, WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rebeccahernandez3460]

I thought Greg Lake did a phenomenal job considering he had such a short time to learn all the music and lyrics and all. He must have worked night and day to learn it all. He was such a wonderful singer, guitarist, bassist and producer. You are so missed by all your fans Greg. Now you, Keith, Cozy, Chris, John, and Gary are all up playing in that big concert in the sky along with all the musicians who went before and after you!!! What a concert that will be to see someday when I come there. Enjoy another day in paradise.

[@gwensciora8516]

I miss you Greg. John Wetton.. Keith Emerson...

[@frodegroven]

Me too.

[@ThomasKDye]

This is pretty funny… "What'll be going through your mind?" "A flat, C sharp, that'll be going through my mind… " and then he rubs his eyes as if to say "David Geffen isn't paying me enough for this… why did I answer Carl's phone call…" Still, yes, he did a great job.

[@mrJimCharles]

I read an interview with him in which he said he was offered such a large sum to do this that he couldn't possibly refuse

[@alexanderbleeser9784]

Best vocalist of all time

[@747jpdrummer]

Greg, the best balladeer of all time, is such professional. Friend, Carl Palmer asked him to fill the big shoe of John Wetton. Greg smoked it!! RIP Mr. Lake...mad love!

[@Meanandgogetter]

I don't understand why some critics made so harsh coments about Lake replacing Wetton. It was like having Yes and ELP in one band, you cannot ask for more

[@bretdouglas9407]

Greg is so cool

[@joselares9031]

Impresionante.tremendamente trascendente lo que hace GREG LAKE...YEAH...😎😎😎

[@TheGyroBarqusShow]

Wetton and lake both great both was king crimson members, Great British boys.

[@Wizardofgosz]

I remember watching this very clearly.

[@Meanandgogetter]

C'mon Greg is a master, but at the same time a ver y humble though talented musician

[@joemachunda]

I love this man

[@jdmresearch]

Both Lake and Wetton were more blond after they joined Asia than when they were in King Crimson....

[@haljalykakik2384]

Yeah, working for Bobby Fripp will age you prematurely by at least 10 years, I'd guess.

[@jotapecu]

🤣

[@AlOv__]

😂

[@donaldeife851]

Aw MEMORIES.Miss the 80s

[@Reichsadmiral]

RIP Lake & Wetton of Asia

[@haljalykakik2384]

Rumor has it Greg was still learning the bass parts on the flight to Tokyo, and he sang most of the lyrics off a teleprompter. Plus, the pitch on a lot of the songs was dropped a key or two to accommodate his range. IMO he did alright considering he was singing someone else's material and gad almost no practice time.

[@danielratner6810]

He says in the interview here he had 6 weeks, more than enough time for a pro like Lake.

[@VallinSFAS]

I use Il Dottore Greg Lake's quote a lot--"A-flat, C-sharp"--because that's how artists work.

[@realista8302]

Un genio inolvidable , gracias Greg

[@yamijorge]

Si cantar y tocar el bajo es complicado, hacer todo un repertorio así de una banda que no es tuya en unas pocas semanas es una completa locura. Greg Lake hizo un excelente trabajo en vivo a pesar de las circunstancias.

[@brettthebassist]

He did a great job!

[@proatmope8764]

Nice you’re the only who has this interview

[@kevinlewis1017]

According to Steve Howes new book, He's thinking "Where's my week spa treatment they promised me and my new $10000 bass rig?"

[@kathyratino962]

Steve Howe doesn't have anything good to say about anyone from what I've read in the Amazon page comments.

[@SWog617]

Skeletor should've been more grateful someone was able to step in that quickly. The pitch may have been a bit different than Wetton, but Greg Lake was an incredibly talented guy.

[@srikwari360]

​​@@SWog617 Did you just refer Steve Howe as Skeletor? Lol

[@TheRKae]

According to Lake's book, he (Lake) walked around backstage, and every dressing room he entered a band member was talking to management about getting some other band member fired. He said it was a really unhealthy atmosphere.

[@jonesy2111]

It is amazing that the band/management company would even consider firing the frontman, singer, bassist and songwriter John Wetton. I've never really heard the entire truth of what happened and one reason was Steve Howe and his enormous ego. Asia was a group that was formed by record companies, management and sounded great on paper (more than friendships no doubt) they certainly made some big money had commercial hits but personally I never cared for their music much. And I have a fan of 'prog' from the Larks- Tounges in Aspic days and at 14 ir 15 when I heard that record it completely changed my mind, changed everything in my mind of what music can do and the fact that it's art. I certainly hold both Wetton and Lake in high regard.... two beautiful and fantastic voices that certainly have similarities but I remember seeing this on MTV and it reinforced everything I thought about Asia which wasn't much. It comes off so contrived and shallow much like their muzak (to me) and they certainly were fortunate to have an singer/musician like Greg Lake come in and 'save the day' and play their huge gig. I can't fault these superb musicians for wanting and achieving mass commercial success because bands like Journey who started out more progressive became so big with radio rock.

[@marcelogutierrez1537]

Agree, i had such high expectations after hearing the line up of Asia, this has to be the biggest disappointment after actually listening the album. The only other disappointment that comes close is getting and listening to Load by Metallica

[@TheRKae]

It's actually not the sell-out that it gets portrayed as. John Wetton, having done loads of avant-garde stuff with KC, was asking himself, "Why did I get involved in music in the first place? Oh! That's right: because when I was a kid in a grey English town, I turned on my radio and heard the Beach Boys!" You can hear the Beach Boys in those multi-layered choruses of Asia. Also: when left to his own devices, Wetton did very Asia-like music on his solo albums. "Battle Lines" and "Arkangel" are utterly brilliant albums.

[@leyla.007]

Do you have an interview from 1985 with John Wetton and Mandy Meyer taken by Mark Goodman on MTV??? I need to see it!

[@thunderdeed1]

When Mark Goodman called Greg Lake the newest member of Asia that’s what everyone thought. I guess that this was nothing but a one off show to fill contractible agreements. Greg never intended to join Asia he was just helping his friends out.

[@aliceitty]

There was a contest to attend the concert. Did MTV ever feature the winner?

[@ADAMMAGIC39]

Yes, During the pre-concert show, MTV showed off the winners and their tour around japan.