Miscellaneous | Geoff Downes

ACTION MOVES PEOPLE UNITED with UNESCO USA

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:23:10 +0000

WORLD PEACE – SPOKEN WORD ALBUM ACTION MOVES PEOPLE UNITED with UNESCO USA

OVER 300 INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS CONTRIBUTE from over 30 countries featuring Dan Aykroyd, Julian Lennon, Kathy Sledge, Alan White, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Patrick Moraz, Annie Haslam, Janis Ian, Martin Barre, Colin Andrews, Lillias White, and many other artists!

ACTION MOVES PEOPLE UNITED, a World Peace Project with UNESCO – USFUCA, is produced by Grammy® Winner Kevin Mackie, award winning producer Krista Wallhagen, and Guinness World Record® holder musician and award winning filmmaker Rupam Sarmah. Through media initiatives, in collaboration with artists, authors, and organizations from all around the world, AMPU’s mission of establishing a peaceful planet and a healthy biosphere will be an ongoing commitment. One of the goals for the project is to pair up artists who live in opposing countries for collaborations that go beyond politics, religion and borders.

The team has produced a musical spoken word album that will exchange ideas, stories, and information focused on bringing about World Peace through individual responsibility, Education, and helping each other. The goal of the project is to raise awareness of environmental and humanitarian crisis and find actionable solutions.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) strives to promote peace and security among nations through education, science, and culture.

“I pray for the moment of mass consciousness when we all wake up and bring peace into our own hearts and souls. It’s a challenge and it’s going to take every one of us to make it happen,” says Dan Aykroyd.

The double CD album with 45 tracks of Musical Spoken Word and Songs will be officially released on Sept 21, 2016. The album is available for digital download on iTunes, Amazon, and other stores worldwide. Please visit the site for details: www.ActionMovesPeopleUnited.org

AMPU Press Release

“Ride The Tiger” To Be Released November 27th

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 12:57:45 +0000

Unreleased Greg Lake & Geoff Downes Album “Ride The Tiger” To Be Released November 27th

London, UK- Much to the excitement of music aficionados worldwide, an unreleased album by legendary GREG LAKE & GEOFF DOWNES titled “RIDE THE TIGER” will finally see the light of day on November 27, 2015! Greg Lake is the co-founder of KING CRIMSON and EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER (ELP), and wrote the hit “LUCKY MAN” and co-wrote “I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS”. Geoff Downes is the keyboardist in THE BUGGLES, ASIA and YES, and co-wrote the hits “VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR” and “HEAT OF THE MOMENT”.

“Ride the Tiger” contains six songs which the duo wrote together – one went on to became an ASIA song and two became ELP songs. Four of these tracks had been released on compilations before, but this is the FIRST TIME they have been collected together with TWO PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED tracks PLUS one alternate mix.

“To be honest I thought that these recordings had simply disappeared off the radar until one of my management team Daniel Earnshaw reminded me of their existence. My initial reaction was not entirely positive as I generally view many of these re-releases to be a bit tiresome, however, upon hearing these recordings again I immediately identified their value, both in terms of song writing and of musicianship and production. Geoff, of course, is a masterful musician with an instinctive ability to maximise the potential of any song both as a player and as an arranger. His contribution to these recordings is clear for all to see and for me it was a real pleasure to reflect upon our friendship together both personally and as musicians.” – Greg Lake

“One of the privileges of my career has been the opportunity to embrace a number of bespoke projects with some of the world’s greatest musicians. Greg Lake, of course was at the forefront of the progressive revolution, lead vocalist and bassist with both King Crimson and ELP, bands which literally changed the world, pushing boundaries of excellence and creativity, creating a brand new musical genre from London which would soon captivate the planet. This collection of songs represents a particularly creative period in my life. I’m delighted that Greg and I have rekindled our friendship, and worked together again in order to share this collection with you.” – Geoff Downes

Track Listing:

MONEY TALKS
LOVE UNDER FIRE
AFFAIRS OF THE HEART
STREET WARS
CHECK IT OUT
BLUE LIGHT
LOVE UNDER FIRE (ALTERNATE MIX)

Amazon CD: http://geni.us/1UEo
Amazon Digital: http://geni.us/34nB
Cherry Red: http://shop.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=5241

Geoff Downes is Pleased To Announce Two Releases For Christmas 2015!

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 03:19:11 +0000

Geoff Downes is pleased to announce that his ongoing creative relationship with Chris Braide (writer and producer for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Sia, David Guetta and Marc Almond and many others) has led to another studio album, Suburban Ghosts.

This follows on from the successful and critically acclaimed debut album, Pictures of You, which surprised reviewers and fans alike.

Suburban Ghosts can be pre-ordered on CD via Amazon, ahead of its 6th November 2015 release date, using this link http://geni.us/19bE and Pictures of You continues to be available via this link http://geni.us/3BUE.

Also due for release will be Greg Lake and Geoff Downes’ Ride the Tiger project, which is a collection of six songs (plus one alternate version), recorded in late 1989 – early 1990, which have never been released together before. Four of the songs appeared on Greg Lake’s From the Underground and From the Beginning: The Greg Lake Anthology compilations, but this set also includes the previously unreleased “Street War” and “Affairs of the Heart.”

This release includes all new artwork and has the full approval of both Greg Lake and Geoff Downes.

This title will be released on 27th November 2015 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon here: http://geni.us/1UEo.

Happy Holidays

admin — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 14:19:10 +0000

2014 has been a busy year for Geoff, and while he takes time to enjoy the holidays he sends along well wishes for you and your families.

Happy Birthday!

admin — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:25:13 +0000

Best wishes to the maestro today on his birthday!

Happy Birthday

admin — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 22:12:03 +0000

Best birthday wishes to Geoff today! With Asia, Yes, and various side projects ongoing it doesn’t look like he’ll be slowing down any time soon!

Legendary keyboard player to perform at the Sydney Opera House

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:03:36 +0000

Sydney Australia, April 13, 2012:

The Sydney Opera House is globally recognised for its unique design. It’s less well known that it houses the world’s biggest mechanical-action organ. That Grand Organ will be put to the test today by Geoff Downes, the legendary keyboard player for Yes, Asia and the Buggles. The virtuoso is in Sydney to play keyboards for the sold out show by Yes.

The Sydney Opera House are allowing the keyboard maestro to undertake a private performance on the 10,244 pipe organ.

Downes came to world fame as one half of The Buggles when he co-wrote the pop classic ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ – a number one hit in 16 countries. He was once entered for the Guinness Book of Records for performing with the most keyboards on stage in one performance (28 keyboards in total). He was also in the first ever video to air on MTV back in 1981.

Wherever he tours with Yes and Asia, Geoff Downes gets to play on the some of the world’s best organs. But now in Sydney, he will get to play on the biggest organ of its kind in the world.

The Grand Organ dominates the end of the main concert hall in the Sydney Opera House. It was designed and built during the period 1969 to 1979. It is 16 metres high, 13 metres wide and a total of 8 metres deep and weighs 37.5 tonnes. With 10,244 pipes, the organ is unique. The performance by Downes at the Sydney Opera House will be filmed and placed on YouTube.