Sam Coulson, Steve Howe: Asia pick rising star to replace Steve Howe

Asia have revealed Sam Coulson as replacement for Steve Howe, who this morning announced he’d left the band.

John Wetton, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer will play their first show with their new guitarist at Sweden Rock on the weekend on June 5-8 this year. He’ll appear with the band on upcoming album Valkyrie, which is to be recorded in the coming months.

Steve Howe revealed this morning that he’d decided to bow out of the band in order to concentrate on other projects including Yes.