GPS (band)
Encyclopedia
GPS is a progressive rock
group formed in 2006 by John Payne
(vocals, bass, guitar), Guthrie Govan
(guitars) and Jay Schellen
(drums, percussion). These three had been working together in Asia
, specifically on an album to have been called Architect of Time, when the fourth member of Asia, Geoff Downes
, joined a reunion of the band's earlier line-up, dissolving the then current line-up. Payne, Govan and Schellen announced the formation of a new band in February 2006 to be called One. However, after discovering another rock act with the same name
, the band changed its name to GPS, from the initials of the three founders.
The band released a 10-track album called Window to the Soul on InsideOut
in August 2006 in Europe; the release in North America came the following September. The album had originally been announced as One with a May release date. All the tracks are credited to Payne/Schellen/Govan, and keyboards on the album and subsequent tour were played by Ryo Okumoto
of Spock's Beard
. The band performed live in September/October 2006 and on two Japanese dates in late 2007. It has since been announced that they have signed a three album deal with InsideOut Music, and are working on their next album Dreamscape expected to be released in 2011.
All songs by Govan, Payne, and Schellen unless indicated.
+ On Japanese and South Korean release only
A November 2005 press release from Asia had mentioned "Written on the Wind", "I Believe in Yesterday" and "Since You've Been Gone" as song titles for the Asia album (to have been called Architect of Time) Payne, Govan and Schellen were recording with Downes before the split. About half of the material on Window to the Soul was originally written for Architect of Time.
In parallel with GPS, Payne, Govan and Schellen have been joined by Erik Norlander
on keys in Asia Featuring John Payne. Norlander also filled in for Okumoto for one GPS date in the US.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
group formed in 2006 by John Payne
John Payne (singer)
John Payne is a British musician, best known as the lead singer and bassist of Asia from 1992 to 2006 and from June 2007 with ASIA Featuring John Payne....
(vocals, bass, guitar), Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia , GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes...
(guitars) and Jay Schellen
Jay Schellen
Jay Schellen is a U.S. drummer who is best known as a member of the hard-rock band Hurricane. Schellen has also worked and currently working with a number of other heavy rock and progressive rock bands, including with Asia World Trade, CIRCA:, Unruly Child and several members of Yes.-Career:in...
(drums, percussion). These three had been working together in Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
, specifically on an album to have been called Architect of Time, when the fourth member of Asia, Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
, joined a reunion of the band's earlier line-up, dissolving the then current line-up. Payne, Govan and Schellen announced the formation of a new band in February 2006 to be called One. However, after discovering another rock act with the same name
One (band)
ONE was a boy band that first appeared in 1999, recognized as both Greece and Cyprus's very first boy band. The band was formed by leading Cypriot-Greek composer Giorgos Theofanous who got them signed with Minos EMI and wrote all their music and lyrics, and consisted of Constantinos Christoforou,...
, the band changed its name to GPS, from the initials of the three founders.
The band released a 10-track album called Window to the Soul on InsideOut
InsideOut Music
Inside Out Music is a German independent record label based in Kleve, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles music albums.-History:...
in August 2006 in Europe; the release in North America came the following September. The album had originally been announced as One with a May release date. All the tracks are credited to Payne/Schellen/Govan, and keyboards on the album and subsequent tour were played by Ryo Okumoto
Ryo Okumoto
Ryo Okumoto is a rock keyboardist, best known for his work with progressive rock group Spock's Beard. He joined the band in 1996 and has been a member ever since. When singer and keyboardist Neal Morse was in the band, Ryo played Hammond Organ and Mellotron on the albums...
of Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard is a progressive rock band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by brothers Neal and Alan Morse. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar...
. The band performed live in September/October 2006 and on two Japanese dates in late 2007. It has since been announced that they have signed a three album deal with InsideOut Music, and are working on their next album Dreamscape expected to be released in 2011.
Window to the Soul
- "Window to the Soul"
- "New Jerusalem"
- "Heaven Can Wait
- "Written on the Wind"
- "I Believe in Yesterday"
- "The Objector"
- "All My Life"
- "Gold"
- "Since You've Been Gone"
- "Taken Dreams"
- "In His Eyes" (Govan) +
- "The Haunting" (Payne) +
All songs by Govan, Payne, and Schellen unless indicated.
+ On Japanese and South Korean release only
A November 2005 press release from Asia had mentioned "Written on the Wind", "I Believe in Yesterday" and "Since You've Been Gone" as song titles for the Asia album (to have been called Architect of Time) Payne, Govan and Schellen were recording with Downes before the split. About half of the material on Window to the Soul was originally written for Architect of Time.
In parallel with GPS, Payne, Govan and Schellen have been joined by Erik Norlander
Erik Norlander
Erik Norlander is an American musician who describes himself as a 'keyboardist, composer, producer and engineer'. Norlander has produced albums for Rocket Scientists and his wife, Lana Lane. He also has a progressive rock solo project titled simply Erik Norlander...
on keys in Asia Featuring John Payne. Norlander also filled in for Okumoto for one GPS date in the US.