Martin Darvill, Chairman
ASIA
QEDG represents the original and reunion line-up of Asia featuring Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton.
QEDG also represents the line-ups that saw Sam Coulson replace Steve Howe in 2013, and following the untimely death of John Wetton, featuring guests Billy Sherwood [Yes], who was chosen to replace John Wetton (King Crimson, UK) by Wetton himself prior to his death on 31st January 2017 and Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Guns N Roses, Sons of Apollo).
John Mitchell [guitar], Virgil Donati [drums] and Harry Whitley [bass / vocals] joined Geoff Downes for a US tour in memory of John Wetton, in summer 2024.
Carl Palmer is committed to the Return of Emerson, Lake and Palmer project.
The band’s concerts present a solid set drawing on their debut - 1982’s biggest selling album in the world. One in thirteen households in America owns a copy of Asia’s debut album, Asia. It is one of Geffen Records top 3 sellers off of all time, alongside Guns N Roses, and Whitesnake. Their worldwide hits include; ‘Heat of the Moment’, 'Only Time Will Tell', 'Don't Cry' and the America’s Got Talent theme; ‘An Extraordinary Life’.
CURVED AIR
Curved Air is a unique band, synthesizing an eclectic blend of musical styles into an instantly identifiable sound. Curved Air's hits include "It Happened Today", "Vivaldi", "Marie Antoinette" and "Backstreet Luv". Curved Air founder members Sonja Kristina, and classic era guitarist Kirby Gregory lead a skilled and talented new line-up bringing their unique music to an existing and new fanbase in the 21st Century. We are pleased to work with Darryl Way www.darrylway.com, releasing his new music on our affiliate label Spirit of Unicorn Music.
DAVE KILMINSTER
Guitar Virtuoso Dave Kilminster's radical techniques and mesmerizing sounds captivate fans and fellow musicians alike. Dave was named Guitarist Magazine's 1991 Guitarist of the Year. That recognition propelled him on a super-charged career as a multi-faceted guitarist, vocalist, engineer, producer, writer and instructor. Credited by keyboard legend Keith Emerson for inspiring him to go on the road again, Dave is a familiar figure worldwide to fans of progressive rock. In recent years Dave has been on the road with Roger Waters as lead guitarist and vocalist in the extraordinary global staging of Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Fans know Dave from his work along side rock luminaries John Wetton, Carl Palmer, Steven Wilson, Ken Hensley, and John Young, among others. Dave is currently touring the world with Roger Waters’, on the 'This is not a drill' tour.
DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION
Geoff Downes and Chris Braide have, since 2012, released 6 stunning albums under the name of the DOWNES BRAIDE ASSOCIATION (DBA). For the uninitiated, Downes and Braide’s respective song writing careers have generated multi-millions of album sales and numerous hit singles worldwide over the last 30 years for a variety of artists. Geoff is known for his founder memberships of The Buggles and Asia, and for his long term membership of Yes. Chris has written and produced hits for “A” list artists such as Sia, Britney Spears, Christine Aguilera, David Guetta, Lana del Ray, Marc Almond, James Morrison, Afrojack, S Club 7, Olly Murs, Will Young, Beverley Knight, and more. Chris’ music can be heard in advertising campaigns and Hollywood film scores.
Chris and Geoff have formed a magical and unique partnership.
With the first DBA album, Pictures of You [2012], second album, Suburban Ghosts [2015], and third album Skyscraper Souls, as well as Live in England [2019], Halcyon Hymns was released February 2021. The latest album, Celestial Songs, was released September 2023 and are all available via Amazon and iTunes.
Geoff and Chris work along side Andy Hodge Bass, Ash Soan drums and Dave Bainbridge guitar.
EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER
QEDG was delighted to accept an invitation to co-manage ELP alongside long term manager Stewart Young, until the band's retirement. This included the band's return to London for a 40th anniversary headline slot at the inaugural High Voltage Festival in 2010. Considered by many to be one of rock’s original first super-groups, Emerson Lake & Palmer formed in England in 1970 consisting of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (bass guitar, vocals) and Carl Palmer (drums, percussion). The band created a brand new world of music, combining classical and symphonic rock fused with beautiful vocals. Their penchant for appropriating themes from classical music and the group’s more nuanced, textured approach to symphonic arrangements set ELP apart from their more bombastic guitar-based contemporaries of the time. Along with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, and Rush, Emerson Lake and Palmer ushered in the Prog era and as one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the 1970’s having sold over 40 million albums.
FOCUS
With their unique brand of progressive rock, Focus manifested themselves at the start of the '70s as the most successful and appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports. Fronted by founding member Thijs Van Leer, and best known for their hits “Hocus Pocus”, “House of The King” and “Sylvia”, as well as critically acclaimed albums 'Moving Waves', 'Focus 3' and 'Hamburger Concerto', the iconic Dutch music masters are back with their tenth album. After a comeback in the early 2000's, which resulted in the well-received albums 'Focus 8' and 'Focus 9', the band regrouped with a fantastic new line-up. Along with Thijs van Leer on vocals, flute and keyboards, back on the drums is famed Focus drummer Pierre van der Linden, who joined the group on their second album 'Moving Waves' in 1972. Bassist Udo Pannekeet, who comes from a well-acclaimed Dutch musical family and guitarist Menno Gootjes, who participated in Focus at an earlier stage, complete the band's current line-up.
GEOFF DOWNES
Geoff Downes is originally best known as a member of The Buggles, with whom he co-wrote MTV’s 1st ever video and international number one blockbuster hit, Video Killed The Radio Star. As a member of ASIA, the supergroup he went on to form after a stint with prog rockers Yes, he co-wrote many of their hits such as; Heat of the Moment, Only Time Will Tell and Don’t Cry and has been the band’s keyboardist since day one. The band’s debut album was the biggest selling album in the world of 1982. ASIA’s original line-up reformed in 2006 and has gone on to undertake several hugely successful world tours and record 3 new studio albums within that period. Downes is also a current member of YES who he rejoined in 2011, and co-wrote much of their recent Fly From Here album. He has over 50 silver, gold and platinum certified awards to his name in a career spanning 5 decades.
THE GREG LAKE ESTATE
QEDG was honoured to co-manage Greg from 2008 until his death in December 2016. QEDG continues to work alongside Regina Lake, managing Greg Lake legacy matters
IAN DANTER
Ian Danter is well known for his professional work with talkSPORT radio. Ian used to commentate on live games in the Premier League for talkSPORT as part of their hugely successful ‘Matchday Live’ programme. Ian is also a regular commentator at UEFA.com on Champions League and Europa League matches as well as working for Everton TV as commentator on their Premier League games. In summer 2010, Ian was selected by talkSPORT to travel to South Africa as their No.2 commentator for the FIFA World Cup. Alongside his football commentating career, Ian performs in a well established “Kiss” tribute band, “Dressed to Kill”. Ian is a multi-talented musician predominately a drummer, his debut album “Prove You Wrong”, has Ian performing the majority of instruments from drums/bass/guitar to vocals.
INGLORIOUS
Inglorious are five young men with a mutual love and respect of the classics of Hard Rock music, big guitar riffs, and soulful vocals. Their influences stem from iconic rock and roll shrine of Rock albums from the 1970s – many years before the band members were born. The same albums that have inspired generations of musicians and performers are noticeably evident when you listen to the Inglorious debut album. This is the music they were born to play together - inspired by bands in the classic rock genre as diverse as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Bad Company, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, to name a few. Formed in February 2014, the band is fronted by Nathan James, who made a name for himself having sung for the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Scorpions guitar legend Uli Jon Roth. Nathan was looking for like-minded musicians that desired to make incredible rock music in a very honest fashion. Inglorious is composed of the inimitable frontman Nathan James, guitarist Danny Dela Cruz who partners Dan Stevens in an Inglorious dual axe attack, renowned Brazilian bassist Vinnie Colla, and drummer Phil Beaver (who was once signed to Mick Fleetwood’s label while still at school) A line-up that heralds a brand new era for the rising British stars.
THE JOHN WETTON ESTATE
Born in Derby, raised in Bournemouth, John Wetton first cut his musical teeth on church music at his family’s piano. He often played the bass parts to help his brother rehearse tunes for services, an experience that led to John’s love of bass melodies. In his teens, John focused those melodies on the bass guitar and honed his skills by playing and singing with local bands. He also discovered a knack for songwriting with an early bandmate, Richard Palmer-James; a relationship that would continue to flourish through five decades.
John’s early work with a variety of bands allowed him to show off his impressive bass talents, but did little to showcase his equally impressive singing and songwriting skills. Frustrated, John began to listen a bit closer to the sales pitch of an old friend, Robert Fripp, who set about to reform King Crimson in 1972. The eventual Crimson core of Wetton, Fripp, and Bill Bruford is often considered the “classic” line-up, releasing three studio albums (“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic,” “Starless and Bible Black,” and “Red”) that truly stretched the band to its imaginative limits. But after a blistering show in New York’s Central Park in 1974, the band took a hiatus that became permanent.
JOHN MITCHELL
QEDG are proud to represent multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, John Mitchell.
John is a highly versatile musician who predominantly sings and plays guitar. He is a member of several popular progressive rock bands, including Frost*, It Bites and Arena. John releases his solo music under the pseudonym Lonely Robot. John also masterminded the bands Kino and The Urbane and played bass for alternative rock band A.John was a founder member of the Wetton Downes side project, ICON, touring with them and appearing on the first 2 studio albums. For many years John performed as a member of John Wetton’s live band.
John is also a noted record producer and sound engineer, running his own studio facility, Outhouse, in Reading, UK. He has recorded and produced music for a number of mainstream rock artists including, Enter Shikari, You Me At Six, Steven Wilson, Don Broco, Lower Than Atlantic, Architects, Kids In Glass Houses, Funeral For A Friend and many more.
THE KEITH EMERSON ESTATE
QEDG is honoured to manage the Keith Emerson estate. Hailed as a keyboard legend, Keith Emerson has been one of the most important figures to emerge from the thriving UK rock scene of the 1960's and 70's. He is known as one of the most prominent leaders in the progressive rock movement, fusing rock 'n' roll with a myriad of musical styles, such as classical, jazz and world music. A modern wizard of electronic and acoustic keyboards, most notably the organ and synthesizer, he has set a standard by which others multiply. With both "The Nice" and "Emerson, Lake & Palmer," Emerson has written and recorded some of rock's most adventurous music and brought it to the masses with unmatched virtuosity and skillful showmanship.
LUCIFER'S FRIEND
Legendary German rock cult band, formed in 1970 in Hamburg. The group were noted as early practitioners of heavy metal and progressive rock. They also incorporated elements of jazz into their music. There was a reformation in 2015.
MARTIN TURNER ex WISHBONE ASH
With millions of album sales and concert attendances worldwide, Wishbone Ash’s heritage as one of the most enduring and best loved British rock acts is assured. Over four decades later, the music of Wishbone Ash continues to delight audiences worldwide. Classic album releases such as Argus, Pilgrimage, There’s the Rub, New England and Live Dates defined the Wishbone Ash sound and have touched the hearts of several generations of music fans. As lead vocalist and key creative force, founding original member Martin Turner was central to the critical and commercial success of Wishbone Ash’s most revered albums. Martin Turner continues to perform the band’s best loved works with his current line-up. Martin Turner plays Wishbone Ash features guitarists Danny Willson and Misha Nikolic, and drummer Sonny Flint and remains faithful to the original Wishbone Ash blueprint. Other ex Wishbone Ash members, Ted Turner, Steve Upton and Laurie Wisefield also represented.
NATHAN JAMES
Nathan James started singing at the age of 10. Aged 20, he toured with American rock show Route 66 and fronted the show with Clive Jackson of Dr and the Medics fame. His influences are diverse from Glenn Hughes, David Coverdale and Axl Rose, to, Michael Bolton and Freddie Mercury to name but a few.
In 2012 Nathan gained a place on the live finals of Andrew Lloyd Webber's search for Jesus Christ Superstar. Nathan was described as "the shows most memorable performance". Scouted by the Trans Siberian Orchestra he was flown to the USA to audition and revealed that he would be going to America to join the band for their Arena tour.
Nathan is without doubt one of the best rock vocalists ever to come out of the UK and is well on his way to stardom. Inglorious will be the vehicle to propel, not only Nathan, but the rest of the band into the hearts of the nation and the world.
ROGER DEAN
When Roger Dean was commissioned to produce a painting for a band called YES, an iconic logo was born that has become the visual signature of the group. From the moment the painting became the cover for the renowned Fragile album, a fruitful partnership was born that has withstood the tests of time. Dean has continued to create art for many on the QEDG roster including Asia, Focus and more recently DBA, with the latest album artwork being painted over lockdown and live streamed across the globe.
From his first foray into the world of Album Art in the 1960s, Dean's art has always been elaborate, vivid and iconic in equal measure and stands in dramatic contrast to more conservative images that have traditionally adorned albums. To hold a Roger Dean Cover is to hold a piece of Art, and it has been estimated that over a hundred million people have, at one time, owned a piece of Roger Dean work. Dean makes art accessible, his cover art is a scaled down reflection of his work in organic architectural designs and passion for aesthetics. Dean's M.A. thesis was written on the psychology of space and the intrinsic need of humans to feel safe and calm within our environment. All of his works, from the CD case to his intricate designs for living homes, consistently give access to an oasis of calm in daily life.
SNAKECHARMER
Six of the UK's most highly-esteemed and experienced rock musicians joined forces to create Snakecharmer. Original Whitesnake members Micky Moody and Neil Murray teamed up with Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash), Harry James (Thunder, Magnum), Adam Wakeman (Ozzy Osborne) and Chris Ousey (Heartland) to bring you classic twin-guitar based rock as it should be played. Playing classic rock songs that they helped create, such as Whitesnake's Here I go Again, Fool For Your Loving, Don't Break My Heart Again, Ready An' Willing an Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City, together with great tracks from their new album, Snakecharmer is the genuine article. Simon McBride replaced Micky Moody, recording the second Snakecharmer album released May 2017
THE BUGGLES
Co-managed with Paul Crockford Management. Brainchild of vocalist and bassist Trevor Horn and keyboardist Geoff Downes, this electro pop duo saw the light of chart success in 1979, pioneering the sound and vibe of the upcoming new decade. Their first single "Video Killed the Radio Star" went straight to number one in the UK capturing the essence of current times and the attention of media and audience worldwide, so much so that when MTV went on the air on August 1, 1981, the prophetically titled song was the first ever video to be broadcast. Three more British hits -- "The Plastic Age", " Clean Clean" and "Elstree" -- confirmed the success of their first production and guaranteed them a place in music history.
Both Horn and Downes were too soon separated from the project by their blooming careers both performing and producing, often simultaneously as per many Yes albums, but the Buggles remain the iconic soundtrack of an era and the embodiment of the everlasting quest to cutting edge sounds and trailblazing artistry.
THIS OCEANIC FEELING
This Oceanic Feeling, fronted by prominent singer/songwriter and producer Chris Braide's prestigious curriculum can be viewed above [see DBA].
URIAH HEEP
Full management until Nov 2015. Uriah Heep's rock concerts take audiences by storm as they play their greatest hits around the world. Uriah Heep is an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and is regarded as one of the most influential rock acts of the early 1970s alongside the likes of Deep Purple and Led Zepplin. Uriah Heep's distinctive music has always featured massive keyboard sounds, strong vocal harmonies (an influence for Queen) and great guitar riffs. The band's repertoire features hits over four decades from the 70s through to the present day including tracks such as; Gypsy, Easy Livin', July Morning and Lady in Black. Lady in Black has been number 1 in Germany on no less than 3 occasions. Uriah Heep play up to 125 shows a year impressing old and new fans around the world.
YES
Pioneers of progressive rock, YES has achieved worldwide success with a history spanning 50 years and 21 studio albums. The band's current line-up consists of singer Jon Davison, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Geoff Downes and bassist Billy Sherwood. Founder member Tony Kaye joined the band for the 50th anniversary tour in 2018, and on Cruise to the Edge events. Yes retains a 50 year relationship with Roger Dean who joins the Yes tours with an exhibition of his art.
Yes is known for its expansive songs , esoteric lyrics, elaborate album art and live stage sets.
QEDG also manages Arc Of Life, featuring Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood, Jay Schellen, Dave Kerzner and Jimmy Haun . Their self-titled album was released on February 12, 2021.
Oliver Wakeman
Oliver Wakeman is an award winning keyboardist, Pianist and composer.
Oliver Wakeman was born into a musical family and is the eldest son of rock musician Rick Wakeman. He has written and appeared on various albums, all of which have been released to critical acclaim.
Oliver’s newest albums Tales by Gaslight with Clive Nolan, Dark Fables with Clive Nolan and 3 CD Box set Collaborations have taken the world by storm.