ASIAN treat; GO 2: ROCK.

Byline: ALAN POOLE

WOLVERHAMPTON'S Civic Hall offers an amazing double bill on Monday when Paul Rodgers launches his latest solo tour with special guests Asia.

Rodgers occupies a unique niche in rock history, having fronted three bands - Free, Bad Company and The Firm - to massive international success.

In total his instantly-recognisable vocals have helped sell over 125 million albums and, on top of his regular work, he has worked with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.

Known as The Voice in the trade, he was hailed by The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger as "easily one of the best singers in the rock 'n' roll world" while Tony Blair once declared: "If I could sing as well as Paul Rodgers, I wouldn't be in politics".

Asia have enjoyed more than their fair share of commercial success in the past, having taken their debut album and single to No.1 in America when they emerged as a 'supergroup' at the tail-end of the prog-rock era.

And Monday's slot at the Civic - their first UK outing in eight years - coincides with the release of their seventh studio album Aura (following in the A-list tradition of Alpha, Aqua, Astra etc).

The current line-up features founding member and one-time Yes keyboard king Geoffrey Downes along with long-term vocalist/bass player John Payne. They are joined by guitarist Guthrie Govan and drummer Chris Slade, who has worked with the likes of Dave Gilmour, Garry Moore and AC/DC down the years and once lined up alongside Rodgers and Jimmy Page in The Firm.

Steve Howe makes his obligatory guest appearance on Aura and the artwork, needless to say, comes from Roger Dean.

CAPTION(S):

GUESTS: Supergroup Asia are (from left) Guthrie Govan, John Payne, Chris Slade and Geoff Downes. They will be appearing as guests of rock legend Paul Rodgers (left)