Net Worth →
Food & Recipes

Geoff Downes: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Geoff Downes? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Geoff Downes
jomelia via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Geoffrey Downes (born 25 August 1952) is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group the Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia. Born in Stockport, Downes moved to London to pursue a music career. In 1977, he formed the Buggles with Horn and enjoyed success with their first album The Age of Plastic (1980) which included the worldwide hit single "Video Killed the Radio Star". In May 1980, Downes joined Yes with Horn and recorded Drama (1980). After Yes disbanded in 1981, Downes helped Trevor Horn to produce a second Buggles album, Adventures in Modern Recording (1981) although he was only primarily involved for half of it, and co-founded Asia with fellow ex-Yes musician Steve Howe. He left Asia in 1986, rejoined in 1990, and has been a part of the lineup since then; he released several solo albums and produced for several artists, including Mike Oldfield and the Thompson Twins. In 2006, Downes reunited the original Asia lineup and rejoined Yes in 2011; he is currently a member of both groups. Since 1998, he has reunited with Horn on special occasions to perform songs from the Buggles. Downes entered the Guinness Book of Records for performing with a record 28 keyboards on stage in a single performance.

Quick facts about Geoff Downes

  • Full name: Geoff Downes
  • Born: 1952-08-25
  • Nationality: United Kingdom
  • Known as: Chef
  • Wikidata ID: Q346822

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Geoff Downes?

Geoffrey Downes (born 25 August 1952) is an English keyboardist who gained fame as a member of the new wave group the Buggles with Trevor Horn, the progressive rock band Yes, and the supergroup Asia. Born in Stockport, Downes moved to London to pursue a music career.

What nationality is Geoff Downes?

Geoff Downes is United Kingdom.

When was Geoff Downes born?

Geoff Downes was born on 1952-08-25.

Sources

More in Lifestyle