Eddie Jobson / Osaka, Japan 02.27.2026 1st Stage Complete IEM Matrix Edition

This release features the first show in Osaka on February 27th, the final day of U.K.’s 2026 Japan tour, which was billed as a revival of the band’s original U.K. sound. It combines two sources: an intercepted audio from an in-ear monitor and a high-quality audience master recording, both of which are fully recorded at 77 minutes each. U.K. had ended its activities after its 2015 reunion tour of Japan, and with the death of John Wetton in 2017, a reunion with the original members became impossible. Eddie himself also took a break from concert activities after 2018. After an eight-year silence, he finally made a comeback, and his first stage was, of course, in Japan, where he has many fans. The Japan tour consisted of two shows a day for four days, for a total of eight shows, and the final show was here in Osaka. Disc 1 features the first show, recorded from the IEM master used by Mark Bonilla, intercepted at the venue that day. Remarkably, it lacks the count-ins and clicks often found in IEMs, and, as it was used by a vocalist, the instrument balance is almost perfectly balanced, recreating the live performance with a perfect stereo soundboard recording directly connected to the mixing console. Disc 2, on the other hand, is a high-quality audience recording using the latest digital equipment, also perfectly recreating the live show with incredibly clear and immersive sound quality. The setlist, like in Tokyo and Yokohama, is a truly sublime set, almost entirely recreating the two UK studio albums. From “The Four Men of the Nation,” they perform all tracks except “Thirty Years” and “Mental Medication,” including a medley, and from “Danger Money,” they play all tracks except “Nothing to Lose,” making it an irresistible treat for longtime fans. Furthermore, the support members for this tour are incredibly strong, with Mark Bonilla, formerly of the Keith Emerson Band, taking John Wetton’s position, Mike Kenneley, the last guitarist in Frank Zappa’s band, on guitar, and Marco Minnemann, a multi-instrumentalist who has released numerous solo albums. These seasoned veterans have gathered here in Japan. In addition, the setlist will change slightly each day for these Japanese performances, and incidentally, this first show on this particular day is the only one where they played “The Sahara of Snow – Part Two” at the end, making it a limited-edition memorial item for fans who will want to check out every performance. Live at Billboard Live OSAKA, Osaka, Japan 27th February 2026 (1st Stage) : Original IEM Recording & from Original Masters Disc 1 & 2 : Same Set 1. Alaska / Time to Kill 2. Danger Money 3. Rendezvous 6:02 4. Band Introductions 5. By the Light of Day／Presto Vivace／In the Dead of Night 6. Nevermore 7. Carrying No Cross 8. Caesar’s Palace Blues 9. The Only Thing She Needs 10. The Sahara of Snow – Part Two Eddie Jobson (Key,Vln) / Marc Bonilla (Vo,Ba) / Mike Keneally (Gt) / Marco Minnemann (Dr)