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 ex-Yes fellow 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.
This sequence of events led to Downes' collaboration with Trevor Horn on a second Buggles album, Adventures in Modern Recording (1981), although his role was limited to half of it, and his co-founding of Asia alongside Steve Howe following Yes' demise in 1981. He left Asia in 1986, returned in 1990, and has been an essential part of the lineup ever since; he released solo albums and produced music for several notable artists, including Mike Oldfield and the Thompson Twins.