This page last updated: 1 Jul 2009
 

YES and projects with several Yesmen	Jon Anderson	Chris Squire	Steve Howe	Alan White
Rick Wakeman	Bill Bruford	Tony Kaye	Peter Banks	Patrick Moraz
Trevor Horn	Geoff Downes	Trevor Rabin	Billy Sherwood	Igor Khoroshev
Anderson & Wakeman	Asia	CIRCA: (with White, Kaye & Sherwood)	Oliver Wakeman	Others associated with the band

On this page: White - The White Sox - John Lennon-related projects - Other projects - Solo appearances - Charity work

On other pages: Yes news - Work with Billy Sherwood (tribute albums and CIRCA:)

Alan White's official site: Homepage; News; MySpace page; Facebook page

In a Jun 2009 interview, White said, "As far as energy levels and all that goes, I'm ready to go another 10 or 15 years." He remains a member of Yes—see main page.

White

The band White consists of Alan (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Kevin Currie (ex-MerKaBa; lead vocals), Karl Haug (ex-Treason; electric & acoustic guitars, lap steel, backing vocals) and Steve Boyce (ex-MerKaBa, Two Sheds Jackson; bass, guitar, backing vocals). Since recording their debut album, the band has been joined by Richard "Wayo" Hogan (ex-Merkaba; rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keys) and Phil Davis (a.k.a. Peter Davis, ex-Bighorn; keys, backing vocals). Geoff Downes played keys on the album and one show with the band in 2005. However, he effectively left, busy with Asia and iCon. Their debut album was White (Renaissance Entertainment Group). Cover by Roger Dean. See details in Yescography. The Japanese release included a bonus track of Chris Squire & Alan White's 1981 single "Run with the Fox". White have been largely inactive of late, with the band members mostly focusing their efforts elsewhere. Boyce blogged in Mar 2007 that, "As for [White,] it seems everyone is going in their own directions right now. Without management, or even an advocate, pretty much nothing is happening. I've been in my studio playing with some new ideas. Don't know that it's going to be music for this band, though." He explained later that, "It seemed [my comments] may have been interpreted as the band being finished. That's not the case. Everyone is doing their own thing right now and no one person is really putting energy or effort into the band. That's all I meant to say. You get what you give and right now not much of either is happening....." In Jun 2007, he blogged, "There are those who thought this band was over. Hell, I've certainly had some of those thoughts myself. I play music with other people sometimes, so does Alan, so does Karl. But that doesn't mean we don't love this band. There is still much more to come from White." In Jan 2008, he said, "White is still alive, although there will be some changes in the works. Perhaps even a name change? Hmmmm..... With Phil Davis in the band, and more time to write and think the whole thing through, it may be a different sounding project than the last record. Actually, I'm certain it will be a different sound." In Mar 2008, Boyce blogged, "White update - not much happening at the moment." In a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge, White said he's "trying to rebuild White at the moment too." He goes on: "the singer, Kevin [Currie], he was having a bit of a problem, so I've been talking to Steve Boyce [...] and I've been trying to kind of like reconstruct that as a side project kind of thing, so we're still working on that right now. But I can see something coming about right now, so we'll see what happens."

A follow-up album was being planned. In a Jul 2005 interview for Notes from the Edge, Alan White said, "We've got plenty of material, that's for sure. There is a lot of material that's still hanging around." In his blog, Boyce previously implied new recording in late 2006 and the band, minus Downes but plus Hogan, recorded a piece called "To Kill the Pain" in Aug 2006, but this will be released under some other moniker than White. The band have played occasional live shows in Washington state. They were at the Seattle Hempfest drug policy reform rally in Aug 2007; set: "New Day", "Beyond the Sea of Lies", "Give Up Giving Up", "Crazy Believer", "Tempus Fugit", "Changes". ("Mighty Love" was planned, but dropped due to lack of time.)

The White Sox All-Star Band & charity activity
Alan is the musical director of the White Sox All-Stars, a live supergroup that emerged from his involvement with The Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps (he did two in 2007, one each in 2008 and 2009). The Red Sox were an existing group based in Europe who do corporate work and benefits and they change their name when working with Alan. The rest of the core band are Spike Edney (Queen, worked with The Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, Beyoncé; keys, guitar), Jamie Moses (worked with Queen, Mike and the Mechanics, Paul Young; guitar) and Bernt Bodal (ex-Høst, CEO of American Seafoods; bass). Others who work with the band are Randy Hansen (worked with Bob Seger, Paul Rodgers, Sammy Hagar; guitar, lead vocals), Tom Bowes (ex-Tower of Power; lead vocals), Eric Bazilian (ex-The Hooters; guitar, lead vocals), Jeff Scott Soto (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ex-Journey; vocals), Tommy Williams (ex-Debbie Gibson, ex-George Harrison; guitar), Tracy Allen Moore (vocals), Steve Fossen (ex-Heart; bass), Geoffrey Castle (electric violin), Mark Bonder (Wonderous Stories; keys), Aury Moore (Spike and the Impalers; backing vocals) and Julie Mains (Spike and the Impalers; backing vocals).

After two private, corporate gigs in late 2007, their first public appearance was in May 2008 in Seattle, WA. The band consisted of White, Edney, Moses, Bodal and Soto. They headlined For Rock's Sake, a benefit concert sponsored by Music Aid Northwest for MusiCares. The band, in a rather different incarnation, played next at the visitRaleigh.com Rock Hall Benefit festival (Sep 2008) in Cary, NC, and in aid of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum's educational outreach and the John Entwistle Foundation's programme for disadvantaged youths. The 19 Sep saw various acts including the White Sox, with a line-up including White, Bodal, Castle, Bazilian, Hansen, Williams, Bowes and Mark Farner (ex-Grand Funk Railroad; vocals). At the aftershow party, Alan played in a jam band including Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult) (for "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Proud Mary"), Joe Lynn Tumer (ex-Deep Purple) (including a Led Zeppelin cover) and Hansen. Roger Dean did a collectable poster for the event and was also in attendance. The band returns to Cary, NC for the second annual benefit for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum (again benefitting the Hall of Fame's educational outreach programme, and also benefitting the Cary Community Foundation and United Way of the Greater Triangle) on 6 Sep 2009. The line-up is expected to be White, Edney, Moses, Soto, Hansen, Castle and Bodal. The show will also include Darryl McDaniels (Run-D.M.C.), Patty Smyth and Scandal, Blessid Union of Souls, Nine Days, Freddy Jones Band, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Georgia Satellites and 94 East.

Members of the band, including White, Bodal, Edney, Moses and Bazilian, appear at An Evening with the Music of John Lennon on 18 Apr—see coverage on main page.

Alan and wife Gigi co-founded and are on the board of directors for Music Aid Northwest (MAN), whose mission is "to bring business and community organizations together, with the talent and resources of the Northwest music industry, to provide funds to aid people in need while enhancing and promoting music awareness and performance throughout the region." (You can donate to MAN here.) MAN organise various benefit concerts, including a recent series supporting their "Music Matters" license plate campaign to augment music education in Washington state schools.

John Lennon and Beatles-related projects
Alan is playing with Beatles tribute band Apple Jam. They headline Let It Be Liverpool, the International Beatle Week Festival in Aug 2009, playing three shows 28-31 Aug in Liverpool, UK. Apple Jam with White also play a 2-hour show on 7 Aug at the Triple Door in Seattle, WA. Apple Jam, who feature members of The Beatniks, Herding Cats and the Paul Rodgers Band, are promoting Off the Beatle Track, in which they play early Lennon/McCartney compositions released by others, but never by The Beatles while they were together (White does not appear on the album). The set list for these shows will include all 15 tracks from the album: [SPOILERS—highlight to read] "I'll Keep You Satisfied", "I Don't Want to See You Again", "Like Dreamers Do", "You Know What to Do", "Bad to Me", "It's for You", "I'm in Love", "I'll be On My Way", "Hello Little Girl", "A World Without Love", "Tip of My Tongue", "From a Window", "Nobody I Know", "Love of the Loved", "One and One is Two". The shows will also feature Beatles solo material. Apple Jam members: Rick Lovrovich (bass), Jon Bolton (drums), Mike Mattingly (guitar), Johnny Jones (keyboard), Kurtis Dengler (guitar).

Alan also appears on Billy Sherwood's Beatles tribute album, Abbey Road—see details here. Alan White, Chris Squire and Trevor Rabin all participated in the Imagine a Cure Benefit Concert honouring the music of John Lennon, in Washington state in Apr—see coverage on main page.

John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band's "Live In Toronto '69" is being released on DVD by Shout! Factory Records (directed by D.A. Pennebaker). The band consisted of John Lennon (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Yoko Ono (vocals), Alan White (drums), Eric Clapton (guitar, backing vocals) and Klaus Voorman (bass). The DVD also includes a 1988 interview with Ono, and the opening acts for the show; tracks: openers—"Bo Diddley" (Bo Diddley), "Hound Dog" (Jerry Lee Lewis), "Lucille" (Little Richard); Plastic Ono Band—"Blue Suede Shoes", "Money", "Dizzy Miss Lizzy", "Yer Blues", "Cold Turkey", "Give Peace a Chance", "Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)", "John John (Let's Hope for Peace)". Meanwhile, the new George Harrison compilation, Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison, includes tracks from 1970's All Things Must Pass, on which White performed. The album debuted at #4 in the UK chart, and #24 in the US.

CIRCA:
Alan White was in CIRCA:, a new band with Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Jimmy Haun—see the CIRCA: page. Their debut album, CIRCA: 2007, is out and the band played live in 2007/8 leading to a live DVD, "CIRCA: Live". However, in Jul 2008, Alan left CIRCA: to focus on Yes, being replaced by Jay Schellen (GPS, ex-Asia, ex-Conspiracy, ex-Badfinger). Alan also guests on several other projects organised by Sherwood, including Led Box: The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin; and a Beatles tribute album, Abbey Road—see details for all these here.

Other projects & solo appearances
In celebration of his 60th birthday, Alan performed Stravinsky's "The Firebird" with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra (principal percussionist: Michael Werner) on 14 Jun in Seattle, WA.

He played with Yes tribute band Parallels on 7 May in Seattle as part of a benefit show to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Alan is doing Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp for his fourth time in 2009 (29 Apr-3 May). He attended NAMM 2009 and, as last year, was due to play in the All Star Jam, along side keyboardist Tommy Zvoncheck (MySpace page; worked with Jon Anderson, ex-Blue Öyster Cult, ex-Public Image Limited) and others. Their set was planned to include "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and "Changes".

On 10 Apr, Alan guested on tympani and timbales with The Ventures and The Fabulous Wailers at their joint 50th anniversary show in Seattle, WA. He played the "Hawaii 5-0" theme with The Ventures.

Alan White appeared at the 1st Annual HotRocks Music Awards in Mar 2009 in Seattle, WA. As well as presenting an award, he performed a percussion improvisation with a drum corps, then "Hold On" (vocals by Shelley Tomberg (Shelley and the Curves)) and "Cold Turkey" (vocals by Arny Bailey) with a band of Roger Fisher (ex-Heart, ex-Alias, worked with Alan White; guitar), Randy Hansen (The White Sox, worked with Bob Seger, Paul Rodgers, Sammy Hagar), Steve Boyce (White) and Kellee Bradley (backing vocals). Alan played with Geoffrey Castle (The White Sox) for two shows in Mar 2009 in Kirkland, WA.

Alan did a series of drum clinics in Germany in mid-Oct 2008. At the first clinic in Ludwigsburg (audience of about 100), he demonstrated "Perpetual Change", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Changes" and "Imagine" to backing tapes. At Karlsruhe, he performed "Machine Messiah" to backing tapes and dropped "Owner...". At Ludwigsburg, Alan also performed a set with local musicians on keys, bass, guitar and vocals; set: "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Changes", "Roundabout". He gave private lessons at Donn Bennett's Drum Studio in Bellevue, WA, in Mar 2009.

White was participating in a recording project involving former members of Russia, possibly to be a reunion, but is no longer involved. It is unclear whether any of his work will appear on the final release.

Asked about a new solo album in a Jan 2000 interview, White said: "I've got tons of material, I just need the time to do it. [...] I've had the material hanging around for a long time". In a Nov 2001 interview, he said: "I've actually had a lot of material, collected over years and years, but I use some of it in every Yes album. However I'm collecting some other pieces and maybe my second album will come out someday." In a Dec 2003 interview with Delicious Agony, he said, "I have stockpiles of material," but that he wanted to take his time over any project to "make sure it's right." In his 2004 MSN Chat, White said, "I have a home studio and I'm working on some solo projects as well [as the White band]."

Anderson, Howe and White appear on Johnny Harris's 1973 All to Bring You Morning, now released on to CD for the first time—see on the main page.

Other news
A remix of Alan and Chris Squire's "Run with the Fox" is included on Chris Squire's Swiss Choir.

Alan is on the advisory board of Northwest Program for the Arts. Alan and White were at Woodstick 2007 (MySpace page) in Puyallup, WA, in Oct. Woodstick is sponsored by Rotarians for Hearing Regeneration: A Rotarian Action Group and raises money for various causes. Woodstick were trying to break their own world record of 533 for the largest number of drummers with drum sets playing one song simultaneously, but were unsuccessful.

White continues his partnership with Reek N. Havok as Crash and Bang with an emphasis on music for entertainment purposes (TV, computer gamesetc.). (Crash and Bang is an offspring of Reek Havok's Sounds Amazing! company, which concentrates on technical aspects.)

Any news, additions or corrections, please e-mail Henry Potts. Thanks.