Where are they now? - Yoso & CIRCA:
+ Psy-op, Conspiracy and tribute albums headed by Billy Sherwood

This page last updated: 26 Jul 2010
 
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:
Yoso
Oliver Wakeman
Benoît David
Others associated with the band

On this page: CIRCA: (Sherwood, Kaye) - Yoso (Sherwood, Kaye) - Psy-op (Sherwood, Downes, Kaye) - Billy Sherwood's tribute albums (with White, Kaye, Downes)


Billy Sherwood is the nexus for a number of projects involving other Yesmen, both current and former band members. On most of these projects, he has been working with Tony Kaye. CIRCA: and Yoso also include Kaye and CIRCA: formerly included White, while Sherwood features various Yes members on his various tribute albums and a Jim Ladd's Headsets album. He also has a spin-off from Conspiracy, no longer with Squire but with some new Yes connections. Sherwood's main focus in 2010 is Yoso.

Yoso Yoso MySpace page; Yoso official site; Yoso YouTube channel
Yoso is based around former Toto vocalist Bobby Kimball (MySpace page; lead vocals, additional keys live), Billy Sherwood (lead vocals, bass; guitar and drums in studio) and Tony Kaye (keys). They are joined by Scott Connor (Genesis tribute band Gabble Ratchet; drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Johnny Bruhns (Yes tribute band Roundabout, worked with Ronnie Ciago, filled in at a Yes rehearsal in 2009; guitar, backing vocals). Their debut album, Elements, is now out on Frontiers Records (FR CD 466) in Europe. A US release has been delayed in Sep as Frontiers are changing distributor. Touring in support follows in the US (with CDs available ahead of release at gigs) and Europe. Tracks: "Yoso" (4:18), "Path to Your Heart" (4:22), "Where You'll Stay" (3:42), "Walk Away" (4:35), "The New Revolution" (3:44), "To Seek the Truth" (4:25), "Only One" (3:42), "Close the Curtain" (4:44), "Won't End Tonight" (3:59), "Come This Far" (4:19), "Time to Get Up" (3:52), "Return to Yesterday" (7:19) (samples here); bonus live CD: "Yoso" (5:30), "Rosanna" (6:17), "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (6:18), "Walk Away" (4:47), "Good for You" (3:37), "Yes Medley: Yours is No Disgrace/Heart of the Sunrise/South Side of the Sky/Starship Trooper/I've Seen All Good People" (8:59), "To Seek the Truth" (4:27), "Hold the Line" (4:17), "Cinema" (2:04), "Gift with a Golden Gun" (4:20), "White Sister" (6:17). These live tracks seem to be taken from the band's 2009 Mexican shows, with Jimmy Haun (worked on Union, Jonathan Elias, ex-Lodgic, ex-Conspiracy; guitars, backing vocals) and Louis "Lou" Molino III (MySpace page; working with Trevor Rabin, worked with Billy Sherwood, The Tubes, Julian Lennon; drums, backing vocals). The band's origins date back to late 2008 and they have played a handful of live dates in 2009 and early 2010.

About the band
Sherwood has explained: "Yoso was started when I suggested to Bobby Kimball we should write some new music and form a band, we had been working together on various tribute projects I was producing and one thing lead to another, before too long we had 5 songs in the can and were well on our way to making a record and thinking seriously about taking it to the next level. Once there was a few songs underway the concept grew into the band we now have, Yoso." Kimball and Sherwood first met at the beginning of the 1980s when Sherwood was in Lodgic, and Kimball has appeared on a number of Sherwood's tribute album projects. The It Can Happen tour of Italy by CIRCA:i.e. Sherwood, Kaye, Haun, Jay Schellen (GPS, ex-Badfinger, ex-Peter Banks)—and Kimball was planned for Feb 2009 with a set encompassing CIRCA:, Toto and Yes material. (The full line-up was also to include Michael Sherwood (Billy's brother; ex-Conspiracy, ex-Lodgic, worked with CIRCA:) and then Matt Brown (Brian Travis Band, Gabble Ratchet, Yes tribute Closer to the Edge) on keys and backing vocals.) However, the tour was cancelled late in the day.
Pre-order from Amazon (US):

Pre-order MP3 version from Amazon (US):


Buy from Amazon (UK):

Pre-order from Amazon (Canada):


In early 2009, Sherwood tweeted about what he called the Hybrid Project, before the new band was announced under the name AKA. However, in Jul 2009, Sherwood said to ProgressiveEars.com: "Due to the trademark "AKA" being taken we are renaming the band." Thus the new name Yoso. However, Schellen withdrew, given commitments to Asia Featuring John Payne, and Molino took over for live work in late 2009. He too then stepped aside given other commitments and by the beginning of 2010, Jody Cortez (ex-ETC... with B. Sherwood, ex-Cinderella, ex-Boz Scaggs) was on drums. By then, Yoso had become managed by Derek Shulman (ex-Gentle Giant; managed Yes; signed World Trade, Dream Theater) with Leonardo Pavkovic. Sherwood then explained those changes were another new drummer (Connor) and that Haun has withdrawn to focus on commercial work. Sherwood explained late Apr to Yesfans.com:

Bobby, TK and me remain Yoso and are moving forward with the debut CD [...] We will be changing the guitarist and drummer. [...]

Jimmy Haun our long time dear friend has decided to devote all his musical skills into jingles and doesn't want to tour on the level that is on the horizon for Yoso.

On that note, we/Yoso bid Jimmy a fond farewell as he slips the surly bonds into the mystical realm that is the musical advertising world, whilst we forge ahead, onto the live stage playing shows and moving forward with Yoso.

[...] then there's the drums [...]

Introducing a fantastic musician and a super nice guy {who some of you here already know}, ladies and gentlemen please welcome Mr. Scott Conner [sic] {of Gabble Ratchett fame} into Yoso !!

Scott, TK and me jammed last week in my studio and it was locking and rocking... Scott is very into prog and that is really what's needed for Yoso. We intend to stretch things out and alter arrangments of things, tricky timings etc... and Scott has a handle on the clock for all that strange time signature stuff we want to explore.

Yoso thanks Jody Cortez for his service {albeit a short stay} his grooves and passion for music will be remembered along with his overwhelming love and kindness...

In a follow-up post, he continued:

While it's sad Jimmy resigned, we in Yoso view it as a cross roads for Yoso where we are actually are getting "serious" about it all and preparing for take off with no fears of flying. Signing a deal for the record, touring on the horizon. Proper management and agents in place etc... Yoso are ok to go

I've been working within the Yoso elelment for some time now, we lost a lot of good men out there [...] sorting out how Yoso really works} but still I see the dream and won't be detoured from it.

In an Apr 2010 interview, asked about the band's future beyond the debut album, Kaye said:

We're definitely talking about more music because really that is our inspiration to actually take Yoso to the level that we wanted, and not just playing Yes music. Although we play a fair amount of the album that's going to be out in July on the road now. But obviously the future is important to us on a personal musical level with the band.

Yoso have been working on a second album. In a May 2010 interview, Kaye said they were "working on more Yoso music right now". He also described the second album as "a little more complex progressive thing". He went on, "We've started thinking about writing stuff, and I know Billy's started writing stuff" and said how he hoped that "in 9 or 10 months, we'll have a follow-up to Elements". Asked about whether Yoso is permanent, Kaye said, "We're all very positive for Yoso. Hopefully it will blossom into something."

Debut album, Elements
The debut album began in Apr 2009: Sherwood tweeted about writing and recording 10 songs across that month, with music by him, lyrics by Kimball. In a May 2010 interview, describing the final album, Kaye said most of the lyrics are by Kimball and practically all of the music is by Sherwood. In a Jun 2010 interview, Kimball described writing the album, Sherwood handling the music and him the lyrics: "After Billy and I wrote all of the songs for the CD, the other guys came in and added their parts to make it a band CD." On 25 May, Sherwood said to Yesfans.com: "10 songs well on their way but still needing TLC." On 7 Jun, he tweeted, "Working on backing vocals for the "AKA" record... 6 songs near completion, 4 to go"; in late Jun, about recording Kaye's final organ parts for the album. In mid-Jul, he tweeted about a recording session for "Higher Road" with Kimball and said they only had three more lead vocals to record. Mixing followed in Aug. In mid-Aug, Sherwood said to Yesfans.com: "The new record {cd} is almost completed. I am mixing it now. 3 Songs mixed, 9 to go." In Sep 2009, Sherwood announced that they had finished mastering (with Joe Gastwirt) the album (dur. 53:30). The album was initially recorded by Sherwood (vocals, all instruments) and Kimball (vocals). Kaye then came in to record keyboard parts, and likewise Haun on guitar and Schellen on drums (the plan at one stage was for 4 songs to feature Schellen). When Molino replaced Schellen, he then recorded alternate drum parts for the album, but with Haun's and Molino's departure, the eventual release uses Sherwood's initial guitar and drum tracks. The initial plan was also to self-release the album under the name Yoso, but a deal with Frontiers Records was then signed and they asked for a separate album name, thus Elements. Band logo and artwork were by Michi Sherwood (Billy's wife), but Frontiers Records also produced new artwork, although the Michi's logo remains. In Jul 2010 to Yesfans.com, Sherwood explained:

Jim [Haun] made it known early on he would not be able to make the full comittment to Yoso in the way we knew ultimately we needed {touring bands require a lot of time from people and from their lives}. With that as the backdrop...

I had all the gtr and drum parts tracked and done {I sketched out some keys but didn't bother much knowing TK was into it from the word go...}. Jay did play a few tracks as did Jim, then Jay left the band and knowing Jim was destine to as well... I went back to the original tracks I had already cut and finished the record.


In a subsequent post, he said:

The way we got where we are now {Frontiers records} was a journey filled with twists and turns, members coming and going, 1st we were to self release it {when there was no label} and so in the mastering we/Yoso were set to call the record "Yoso". This is on the "mastered" disc info and subsequently is now embedded onto the disk that went to the manufacturing plant. Once the label jumped in everything changed, art work {Frontiers with the exception of our Logo}, format {Frontiers wanting to include bonus CD} and title {Frontiers wanted the CD to have a "title" hence "Elements"}.

The band are being promoted on their links to Yes and Toto, a combination reflected in their name. On 1 Sep 2009, Sherwood said: "It's an inter[e]sting mixture of styles. Of course it has the Toto/YES/Circa: elements which come by proxy of the people involved but... there is something all it's own about the sound." And then:

my personal choices are 3 songs that are super strong, hooky, radio friendly....

1: Yoso
2: Where You'll Stay
3: Walk Away


In Oct 2009, Sherwood described the band: "Sounds like a hydrid of Toto/Circa:Yes/Steely Dan/The Band and others in the tradition of classic rock." Kimball blogged in Apr 2009, "The CD [...] has so many elements from Toto/Yes[ ]and Asia in the music." Asked about the style of music in Apr 2009, Sherwood said:

The arrangments are more straight ahead and song oriented, Where CIRCA: stretches those limits "AKA" remains within the traditional bounds of classic song writing structures. That said it remains very musical.

In mid-Jun 2010, Sherwood explained to Yesfans.com about the inclusion of a bonus live disc:

We/Yoso would have been perfectly fine {and had planned}to release Yoso as a stand alone "preimere debut release"
Frontiers wanted to have a "bonus cd".

[...] Record labels will do what they wish.

[...] There's no shame in releasing music in any format... As long as it's presented with integrity. TK and I have our YES pasts as Bobby has Toto past, these will never not be in play as far as media and record promo, it is what it is and they will do what they do...

The heart of the matter is 12 new tracks from Yoso. [...] This is what it's about for us as the artists. We want to push forward and we are doing so, [...] The ends justify the means in our case, We just want to be Yoso... the label and machine behind it all are the ones reminding everyone of our not so hidden pasts lol. Don't expect that to change anytime soon.

All that said.. the bonus CD has some kick *** versions of some beloved YES and Toto material. For that I am proud, it's an honor to play the music, and by no means a shame.


Live
North American and European dates have now been announced for the new line-up. 9 US dates in August have been announced (see the band's MySpace page), including a semi-private gig on 21 Aug (Rancho Murieta, CA, for the local home owners' association). European dates follow:

21 Sep: Verviers, Belgium
22 Sep: Zoetermeer, Netherlands
24 Sep: Helmond, Netherlands
25 Sep: Zaandam, Netherlands
27 Sep: Köln, Germany
28 Sep: Dortmund, Germany
29 Sep: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
30 Sep: Pratteln, Switzerland
2 Oct: Aschaffenburg, Germany
3 Oct: Augsburg, Germany

UK dates in mid-Oct, including a London show, are expected.

Sherwood described a 2 hour 20 minute set in Jul, when the band were rehearsing. Full pre-production rehearsals at Uncle Studios follow 1-7 Aug. In an Apr 2010 interview, Kaye said, "We will be going to Europe, doing 2 or 3 weeks in Germany mainly, I think. And playing, y'know, pretty sort of extreme outdoor gigs in Europe. [...] We have other gigs coming up in the United States [...] Germany is the end of August, September. We've got some potential gigs with Asia at the end of August." (Asia are touring the US 2 Aug-8 Sep.) In a Jun 2010 interview, Kimball described the planned set: "we're playing a set list that has the major hit songs most of us participated on the recording of from both "Yes & Toto", and then about 5 songs from [...] "Elements". [...] I'm sure we'll be leaning towards the new songs as we record more CDs in the future." Kimball also talked hopefully about Italian dates. In May 2010, Sherwood said the band was working on UK and Japanese dates. On 20 Jun, Sherwood said of touring plans, "There is a lot being spoken of... it's all good. As we have these gigs Back east and the record being released soon... the momentum is building and discussions for other territories to play Yoso shows are in affect." Sherwood's bass solo section includes an extract of CIRCA:'s [SPOILERS—highlight to read] "Cut the Ties".

The band's live debut was 3 Mexican dates in Oct 2009 with Molino/Haun (tickets still had the old band name and read "TOTO Y YES JUNTOS: AKA", or "Toto and Yes together: AKA"): a corporate gig for Microsoft Mexico (~600 attendance) and two public concerts with attendances around 2,000 each. The set list for the opening night was [SPOILERS—highlight to read] "Yoso", "Girl Goodbye" (Kimball sang lead on the Toto songs), "Cinema", "Good for You", "Hold On" (Sherwood sang lead on the Yes songs), "Walk Away", "Gift with a Golden Gun", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Africa", "New Revolution", "Yes Montage" (with "Yours is No Disgrace", "Heart of the Sunrise", "South Side of the Sky", "Starship Trooper", "All Good People"—vocals on "All Good People" only), "Where You'll Stay", "Rosanna", "Changes", "To Seek the Truth", "White Sister", "Hold the Line", "Roundabout". The opening song can be heard in Doty's 2 Nov 2009 podcast while West Coast Sound and Light have another podcast available with an extract from the show. The band played the Frankfurt Musikmesse Festival, Germany, on 24 Mar 2010 (with Cortez/Haun); set: "Yoso", "Rosanna", "Hold On", "New Revolution", "Good for You", "Yes Medley", "Where You'll Stay", "Africa", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Walk Away", "Cinema", "Girl Goodbye", "To Seek the Truth", "White Sister", "Roundabout", "Hold the Line", encore: "Gift with a Golden Gun". The band (with Schellen/Haun) had played a showcase of ~45 min.s at Uncle Studios, CA on 1 May 2009 for a promoter. The set consisted of material by Yes ("Roundabout", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Changes", "Hold On", "Cinema") and Toto ("Rosanna", "Africa", "White Sister" and another piece). Sherwood explained to AllGoodPeople.net in Jun 2009 that a tour set would have "a lot of the new AKA material and also play some YES / Toto / Circa: and some Zep..." The latter, specifically "Stairway to Heaven", was Kimball's suggestion.

In Sep 2009, Sherwood said:

it looks like Yoso will be playing the Laserium Theater in Hollywood sometime soon !!

I have a feeling it will require a set up period of at least 6 to 8 weeks. The band is ready to play but Laserium will want lead time for promo etc...

Further news on Laserium shows did not materialise. Around the time of the Mexican dates, there was talk of further touring in South America that did not come about. Doty's podcast contains a press conference by the band in Mexico in Oct at which one of them, I think Kimball, talks of plans to tour Europe with an orchestra for about a month. Sherwood said in Jan 2010 that, "We plan to add/remove songs as we go to keep it fresh, perhaps CIRCA: music will be explored at that time, we shall see." The band rehearsed further in Feb 2010, including "Owner of a Lonely Heart" with Kimball taking over lead vocals.

Sherwood was producing, mixing and co-video editing a "Yoso Live in Mexico 2009" DVD release in HD; multiple tracks were made available on the band's YouTube page. However, this has since been dropped. Sherwood explained in May 2010: "The Yoso Live in Mexico DVD has been scrubbed, since we went through a radical change in line up recently we decided rather than release it and have confusion, we thought we would wait for the next chance to film a Yoso show and create it from that, with the real band as it has become." However, Sherwood held out hope for some kind of online presentation. The audio appears to be the source for the live bonus disc accompanying the band's debut release, Elements.

Other Yoso news
B. Sherwood, Kimball and Molino also appear together on 1 track on An All-Star Salute to Christmas (see below). Sherwood and Kimball also share vocals on "Friends" on Party of the Century, a new album project from composer and singer Giorgio Onorato Aquilani. Kimball sings on a second song, while other guests include Jonathan Mover (ex-Steve Howe, ex-GTR, ex-Marillion; drums, percussion), David Paich (ex-Toto, ex-Jon Anderson, worked with Lodgic; keys), Simon Phillips (The Who, worked with Asia, Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin; drums), Rachel Z (worked with Peter Gabriel, Tony Levin; piano), Mike Stern (guitar) and many others.

CIRCA: Official website; MySpace page; online media kit; official forum
CIRCA: are Billy Sherwood (lead vocals, bass), Tony Kaye (Hammond B3, keys), Jimmy Haun (worked on Union, Jonathan Elias, ex-Lodgic, ex-Conspiracy, ex-Air Supply; electric & acoustic guitars, backing vocals) and Jay Schellen (GPS, Jim Ladd's Headsets, ex-Hurricane, ex-Badfinger, ex-Asia, ex-Peter Banks; drums, backing vocals). CIRCA: have released their second album, CIRCA: HQ, again only available from their website. In an Apr 2008 interview, Sherwood talked about the album some more:

We are still going to continue to distribute it ourselves because it’s been very very good and very easy. [...] The idea for us is it is a long slow journey as opposed to looking for some quick pay off in terms of record sales. We could just sign with a label, I have had a few offers and it just didn’t make enough sense to do. I just kept feeling like we are going to lose that intimacy and direct contact thing. And I think in this modern age with the Internet it can be achieved and I think with what we are doing we don’t need that middle man. We just do it ourselves.

CIRCA: Overflow is an iTunes-only digital release (iTunes Plus format) of 7 tracks, out May 2009: "The Story Goes" (5:48), "Shifting Sands" (4:42), "Life Goes On" (5:02), "Pure Intuition" (3:46), "Coming at You" (7:48), "Fate and Destiny" (5:10), "Words on Paper" (5:24). The tracks all feature the new line-up—i.e. with Schellen—and were mixed by Sherwood. Sherwood: "These tracks we're [sic] extra ideas and recordings from various points along the CIRCA: journey that never found there way onto either the debut CIRCA: cd or the second CIRCA: HQ CD." Sherwood has previously announced plans to release 2 additional tracks through iTunes: "Shifting Sands", "Story Goes". Sherwood explained the reasoning to Yesfans.com in Oct 2008: "to release music that is cool but didn't exactly fit into the over all spectrum of this new CIRCA: CD. The songs do stand alone with CIRCA: Style though". On 27 Mar, Sherwood tweeted about "Meeting with Tony Kaye at my studio re: making some Instrumental tracks for Itunes", which may be in reference to these or some other project.

In Dec 2009, Sherwood described discussions with Joe Gastwirt (mastering for CIRCA:, Yoso, Yes) about possibly doing a remastered CIRCA: box set, including a CD release for Overflow and the "CIRCA: Live" tracks, plus new material.

On 10 Oct 2009, CIRCA: and radio DJ Jim Ladd (spoken word) performed the entire second Headsets album, Chapter 2: Sides, live, followed by "Universal Garden", "Ever Changing World", "Brotherhood of Man", "Cut the Ties, at the Laserium Theater in Hollywood, CA, with multi-media visual effects including pre-filmed segments and lasers. The band was also supplemented by Dan Smolley (acoustic guitar, backing vocals). Headsets is the project from Sherwood and Ladd based on Ladd's freeform radio shows of the same name: see here for details. This was a 90 minute show, with two performances that evening. The show was recorded.

The four band members have been planning to record a 'live in the studio' DVD, "CIRCA: HQ LIVE". As Sherwood described it, "The approach will be similar in the way that the "Conspiracy Live DVD" was produced, in a controlled atmosphere, set up and play for a few days and get the best of the best live takes for the creation of the dvd." Tracks:
  1. If It's Not Too Late
  2. Haun Solo
  3. False Start
  4. Chasing After Ghosts
  5. Set to Play
  6. Ever Changing World
  7. We Can Last
  8. Twist of Fate
  9. All Intertwined
  10. Remember Along the Way (first 10 tracks being their second album, HQ, in its entirety)
  11. Shifting Sands
  12. Story Goes (tracks 11 & 12 are from the iTunes Overflow set)
  13. Just Another Day (from forthcoming Psy-Op release—see below)
  14. The Unknown (from Conspiracy's The Unknown)
  15. Seeing Through the Walls (from Sherwood's solo album At the Speed of Life...see under Sherwood)
  16. Golden Age (from World Trade's Euphoria)

Sherwood also said: "The dvd will also include behind the scenes footage of the making of... and some other goodies. We are excited to get production started on this project and look forward to it's release, most likely near the end of the year." However, this has yet to materialise. In Jan 2010, Sherwood said, "We had planned to record and film a live session and make it into a DVD. I spoke of this a while back... As life happens Yoso [see above] started coming into view and the over all trajectory of things shifted. That said, I love making music and creating so the battle plan remains in tact, with the exception of the time line of engament of operations." In May 2010, Sherwood said: "Unfortuneatly the Circa: live HQ DVD concept is going to have to wait. it is still something we want to do but obviously as Yoso came onto the radar around the same time it took prec[e]dent." Meanwhile, the band have also released a download-only audio version of most of their "CIRCA: Live" DVD through iTunes, as Circa: Live. This version consists of 10 tracks—"Cut the Ties", "Don't Look Back", "Together We Are", "Information Overload", "Trust in Something", "Keeper of the Flame", "Life Going By", "Look Inside", "Brotherhood of Man", "The More We Live—Let Go"—i.e. the same as the DVD except without the extended Yes medley

In Dec 2009, Sherwood said to ProgressiveEars.com: "CIRCA: is still Circa: ... HQ is out 1 year now so we didn't want to record for a bit, that said we are planning to record another record. [...] it has become a studio project more then a touring act, unlike what Yoso is about to do in 2010." In Jan 2010, he said, "Circa: remains Circa: and will be recording a new CD in 2010, same line up as the "HQ" record." In an Apr 2010 interview, Sherwood said, "Working on a new CIRCA: record as we speak. I have about 25 minutes in the can already. In between this, that, and the other it's getting done and that band project will forge ahead. The idea of making that kind of music is important for me personally and we shall be pushing on with CIRCA:" In another Apr interview, Kaye said, "We will keep on producing albums." In the next month, Sherwood said: "CIRCA: for instance we have now 38 minutes near finished for the next CD." In a May 2010 interview, Kaye said they were "working on more CIRCA: music". In Jul, Sherwood said: "work is being done for the next new CIRCA: CD".

In late Apr came the news that Haun had withdrawn from Yoso to focus on commercial work. Asked whether he would be continuing with CIRCA: or not, Sherwood said to Yesfans.com (30 Apr):

It is not my desire to exclude Jimmy from Circa: as it was not my desire to do so in Yoso... The choice was Jims and the same is said for Circa:... it's an unknown at present.

I work at a pace that may be faster then others... Creating music in all different directions. One clear direction is that of CIRCA: music. Currently working on what clearly sounds to my ears like new Circa: music and to get to that level of sound and texture to start seeing a picture...I have recorded some guitars already.

Depending on circumstances we shall see where it all lands as to who is playing what for the next Circa: cd. The Circa: project developed in sound and texture in a way that sets a template for where we have been and are going. I'm composing new music within that template. Circa: is a passion and shall remain ever moving forward releasing new music, the amount of people on board supporting the CIRCA: project is such that I feel obligated in a sense to produce more music and keep the flame alive and well burning, it's my pleasure to work on the music too. Perhaps one day we will get the chance to tour it here and there...

The next month, Sherwood confirmed that, "Jimmy remains in CIRCA: since we are more focused on recording and releasing records and have no touring plans requiring comittments on the same scale."

Sherwood posted to AllGoodPeople.net in Sep 2007 about playing in Europe:

it's very expensive to fund a 5 piece band {live line up} in your home town let alone gathering forces to go to Europe. There are many things to consider [...] ultimately is there enough $$$ to make it doable. Forget profitable...lol If the CIRCA: CD continues to build as it has been we may be able to fund the above mentioned. Reality from me to you folks, we are a long way off from that, it takes "serious coin"

Conspiracy & Psy-op
Conspiracy has come to an end. Sherwood said in a late 2007 interview, "I don't foresee another Conspiracy record [...] my focus is on Circa and obviously Conspiracy is dear to my heart, but it took a turn and went into a dormant mode". However, Sherwood (bass, guitar, keys, vocals) and Jay Schellen (drums) from the final Conspiracy line-up have recorded a new album, entitled Psy-op. This was initially described as the third Conspiracy album, but in May 2007, Sherwood wrote on MySpace that he and Schellen were changing the name of the project given Squire's absence. The project has been held back so as not to compete with CIRCA:; Sherwood wrote, "The tracks are very prog. It will surface, I promise, just not right now." In Aug 2008, Sherwood said, "Psy-op will be released... it's just a matter of when. I don't wish to cloud nor confuse what my main goal is "getting CIRCA: in the air and on auto pilot"." In an Apr 2008 interview, Sherwood reiterated, "It's finished and mastered and ready to come out but I didn't want to confuse fans with too many products at once."

The Psy-op album also features Tony Kaye (on 1 track), Geoff Downes (on 1 track), Michael Sherwood (Vocoder), Bruce Gowdy (World Trade; co-wrote and keys on 1 track, "Gone All the Way"), Gary Green (ex-Gentle Giant; co-wrote and guitar on 1 track, "Just Another Day", which is also to be covered by CIRCA: on their planned "CIRCA: HQ LIVE" DVD—see above). (There was an earlier report that two songs on the album were written with Gowdy for an abortive third World Trade album, but Sherwood in Feb 2008 referred to just one piece.) A Jan 2006 article quotes Sherwood describing the album as being "really, really proggy". In Jun 2007, posting to the Progressive Ears forum, Sherwood described the album:

What began as Conspiracy 3 has now morphed into a new project titled "Psy-Op". Chris moved back to the U.K. [...] at the same time I was recording a lot of new music which I planned for "C3". After assembling the record it became clear to me that it is not Conspiracy but a whole new kind of "project". [...] You can hear a sample at my web page, {it's labeled Conspiracy 3, that will be changed}. It is mastered and ready for release, that being said [...] since [CIRCA:] are about to release our 1st record I don't want to cloud the waters with a new project. It will come out down the road in time...
A Sep 2006 report suggested there might be an accompanying DVD too. Artwork was prepared for the release by Bob Cesca (worked with Yes, Conspiracy and Sherwood) in 2006. As a preview, an excerpt from "Gone All the Way" was available for download on Sherwood's website. Sherwood described the song as "a story of a man dreaming he is the only human left on earth after a nuclear holocaust, by the middle of the song he reailizes he in fact isn't dreaming, warmakers had finally "Gone All The Way"." In Feb 2008, Sherwood said the album would be out in 2008, after his next solo album, At the Speed of Life (since released), but it has yet to appear.

There is a re-make of "The Lonesome Trail" from Conspiracy on the Jim Ladd's Headsets album Chapter 1: Alone Out Heresee details under Sherwood.

Tribute albums by Billy Sherwood et al.
Sherwood has been behind a number of tribute albums featuring numerous guest musicians, mostly from the world of progressive rock and including multiple Yes men.

Released Oct 2009 was An All-Star Salute to Christmas (8392, Purple Pyramid Records (Cleopatra Records)), on which Geoff Downes guests. As with Abbey Road: A Tribute to The Beatles (see below) and Led Box: The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin, Cleopatra Records have combined tracks produced and engineered by Sherwood with material from other sources. As before, Sherwood had talked of an album with just his tracks.

Track (time)—credited artists; notes
Þ indicates tracks produced by Sherwood for this project; other tracks appear not to involve Sherwood

Disc one

  1. "White Christmas" (3:28)—Iggy Pop
  2. Þ "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" [John Lennon] (3:25)—John Wetton (Asia, ex-King Crimson, ex-UK; vocals); originally by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
  3. Þ "O Holy Night" [trad.] (4:11)—Glenn Hughes
  4. Þ "Step into Christmas" (2:19)—Mickey Thomas (Starship; vocals); originally by Elton John
  5. "All I Want for Christmas is You" [W Afanasieff/M Carey] (4:03)—The Motels; originally by Mariah Carey
  6. Þ "Little Drummer Boy" [trad.] (4:26)—Robby Krieger (ex-The Doors, Riders on the Storm; sitars); also with Sherwood (lead vocals)
  7. "Cuz It's Christmas" (4:39)—Bay City Rollers
  8. "Christmas / Sarajevo 12/24" [J Oliva] (3:15)—George Lynch (Dokken); originally by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
  9. "Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey" [R Allen] (2:35)—Doug Kershaw
  10. "Jingle Bells" [J Pierpont] (2:40)—Donna Fargo
  11. "Funky Christmas" (3:17)—James Brown
  12. Þ "Feed the World" (3:55)—Air Supply (Graham Russell & Russell Hitchcock)
  13. "Little St. Nick" [Brian Wilson] (2:08)—L.A. Guns
  14. Þ "Wonderful Christmastime" (4:07)—Dweezil Zappa; originally by Paul McCartney
  15. "Merry Xmas Everybody" (3:55)—Leif Garrett; originally by Slade
Disc two
  1. Þ "Please Come Home for Christmas" [C Brown] (3:03)—Bobby Kimball (ex-Toto, Yoso)
  2. Þ "Linus and Lucy (Charlie Brown Christmas Theme)" (3:04)—Geoff Downes (Asia, ex-Yes)
  3. Þ "Blue Christmas" [J. Johnson/B. Hayes] (4:10)—Jack Russell (Great White)
  4. "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord" [J Hairston] (4:42)—Musical Youth; originally by Boney M
  5. "Christmas Time is Here Again" (3:43)—The Flirtations; previously released
  6. "Clean for Christmas" [J Brown] (2:43)—James Brown
  7. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" [Haven Gillespie/F Coots] (2:29)—Gilby Clarke
  8. "White Christmas" (4:14)—T.Rextasy
  9. "Father Christmas" [R Davies] (3:45)—Pretty Boy Floyd
  10. "Wizards in Winter" (3:07)—George Lynch
  11. "Sleigh Ride" [Leroy Anderson/M Parish] (3:20)—Spanky & Our Gang; previously released
  12. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (2:01)—Donna Fargo
  13. "Amazing Grace" [trad.] (4:21)—Judy Collins
  14. "867-3509 / Jenny (Christmas Version)" (3:58)—Tommy Tutone
  15. Þ "New Year's Day" [U2] (5:47)—Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, ex-Kansas); also with Sherwood (lead vocals); originally by U2
Buy from Amazon (US):

Buy from Amazon (UK):


Buy as MP3 digital download
from Amazon (US):


Buy from Amazon (Canada):


On his tracks, Sherwood played all the bass parts, while drums are by Lou Molino (Trevor Rabin, ex-Yoso). Sherwood also contributed guitar, keys, lead and backing vocals in places. Also credited on the album is Nancy Ellis (background vocals), while producers on the other tracks include Jurgen Engler, Christopher Lietz, Adam Hamilton and Craig Else.

Abbey Road: A Tribute to The Beatles (Cleopatra Records, CLP-CD-3395) has 20 tracks whereas Sherwood had earlier talked of a 12-track album. Again, Cleopatra Records combined tracks produced by Sherwood with material from other sources. On Sherwood's pieces, he played all the bass parts and contributed some guitar (tracks 1, 6, 9, 10, 13), keys (5-7, 9, 11-13) and vocals (lead: 12, 14; backing: 2, 5, 9). The drums are split between Alan White and Jay Schellen.

Track (time)—credited artists; notes
Þ indicates tracks produced by Sherwood for this project; other tracks do not involve Sherwood
Details in Yescography
  1. Þ "Get Back" (3:31)—Bobby Kimball (ex-Toto, AKA); also with Alan White, Tony Kaye
  2. Þ "Let It Be" (4:51)—Glenn Hughes (lead vocal); also with White, Geoff Downes (Sherwood: "Geoff did his own orchestral type additional section at the end")
  3. "Ticket to Ride" (3:28)—Steve Priest's Sweet, recorded for this album
  4. "Yesterday" (2:12)—Molly Hatchet, possibly a version recorded in 2008 for their new album
  5. Þ "All You Need is Love" (4:22)—John Wetton (Asia, ex-King Crimson)/Robby Krieger (ex-The Doors, Riders on the Storm); Wetton on vocals only; also with White
  6. Þ "The Long and Winding Road" (3:26)—Air Supply; i.e. with Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock
  7. Þ "Here Comes the Sun" (3:10)—Richard Page/Steve Morse
  8. Þ "Day Tripper" (3:12)—David Pack (Ambrosia); also with White
  9. Þ "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (4:08)—Fee Waybill (The Tubes); also with White
  10. Þ "We Can Work It Out" (2:41)—Alex Ligertwood (worked with Patrick Moraz, ex-Santana; vocals); also with White
  11. Þ "Something" (3:00)—Mickey Thomas (Starship, worked with Jim Ladd's Headsets)/Albert Lee
  12. Þ "Tomorrow Never Knows" (3:09)—Dweezil Zappa/Billy Sherwood
  13. Þ "Strawberry Fields Forever" (3:50)—David Jenkins (Pablo Cruise); Sherwood said he was doing this track, but had not said with whom, so I presume this is one of his
  14. Þ "Hey Jude" (6:29)—Steve Lukather (ex-Toto)/Billy Sherwood; also with White, Kaye
  15. "Back in the USSR" (2:41)—Molly Hatchet, probably the version recorded in 2008 for their forthcoming new album
  16. "In My Life" (3:33)—Little River Band, recorded for this album
  17. "Birthday" (3:00)—Leif Garrett, probably the version from the 2008 various artists album Happy Birthday
  18. {Þ} "Across the Universe" (4:38)—Jackson Browne/Robby Krieger; would seem to be from From Here to Infinity, the digital-only first Jim Ladd's Headsets album from Ladd and Sherwood
  19. "Helter Skelter" (3:09)—Michael Davis
  20. "Tomorrow Never Knows" (5:11)—Tangerine Dream, probably the version from their 2008 Booster Vol. II album
Buy from Amazon.com (US):


Buy from Amazon (UK):


Buy as MP3 digital download from Amazon (US):

Buy as MP3 digital download from Amazon (UK):


Further tribute albums involving Billy Sherwood but no other Yes men are covered in Sherwood's section here. Various covers are also included on the Jim Ladd's Headsets releases, also covered in Sherwood's section.

Sherwood said in the Sep 2005 interview that he would also like to tackle Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, The Who's Tommy or "even some of King Crimson's stuff".


On to Jon Anderson news
Return to Where are they now? front page
Return to alt.music.yes FAQ
RSS feed
 
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:
Yoso
Oliver Wakeman
Benoît David
Others associated with the band

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