Where are they now? - Yes
and projects with multiple Yesmen

This page last updated: 4 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:
Oliver Wakeman
Others associated with the band

For ways to help the site, go to the site news page.

On this page—Yes: Howe, Squire and White on tour as Yes - Set list - New music? - 2010 plans - Animated film - DVDs/re-releases - Covers of Yes songs - Documentaries & books - Fandom

Projects involving multiple Yes men: Asia (Howe, Downes) - Anderson & Wakeman - CIRCA:/AKA (Sherwood, Kaye, formerly White) - Psy-op (Sherwood, Downes, Kaye) - Billy Sherwood's tribute albums (with Howe, White, Wakeman, Kaye, Downes et al.) - Jon Anderson & Trevor Rabin - Squire, White & Rabin at John Lennon tribute


Yes news YesWorld
On tour
Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Oliver Wakeman (keys) and Benoît David (vocals) are on tour as Yes, while Jon Anderson, by his own account, is still not fit enough to do a major tour. After dates in 2008 and one Feb 2009 show, this line-up returns for a US leg with Asia through to 2 Aug. On prior dates, they were perhaps ambiguous about whether they were or were not actually Yes, being billed as "Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes"; most media reports just described them as Yes anyway. The new tour's press release just describes them as Yes. When 2008 dates were announced, Squire explained, "This isn't an attempt to replace Jon Anderson [...] that would be impossible. With Benoit, we are bringing in a talented singer so that we can go out and honor the music of YES for the fans". In an Oct 2008 article, Squire described Anderson as "absolutely" still a member of the band and said "at the last count I believe we have his blessings to go out and do this." Yet, at their third show on the 2008 tour, Squire also said, "This is our first show of the tour in the States. You have a new president and we have two new members of Yes." He and Howe said similar things at later dates. See discussion below for more on this and Anderson's situation. Until the 2009 summer leg, YesWorld displayed the Yes members as Anderson, Howe, Squire and White, although it is unclear what this meant in practice. However, as of the beginning of Jul, the front page now has a listing labelled "Lineup" naming Howe, Squire, White, David and O. Wakeman, with Anderson listed as an alumnus (although another part of the site retains a "Band Members" tag with Anderson, Howe, Squire and White). The new line-up appear to have plans for touring through to the end of 2009. Around May, Squire and Anderson discussed Anderson returning to the band in 2010, although it is unclear how developed such plans are. Yes are planning a new studio album (see below).

The band's summer leg has support from Asia with Howe playing both sets, while touring in Europe later in the year is planned. YesWorld announced 25 dates from 26 Jun to 2 Aug, with Meet & Greet packages available. Set list below. Dates cover California, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. The opening night had an audience of, reportedly, about 2300. Howe, Squire and Palmer appeared on US radio's Rockline to discuss the tour on 1 Jul (available on streaming audio for the next fortnight). White, David and O. Wakeman appeared and performed on Bob Rivers' radio show on 30 Jun, which can be heard here. Members of the bands (including White, Downes and Wetton) attended an exhibition by Roger Dean, whose work is used on the tour again, on 1-2 Jul in San Francisco, CA: see under Dean. Dean attended a show. Howe had prior commitments to Asia in 2009; he describes the joint tour in a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge as being in part to satisfy those prior commitments and while continuing with Yes. Howe describes how the total stage time for both bands will be no more than 2.5 hours with an interval between the two acts and says, "I don't really think of it as two completely different entities; it's an evening's music, but I'm going to play the first set Asia, the second set Yes [...] they would be and should be compatible and make an exciting evening." On the second night, Asia played for about 1 hr and Yes for about 1 hr 50 mins, although Howe has talked of a total playing time of only 2.5 hours. On Rockline, Palmer said Asia do a 57 min. set and Squire said Yes do a 1.5 hour set. In a Nov 2008 radio interview, White said: "Hopefully, we'll progress up [in venue size] next summer [...] I guess [...] we're going out with a package and probably doing more ampitheatre type shows".

It appears space for other Yes activity has been agreed. Howe's NftE interview continues: "UK and Europe are definitely going to be played [...] later in the year [...] the dates are going to be ready mostly probably before the summer dates actually come out, but we'll see how that works out." Although unconfirmed, a 22 Nov date at the Manchester Apollo, Manchester, UK is being advertised. I presume this indicates a tour is in negotiation. In an interview for Classic Rock Presents... Prog (out Mar 2009), Howe says Yes will be playing Europe in Oct or Nov. Howe had also previously talked of a European leg for Yes in 2009 (see below). In Jun 2009, O. Wakeman told one fan that they would play Italy in the autumn. In mid-Oct 2008, White mentioned a 2009 European leg too. In a Sep 2008 interview, White had said: "we're starting up [touring] again [...] going into February, and then probably to South America to do the whole bit", but that plan appears to have fallen by the wayside for now. In an Oct 2008 radio appearance by Squire and David, Squire said they would play Europe in 2009 and "probably" Japan later in the year. In a Dec 2008 article, Squire said he would like to do a world tour with this line-up in 2009. In his NftE interview, Howe acknowledges that "Ideas have come up about Japan", but says he does not think the band will fit in anything more than North America and Europe this year.

A joint tour this summer by Yes, Asia and ELP was rumoured first in early Nov 2008. After shows in early Dec, Squire was reported to have said that plans were being ironed out for a tour with ELP. ELP are not now to be involved with the summer tour, but Carl Palmer (ex-ELP, Asia) said (Mar 2009) that there is "talk of an ELP reunion in the fall", so a three-way link-up appeared to remain a possibility at some point. However, in May 2009, ELP's Keith Emerson announced that he is withdrawing from touring for the time being, saying that "due to past right hand injuries[,] the resulting nerve damage and dystonic factor has made it unable for me to play the keyboards to the high standard I have always set myself". He also confirmed that there had been plans for an ELP tour for the end of 2009. Wetton in Jun 2009, on his forum, described the idea, saying "the festival featuring Yes,Asia and ELP [...] would have feasibly been very very difficult but possible,except for what has happened to KE and JA in the recent past." (Talking about Asia in Classic Rock Presents... Prog issue 1, Palmer said: "We're even looking at an idea of mine called Asia: Family and Friends for next year." However, this refers to another idea unconnected to Yes or ELP; see under Asia for details.) On Rockline, Palmer described Asia and Yes touring together as "a blueprint for the future".n

The first leg of the In the Present tour saw 31 North American dates in Canada and the US in autumn/winter 2008. Roger Dean did stage design using "stretch fabric on a frame" as he explains in an interview for Notes for the Edge, and artwork for the tour; he attended at least the first 2 shows. Paul Silveira (worked with Yes, Asia, Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Anderson & Wakeman, The Syn) returned as tour manager, while David Wright was stage manager. I think Will Alexander (worked for Keith Emerson) was keyboard tech again. Lighting by Steve Baird. Preliminary rehearsals started in Los Angeles in Sep 2008, initially with Squire, White, David and Johnny Bruhns (Yes tribute band Roundabout, HeartBreaker; standing in for Howe), with a subsequent move to Canada and the full band together from mid-Oct. The second show (Toronto) was about 90% full, which would be ~2500. The Hampton Beach show was full (~2000), while the Uncasville show had an audience of ~5500. The 22 Nov show had ~2700, while on 23 Nov there were ~1500. The 5 Dec show was sold out (~1100), while the 7 Dec show had ~1700. Yes featured twice in Billboard's chart of the highest grossing concerts reported in the week beginning 2 Feb: at #46 (25 Nov show in Cleveland, OH: 990 attendance, $56,014 gross ticket sales) and #98 (6 Dec in North Myrtle Beach, SC: 1,026 attendance, $32,460 gross sales). Patrick Moraz attended the 15 Dec show. Attending at other shows were Jordan Rudess and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, and Rick's daughter Amanda. For their 23 Nov Albany show, a portion of proceeds were donated to Stride Adaptive Sports, who provide sport and recreation lessons to individuals with special needs. On 15 Nov, Squire, White and David appeared on Fox News' Huckabee and performed (on borrowed instruments, Squire on Huckabee's bass) "Owner of a Lonely Heart" with two guitarists from the house band, The Little Rockers (YouTube clip).

A second leg of 17 dates was announced for 5 Feb-3 Mar 2009 covering Mexico, US and Canada, but was cancelled after one show (set list below). This was due to Squire suffering an aneurysm in his leg after the 9 Feb Houston sound check and requiring immediate surgery. YesWorld described how Squire "underwent surgery on his leg on February 11 [...] The operation was successful [...] Chris has been advised by his physician that he needs a one month rest period, hence the reason for the cancellation of the rest of the tour dates." On 21 Feb, White said on Facebook: "his operation was a success and after a period of rest, recuperation, and with his doctor’s approval, Chris is planning to return to the line-up fully recovered and stronger than ever." On 18 Apr 2009, Squire performed at a John Lennon tribute event for charity with White and Rabin (details below), his first live work since the emergency. Billboard had Yes at #33 (10 Feb in Dallas, TX: sold out 1625 tickets, $83,730 gross sales) and #39 (9 Feb in Houston, TX: sold out 1529 tickets, $74,410 gross sales) for two of the cancelled shows.

The 9 Oct 2008 article continues: "Squire says the shows on the upcoming trek will all be recorded and possibly offered for sale or download." In a Feb 2009 article, White floats the possibility of doing a DVD. These comments were both before the second leg was largely cancelled.

In 2007, Yes moved to Trudy Green at HK Management (manage Aerosmith, Mick Jagger, Def Leppard, worked with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson) in California. Green is also Anderson's manager. As I understand it, the Yes name is currently co-owned by Anderson/Squire/Howe/Wakeman/White. In 2008, Squire's website stated that "the [Yes] name is co-owned by Chris, Alan White and Jon Anderson". However, Rick Wakeman e-mailed me in Oct 2008 to correct that, explaining he too remains a part owner of the name, and so does Howe as far as he knows. Squire's site went on to say that, "Yes, LLC is co-owned by Chris, Alan and Steve Howe." (Yes, LLC is the business entity.)

Introducing Benoît David & Oliver Wakeman
Benoît David (pronounced "ben-wa duh-vid") is a Quebecois singer with progressive rock group Mystery and tribute band Close to the Edge, who perform the music of Yes from 1971-4. It is in this latter role that David came to Squire's attention in late May, and David then auditioned for the role in Los Angeles, CA. (Benoît David is not to be confused with jazz pianist David Benoit.)

Oliver Wakeman (ex-Starcastle, Clive Nolan) is Rick's eldest son. He has worked with Howe and, through him, had a minor engineering role on The Ultimate Yes (US version). Oliver was due to play on the cancelled 2008 summer tour having been recommended by his father.

Set list
On the second night of the Asia/Yes tour, Asia's set was [SPOILERS—highlight to read] intro music, "Wildest Dreams", "Only Time will Tell", "An Extraordinary Life", "Video Killed the Radio Star" (originally by The Buggles), "In the Court of the Crimson King" (King Crimson), "The Smile has Left Your Eyes" (semi-acoustic, with Palmer on tambourine), "Don't Cry" (semi-acoustic), "Fanfare for the Common Man" (ELP's arrangement, with Palmer drum solo), "Sole Survivor", "Heat of the Moment" (Downes on keytar); while the Yes set was: "Firebird Suite" (intro music), "Siberian Khatru", "I've Seen All Good People", "Tempus Fugit" (with Wakeman on Vocoder), "Astral Traveler" (with White drum solo), "And You and I", Howe solo (unidentified piece, then "Clap"), "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Machine Messiah", "Roundabout", "Heart of the Sunrise", encore: "Starship Trooper". YesWorld has reviews of the tour. Howe played "Clap" on the third night as well. At the 30 Jun show in Washington state, the Seattle Seahawk's Blue Thunder Drum Corp came on stage during White's solo in "Astral Traveller" and played a percussion piece with him, before finishing "Astral Traveller" with the band. (There was speculation that Downes might join Yes for the Drama-era songs. Squire said in the Rockline interview, "We were thinking about asking Geoff possibly," but that, "Just at the moment, we're going to keep with [Oliver Wakeman]." Asked about Yes and Asia combining on stage, Squire said, "We could," but he and Palmer said they hadn't thought about it.)

Talking more generally, Howe in a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge said, "I think Yes could or should have always been able to play any kind of era, and most of us professed that we did, but of course we didn't." He goes on to say that there was "good music when I wasn't in the band", describing Time and a Word as "sensational" and how "everybody loved 90125". He continues: "I think it's Yes that's the most important thing—not the individuals". Asked specifically about playing more YesWest songs, he continues:

there’s one or two other songs. [...] if we give "Owner" a break and played "Changes" or something else that was interesting, I’m not against it, but I think right now, "Owner" is the kind of predictable ‘80s song, so we are predictable in that area, and I’m ok with that. I think as we grow in this new way, things like "Astral Traveler" and other songs really found their place, so hopefully there is room for that [...] We could do more from some of the eras that I’m not involved in as much [...] and there’s got to be a time when we do "To Be Over" [...] perhaps partly what we’re saying here is it is easy with Benoit and Oliver. They’re much more open to play music from any era [...]

We did try "A Venture"; [it] just didn’t really work, so it’s not a given that every time we try something it works [...] but I’m sure that’s what Yes is supposed to be doing is bringing tunes back into play that have rather missed appearances.

Later in the interview, Howe indicates that he will stick with his approach to varying his solo spots at each show, and that he will add "Part & Parcel" (from Motif Volume 1) to the rota.

The set list on the only date of the second leg (5 Feb, Mexico City) was: "Firebird Suite" (intro music), "Siberian Khatru", "I've Seen All Good People", "Tempus Fugit" (with Wakeman on Vocoder), "Onward", "Astral Traveler" (including drum solo), "Close to the Edge", Howe solo ("Winter/In the Course of the Day"), "And You and I" (starting with the "Apocalypse" section, but then going into the usual acoustic intro), "Long Distance Runaround/the fish", "Aliens are Only Us from the Future" (new song by Squiresee details below, with Squire on bass and lead vocals, Wakeman on keys, David on backing vocals and White on drum kit just at the end), "Machine Messiah" (with David on acoustic guitar), "Starship Trooper"; encore: "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Roundabout". This was the usual set on the latter section of the first leg too. Earlier on the first leg, the typical set was: "Firebird Suite" (intro music), "Siberian Khatru", "I've Seen All Good People", "Tempus Fugit", "Onward", "Astral Traveler", "Close to the Edge", intermission, "Parallels", "And You and I", Howe solo spot, "Long Distance Runaround/the fish", "Aliens are Only Us from the Future", "Machine Messiah", "Soon" (with David on acoustic guitar), "Starship Trooper", encore: "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Roundabout". David also plays some percussion live. Howe's solo spot was initially "Mood for a Day" and "Clap", but varied since with different pieces at every show (details at Forgotten Yesterdays). The set was about 2.5 hours long earlier in the tour, but became slightly shorter. "South Side of the Sky" was in the "Starship Trooper" slot at the first two shows, while "Heart of the Sunrise" was played before "Tempus Fugit" at the first 6 shows, but then dropped. There have been a couple of further minor changes at individual shows—again see Forgotten Yesterdays for details. In particular, a few shows were notably shorter for various reasons.

A few other pieces were mentioned as possibles for the tour, but have not been played (at least, yet). In an interview with Oliver for Notes for the Edge, Mike Tiano adds that White said that "A Venture" was a candidate for the tour. Oliver also discussed the possibility that he will have a solo spot or that he might do something from 3 Ages of Magick with Howe, but said it depends on other set list choices. White says that "In the Presence of" was also considered.


Longer term plans
As for Yes's longer term plans, it appears nothing is confirmed for 2010, but that plans are being considered. The band have already been thinking about live work in 2010. In the aforementioned Sep 2008 interview, White said: "We have new management now and they're planning at least a five-year program for us. Obviously, we're thinking about the music. Chris, myself and Steve are ready to go. We're all pretty healthy and ready to get back on the road and do the whole thing again." In the Dec 2008 article, Squire said age would not slow them down: "There are classical musicians who perform into their 90s. I don't see why that can't be the same for people who play rock 'n' roll." There are some indications that there might be a break from touring in 2010, with Howe talking about live dates with his Trio that year and David saying in an early 2009 interview in Classic Rock Presents... Prog that, "There'll be a new [Mystery] album, probably in 2010, when I'm finally off the road with Yes." Possible studio album recording is described below.

What line-up we may see in the future is unclear. In the aforementioned early 2009 interview, David says: "I don't know about my situation but [Oliver Wakeman] certainly has a future with Yes long term and I know they're going to make great music together." On 12 May, it was reported that Scotland Squire (Chris's wife) had said that Squire and Anderson are in contact about the future of Yes, including the possibility of Anderson returning to the band in 2010, with activity in the remainder of this year continuing with David.

In mid-May, Anderson posted to Facebook:

I feel more healthy everyday, and thanks to you peeps out there, realize YES music needs a voice....I'm ready.....

And:

I realize that Chris Alan and Steve are touring as YES now, but I won't be up there singing, 'they' would rather carry on as they are in their version of YES.....I do feel sad about it of course , but it's their choice, so if you buy tickets for a YES show this year, I'm sorry that I won't be there singing........keep the faith, maybe next year......we will see

In a Jun 2009, Polish radio interview, asked about Yes, Anderson said, "The Yes group is touring with, er... somebody who looks like me and sings like me when I was 30. They have a look-a-like, sing-a-like. But I was very sick last year. And I was only singing two months ago, three months [...] It's very impossible for me to tour on the big scale, so that's why I come just for a show here [in Poland]." Asked about a reunion, Anderson said, "I think next year. I spoke with Chris [Squire] a month ago and I said that I was very excited to be feeling better and maybe we could get together and make some... music. And he said, 'Well then, next year, yeah.' And I said, 'Next year. That's fine.' So we will see." In a Jun interview published in Polish for NaszeMiasto.pl, Anderson is asked about Yes re-grouping with him and Rick Wakeman to tour or record ("A jest szansa, że YES zbierze się razem, w oryginalnym składzie z Rickiem Wakemanem i ruszycie w trasę albo nagracie coś nowego?"). Anderson replies:

Tak, rozmawialiśmy o nagraniu czegoś jesienią. I trasie w przyszłym roku. A co do Ricka... On chce pojechać w tę trasę, ale wolałby, żeby była krótsza. Z czym w sumie się zgadzam. Lepiej zagrać trzy lepsze koncerty w tygodniu niż pięć, sześć byle jakich. Z YES to zawsze powinno mieć wizualny rozmach. Zobaczymy, jak się sprawy potoczą.

That is, "we" (presumably either Yes and Anderson or Yes, Anderson and Wakeman) have talked about recording an album in the autumn. And Anderson and R. Wakeman would like to tour with Yes next year, but with a shorter tour with a lower density of dates. (If anyone can provide a better translation, please drop me an e-mail. Thanks!)


In a Jun 2009 article, Howe is quoted on the current situation:

Though Anderson is currently healthy enough to perform solo shows and is still listed as a member on the band's Web site, Howe doesn't seem in any hurry to boot David out of the band to give Anderson his spot back.

"That is how we're working it at the moment," he says, adding: "Nobody knows what the future holds. There aren't any doors completely shut."

Prior discussion about the line-up follows in the next two sections.

What happened to Jon Anderson? Will the "classic" line-up ever return, and what do the others think of the new line-up?
Anderson had been to tour with Yes in summer 2008. However, he has been having major health problems, culminating in a very serious asthma attack on 13 May 2008 that led to his hospitalisation and what his daughter Deborah described as a "near death experience". On US radio in Jul, Alan White talked of how Jon's wife Jane told him that Jon was "dead" for two minutes before being revived (see discussion on Anderson's page). Anderson was advised not to tour this summer on medical grounds and the Yes tour cancelled; see the official announcement. The 4 Jun 2008 press release said:

Jon Anderson was admitted to the hospital last month after suffering a severe asthma attack. He has now been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and was told by doctors this weekend that he needs to rest and not work for a period of at least six months or suffer further health complications.

Six months has already passed, but Anderson has had some further health issues and, while he has resumed studio work, it appears he will be prevented from touring for some time longer. However, Anderson is returning to some degree of touring this summer—see under Anderson. In a Nov 2008 article, White said:

Jon is slowly recovering. He's had four or five operations, but he wouldn't be ready to go out for eight or nine months. We're musicians: we just want to play. I think he [Anderson] is all right with it now.

In an appearance on Off the Record broadcast late Jun 2008 (but seemingly recorded earlier that month), Anderson had talked about hoping to tour with Yes in 2009 and said that the band were continuing to work on 4-5 songs via the Internet, in collaboration with producer Jack Douglas (worked with John Lennon, Aerosmith, The Who, The New York Dolls), for a new album, possibly for late 2009. Those plans appear to have been dropped.

Howe, Squire and White have previously talked of the possibility of Anderson doing some work with them, but also of a continuation of David's tenure, both live and in the studio (see section on new music below). In a Sep 2008 Associated Press report, Squire "said he is hopeful Anderson will be well enough to do shows next year [2009]." He was quoted as saying, "You can't ever really replace Jon Anderson, because he's been such a force in the music business. We look upon his replacement as more of an understudy." In an Aug 2008 interview for Eclipsed, Squire and White said the same, that they hoped Anderson might return in 2009. In the 9 Oct article, Squire says, "Unfortunately Jon has had these health problems for the last few years, which is why it's taken such a long time [...] to have any Yes shows [...] We've had to be very respectful of the fact he's not been well and he's been in and out of the hospital having quite a few major procedures. If Jon is well again next year [2009], he'll be back." However, it is far from clear what implications Anderson's health have for future touring. Here's Squire in another interview circa Nov: "As far as I know, yes [we have Anderson's blessing], seeing as how he's been unable to speak much, we haven't really spoken, but our manager, who manages Jon as well, has been keeping him abreast of all developments. [...] He may be able to do some shows in the future but it's uncertain at this time." In a Sep 2008 interview, White said:

It’s not like we’re tossing Jon out of the band or anything like that. When Jon is well enough to come back and sing with the band, he can. Until that point, people want to see Yes on the road again. And we had no idea when that might be. So we’re going out with an understudy.

In a Nov 2008 radio interview, White said of Anderson, "Jon's pretty sick and it's not a fact that Jon is not in the band any more. He just can't go on tour right now. And we've been waiting for three years to [tour]." In a Nov 2008 interview, Squire said:

Jon Anderson had a series of health problems, and he’s not out of the woods yet.  I really don’t know what his prognosis will be – if he’ll be able to do any lengthy tours. [...] I can’t tell how Jon will be in the future, but I imagine it will be more limited to doing maybe some individual shows here and there with him.  I don’t know if he’ll ever want to do a full-scale tour again.  But once again, until he’s recovered, and of course we wish him a full recovery, we won’t know any of those things.  So meanwhile we’re getting along all right with Benoit.

The 28 Nov 2008 article re-iterates these points, with Squire saying he hopes to tour with Anderson when his health permits and that Anderson will "always be a member of Yes", and David saying, "I can't replace Jon Anderson. I'll just do my best." A Dec 2008 article reads:

White is very deliberate crediting Anderson as an official member and hopes his absence is just temporary. [...]

“Jon’s initial reaction was disappointment as he considers himself still in Yes and so do we,” White admits. “But he knows we want to move on and make music and he’s got mixed reactions. He’s come to terms that he’s too sick and knows we can’t sit around forever, and I think he’s resigned himself to that fact. It was just his 64th birthday and I sent him an e-mail. He sent one back saying ‘I understand you guys,’ and it seems to have kind of all sunk in. But absolutely, all three of us feel that [Jon] is still in Yes and always will be. In fact, we tell people sometimes that if Jon wants to come and sing on a tour, maybe we’ll take Benoît out as well and they can each sing some of the songs.”


In a Feb 2009 interview, Squire says:

"we decided to go out with someone and really create an understudy for Jon, not knowing if Jon would improve or not [...] He's having a lot of procedures for various ailments, but we hope that he makes a full recovery." The article continues: "while Squire says that Anderson has given his tacit approval now, it's not like he's calling up after shows asking, "So, how did the kid do?"

"Jon will be welcome to come do some things on [record] and maybe feature shows," he adds, "but I'm afraid he won't be able to do large-scale tours."

Squire goes on to call vocalist David a "godsend," and is looking forward to making new music with him and [O.] Wakeman in the near future.


In a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge, White said: "I hope Jon gets better and maybe he's not well enough of do whole tours, but possibly he'll come and do feature things or whatever, but if he wants to go on the whole tour, it's fine, but it's pretty arduous out there."

Howe explained in an Oct 2008 interview:

We were considering different options with various singers, some completely unknown, others quite well known and a few really well known. But when we were steered to a YouTube clip of Benoit, we thought, that’s bizarre but almost what we need. We said, why shouldn’t we try this? So we spoke to Benoit

In another that month (in French), he said:

Je ne dirais pas que c'était une décision facile, mais une fois que vous l'avez prise, après tout va tellement mieux. Il faut regarder devant et non derrière. Depuis des années nous ignorions à quoi ressemblerait notre horaire (en raison des ennuis de santé de Jon Anderson), alors de savoir précisément où nous nous en allons rend tout le monde plus heureux. Nous voulons que le chanteur devienne meilleur, nous voulons voir ce que nous sommes capables de faire comme groupe sans Jon et continuer l'histoire de Yes. Yes n'appartient à aucun de nous, c'est la somme de nous tous.

This translates (thanks to JBK):

I wouldn't say it was an easy decision, but once you've taken it, everything goes so much better. We must look forward and not backward. For years we were ignoring what our timetable would look like (because of Jon Anderson's health problems), so to know precisely where we are going makes everybody happier. We want the singer to get better, we want to see what we are able to do as a group without Jon and to continue Yes's existence. Yes does not belong to any one of us, it is the sum of us all.

In another Oct 2008 interview, Howe said, "There is a kind of feeling here that we've got a new lifeblood. Chris, Alan and I seem to be up for this one. Well, we've been up for it for years but we haven't been able to get Jon in the right state of mind or health to come out on tour." In a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge, Howe said:

There’s two main options: either we don’t carry on because Jon can’t do it or we do carry on and work it out so that we can. It’s like saying what would happen in Genesis [...] "Sorry, Peter Gabriel’s left; we’re going to quit. We’re going to quit the whole business; none of us are going to play an instrument ever again. None of us will play Genesis songs again." [...] if you take that as an analogy [...] surely it was a good thing that they found the strength to carry through with the Genesis idea. It changed; it wasn’t quite the same. [...] We’re basing our career at the moment on playing music that people already love [...] I mean, some people in Yes at times thought that wasn’t a joy (laughs); they overplayed the music to the fans who wanted it. No, I find it a joy.

In mid-Oct 2008, White said that he would let their music speak for them rather than commenting on the situation. However, he did add "I miss Jon too, but we can't stay at home for ever..." And in another, he said:

We really hope that people are going to understand that what we're doing with Yes, it's about keeping a great idea going

We didn't want to replace Jon, it's nothing to do with us ... Life goes on and we have to design a new kind of Yes, and that's what we've done.

In an Oct 2008 article, David says, "They asked me to do the singing for now. Everybody hopes that Jon gets well as soon as possible and comes back." And "I can't replace Jon Anderson. I'll just do my best." In a Nov 2008 interview on YouTube, David says, "I'm replacing Jon for the time being. Hopefully Jon gets better and, y'know, can come back [...] That's the plan. And my being there and doing this tour will probably allow him to take the time and the rest he needs to come back full force. That's what we're all hoping for." An early Nov article reports that David does not know whether Anderson "will be well enough to join a Yes tour overseas and whether his run with the band ends next month with the last North American date in [Dec] [David's inclusion in the Feb/Mar leg was subsequently confirmed] [...] But he's not holding out hope of staying on as the band's permanent singer and figures Anderson will be back eventually." In an early 2009 interview in Classic Rock Presents... Prog, David says: "I don't know about my situation but [Oliver Wakeman] certainly has a future with Yes long term".

At "The Director's Cut" DVD screening in Sep 2008, R. Wakeman was reportedly fine with the new line-up. He did also express the hope that the classic line-up—himself, Anderson, Squire, Howe and White—would still perform together at some point, but said that it would not be for a tour given Anderson's health problems and would have to be "for the right thing, for something special". He made similar comments at a book signing in Sep, saying he hoped he and Anderson would return but that it would be for something like a couple of large shows rather than a long tour. In the Summer 2008 RWCC Newsletter, Rick said, "What the future will hold for the "Classic Line-Up" is anybody's guess". In Oct 2008, he e-mailed me to say that he is "still very hopeful" that the classic line-up will appear again "for some very special shows as I believe that is what YES is ...very special". In a Nov radio interview, White said of Rick, in the context of Yes, that "he will go on tour some time again, I'm pretty sure, but not on extensive tours." In the RWCC Xmas 2008 newsletter, Rick says, "I'm still hopeful that YES and the Classic Line-Up will have some special moments in the future with events worthy of what the name and it's [sic] music deserve ......I can only hope!"

It first appeared that Anderson was critical of Howe/Squire/White's plans, but he appears to have since moderated his position. On 18 Sep 2008, Anderson put an announcement on his website and on MySpace entitled "Not Yes"; excerpts follow:

Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness [...] to find out [...] how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I'm fully recovered.

And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year [2008] creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design [...]

Of course I wish the guys all the best in their 'solo' work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. [...]

This is not YES on tour...


By 6 Oct, Anderson's message had been taken down again and Squire has since reported that they have Anderson's "blessings" for the project. At the time, Howe, Squire and White were themselves ambiguous as to whether they were claiming the new line-up to be Yes and were billing themselves as "of Yes", although some ticket vendors, venues and media reports were simply calling them "Yes"—see above. However, the announcement of the 2009 summer tour now just does call them Yes.

In a late Oct US radio interview, asked how Anderson is "taking all of this", Squire said, "Trudi Green, our manager, has been dealing with the politics of most of this. But I think Jon, y'know, has given us his blessing. He understands that we want to go out and work and that the fans want to hear Yes music. Y'know, we've been off the road for 4 years and we were supposed to do that 40th anniversary tour [...] And of course we hope he has a full recovery and, at some point next year [2009], if he wants to do some shows here and there, and I'm sure Philly would be one of them, y'know, then of course that will be totally something we'll look at, but in the meanwhile we're carrying on with Benoît." In an Oct article, Squire says, "I think what we're doing now, he's [Anderson] pretty much giving us his blessing" and "He'll always be a member of Yes." In an 8 Dec article, White said:

[Anderson] was a little disturbed when he heard that this was happening. He wasn't very happy, but I think he's come to realize that the band has to keep playing. I've gotten a couple of e-mails from him saying, 'I understand what's happening now.' It seems like he's getting well, but it's really slow. It's going to take a long time for him to get well.

Squire responded to Anderson's comments in an article published in early Oct, confirming that he had not spoken to Anderson, but the article continues:

"I send him flowers and get well cards," [Squire] says. "I'm assuming that when he's fully recovered, he'll get back in touch." He also says that Anderson knew beforehand about the move to hire a new touring singer. "I didn't tell him personally," Squire says. "Our manager to a degree was dealing with the politics of it, which, at the time, seemed the most appropriate thing."

In the Nov 2008 interview, Squire said, "The facts of life are that Jon was always in the loop knowing what was going on. Our manager, Trudy Green, was in constant touch with him, letting him know what our plans were as to going ahead without him". As for the future, Squire says, "We've been together longer than most marriages. Jon will always be a member of Yes." And, "Of course I wish [him] a full recovery, and I hope he'll be well enough to come back at a later date. On the other hand, this might not happen. So we decided to look into, in my own words, getting an understudy for him to fill in."

Howe commented in a 9 Oct (in French) and 10 Oct article, seemingly from the same source:

Howe said the band was sympathetic to Anderson's condition but decided their fans couldn't wait any longer, particularly since tour plans had previously been delayed for years due to the singer's solo pursuits.

"Jon put an announcement out and said, 'Oh, it's not really Yes, they've not been kind to me,' and that's nonsense," Howe said, adding that the band still hopes that Anderson can hit the road again in 2009 for the European leg of the tour.

"We've been kind to him, we've been considerate, we've not let him down, but he started up a movement to boycott the tour. But it's not working, we're getting great ticket sales, people want to come and see us."

As for Anderson's views now, in an Oct 2008 interview with Classic Rock Forever, he said, "YES music is and always will be worth performing and listening to, and I feel very proud to have been a part of it. Hopefully we will get back together and perform in the coming years, I truly hope so, the fans deserve it, and so do we." In MySpace blog posts, Anderson commented further. On 4 Oct, he said:

here I am thinking about YES, trying to keep YES safe, for the millions of fans around the world...I am a fan, I believe in YES music [...]

When I sing ''And You and I'' with the guys, it's truly 'heaven' [...]

I just performed 'Awaken' with the young teens from the 'Paul Green School of Rock' [...] it was glorious [...] YES music has survived...

I'm just going through a difficult time health wise, but it is a re-birth for me [...] next year [2009], there will be more YES music for everyone....for the next 30 years...

Maybe some young guns will 'get it', and create the next generation of YES music, I truly hope so...much love..jon..


And, in a separate post later that day:

just dreaming YES music will be found again by so many young people out there,I've just been watching some YES DVD's from 6 years ago,35 year tour of Europe, I realized that the band 'still' play the 'game of adventure' through music...OK, the fans want to hear their favorite songs...and they are MY favorite songs as well, and YES deliver, but they played 'new' songs....still inventive, and with style, I feel so thankful and happy to have been a part of those days.....but ''Those days are Over', it's time to breath life again...maybe next summer, 'who knows'...

What will be the future of the Band.....not sure anymore...for a band to survive 40 years and more is tough .......

The music will survive, the CD's sound better than ever [...] the memories last forever.........the great concerts [...]

Hearing Steve raving to my right, he plays an amazing guitar, very clear and constant, Chris, thundering around on stage, yet so delicate at times, so very musical...Alan grinning, rockin' and blasting the band into the sky, Rick almost perfect with that beautiful soundscape, and brilliant piano work...

Like I've said before, bands are very fragile ideas, they need attention, respect and 'love', they get pushed around by the outside elements, and this has always been the truth...but YES survived


YesWorld carries the following note: "Jon Anderson conveys his thanks to all those who have prayed for his speedy recovery. Jon will not be present for the current set of tour dates." In Jan 2009, Stephen Layton briefly put on his MySpace a song done in collaboration with Anderson, "You Didn't Hear Me" (see on Anderson's page for details). Anderson's lyrics appear to be commenting on his relationship with Yes.

In a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge, White says:

I'm the only one who's really spoken to Jon, and we send emails, and Jon sent me an email when he realized it was going to take quite a while for him to get well, so I just sent him a long email and told him how I felt about how he'll never change in my eyes, and I wish he was well. [...] he sent me a great email back. He said, "I understand...I love you very much, and it's going to take a while for me to get better,"

May saw a number of reports suggesting a reunification of the band in 2010 is possible: these are discussed above.

In the aforementioned Oct 2008 interview with Classic Rock Forever, Anderson commented about the break in band activity since 2004:

Like most people my age [...] the body/mind goes through so many changes.  I feel that my health has always been strong enough for the band …up until 2004. There had been too many tours, too much friction from outside of the band.  This had made it impossible to keep touring the way YES truly should - and with NO new music, a lack of passion for the music and each other, and no real promotion of who YES truly is, etc., things just looked so bleak. That’s why I suggested a break for 6 months, maybe do a progressive acoustic CD, and tour on a different style of touring, semi-acoustic for a while, and less shows per year [...] We were not communicating as a band should, both Rick and myself could see it happening, but sadly the others just wanted to keep going down that same touring spiral …that’s why YES hasn’t toured, it happens to the best.

What about Rick Wakeman? And other abandoned line-up ideas
The band on the cancelled 2008 summer tour was to be Anderson, Squire, Howe and White, but not Rick Wakeman. Oliver Wakeman, Rick's eldest son, was announced as "sitting in" on keys, to use the phrasing given at YesWorld. Despite his absence, the possibility of Rick's future involvement with Yes in some manner remains open, with the option of some live appearances hinted when the band were to tour with Anderson. Oliver is continuing on keyboards for the Howe/Squire/White tour and future legs (see above) and would like to continue with the band. In an early 2009 interview in Classic Rock Presents... Prog, David said: "I don't know about my situation but [Oliver Wakeman] certainly has a future with Yes long term and I know they're going to make great music together."

Rick's absence is for a number of reasons, with the stresses of touring on his health being central. In an early-Feb interview with Notes from the Edge, Anderson said, "Oliver Wakeman will be playing in the band, because Rick can't tour anymore. His doctors have told him that you can't do it. He can do small tours, but he can't do the big work, you know. He's excited that his son's playing." In a 17 Mar interview, he said, "I saw Oliver again last week. He's just as good as his father." The key point of contention seems to have been the length of the tour. Chatting with fans after a solo show in early Nov 2007, Rick explained that he is limiting himself to 25 shows a year, but that the others in Yes wanted to do a tour of over 100 dates. He was quoted as saying, "They're madJon's voice would never stand up to it." R. Wakeman has semi-retired from touring. In Mar 2008, Rick made an announcement about the situation on his website, abbreviated here:

Throughout much of [2007], e-mails and phone calls were held between Jon, Chris, Steve, Alan and myself as to where we all felt the future for YES lay [...] there were conflicting views in many areas! (Nothing new there, but very healthy of course). My major concern was that of over-touring, which I felt YES had done since 2002 [...] especially in America which for me diminished the "specialness" of the band. I also was concerned for the health of the band, both as a whole and as individuals.  It's a matter of public record for instance, that Jon in particular really suffered during the last weeks of the previous YES tour [...]

I have had my fair share of "narrow escapes" when it comes to health and I felt that I simply could not do months and months of touring each year anymore and I expressed this to the other guys [...] I suggested to the new management that we perhaps limited the shows we would do and make each show something special, but this was rejected with the management feeling that lengthy touring was the answer [...]

It was therefore with an extremely heavy heart that I had to say to the guys that I could not be part of a massive long term touring schedule [...] We are a democratic band and I accept that I was a sole voice in this thinking.

Chris and I met up a few times and spoke about who I felt would be able to do a good job in the keyboard department and I put forward just two names, my two eldest sons Adam and Oliver. Adam [...] was not really a "contender" because he is fully committed to Ozzy [...] I was [...] very happy when Oliver told me that Steve had called him.

[...] I truly hope that this is not the end of the Classic Line-Up and that something very special may happen in the not too distant future.

In his Spring 2008 newsletter, he said:

All of us in the band have been in regular contact as regards what we individually thought should happen with YES and my view has always been that the band needed to make some new music and something special and then do a limited amount of shows that were also something specials I felt that long touring slots were not the answer for YES.

[...] For many reasons , including that of health and creativity, I had to stick with my beliefs and decline to take part in the heavy touring.

I hasten to add that I hope this hasn't closed any doors as regards the possibility of future Classic Line-Up appearances and indeed, Chris and I have already spoken about this

In a Mar 2008 article, R. Wakeman talked about his current position:

But the bad news for Yes fans is that he can't see himself embarking on another major tour with the band [...]

"I really don't want to commit to a 150-date tour," he said. "At the end of the last Yes tour a guy came up to me and said how much he'd enjoyed a show we'd done in Memphis and I couldn't remember having done it. I went home and tried to write down all the shows we'd done and I couldn't name half of them. I think that's wrong as it has to be special when you play live. If it's not, there's a chance you are going through the motions and I don't want that.

"Besides, things are going quite nicely at the moment as I'm really busy doing little bits of everything, which is what I really enjoy."

Reporting on an Apr 2008 conversation (see 2 Apr entry) with R. Wakeman, journalist Dave Ling said, "Though Rick hasn't ruled out appearing during the trek's intended two-year run in some shape or form, his son Oliver will be tickling the ivories [...] Seems that the last suicidally long bout of roadwork nearly killed the legendary keyboard player and, according to Rick, almost cost Jon Anderson his voice. He also felt they should have had some new material to promote, which sadly won't be the case." In an Apr 2008 interview, asked about Wakeman, White replied, "Well, he's not really out of the band—he'll never really be out of the band. He just doesn't want to push himself. He's got a bunch of things going on and he doesn't feel like touring." In an interview circa Apr 2008, Oliver said Rick was not out of the band, although it is unclear in what sense he meant that. In a Sep interview, White said of the current tour:

[Wakeman] said he’ll come and do certain shows. He just doesn’t want to do the full-blown tours. He wants to come and do New York and L.A., which is fine. We’re just going to carry on being Yes like we’ve always done. The band has changed around so much. There’s quite a few versions of the band it seems. This is just another version of it.

Reportedly, Anderson in early Jul talked about the possibility of live Yes shows with himself and Rick back in the band.

There was talk of other past members being involved in the aborted summer 2008 tour. Trevor Rabin has been writing with Anderson (see below); in Jan 2008, his webpage said:
Trevor has for a number of weeks been contacted by YES members and their new management inviting him to tour with the band this year [2008]. “I appreciate the invite and miss the excitement of playing live. Unfortunately, my schedule just does not allow for it this year,”

In a Sep 2008 interview for Delicious Agony, Sherwood relates how, after Anderson's illness, he had had an idea: "this was [when White] was still around in CIRCA:. I said it's too bad we can't do CIRCA: with Chris Squire as well doing an hour of Fish Out of Water. Steve Howe playing either as Steve Howe or maybe we get Asia. And we put the various elements together under one tent [...] That's kinda a concept I had that obviously didn't fly."

New music & future plans
Touring so far has featured one new song, "Aliens are Only Us from the Future" (see above). This song was demo'd by Chris Squire in 2007 with Paul Stacey and Gerard Johnson (both ex-The Syn) for his ongoing solo project, and was then further developed with Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis, ex-GTR) for their collaboration. In an early Nov interview, Squire explained:

One thing I definitely wanted to do on this tour just from the point of view of progress – I wanted to do this one new song, which is one of the songs that I’ve been working on with Steve Hackett.  The version that I do with Yes on stage is a very different version that features Oliver Wakeman on keyboards.

In a Nov interview, Oliver said he had been involved in developing "Aliens...". While initially performed by Squire, David and O. Wakeman live, over the course of the first leg, White developed a drum part for it. In an Oct 2008 article, Squire had said that he and Howe had written some "completely brand new things" for the tour, but in a later radio interview, Squire said they would be playing live a new song by him and that, "I would like us to do some new music for next year [2009]." In his NftE interview, Oliver Wakeman alludes to new material, saying:

I know people would like to think that Yes music is going to keep going and still create new stuff, and I know it's difficult for people to put out new albums these days, but I know for having spoken to Chris and work with Steve and things, these guys they write such good music, and they've got so much more music in them. It would just be great to be a part of them creating new stuff that hopefully will surprise a few people.

In a Sep 2008 interview, White said: "We're always writing. Chris has songs, so does Steve and so do I. We've been talking about putting something together, but whether we can do it prior to this tour or not…it may be in January." In mid-Oct, White said they are trying to do a new album "perhaps after Summer 09" whoever the singer might be. In a Nov interview, he said:

We're all thinking about [a new record], but right now it's just going out on the road and all kind of jelling together. Chris and Steve and myself all have a bunch of music that we've piled up over the last three years, and maybe Oliver and Benoit have some.

In the early Nov interview, asked about doing a studio album with the new line-up, Squire said:

Yes.  Absolutely.  We’re looking at doing some new recording.  And obviously we’ll be working with the guys on that.  Although there are no definite plans or dates yet, because obviously we’re working on this tour.  But, we’ll be introducing new ideas.  I know Steve Howe has new ideas and I know I have, as I mentioned earlier, have written quite a lot of material when I was in London that I want to use for that purpose.

A Nov 2008 report had the band saying they are planning to record a new album and then tour behind it. In a Dec 2008 article, Squire said he would like to do an album with the new line-up in 2009. He said the same in Feb 2009, with an article reporting, "Squire [...] is looking forward to making new music with [David] and [O.] Wakeman in the near future." In a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge, Howe said, "maybe Yes aren't really at a point where we're basing our career on the next record we're about to make. We're basing our career at the moment on playing music that people already love". This seems to suggest a focus on live playing rather than recording, although later in the interview he, in passing, acknowledges the possibility of a new record. A May 2009 Billboard article reports Howe saying that Yes "has got to pace itself", especially given the new band members, but the article continues:

Howe does acknowledge, however, that the long-lived quintet has "other plans going through the year, but we're not going to announce them yet. One thing at a time...do a little bit more work and playing and then divert to recordings."

However, by the time of a Jun 2009 article, Howe says of the current touring line-up: "I think that when a group is on a good run and you've got a good feeling, you want to transport that into the studio". In Jul, on Rockline, asked about a new album, Howe said, "By next year, we'll have something in the can," and he implied he and Squire would be the main writers. In a Jul article, Howe said, "I can't really make an announcement like this is going to happen and that's going to happen, but let's just put it this way: both bands [Yes and Asia] are working towards recording projects being realized."

Asked about the possibility of Anderson recording with the others, in a Jan 2009 interview for Notes from the Edge, White said:

I'm sure everybody's open-minded about the whole thing; it all depends on how Jon feels about doing that, and everybody else. We haven't really approached that yet, but I think we're all thinking about it when we can get the time to do it, because we haven't been on the road for such a long time as a unit, so everybody is just wanting to hear the band [...] everybody's got music. I know Steve's got a lot of music, and Chris has got music, and I've got music at home. We could put something together, and Oliver's obviously been working on stuff too, so who knows whether it will sound like a regular Yes album or whether it would be something new.

Yes with Anderson were working on material. In an interview with Michael Smerconish in May 2008, Anderson said that, "there's a couple of new songs we've been recording." He went on to explain: "There's going to be about four new songs altogether on the show." While details were unclear, some reports suggested new material was planned both to be played on the tour and for studio recording. Anderson in Mar and May 2008, and White in Apr indicated that new material might be played on the tour that was subsequently cancelled. This new material seems to have been driven by Anderson and so, I would guess, will not be used by the line-up without him. In a Jun 2009, Polish radio interview, Anderson says of two new songs he is playing live, that he had wanted to do them with Yes in 2008. He doesn't identify the songs in the interview, but the three candidates would appear to be "Under Heaven's Door", "No Point" and "Music is the God of the World".

A May 2008 article reported, "Anderson says the [band] are preparing four new songs of the "opus" variety -- lengthy, multi-movement compositions along the lines of "Close to the Edge" and "Tales From Topographic Oceans."" It quoted Anderson: "They're very, very different. It'll be interesting when we perform them, because we know that we want to try and perform them in a unique fashion." However, he goes on to suggest that recording an album had yet to be decided upon: "Putting together an album really isn't logical anymore. Putting together a large piece of music or something that is really a jump in a musical direction takes a lot of commitment from everybody.... But maybe during the tour we will discuss making some new music." In a later May interview (see above), Anderson talked of playing "a couple of new songs we've been recording", and then went on to say, "There's going to be about four new songs altogether on the show." A Mar 2008 article described Anderson as, among various solo projects, also "writing songs for an upcoming Yes album and tour." In two Mar 2008 articles, Anderson said the set would include some new music. In the NftE interview, Mike Tiano asked Anderson about new music. He replied, "I've been writing new music for the band, and I'm working with Trevor [Rabin] on a couple of songs." (Anderson and Rabin have been writing together since early 2006—see below.) In a Jun 2008 interview, after the Yes tour was cancelled, Anderson said the band are continuing to work on 3-5 songs via the Internet, in collaboration with producer Jack Douglas (worked with John Lennon, Aerosmith, The Who, The New York Dolls), for a new album—see details above.

White also talked about new material, but in more cautious terms. At RoSFest in early May 2008, he said there were "thoughts floating around" for new music, although in another report, White was said to have confirmed that there are two new pieces that the band want to include in a live recording of the tour. In a Jan 2008 interview, asked about new recordings, White said, "We're looking towards recording some material to go with the tour and all that kind of stuff". In his Apr 2008 interview, White said, "we're thinking about new material. Jon's got a couple ideas and things are being passed around, but nothing concrete yet. I guess we are working on some—some—new material to go with the tour." A Dec 2007 report quoted White as saying he will be spending some pre-rehearsal/writing time with Anderson in Jan 2008 and that Anderson has put together five new pieces in outline form that may be played live in 2008 and may form the basis for a new album. However, a report from Dave Ling (see 2 Apr entry) on a conversation with Wakeman had him saying the band has no new material to promote.

In an interview in Oct 2005's Classic Rock, Howe said, "for Yes to continue we've got to record and tour, it can't be one of the other."

[Support this website by buying through our Amazon aStore, for the US (Amazon.com) or the UK (Amazon.co.uk).]

Older news on Yes re-grouping
It is unclear whether earlier comments can shed much light on the current situation, but they do suggest that the band members have material for a new project and raise a number of possible forms a project could take. There were some band discussion about recording a new album, or at least new material, prior to a tour. In a Jun 2004 interview, White had said the band were going into the studio in Feb 2005 and that all the band members have been writing material, saying they were working on longer pieces rather than trying for a hit. Plans for a new album produced by Trevor Horn appear to have been developed by Squire/Howe/White. In early Nov 2004, a correspondent reported hearing that the plan was for Squire, Howe and White to join Horn for writing and recording sessions in London from mid-Mar 2005, with Horn contributing to the writing as well as producing and with the intent that Anderson would join in at some point. This, of course, never came about.

In a Sep 2004 article talking to Howe, he was asked about a new album:

"We've been putting it off for a couple of reasons. We don't actually talk about it like this, but we've got to be on the same page. We have to agree on the level of pre-production, writing, rehearsing, then choosing the material, all that before you even set foot in the studio.

[...] Howe (and other members of the band, he alludes) are not big fans of Yes' biggest '80s hits, such as "Owner of a Lonely Heart." It could cause a schism in the band.

"Some of the band are desperate for Yes to have this raging success again [...] That's an area the band hasn't fully agreed on. If we're looking for those kinds of hits, some of us don't want to do that, really don't want to do that. We don't want to sell Yes down the river for a cheap hit."

In his Aug 2004 MSN Chat, asked whether the band would be "producing any more LONG songs", Howe said: "I like the big long pieces. We'll have to see on our next studio go whether or not we go to those lengths in the songs. I hope we do. I can't really say 100%." In a Jul 2004 interview, asked about a new Yes album, Squire replies:
don’t talk to me about that. We are scheduled to do one and we owe it to ourselves. I’m not ever gonna let YES get into the ELP syndrome where we go out and play the twelve songs. Which is what GREG [Lake] told me one day. “I go out and I play twelve songs. My life is twelve songs.”
The interview continues with a number of other intriguing statements. Squire goes on:
do these guys [the others in Yes] still know what’s going on in the music industry do they still have the creativity? Probably not! Do we still need a producer to tell us if what we’re playing is great? I’m one of these guys who seems to be abreast of what people like. [...] Just like LINKIN PARK. They’ve moved into an area where they’re huge and I know why. And I have that connection. JON ANDERSON, RICK WAKEMAN and STEVE HOWE will have no idea bout that. [...] Over all this period of time I’ve learnt how to be a lead singer [too] though. But I know JON doesn’t really dig that.
Interviews going back many years have Howe and White talking about writing for a new album. In a Jan 2004 interview for Notes from the Edge, White said, "we've all got songs ready". In 2001, White talked of having multiple demos prepared for the next Yes album. Other comments may point to various ideas as to what form new Yes music could take, although they may well be out of date. White said in Jul 2003 that the band had been fooling around with a new song about Philadelphia, but it is unclear how serious this was. A quote from Howe in Progression magazine (Winter/Spring '03) may refer to ideas since abandoned:
I struck a good friendship with the conductor in Europe [on the YesSymphonic tour], Wilhelm Keitel, so we agreed to do things together in the future. One of the things we (Yes) hope to do [...] is record a concept album based around the life of an important classical composer. So we would take on [a] composer, choose some of his work and build something completely new around it—kind of a tribute to his life [...]

What I want to do, however, is go for different set-ups which can be only choir on one track, an intimate ensemble on another track, only cello, only violin, a symphony on the other, etc. Personally, I love flute sonatas whether by Bach, Mozart, or Vivaldi.

In a late 2002 interview with Prog4You, Howe talked more about his views on where Yes music should be going:
strong elements of rock [...] that's one of the leading things that I like about Yes. I want Yes to be moody and understated [...] There is a very big story on Yes. You know, it's been on a lot of curves and deviations and sometimes it's played as radio music and that didn't do the band any long-term good, although in the short term, everybody thought it was great that we had a hit record. But in the long-term, [...] you can never change the path. After that it's very hard to get back on your original brief and do music that's progressive, un-commercial, sometimes purposely un-commercial.
In a Nov 2001 interview, Howe expressed a preference for the band to book studio time prior to recording an album so they can write together, while he has also expressed the desire to record the new album in England.

In recent years, Squire/Howe/White were rumoured to feel frustrated at Anderson's reluctance before 2007 to regroup Yes and had tried continuing with band activity or related projects, including appearing at the Produced by Trevor Horn show in 2004 and the aborted More Drama Tour of 2005. Reports suggest Squire, Howe and White were considering touring with a new Yes line-up or some sort of Yes-related project. In early 2006, Howe said, "If this lineup doesn't get back on the road soon, I think other lineups may have to be considered [...] We're not just going to sit around let this thing go to seed", and similar views were ascribed to Squire and White in that year. Howe rang Billy Sherwood in 2007 about going into the studio to do some "new YES music" with him, Squire and White, and not Anderson (according to Sherwood in Nov 2008). This would have been Sherwood working in "a production capacity" rather than as a full member. Sherwood declined, "In short I asked "i[f] Jon was coming" ? When he answered "No" so did I". In a Nov 2007 Notes from the Edge interview, Squire revealed that there had been further thinking around him, Howe and White doing a project:

I was talking to I think it was somebody in Tenth Street Management [some time in 2007] [...] somebody was trying to come up with ideas about what myself, and Alan, and Steve to be doing while Jon was on his holidays [...] I think somebody came up and said, "Why don't guys do a Christmas album like Mannheim Steamroller or something," and I said I'm really not familiar with that stuff. [...] kind of thought it was a little cheesy, honestly, so I went back to them and said no, I don't think that's the right kind of thing for Steve, myself, and Alan to be looking at.

(Squire went on to do a different Xmas project, Chris Squire's Swiss Choir.)

Animated film project: Roger Dean's "Floating Islands" film or something else
Yes have had preliminary discussions about possible film ventures, including one being developed by Roger Dean
. In an Apr 2007 Mexican newspaper interview (in Spanish), Squire says that the band have been in contact with Universal Pictures about making an animated movie about the band's history from their formation to the present day, including their more representative songs. The article makes a comparison with The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine":
Hace poco la compañía Universal Pictures se mostró interesada en hacer una película de animación en la que se muestra un poco de nuestra trayectoria musical, desde cuando surgimos, hasta la actualidad, incluyendo obviamente, nuestras canciones más representativas. Lo estamos analizando, todavía hay algunas puntos por precisar, como la historia, de qué trataría y cómo se abordaría, cuáles etapas de la carrera se incluirían, las canciones, pero creo que es muy pronto para hablar del tema, esperemos pronto poder dar más detalles. [...]

Son muchos años, muchas anécdotas que contar, creo que tendríamos que seleccionar muy bien lo que quisiéramos abordar, porque una película, comúnmente tiene una corta duración, cerca de dos horas y es muy poco para contar tanto, ya casi cumplimos cincuenta años de estar juntos.

Yes are also expected to have some involved with a project from Roger Dean, a feature-length film using 3D computer animation based on the backstory to many of his Yes album covers, called "Floating Islands" (rogerdean.com link). He discussed the project in a Mar 2008 interview and described how they are still working on a script and arranging funding. He says the film will probably be just animation, although he would prefer to use a mix of live-action and computer-generated backgrounds. Dean is working on the script in an editorial capacity. In Jun 2007, Dean told a fan that significant funding for the project has been raised, although his comments suggested it could still be some while before the film enters production. Lynda Cope and David Blake are executive producers, with Dean and David Mousley as producers. In a Feb 2008 interview, Dean said:

it’s surprisingly difficult to sort out the finances for it. [...] we have had a lot of people who have said ‘subject to you finishing the script, we’d like to do it’, so that kind of put the ball back in our court. We’ve had a number of re-writes on the script and at the moment we haven’t re-presented it until we’ve got a final, satisfactory script. [...] our ideal scenario is to have a script that we really love, because we have a story that we really love, but the script has always been not quite right [...] I’m involved in it but I’m not a writer. [...] It’s not in my hands to get this right, so it’s a little bit frustrating for me but I think we’re going to get there fairly soon. We’re currently in negotiations with a number of investors. All of the investor’s money that we’ve discussed so far for the movie hasn’t been with distributors, so our hope and expectation is that we will have a significant part of the funding in place before we talk to major film companies.

[...] It’s a ninety minute feature film. My partner and I haven’t come to a total agreement on whether it’s going to be CG with live action, which is my preferred route. He is still thinking we should keep the option of doing it fully animated with no live action at all which is something I’m not as enthusiastic about. However the technology is moving forward so I might change my mind later.

It is unclear how much Yes are involved with current planning for "Floating Islands". It is expected to feature music by Yes. Asked in the Mar 2008 interview about Yes making some music especially for the project, Dean replied: "all members of the band have spoken enthusiastically about doing that. [...] That's definitely what we would like." He goes on to say he would like both existing and new songs, and discusses the options for either existing or new recordings of old songs. He talks about both "Awaken" and "Soon". Back in Jun 2007, Dean had said that Yes are not currently involved with the project beyond authorising the use of their music. A report from around 2005 had that the film is intended to contain 8-12 classic tracks (a re-recorded "Close to the Edge" was mentioned in one rumour) and at least 4-5 new recordings. In Jun 2007, Dean confirmed there had previously been discussion of Yes writing new music for the film and that the band had been thinking of "re-recording everything" (presumably meaning re-recording classic pieces), but that there hadn't been any discussion of new music recently with Yes then being dormant.

The most recent reports about Dean's project come from Dave McKean's Twitter in Jun 2009. McKean is an artist (including cover art for Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Dream Theater, Tori Amos) and filmmaker (directed "MirrorMask", conceptual artist on the "Harry Potter" films). He explained, "we were both developing fantasy feature film ideas and decided to try and combine them since they have a lot in common", but cautioned, "Very early stages of something that may never happen and even if it does will take years". He also tweeted, "Lots of notes today on story outline for Roger Dean film. Coming together well. Parts of our individual stories + new connective tissue."

Further back, there were more reports from Yes about contributing. In a Dec 2004 Delicious Agony interview, White said, "We're starting to write music for it." In his Christmas Newsletter 2004, Wakeman said: "There are certainly ideas in the offing which include [...] making a film/and/or DVD with Roger Dean involved with all of the visuals which I particularly like, but there is much to be sorted out within the band itself before any decisions". Wakeman indicated that one of their main reasons to prefer the DVD format over CDs is Internet piracy.

The project tied in with ideas Anderson was proposing for the band's future direction in 2004. Earlier reports suggested the film could also involve footage of the band performing, possibly both new and old material, as well as Dean's animations. For Yes, the idea to do such a project originates from Anderson (linking in with Dean's longstanding interest in doing an animated work). Anderson has expressed dissatisfaction with traditional modes of releasing new material. He has often talked about new ways of producing and releasing new material both for Yes and in his solo career, focusing on DVDs as a way forward. These ideas appear to be similar to his solo plans (described below), although details have been lacking. In a May 2004 interview, Anderson said Yes may never release another studio album: "None of us feel that's what the business end is all about now. [...] I think DVDs are really the next level." In an Aug 2004 interview with The Post Standard/Herald-Journal, Anderson said: "DVDs are good for us, with computer animation and the like. DVDs is where it's at, so you've got to visualize what to do with it." He went on, saying how he saw Yes crafting "a series of ideas over the next two or three years and let them come out one or two at a time on the Internet. Not being tied to 60 minutes of music that takes a long time to create. Rather, two songs a month for, say 24 months. A series." The finished assemblage may still have running themes, like a concept album: "By the time you get all the music, it's like a jigsaw puzzle. By the time you get the final work, you realize what the whole thing is." However, the interview finishes with this caveat from Anderson: "That's what I think. The others in the band? Who knows." In a interview in Feb 2004 for Rockline, Anderson outlined a "vague" idea for a "new way of creating" whereby the band would rehearse/record for a few weeks, take a break of a few months, rehearse/record for a few more weeks and so on. In an interview published in Jan 2004, Anderson was asked, "Is a new Yes album likely?":

it depends a lot on what we get offered. I would love to do something adventurous, like write a musical with the band or a film score or an opera. Something really different. I've also been working on the idea of creating a video game. [...] I'm not really excited to make a record because I made one last year and it never really got into the marketplace. It was a beautiful album [...] called Magnification and it never got to be heard by too many people. And I don't really want to go through that whole experience again.
In an Oct 2005 interview with Squire for YesFANZ, interviewer Brian Draper asks, "Jon was talking about a DVD approach to releasing music rather than a CD approach. I never quite understood what he meant." Chris replies:
No one ever quite understands what he means but that comes with the territory. [...] I think that we were looking at doing an album like that and we still are possibly. But it would have to be combined with some kind of a major motion picture or some kind of soundtrack that we could be involved in. We are looking at various options from the various major companies. Universal have shown interest and we are going to be looking at trying to put together a show that maybe then after the film has been made of the same, we can then tour the world with that kind of a look and with that kind of combining the film and the touring aspect. So maybe Jon had this in his mind [...] He is always so far ahead in his thinking, its hard for me to keep up with him.
Draper then raises the Dean project. Squire:
I think Roger’s floating Islands idea is a very good project. But after Lord of the Rings was made [...] with such good quality, it[']s hard to know quite whether Roger may be a bit late in thinking about that because it has been done so well with the correct amount of money [...] His idea, I fully support it but I am not quite sure where it is going to go. I had a couple of meetings with him to try and figure it out but so far nothing is happening.

[...] I think pretty much [he is looking for funding]. [...] Yes is a separate entity really from Roger [...] I have to look out for what’s best for Yes as opposed to Roger. But I think the idea of animated film for a Yes musical project is a good one but there are various options on the table that we are looking at.

Asked, "When do you think the group will get together about this?", Squire replies:
It will be based on a worthy project. I think that could be the next thing as Jon suggested for Yes, that we will combine our musical input into some kind of film venture and then we will take that out on the road. In terms of putting a date on it, it’s under continual negotiation. And we are trying to figure out the best way to keep Yes’ integrity and also to make money as well which obviously is a real factor in the real world.
Live releases
Symphonic Live
Eagle Records (part of Eagle Rock Entertainment) have released Symphonic Live, a 2CD version of the 2002 DVD release, out in the US and UK. This was taken from the 2001 European leg of the Magnification tour (22 Nov, Amsterdam) and features the band with the European Festival Orchestra (conducted by Wilhelm Keitel). Tracks:

Disc 1
  1. "Overture"
  2. "Close to the Edge"
  3. "Long Distance Runaround"
  4. "Don't Go"
  5. "In The Presence Of"
  6. "The Gates of Delirium"
  7. "Steve Howe Guitar Solo" ("Concerto in D"/"Mood for a Day")
Disc 2
  1. "Starship Trooper"
  2. "Magnification"
  3. "And You and I"
  4. "Ritual"
  5. "I've Seen All Good People"
  6. "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
  7. "Roundabout"
Buy from Amazon.com (US):

 
Buy from Amazon.com (UK):

 

"Yes—The Director's Cut"
"Yes—The Director's Cut" (Classic Media Group) is a new live DVD of material recorded for the 2004 "YesSpeak" documentary. Now out, the 2-disc release contains two shows by the band from their 2003 UK leg: disc 1 (124 min.s)—Birmingham (3 Jul): "Firebird Suite" (intro music), "Siberian Khatru", "Magnification", "Don't Kill the Whale", "In the Presence of", "We Have Heaven"/"South Side Of The Sky", "And You and I", "To be Over"/"Clap" (Howe solo), "Show Me", Wakeman solo (intro to "Catherine of Aragon"/"Celtic Jig"/"Jane Seymour"), "Heart of the Sunrise", "Long Distance Runaround"/"the fish" (actually "Whitefish" including an extract of "On the Silent Wings of Freedom"); disc 2 (132 min.s)—Birmingham contd.: "Awaken", "I've Seen All Good People", "Roundabout"; Glastonbury Festival (29 Jun): "Siberian Khatru", "Magnification", "Don't Kill the Whale", "We Have Heaven"/"South Side of the Sky", "And You and I", "Heart of the Sunrise", "Awaken", "I've Seen All Good People", "Roundabout". The DVD was exclusively available from Classic Direct.com (Europe/Australia/NZ PAL version, DVD5073X; US/Canada/Japan NTSC version, DVD5073XNTSC), but has now had a broader release. Audio options are stereo Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS. The name, "The Director's Cut", gives the misleading impression that this is a re-edit of "YesSpeak", however "The Director's Cut" is substantially new, being a live DVD of material that was only seen in extracts on "YesSpeak": it features full, live performances of songs, with short interview segments inbetween, narrated by Roger Daltrey (The Who). A trailer is available on YouTube. In Sep, there was a big screen showing of the DVD at Shepperton Film Studios, UK, including a meet-and-greet and dinner with Rick Wakeman. The show has also been shown on satellite TV.

Further new DVDs and live releases
Due possibly as early as the summer is an archival DVD from the band's early years, all taken from master tapes and including some previously unseen material. This includes black-and-white recordings of "Looking Around", "Survival" and "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed" recorded for German TV in Nov 1969, only the last of which has previously been released. There is then a colour, but mimed, performance of "Time and a Word" from Feb 1970, shortly before Banks' departure—also previously unreleased. Finally, from Apr 1971, now with Howe in the band and I think again from German TV, comes "Yours is No Disgrace" and two takes of "I've Seen All Good People": while two of these have been released before, the second take of "I've Seen All Good People" is previously unseen. Liner notes are by Jon Kirkman (Rock Radio).

The three previously released tracks from the new DVD were recently re-released on DVD as part of Classic Pictures' DVD EP series: "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed", "I've Seen All Good People" and "Yours is No Disgrace".

A live album recorded in 2004 was planned to accompany the band's summer tour, since cancelled. This has been put on hold, according to a 9 Oct interview with Squire.

Re-releases
Much of the Yes catalogue is getting re-released 8 or 22 Jul in Japan by Warner Music Japan, with a new remastering using the Super High Material CD format and in cardboard sleeve packaging. Albums included in the set are Yes (WPCR-13512), Time and a Word (WPCR-13513), The Yes Album (WPCR-13514), Fragile (WPCR-13515), Close to the Edge (WPCR-13516), Yessongs (WPCR-13517), Tales from Topographic Oceans (WPCR-13519) and Relayer (WPCR-13521), released on 8 Jul, and Going for the One (WPCR-13522), Tormato (WPCR-13523), Drama (WPCR-13524), Yesshows (WPCR-13525), 90125 (WPCR-13527), 9012Live The Solos (WPCR-13528) and Big Generator (WPCR-13529), released on 22 Jul. The releases that were also included in Rhino's expanded and remastered series include the Rhino bonus tracks; the others have no bonus material.

Friday Music are re-releasing 90125 on LP in their 180 Gram Audiophile Half-Speed Master Series (mastering by Joe Reagoso and Ron McMaster). They previously released Close to the Edge in the same format last year.

Covers of Yes songs & other news
Various Yesmen have covered Yes material in other projects. Billy Sherwood, on Jim Ladd's Headsets album Chapter 1: Alone Out Here, does a re-make of "Universal Garden"see under Sherwood. Asia, with Howe and Geoff Downes, have been playing Yes's "Roundabout" live—details here. The Steve Howe Trio's album The Haunted Melody includes re-interpretations of "Mood for a Day", "Siberian Khatru" and the opening of "Close to the Edge". They also played these live. Glass Hammer cover "South Side of the Sky" on their album Culture of Ascent, on which Anderson guests: see under Anderson. Howe joines Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs for a forthcoming cover of "I've Seen All Good People": see under Howe. White has performed a number of Yes songs with bands in 2009: see under White.

Composers Ryan Fraley (working with Jon Anderson) and Ralph Johnson and vocalist Lydia McAdams, as Wave Mechanics Union, are working on an album of jazz interpretations of rock pieces. Due soon, tracks are "Won't Get Fooled Again" (The Who), "Killer Queen" (Queen), "The Rain Song" (Led Zeppelin), "The Great Gig in the Sky" (Pink Floyd), "Available Light" (Rush), "De Do Do Do" (The Police), "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles), "Why Should I Cry For You?" (Sting), "Elephant Talk" (King Crimson), "Istanbul" (They Might Be Giants), "Heart of the Sunrise" (Yes). Fraley also has an orchestration of "Days" that he did for Anderson on spec, available on his website (select "Orchestra" on the audio player).

For All I Care, the new album from jazz trio The Bad Plus, out in Europe and due 2009 in the US, includes a cover of "Long Distance Runaround".

Vic Anderson's INYTH project is recording versions of "Endless Dream" (sample on MySpace page) and a Jon Anderson/Kitaro song.

Media, books & documentaries
UK magazine Classic Rock have launched a new quarterly publication, Classic Rock Presents... Prog (MySpace page; European online orders for issue 2; US online orders for issue 1). The first issue (with cover CD including a track by Mystery) has now sold out; it covered Yes, Asia and many other prog bands, with interviewees including Howe, David, Downes, John Wetton (Asia, ex-King Crimson, ex-UK), Keith Emerson (ex-ELP, ex-The Nice), Greg Lake (ex-ELP, ex-Asia) and Carl Palmer (Asia, ex-ELP). Issue 2 is now out, with a larger print run; issue 3 is due 5 Aug, issue 4 is due 30 Sep and then there will be no more until 2010. (Note that, as a spin-off from Classic Rock's specials, the first issue of Classic Rock Presents... Prog is sometimes labelled as Classic Rock special #8, and likewise issue 2 gets labelled #9.) Issue 2 includes interviews with Bruford (4 pages) and Dave Stewart (ex-Bruford, ex-National Health). Meanwhile, the May 2009 issue of Classic Rock came with a cover DVD including Yes performing "Owner of a Lonely Heart".

BBC4 showed a 90 min. documentary entitled "Prog Rock Britannia" on the genre in Jan 2009; Wakeman, Bruford, Howe, Roger Dean and Pete Sinfield were among those interviewed. Preceding the programme was "Prog at the BBC", a compilation of archival performances including Yes performing "Yours is No Disgrace" in 1973 (from "Yessongs"), as well as King Crimson performing "Frame by Frame" on The Old Grey Whistle Test. BBC America are considering broadcasting the show later in 2009.

Classic Artists is a series of DVDs and for TV from producer and director Jon Brewer (former Yes, Chris Squire and Asia manager). Episode 3 is on Yes. As "The Classic Artists Series 3: Yes", it is out as a 2-disc DVD (Image Entertainment). The DVD is over 5 hours with the main feature being 3.5 hours. The series will also be broadcast, in an edited form, on VH1 in the US and in Japan and Canada. Chris Welch (author of "Yes—Close to the Edge") wrote the script and did the interviews. Disc 1 contains the main feature, while disc 2 has extended interviews; 3 photo galleries; 3 music videos ("Wonderous Stories", "Tempus Fugit", "Owner of a Lonely Heart"); and ~23 minutes of raw footage of the band rehearsing in New York in 1996. Welch is also working on a revised version of his book "Yes—Close to the Edge".

Garry Freeman (author of "The Bootleg Guide" and the forthcoming "Emerson, Lake and Palmer—A Live Guide 1970-1978") is working on "Yes—A Live Guide 1968-1979" (Helter Skelter Publishing). The book aims to review as many shows as possible from this period, including details on equipment specifications and so on. If you can help with recordings of shows or technical information (what equipment the band used, what was the set list etc.), please e-mail Garry. The Gottlieb brothers are working on a book on Yes collectibles and Bill Martin (author of "Music of Yes—Structure and Vision in Progressive Rock") has been rumoured to be working on a new Yes book.

In a Jul 2004 interview, Wakeman said he would be writing a book about Yes: "I am going to do [a book] about Yes. There have been lots of books written about the band and I want to do one from what it's like inside the band." In a Jan 2005 interview, he said he was "seriously thinking about" writing a book about Yes having been asked to do one by a "big publisher". See further details under Wakeman. Squire, Howe and Bruford are all working on autobiographies, which will doubtless cover Yes.

Howe, Squire and White appeared at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, WA, on 29 Jun for an Oral History Live event covering the history of Yes. Bill Bruford and Roger Dean have been interviewed for a section on progressive rock at the British Music Experience, now open at London's O2, about popular music in the UK over the last 60 years.

Jason Ali and Jonathan Aitchison have recently published a palaeogeographic paper (Journal of Biogeography, 2009, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2009.02105.x) considering the evidence that the Kerguelen Plateau formed a terrestrial causeway between east Antarctica and India in the late Cretaceous period. Their paper is entitled "Kerguelen Plateau and the Late Cretaceous southern-continent bioconnection hypothesis: Tales from a topographical ocean," a title which they explain was inspired by Yes's Tales from Topographic Oceans.

Fandom/Events
The Second Attention, the second alt.music.yes compilation (2CD), is now out. In support of the project and the previous album, Cyberian Khatru, a.m.y. mugs and T-shirts are available. Join the AMYCD mailing list to get involved.


Projects involving multiple Yes men

Various projects headed by Billy Sherwood, including CIRCA:, involve other Yes men. These are covered on their own page here. Asia, with Howe and Downes, is covered on its own page here.

Alan White, Chris Squire & Trevor Rabin at John Lennon tribute event
Alan White, Chris Squire and Trevor Rabin all participated in the Imagine a Cure Benefit Concert honouring the music of John Lennon. The concert, spearheaded by White, was on 18 Apr 2009 (with rehearsals on 16-17 Apr) at the Snoqualmie Casino near Seattle, WA, and was benefitting the Puget Sound affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer charity. It featured a core band with White and various guest artists, including Squire and Rabin, performing John Lennon songs from The Beatles, The Plastic Ono Band and his solo career. Regular members of Alan's White Sox All-Stars played, including Bernt Bodal (ex-Høst), Spike Edney (Queen), Jamie Moses (worked with Queen), Eric Bazilian (ex-The Hooters), Geoffrey Castle (violin). Other musicians included Reek Havok (works with Alan White; percussion), Beatles tribute band Apple Jam (work with Alan White), Roger Fisher (ex-Heart, ex-Alias, worked with Alan White; guitar), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Nona Hendryx (Labelle, ex-Talking Heads), Michael Shrieve (Santana), Simon Kirke (ex-Free, ex-Bad Company, worked with Squire/White), Sheldon Reynolds (ex-Earth, Wind and Fire, ex-The Commodores, Devoted Spirits, Brian Culbertson), Mandi Perkins, Daniel de los Reyes (worked with Sheryl Crow, Sting; percussion), Shawn Smith, Elliot Easton (ex-The Cars, The New Cars), Mark Hudson, Ryan Roxie (ex-Alice Cooper, ex-Slash's Snakepit), Jeff Foskett (Brian Wilson, ex-The Beach Boys), Jack Mittleman, Kaci Aitchison (Spike & The Impalers), Spike O'Neill (Spike & The Impalers, worked with Alan White).

The set included (with incomplete player details noted): "Come Together" (Hendryx on lead vocals), "Day Tripper" (Hawkins on lead vocals, White on drums, Rabin on guitar, with Bodal and Hudson), "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey", "Happiness is a Warm Gun", "Hey Bulldog", "I'm Down", "Imagine" (Squire on bass, Rabin on lead vocals for 1st verse and on guitar), "Instant Karma" (final song with everyone), "Whatever Gets You Through the Night", "Just Gimme Some Truth" (Squire on bass, Rabin on lead vocals and guitar, White on drums, Hawkins and Hudson on backing vocals), "Long Tall Sally", "Money (That's What I Want)", "Revolution", "Twist and Shout" (White one of two drummers), "Luck of the Irish", "Give Peace a Chance" (White one of two drummers), "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" (Squire on bass). In all, Rabin and Squire played on approx. 5 pieces in all, with Rabin only singing on the aforementioned pieces. A large number of clips are on YouTube here.

Anderson Wakeman
In May 2006, Wakeman said he and  Jon Anderson were halfway through recording an album together. Several new pieces have been played live and are expected on the album. Anderson (vocals, acoustic guitars) and Wakeman (grand piano) toured the UK in Oct/Nov 2006. First set: new song (lyric begins "Some take that step along...")/"Yours is No Disgrace" (abbreviated), new song (seems to be a continuation of the first new song, lyric begins "I hear somebody cry...")/"Wonderous Stories", new song (known as "Anyway and Always")/"Your Move"/"South Side of the Sky" (similar to The Ultimate Yes version), "Time and a Word" (reggae version), "The Garden" (new song), "Awaken". Following an interval, Anderson took a solo spot, beginning at the piano for "Piano Songs", a version of his medley from his solo touring ("Set Sail"/"Close to the Edge" extract/"Who Could Imagine?"/new song (known as "Marry Me Again")/"The Revealing Science of God" extract), then switching to guitar for "Give Love Each Day" and "Nous Sommes du Soleil" ("Ritual" excerpt). Wakeman then took a solo spot: "Nursery Rhyme Concerto", "Catherine Howard" and his version of "Eleanor Rigby" in the style of Prokofiev. The second set finished with the duo playing "And You and I" (abbreviated), "Turn of the Century", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "Sweet Dreams", "Forever" (new song, a.k.a. "Deeper Love"); encore: "Roundabout", "The Meeting". There will not be a DVD from the tour as the duo feel the new material needs further work. On his radio show in Sep 2008, Wakeman said the live recordings were "crap" and so there will not be a release, but that he and Anderson were planning to re-record the songs for a CD release.

It appears North American shows were planned, but these have yet to materialise. In a Dec 2006 article, Wakeman said:

Jon and I decided from the outset to take things slowly. The Rick and Jon area is just one part of our lives. [...] The next stage is not to go out with more touring. I’ve pretty much retired from long touring now. This means that there is likely to be a few shows at some time in America with Jon and myself, but not until after we have completed the album that we are doing at the moment. The new songs we performed on the tour had a really good reaction and that convinced us to finish off more of the songs we had been working on and to put a really nice acoustic album out.
Anderson and Wakeman's first outing as a duo was at the Quebec City Summer Festival in 2006. The performance was billed as California Guitar Trio; Jon Anderson/Rick Wakeman; and Retour au Centre de la Terre (Rick Wakeman). The California Guitar Trio opened and were then joined by Tony Levin. Various configurations followed, chiefly Anderson performing solo or the Anderson/Wakeman duo. The evening ended with Wakeman's Return to the Centre of the Earth with The New English Rock Ensemble, a symphony orchestra, guest vocalists and choir. Anderson guested on "Still Waters Run Deep".

[Buy Return to the Centre of the Earth from Amazon.com (US), Amazon.co.uk (UK) or Amazon.ca (Canada).]

All to Bring You Morning
Pianist Johnny Harris's 1973 album for Warner Bros., All to Bring You Morning, has been released on to CD (as a vinyl transfer) by Rhino for the first time; it is also available digitally. Tracks: "Imagine" (3:52), "All to Bring You Morning" (14:18), "Love Song" (3:18), "Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown)" (2:36), "Pavane" (4:11), "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (9:17). While mostly instrumental, the title track includes guest appearances by Jon Anderson (vocals, lyrics) and Steve Howe (guitar), while Alan White plays on much of the album. Eddie Offord also worked on the album, as recording engineer on 2 other tracks.

Jon Anderson & Trevor Rabin
A Jun 2006 report had Trevor Rabin saying he and Anderson had just spent a week writing together and that they were both very pleased with the results. The pair were also working together for about a week in Mar 2006. Anderson has talked about the collaboration since. In a May 2008 article, he talked of him and Rabin doing live work, "maybe touring some of that '80s-period music, because it was very special. [...] I wouldn't do it, like, Yes. I'd do it like me and Trevor aspiring to be the two of us making music and see what we come up with." The article describes Anderson as being "amenable to some sort of reunion of the Yes[West] lineup", although it is unclear whether Anderson indicated the involvement of any of Squire, White or Kaye. In a Jun 2008 interview (see above), Anderson again talked about writing with Rabin, this time mooting the possibility of doing so for a film in 2009.



On to Asia news
On to Amazon.com aStore
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:
Oliver Wakeman
Others associated with the band

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