This page last updated: 6 Nov 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: Yoso	Oliver Wakeman Benoît David	Others associated with the band

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

Another radio interview that month has the following exchange:

Interviewer: What are the possibilities of new studio stuff from Yes?

Squire: Ah, well, that's a very good point. We, actually... Steve Howe, Oliver Wakeman and myself just had a get-together to trade material, have a listen to any ideas that were available for potentially a new Yes album that we will be recording next year. So that ball is rolling.

An Oct 2009 article in Norwegian says the band is going straight into the studio after European touring and Squire again says the a new album will happen in 2010, saying, "we'll go into the studio to finish the songs I'm writing for Yes these days". [Original Norwegian: "Da går vi i studio for å gjøre sangene jeg skriver for Yes nå"] Asked what is a good Yes song in 2009, he replies, "I don't know that myself. I haven't made anything new in a Yes setting since 2001, so it will be exciting. It will be dependent on the combination of people in the band, and how we all pull in different directions". ["Jeg har ikke laget noe nytt i Yes-sammenheng siden 2001, så det blir spennende. Det blir kombinasjonen av folk i bandet, og hvor vi alle haler og drar, ler bassistveteranen. Det blir kombinasjonen av folk i bandet, og hvor vi alle haler og drar"] Squire also says he "will give the new guys a chance" on the new album. ["Om den nye Yes-platen sier Squire at han «vil gi de nye fyrene en sjanse»."]

In an Oct 2009 article in Slovak, Squire again talks of studio plans: "We will definitely go into the studio, we have a couple of ideas already. But this is all still at the beginning, so far we've agreed that we will
burn a CD for each other with ideas." [Original Slovak: "Určite pôjdeme do štúdia, už máme zopár nápadov. Je to však všetko iba v zárodku, zatiaľ sme sa dohodli, že si pre seba napálime cédečka s nápadmi."]

Another Oct 2009 article, this one in Italian, has more:

Interviewer: So here's the million dollar question Who will be behind the microphone? [Per il nuovo album suoneremo assieme ai nuovi ragazzi della band e a cantare sarà Benoît David, che lavorerà con noi sul nuovo materiale.]

Squire: For the new album, we'll be playing with the new guys in the band and Benoit David will be singing, he will work with us on the new material. [Per il nuovo album suoneremo assieme ai nuovi ragazzi della band e a cantare sarà Benoît David, che lavorerà con noi sul nuovo materiale.]

So he's not just a replacement for Jon Anderson... [Allora non è solo un sostituto di Jon Anderson...]

It's about a year now that Benoit has been in the band, he's doing a fantastic job and I think it is time to create something new with him. [È ormai un annetto che Benoît è nella band, sta facendo un lavoro fantastico e penso che sia giunto il momento di creare qualcosa di nuovo con lui.]

In a Czech Oct 2009 article, Howe is asked about a new album and whether it will involve Anderson. Howe confirms plans to record with the current line-up, but continues, "Of course, nobody knows what the future holds, and we never say never, but we see that this group can work." He describes working on new Yes material, but says "it will probably take a while" and that "Chris's statement [about doing a new album after touring] was perhaps a little premature". He goes on to say, "I can't promise, but I imagine that we will be stylistically closer to what we did in the seventies, none of the current members want to be someone else, we want to be Yes." Original Czech follows:

Interviewer: Chris Squire mentioned that he plans a new album after the tour. Will it be with Jon or without him? What are your plans in this regard? [Chris Squire se zmínil, že po turné plánuje novou desku. Bude to album s Jonem nebo bez něj? Jaké máte v tomto ohledu plány?]

Howe: We plan to continue with this line-up, with this team. Of course, nobody knows what the future brings, and we never say "never", but we can see that this line-up works. Yes, we are starting to work on new songs for Yes, but it will probably take some time before we take this further. Maybe we shouldn't have talked about it yet, now everybody is asking us about it. Chris's announcement was maybe a bit premature. You know, a band is like a marriage, it works until it breaks, and when you keep asking yourself why it is not working, then most likely there really is something wrong. Obviously, I can't speak for Jon, but, for us, I can say that the so-called classic line-up does not work. [Máme plány pokračovat dál v tomto složení, s tímto tvůrčím týmem. Samozřejmě nikdo neví, co přinese budoucnost, a my nikdy neříkáme „nikdy,“ ale vidíme, že se v této sestavě dá pracovat. Ano, začínáme postupně dělat na nových skladbách pro Yes, bude asi chvíli trvat, než to posuneme někam dál. Možná jsme o tom neměli zatím mluvit, teď se nás na to všichni ptají, ale to Chrisovo prohlášení bylo možná trochu předčasné. Víte, kapela je něco jako manželství, funguje do té doby, než fungovat přestane, a když si v duchu pořád říkáte, proč to nešlape, tak je asi opravdu něco v nepořádku. Já samozřejmě nemůžu říct, jak to vidí Jon, ale za nás můžu prohlásit, že v tom, řekněme, klasickém složení to nefunguje.]

Can you at least tell us something general about the new album? [Můžete o té desce, kterou pomaličku připravujete, říct něco aspoň rámcově?]

As I said, more has been said about it than has actually been done. I can't promise anything, but my idea is that we will be stylistically closer to what we were doing in the seventies. None of the current band members wants us to be different, we want to continue being Yes. [Jak jsem už zmínil, zatím se toho o ní víc namluvilo, než se skutečně udělalo. Nemůžu nic slibovat, ale představuju si, že se budeme stylově blížit spíš tomu, co jsme dělali v sedmdesátých letech, žádný ze současných členů nechce, abychom byli někdo jiný, chceme být dál Yes.]

In an Oct 2009 Polish article, Howe describes his vision of Yes music:

In a Polish article in Oct 2009, White is asked about a new album. He replies: "We're thinking about it, we're working on new songs. I believe the record could be released next year." ["Myślimy o tym, pracujemy nad nowymi utworami. W przyszłym roku płyta mogłaby się ukazać."]

In a 20 Sep interview on BBC Radio 2's Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s, Squire discussed recording a new album in 2010 with the current line-up. Earlier in the interview, he discussed the Devon location where The Yes Album was rehearsed and where Howe now lives.

I was there last Tuesday and Wednesday [...] It was the first time I'd been in there since 1970 when we were rehearsing there.

He then went on:

We're just talking about doing some new music in the coming year, with the new guys. That's why I was visiting Steve last week. To try and get that up and running.

Shortly after, Squire's wife, Scotland, said on Yesfans.com:

the guys do want to do a new album with Oliver and Benoit.

(And, as far as I know, this will not include Jon.)

In a Sep 2009 article, Squire said, "I'm very excited about the new additions to the Yes line-up. We have already had a very successful tour of the US this summer and aim to be working on some new Yes music for next year [2010]." In a 15 Oct 2009 interview with Planet Rock radio, Squire said that he, Howe and O. Wakeman were fleshing out some initial ideas for the album, and that they don't yet have a producer for the project.

Touring in 2008 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 2008 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 2008 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:

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." In a Jul 2009 interview (possibly conducted several months earlier), asked about a new album with David and O. Wakeman, Squire said: "We have talked about that. I am hoping to do that this year." In another Jul 2009 article, Howe says, "we're also looking at a new Yes album and a new Asia album."

And in a Jul 2009 article, Howe talks about making a Yes album with the current line-up:

Another Jul 2009 article says: "Howe said Asia and Yes will both record in 2010".

Another Jul 2009 article says:

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.

Anderson has recently been talking about making a Yes album with the others, although this is without confirmation from the others. In a Jun interview published in Polish, Anderson said he and Yes have talked about recording an album in the autumn. In a Jul 2009 interview in Czech, asked about recording an album with Yes, Anderson said, "Chystáme ji na příští rok. Bude to něco jako naše dřívější album Fragile, kdy jsme udělali čtyři velké skladby a každý člen kapely tehdy přispěl svou zkušeností ze svých sólo projektů." This translates (thanks to Vojtech Toman for translating): "We are planning it for the next year [2010]. It will be something like our earlier album Fragile, where we did four bigger compositions and each member of the band contributed with his experiences from their solo projects." In a second Jul 2009 interview in Czech, Anderson describes putting a plan to record to the others in Yes:

Yes with Anderson were working on material in 2008. 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 these seem to be "Under Heaven's Door" 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 then had 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."

In a Sep 2009 thread on ProgressiveEars.com, Billy Sherwood had some advice for the band:

My old comrades should record and release [a new album] themselves, no need for YES to bother with [record] labels in 2010. There are still so many YES fans around the world that they only need to sell a few units to make it worth doing.

Sell directly from yesworld

$20 bucks a CD times 10k fans.

The classic record buying public may be evaporating before our eyes, it's true... but there are still enough die hard YES fans are out there to keep the YES flame burning.

I know the model works for CIRCA: and YES has a much bigger draw.

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

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."

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 mad—Jon'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:

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.

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."

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."

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Further new DVDs and live releases
A couple of retailers (one in New Zealand, one in Scandinavia) are advertising a DVD release entitled "Live in Chile" (Showtime). This is a recording of Yes's 20 Sep 1994 show that was broadcast on TV at the time. Tracks: "Intro", "Perpetual Change", "The Calling", "I am Waiting", "Rhythm of Love", "Real Love", "Hearts", "Changes", "Heart of the Sunrise", "Make It Easy", "Owner of a Lonely Heart", "And You And I", "I've Seen All Good People", "Walls", "Endless Dream", "Roundabout", "Purple Haze". This show has been extensively bootlegged previously; it is unclear, but this appears to be a more legitimate release.

"The Lost Broadcasts" (Voiceprint VPDVD71; dur. 43 min.s) is an archival DVD (Region 0) from the band's early years, all taken from master tapes and including some previously unseen material. This release did not involve the band. It is currently available from Voiceprint, with a general release due 16 Nov in the UK. According to the release's microsite, tracks are "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed", "Looking Around" (previously unseen), "Survival" (previously unseen), "Time and a Word", "Yours is No Disgrace" (seems to be a previously unseen second take), "All Good People (Take 1)" (actually the third take; this has been previously released but with the addition of some visual processing), "All Good People (Take 2)" (same take as the previous, but with some visual processing), "All Good People (Take 3)" (actually the first take and previously unseen). The first three tracks, in black and white, were recorded for German TV (Beat Club) in Nov 1969, only the first of which has previously been seen. There is then a previously unreleased, colour, but mimed, performance of "Time and a Word" from Feb 1970, shortly before Banks' departure. Finally, from 19 Apr 1971, now with Howe in the band and again from German TV's Beat Club, comes the remaining tracks. Voiceprint's regular page for the release has a different running order: "Yours Is No Disgrace", "All Good People (Take 1)", "All Good People (Take 2)", "All Good People (Take 3)", "Looking Around", "Survival", "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed", "Time And A Word". Liner notes are by Jon Kirkman (Rock Radio) and artwork by Mark Wilkinson (worked with Marillion, Judas Priest, Rick Wakeman, Geoff Downes).

A second archival DVD release from Voiceprint is due in early 2010. This will be the first DVD release of a 1970 Belgian TV special on Yes. It features the band (with Howe) miming to tracks from the then recently released Time and a Word, at various sites in Bruges, Belgium. There are also a number of interviews with the band.

Some of these tracks 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 an Oct 2008 interview with Squire.

Re-releases & compilations
Much of the Yes catalogue was re-released in Japan by Warner Music Japan in Jul, with a new remastering using the Super High Material CD format and in 'mini-LP' replica 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. Remastering is by Isao Kikuchi.

The releases that were also included in Rhino's expanded and remastered series include the Rhino bonus tracks. There are bonus tracks of unclear origin on three of the other four releases, according to listings at CDJapan. Yesshows has "I've Seen All Good People" and "Roundabout", which are the 1978 live versions from Classic Yes. 9012Live The Solos comes with "City of Love" and "It Can Happen": these appear to be the two live b-sides ("City of Love (Live)" was a b-side to "Rhythm of Love", and "It Can Happen (Live)" was a b-side to "It Can Happen"). Big Generator comes with "Love will Find a Way (Edited Version)" (4:18), "Love will Find a Way (Extended Version)" (7:12), "Rhythm of Love (Dance to the Rhythm Mix)" (6:55), "Rhythm of Love (Move to the Rhythm Mix)" (4:26), "Rhythm of Love (The Rhythm of Dub)" (7:51). These are all alternate versions from the contemporary single releases.

Friday Music have re-released 90125 on LP in the US in their 180 Gram Audiophile Half-Speed Master Series (mastering by Joe Reagoso and Ron McMaster) and follow it with Relayer, due next. They previously released Close to the Edge in the same format last year. Audio Fidelity are planning a Gold CD of 90125, remastered by Steve Hoffman.

Something's Coming (a.k.a. Beyond and Before) has been re-released again on Lilith in the US. The "Classic Artists: Yes" DVD documentary has been re-released in New Zealand.

Now out is Introducing Yes, a new budget-priced compilation on Ear. Some sources list this under the name Earmusic Legends, but that's the name for a series of similar releases. Amazon.co.uk lists this as already out; tracks: "Magnification", "Open Your Eyes", "Lightning Strikes", "Universal Garden", "Homeworld (The Ladder)", "Don't Go", "Roundabout (Live)", "And You And I (Live)". However, Tower.com gives a US release on Edel with a slightly different track listing, with "The Calling" replacing "Roundabout", and Amazon.com gives a 27 Oct release date.

Covers of Yes songs & other news
In a Jun 2009 interview, asked about the possibility of Yes on Rock Band or Guitar Hero, Squire says, "There has been some conversation between Xbox and management. It may actually happen at some point."

Various Yesmen have covered Yes material in other projects. 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 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. CIRCA: play Yes material live, and Yoso are expected too as well: see here.

Dream Theater have released a CD compiling some of their live covers: Uncovered 2003-2005 (only available through Ytsejam Records, YTSEJAM018). Tracks: "Death on Two Legs" (originally by Queen; 3:49), "Heart of the Sunrise" (Yes; 10:29—recorded at a soundcheck in Berlin in 2004), "Heaven and Hell" (Black Sabbath; 6:19), "Paradox" (Kansas; 3:43), "Mother Father" (Journey; 5:32), "Machine Messiah" (Yes; 3:19—this is the middle section of the piece, recorded at Jones Beach in 2004 when they were supporting Yes), "Since I've been Loving You" (Led Zeppelin, 6:49), "Diary of a Madman" (Ozzy Osbourne; 5:59), "Cemetary Gates" (Pantera; 8:19), "Won't Get Fooled Again" (The Who; 10:06).

Magenta are releasing a cover of "Wonderous Stories" as a digital-only single on 15 Nov through Tigermoth Records; tracks: "Wonderous Stories: Full Mix", "Wonderous Stories: Instrumental Mix", "Wonderous Stories: Acoustic Mix". The band have also made a supporting video. They have been playing the song live on recent acoustic shows.

Media, books & documentaries
UK magazine Classic Rock have launched a new quarterly publication, Classic Rock Presents... Prog (MySpace page; subscriptions now available). Issue 3 had Wakeman joining as a columnist, while issue 4 has an article with Bruford and John Wetton (Asia, ex-King Crimson, ex-UK) discussing King Crimson's album Red.

On BBC Radio 4 (and available to hear until 19 Oct) was "Mitch Benn's Wondrous Stories", in which musician and comedian Mitch Benn considered the concept album, with contributions from Wakeman, Brian Blessed (worked with Rick Wakeman), Jeff Wayne and others. The Fragile-period BBC documentary "Sounding Out" has been shown on VH-1 Classic in the US as part of their BBC Crown Jewels series. 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.

Brian Draper has written "Yes in Australia", which he hopes to publish in late 2009 or early 2010. The book covers Yes's two Australian tours (1973 and 2003) and includes previously unpublished photos from the 1973 tour.

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.

Alan Farley is putting free updates to his book "The Extraordinary World of Yes" online here.

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 inspired by Yes's Tales from Topographic Oceans.

Other news
In Oct 2009, Anderson, Squire, Horn and Rabin were awarded a BMI award for "Owner of a Lonely Heart" reaching 3 million plays on US TV and radio.

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.

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.

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