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MAY 8, 1996
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Source: SuperSeventies
http://www.superseventies.com/faq_yes.html
YES: A Short History of the Band
By Henry Potts
A short history of the band:
Chris Squire and Peter Banks had been in a band called The Syn, which was
to mutate into Mabel Greer's Toy Shop. One night, Jon Anderson met Squire
after a gig and the core of Yes was born. Anderson sang with Mabel Greer's
Toy Shop a few times but a new band was to emerge of Squire, Anderson and
Banks (who picked the name Yes), as well as Bill Bruford and Tony Kaye. As
well as their own material, the early band also played numerous covers,
some of which would later see release on _Yes_, _Time and a Word_ or
_Yesterdays_; The Beatles and Stephen Stills were particular favourites.
This line-up released _Yes_ (1969), which was well received in the music
press. With the addition of a string section, the same line-up recorded
_Time and a Word_ (1970). Eddie Offord was brought in by the producer as
engineer, the beginning of his long association with the band. The original
album cover was deemed too risque for the US (featuring a drawing of a nude
woman) and it was replaced by a band photo. By that time, however, Banks
had been replaced by Steve Howe, who had nothing whatsoever to do with the
album. This cover was preserved for the CD.
Now with Howe, the band recorded _The Yes Album_ (1971). Kaye was the next
to leave, forming Badger with David Foster, Anderson's partner in a band
before Yes (The Warriors) and co-writer of some songs on _Time and a Word_.
Both Kaye and Banks had had musical differences with the rest of the band
and seem to have been sacked, although they were quite willing to go. Kaye
was replaced by Rick Wakeman and the band recorded _Fragile_ (1972).
_Fragile_ included solo pieces from each member, although, for contractual
reasons, Wakeman was only able to contribute a 'cover' of a piece by Brahms
as "Cans and Brahms". The same line-up next recorded _Close to the Edge_
(1972). Bruford left before the associated tour, to join King Crimson,
feeling he could go no further with Yes. His replacement was Alan White.
The double album _Tales from Topographic Oceans_ (1974) followed. Wakeman,
publicly outspoken against the album and the direction the band had taken,
left after the tour. Anderson, Howe, Squire and White started work on the
next album, to be joined by Patrick Moraz. This produced _Relayer_ (1974).
At Anderson's suggestion, each band member then produced a solo album in
1975/6. Anderson made _Olias of Sunhillow_, a true solo album in which he
played every instrument. Squire's _Fish Out of Water_ saw the return of
Bruford, plus Moraz on keys. Both also guested on Howe's _Beginnings_. For
_Ramshackled_, White turned to an old band of his, though Anderson and Howe
guest on one track. Moraz made _The Story of i_. Some solo pieces were
tried out on the subsequent Yes tour, but were soon abandoned.
Moraz then left the group (possibly sacked) and Wakeman returned for _Going
for the One_ (1977). (Moraz would later record two albums with Bruford as
Moraz - Bruford.) The line-up remained unchanged for _Tormato_ (1978). The
band recorded two sets of sessions after _Tormato_, the so-called Paris and
Golden Age sessions, but they were unhappy with the results. Anderson and
Wakeman decided to leave; Anderson re-using some of the material in his
subsequent solo album _Song of Seven_. One another piece would be re-used,
much changed, as "Run Through the Light" on _Drama_ by Squire.
Squire, Howe and White continued as a trio. Meanwhile, Trevor Horn and
Geoff Downes were in a band called The Buggles (best known for "Video
Killed the Radio Star"). They approached Yes hoping to sell them some
songs, but were invited to join the band instead. This new line-up released
_Drama_ (1980). The tour, which saw two further new pieces ("Go Through
This" and "We Can Fly From Here"), ran into problems with resistance to
Anderson's departure. Horn was very uncomfortable about live performances
and having to fill Anderson's shoes, and retired to concentrate on
producing. (He also finished The Buggles' second album, _Adventures in
Modern Recording_, which includes a different version of _Drama_'s "Into
the Lens" as "I Am a Camera".) Yes went into dissolution.
Howe and Downes formed Asia with John Wetton (a former colleague of
Bruford's in King Crimson and UK) and Carl Palmer (of ELP). Squire and
White joined Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin to from XYZ (ex-Yes and Zeppelin).
Demos were recorded but the band folded before any releases. (Squire has
said that Page has re-used some of Squire's XYZ material in later
projects.) Squire and White also released a single "Run with the Fox" (b/w
"Return of the Fox", an instrumental version of the same piece), later
released on _YesYears_. The duo were next joined by Trevor Rabin to form
Cinema, with Tony Kaye later joining as well.
Cinema recorded some demos, re-using some material Rabin had recorded as
solo demos. Horn came back to produce and Anderson then joined the band,
leading to a name change (back) to Yes. Finally, _90125_ (1983) was
released, containing the hit single "Owner of a Lonely Heart". Still with
Horn producing, the band started on their next album. Horn soon left
(possibly having been fired) and after years of further production work,
_Big Generator_ (1987) eventually emerged.
Anderson then left the group and attempted to re-form the _Fragile_ band.
The result was Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, or ABWH. Squire took out
legal action to prevent them calling themselves Yes, further deepening the
schism between ABWH and what is usually known as YesWest (Squire, Rabin,
White and Kaye). ABWH released _ABWH_ (1989), on which Downes also receives
a writing co-credit for some material re-used by Howe from his time working
with Downes. Similarly, Vangelis' credit is for an unreleased Jon &
Vangelis Anderson recycled. On bass, ABWH recruited Bruford's colleague
from King Crimson, Tony Levin.
YesWest continued in name, although little was recorded. The exact course
of events is unclear. Rabin was busy with a solo album (_Can't Look Away_)
and seems to have actually left the band. Squire recruited Billy Sherwood
and Bruce Gowdy from World Trade. Sherwood, Squire and White went on to
form the Chris Squire Experiment, a band that only played live a few times.
Sherwood continued to have peripheral involvement with Yes, while some
Squire/Sherwood material eventually surfaced on World Trade's second album,
_Euphoria_ (1995). ABWH, meanwhile, started work on a second album, to be
called _Dialogue_, and recorded lengthy demos. The record company being
desirous of 'hit' material, Anderson approached Rabin to write some songs
for the album. Thus was the Union born. _Union_ (1991) consisted largely of
ABWH material (mostly new as compared to the _Dialogue_ demos) combined
with a few Rabin tracks and one Squire/Sherwood track, on which the YesWest
band played. Anderson added his vocals to the YesWest material and Squire
added backing vocals to the ABWH material. The ABWH material had an
extensive input from producer Johnathon Elias. He brought in session
musicians to re-record some parts, much to the distaste of Wakeman and
Howe. A tour followed, seeing all eight playing on stage together.
The Union soon revealed itself as a marketing ploy. Bruford left
immediately after the tour and Howe soon followed. Wakeman remained
associated with the band, but his own solo career precluded active
involvement on the next album. This left the same line-up as _Big
Generator_ to release _Talk_ (1994). 1994 also saw Howe and Bruford, with
Anderson guesting, work on David Palmer's _Symphonic Music of Yes_.
Rabin and Kaye then left the band, clearing the way for Howe and Wakeman to
return, which is the current state of play. The next album, due this year,
will be a douoble album consisting of half an album's worth of new, studio
material with the rest being live material from concerts at San Luis
Osbispo. Anderson, Squire, Howe and White are all committed to the band,
but Wakeman's involvement beyond _The Keys to Ascension_ is uncertain.
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