------------------------------------------------------- February 1976 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Los Angeles Times Yes: Just Another Splintering Group? By Dennis Hunt Something is happening with Yes which has inspired rumors that some of its members are unhappy with the band and that more disruptive personnel changes are due. The group is just recovering from the loss of Rick Wakeman, who left to pursue a solo career. Now all the members of this English rock band have recorded solo albums -- all for Atlantic Records, which records Yes. Bassist Chris Squire's ''Fish out of Water'' and guitarist Steve Howe's ''Beginnings'' were recently released. Albums by drummer Alan White and keyboards player Patrick Moraz are scheduled for release at the end of March and singer Jon Anderson's album will probably be released in late April. Squire was in town recently promoting his album and disclaiming rumors that the abundance of solo products is indicative of an impending split. ''Solo albums don't have to mean that a band is breaking up or that members are about to leave,'' said Squire. ''People in other bands do it and nobody speculates that those bands are about to fall apart. We all made a decision to do solo albums and see what the experience does for each of us. It seemed like the logical thing to do since we all write songs and we all are capable of being soloists. I'm sure people think solo albums are bad for Yes because of what happened with Wakeman." Wakeman joined Yes in 1972 -- after the band had been in existence for about three years -- and left in the summer of 1974. No band can lose a star of Wakeman's status and not suffer somewhat, but his exit seemed particularly severe since he was the group's lone star. However, Squire contends the loss was not as devastating as most people think. ''There have been no massive changes in Yes' music since he left,'' said Squire. ''He was certainly important to the band in terms of concerts, popularity and image, but he was not a creative force in the band. Jon, Steve and I are the core of the band. ''It was obvious something had to give with Wakeman. He had a solo contract with another company, so he was getting twice as much publicity as anybody else in the band. There was friction because he could not devote as much time to Yes as the rest of us. 'He was trying to do too much.' He could have stayed with the band and laid back on his solo career but he chose the other way.'' Squire did admit there was a shaky period during which the band had to learn to function without Wakeman and work with Patrick Moraz, his replacement. The newcomer's first assignment was playing on the album ''Relayer.'' ''Patrick didn't have much to get his teeth into,'' said Squire. ''He came in after we had done all the rehearsing for that album. He merely added the keyboard parts, which is different from being involved with the album from the very beginning. ''We did a tour at the end of 1974 that was basically a break-in situation for Patrick. We only played the smaller markets. It was a bad time for concert business anyway so it was safer to stay away from the major markets. Then we did a major tour last year and did the best business Yes has ever done. We were sure then we could do well without Wakeman. ''Patrick is more a part of the band than Wakeman was. Wakeman tended to be separate from the rest of us. He liked to do his own thing on stage. It's not an ideal way for a member of a band to operate because it naturally creates friction. We don't want any more separatism.'' Solo albums by band members, of course, may foster separatism. Yes' personnel will try to guard against this problem by integrating music from all the solo albums into the show and stressing the policy that the band comes first. ''When we go on stage we must have the attitude that each of us is not as important as the band,'' said Squire. ''All of us will learn to play each other's music and play it a bit differently than it is on the solo albums. That should keep everyone happy.'' What if one of the solo albums becomes a big hit and one of the Yes members begins to overshadow the others? ''That still wouldn't lead to any changes,'' Squire replied. ''We made a pact that we would all stay together and be equal. I think we'll all stick to the pact.'' Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com