----------------------------------------------------- JULY 24, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: Cleveland Free Times http://www.freetimes.com/issues/1045/music-soundcheck.php Jon Anderson By Jeff Niesel YES WARBLER Since forming over 30 years ago, Yes has sold some 30 millions albums and stayed true to the prog-rock sound it helped invent. Now, Rhino's releasing In a Word: Yes (1969-), a five-disc box set (due July 30) that features 55 tracks (six of which are previously unreleased), extensive liner notes and remastered sound. Longtime graphic artist Roger Dean has even created new cover art. All it's missing is a family tree to show the numerous band members -- the current incarnation includes singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White and keyboardist Rick Wakeman. Q: You've been one of the few constants in Yes. But what did you think when Trevor Horn was singing?  A: I wasn't really that involved. I became a bohemian. I went to live in the south of France. I was spending time with Marc Chagall, the great artist, and Bill Wyman, the great bass player/joker, just having a rest. I had been on tour and recording for 10 or 11 years at that point, and I was mentally and physically out to lunch. Q: Looking back on it, how does 90125 fit into the Yes canon?  A: It's a high point simply because of the production value and the songs and the time it was released. It was a mega-hit album, and we'd already had mega-hit albums before. We understood that sort of process, and we constantly sell a lot of records, but not on that level. That doesn't mean our music is bad. It's just what's hip at the time. Q: Do you think the concept album will ever make a comeback?  A: Yeah. I'm working on a concept project now. You can go to apple.com/creative and see what I'm doing there. Alanis Morissette's album is concept music. She does this whole perception of her angst about a lot of things. That in itself is conceptual. A lot of rap music is very theater. I've written a rap opera, which will see the light of day one day. Q: Do you have a favorite rapper?  A: It fluctuates. I was a big fan of, what's that guy called, Shaggy Dog? Dog Shaggy? Q: Snoop Dogg?  A" Yeah. I love what he does. And I love that other guy who makes amazing videos. What's that guy called? He does these videos where his face goes right up to the camera. Q" Busta Rhymes?  A: Busta Rhymes, man, is the best. He's my main man. It all stems from the theater. If you look back in the old days, you had Screamin' Jay Hawkins and people like that who were very visual. Q: I know you're very spiritual. Are you religious at all?  A: We're all spiritual people. Religion gets in the way. They're all one. One love, man. Q: You're a big Lord of the Rings fan. What'd you think of the movie?  A: Beautiful. Just perfect. I loved it. Q: Rick Wakeman's back with the band. Does he really know how to play all those keyboards?  A: Yeah. Oh, yeah. He's the wizard, the keyboard wizard. Q: What do you do to keep your spirituality intact? Do you meditate?  A: Meditation is a very healthy thing. I wish they would teach it in school. It's a healthy thing for humans to understand, to just sit quietly for 15 minutes a day. Just sit quiet. Go quiet. Q: Do you take trips to Tibet?  A: No. You don't need to go further than your own self to find the truth. Q: I really like the song "Starship Trooper." Have you ever had extraterrestrial experiences?  A: A couple. They were out of this world. Q: Did you talk to the aliens?  A: We do it all the time. Most of us don't know who the aliens are. Aliens have nothing to do with the movies. Spiritual beings are all 'round the planet. Always have been. Always will be. It's a mystery. Q: Was Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe as good of an experience as Yes?  A: Yeah. It was a great moment for me. We did a great video of a show we did in San Francisco. It was really good. Q: It sounds like the name of a law firm.  A: That's what we said. Q: Any great memories of playing in Cleveland?  A: I nearly met Elvis Presley in Cleveland. At 3 o'clock in the morning I was summoned to go meet the King. I thought he'd be too tired to meet me. I was so scared. He was in the same hotel. Q: Do you think he's still alive?  A: Of course he is. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com