------------------------------------------------------- APRIL 21, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Entertainment Sports Previews http://www.espmagazine.com/2004/1637/yes.html One Word, One Band, Yes By Grant Britt When is rock not rock? The answer is Yes. The English sextet took two genres that wouldn't get within spitting distance of one another and coerced them into an unholy marriage of chamber music and rock. Orchestral rock is a better description of the sound that vocalist Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Tony Kaye, bassist Chris Squire and former Savoy Brown drummer Bill Bruford debuted in 1969. The group mixed jazz, metal and pop, arranged along classic lines and delivered like rock. The first album included covers of the Beatles and the Byrds as well as their own material. The bands first major gig, opening for Creams farewell show in England in 68 was a huge risk. The band not only survived the gig, but found instant acceptance in England. By the time the band put out The Yes Album in 71, the band had become a supergroup in England, but few outside the UK had heard of them. The Yes Album would change all that, forging the groups signature sound with the use of synthesizers and sequencers. Fragile was the release that broke the group worldwide and introduced a new guy into the mix. Organist Rick Wakeman replaced Tony Kaye, who would go on to join Badfinger. At the height of their popularity, just after the release of 72s Close To the Edge, key members began to drop out of the band. Drummer Bruford left to join King Crimson, replaced by Plastic Ono Band member Alan White. Wakeman stayed onboard for Yessongs, a live album of the bands greatest hits, but left soon after 74s Tales From Topographic Oceans. Ironically, no musical or artistic differences were cited as a reason for Wakemans departure it was due to a clash of lifestyles. Wakeman was a dedicated meat-eating, beer aficionado whose rowdy habits clashed with the more sober vegetarian demeanors of the other band members. Wakeman pursued a solo career, replaced by Patrick Moraz of Refugee. But despite the personnel change, the bands direction continued in the same vein. Wakeman came back on board for 77s Going For the One, but was dissatisfied despite the bands commercial success, and left again after recording Tormato in 78. Anderson, responsible for the bands trippy surreal lyrics, departed as well. The band got an infusion of talent from ex-Buggles Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, who had a hit with Video Killed the Radio Star. The group managed to get out only one more album, 1980s Drama before splitting up. With Downes and Horn, the band rocked harder than before, forsaking the lush orchestral sounds and incorporating metal and ska into the mix. Guitarist Howe and Downes left to join Emerson, Lake and Palmers Carl Palmer to form arena anthem purveyors Asia. Squire and White briefly toyed with the idea of forming a heavy metal supergroup with Led Zeps Jimmy Page and Robert Plant to be called XYZ, for ex Yes and Led Zeppelin. Yes reformed in 83 with Anderson, Squire, and White taking on South African guitarist Trevor Rabin. Rabin wrote one the bands biggest hits, 83s Owner of a Lonely Heart from the album 90125. Once again, the band changed its sound from the hard rock of Drama for a pop sound. The band put out one more album, The Big Generator, before Anderson left. This time the split wasnt amicable Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe were at odds with Squire, White, Rabin and Kaye, who claimed to be the original Yes and toured under that name. The other group with Wakeman and Anderson toured using their surnames while their lawyers fought it out in court. But the group managed to put its differences aside long enough to record, Union in 91 and toured the world behind it. The band then coasted while several Best of albums came out, getting back together for 96s live album Keys To Ascension with Wakeman, Squire White and Anderson being this version of Yes. The shows were recorded over three nights and includes a version of Paul Simons America, recorded by the band early in the 70s. Ladder, in 99 is sort of a flashback with echoes of Fragile. The bands latest, Magnification was released in 2001. Yes continued to tour, and Wakeman rejoined in 2002. Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Alan White, Steve Howe, Chris Squire are currently touring in a 17-city jaunt. Fans will be treated not only to a nostalgic evening of memories with hits that span the entire Yes catalogue, but the music will performed from a stage set designed by innovative artist Roger Dean, who painted the groundbreaking cover art for the band as well as creating their existential stage sets of the 70s. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com