------------------------------------------------------- FEBRUARY 27, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Coventry Entertainment http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0800whatson/entertainment/ (abbreviated link text) Steve's still got the know howe By Alan Poole Steve Howe has been just about everywhere and done pretty much everything during a career that stretches back over 35 years. A prog-rock guitar god with Yes and Asia, a virtuoso solo performer and an inveterate musical collaborator, few artists have made a more comprehensive job of exploring the full range of their chosen instrument. But at Warwick Arts Centre next Tuesday, he will achieve a new first when he steps out on stage with his two sons, Dylan and Virgil. And he couldn’t be more thrilled at the prospect. Dylan (drums) and Virgil (keyboards) line up alongside Derrick Taylor (bass) and Gilad Atzmon (saxophone, clarinet and flute) in dad’s latest project, Steve Howe’s Remedy, whose album Elements is an eclectic mix of rock, blues and jazz influences. And Tuesday’s date kicks off a short UK tour that Howe is squeezing into his packed schedule before he rejoins Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Alan White and Rick Wakeman in the ‘classic’ Yes team for a massive anniversary trek that hits Britain this summer. “It will be a fantastic experience for me to play live with my sons,” says Howe. “I’ve worked with Dylan a lot on recordings and Virgil’s done a few albums with me as well, but this is the ultimate. “We’ve been working towards this goal for a long time, and when we’ve played the first song I think I’ll look round at them and kind of grin ‘we’ve done it!’ ” The generation game set-up is not just the indulgence of a proud father - the young Howes are accomplished musicians in their own right. “They’re both remarkable in their own way, both marvellous to play with,” says Steve. “I’m just lucky they don’t play the same instrument as me. Virgil’s also an extremely good drummer - that’s what he does in his bands - but he’s played keyboards for a long time.” The “golden opportunity” to perform with his sons was the main driving force behind the Remedy project, but Howe has always been a musical workaholic. “I love playing with Yes and the one-man show is a great buzz,” he explains. “One of the biggest tests any musician can do is to take the stage on their own - that’s why we admire stand-up comics so much. “But this is something different: I had this big backlog of unplayed material building up and I hope that people who are aware of my solo material will be intrigued, will want to see what it’s all about.” Even in the days when Yes were one of the biggest bands on the planet - their run of 16 consecutive shows at Madison Square Garden is still a record - Howe was very much a thinking man’s rock star. “Enjoyment doesn’t always depend on how fast you can play, how much you know,” he explains, “it’s about a skill you nurtured. “I don’t need to perform with my guitar behind my head or between my legs, and I particularly don’t like guitarists who kneel on the ground. It’s pathetic, really laughable and, frankly, I’m a bit beyond all that. “I’m not a tight-trousered, long-haired, sweaty rock star - I’m there to be one of the best guitarists in the world. “It’s a tall order, but it’s exciting to think that I can at least attempt to rise to that challenge. “You reach a point when you know your instrument very well and now I’m very confident about my music “At one point Yes used to dissect the whole set, picking over every little mistake, but I don’t carry that load any more. “You aim for a high level and learn from your disasters. These days I come off stage very light-hearted.” Howe is quick to point out, however, that this isn’t his hobby - despite all his past success, he still considers himself very much a working musician. “I remember in the 70s I used to say to our accountants ‘could we just not earn quite so much money and get into a lower tax bracket?’ “But life is not quite as clear-cut as that unless you’re someone like Sting or Madonna. “I have the opportunity to do a lot of things just because they’re fun or a challenge, but I’m happy to say that there is still a driving force of survival in my music.”  Steve Howe’s Remedy play Warwick Arts Centre on Tuesday, March 2 (tickets £22.50 from 024 7652 4524). Yes play Birmingham NEC on Wednesday, June 16 (tickets £35 from 0870 909 4133). Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com