------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 4, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Accrington Observer http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/index/articles/article_id=11675.html Gallery to celebrate legendary rock star The career of an Accrington musician who became a world-famous rock star will be celebrated by an exhibition in his home town next month. Fans of Jon Anderson and the Seventies supergroup Yes will be in for a treat when the display opens at the Haworth Art Gallery. The display, entitled Yes: 35 Years of Wondrous Music, will run from 16 October until 14 November. It will be opened by the Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Miles Parkinson. Jon Anderson is one of Accrington's best-known musical sons. Born in 1944, he started out in local band The Warriors, headed by his brother Tony, at the height of the Beatles-inspired beat boom. They attracted a large local following but never quite made the charts and Jon left in 1967. It was Yes, formed in 1968, that made Anderson a household name, with classic albums such as The Yes Album and Fragile achieving massive success in America as well as the UK. He also had both single and album success with Vangelis and worked with a host of rock stars, including Mike Oldfield. The Haworth exhibition will feature around 100 pictures of Yes-related artwork, album covers, posters, flyers and other material, charting the band's career. The material has been compiled by lifelong Yes fan, Dave Watkinson, formerly of Bolton, who is the author of Perpetual Change, a best-selling biography of the group. He said: "As a youngster Jon lived very close to the gallery so it's the ideal place for the exhibition. "I have been a fan of the band since 1975, and my collection of Yes material is one of the largest in the world. I approached the Haworth and asked if they wanted to display it. Nothing like this has ever been done on the band before. "I will be there on the opening day to sign copies of my book. The singer and rhythm guitarist from the Yes tribute band, Fragile, will also be there, along with Rod Hill from the Warriors. There will be live music and screened concert footage. "After the show, I am planning to sell the collection, because I would rather it be on display somewhere than just go back into boxes. Anyone who is interested in buying it should come along on the day." Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com