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Performances Jon Anderson in Greensboro, NC Media Yesfans.com Entering 10 Years of Internet Life Get Back with band come to New Mexico “Change We Must”: A Tribute to Jon Anderson My Yesography DVD (10 Minute Reduction Now on YouTube) Offered Autographed 1/2 Scale Pearl White Autographed "Jazz" Bass Yes: Pro Looking Forward to a Jon Solo Period Yes: Con Hope They Come to Their Senses Too Many Disgruntled Yes Fans to Ignore Yes without Jon Doesn't Exist to Me My Thoughts on Yes in Its Current Incarnation The 'New Yes' So Easy to Love and Hate. Dialog When Will The RnR Hall Of Shame Become Real? Next Year is Going to Be a Great Yes Year Yes in the Atlantic Provinces? Sound Chaser From: Greg and Lori Alexander lalexander26@frontiernet.net Mr. Howe, I have listened to Yes for 30 or more years. I never had the chance to see the band. I was fortunate enough to have 4th row seats at your Canandaigua NY stop. WOW you were awesome.... My wife and I go to many shows a year and just saw Jeff Beck a couple of week ago. Although Jeff was great he had nothing on you sir. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I have been an aspiring guitarist for 30 years but have never gotten to the level I've wanted. Guitar is my love and my life. I own 17 electric guitars and could never have enough. You reinforced my love for the instrument and I will never quit I will move on! Thank you for putting on a GREAT show. The band as a whole was good but you were GREAT. You could have played solo and pulled it off 100%. Thank you Steve... Jon Anderson in Greensboro, NC From: Terry Weaver Twdokro@aol.com Here I am after attending Jon's Acoustical Evening at the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC, with my wife. What a wonderful show. We were in the front row center stage. Right in front of Jon!!! If that weren't great enough, I was sitting right beside Jon's wife!!! His performance was brilliant. The outpouring of support and admiration from the crowd was genuine and heartfelt. The show was laid back and the music was great. Jon mixed music with stories and each magnified the other. Just as did the exchange between Jon and Jane, each supporting and strengthening the other. I felt blessed to be at the performance. It was an intimate experience that teetered between earthly euphoria and spiritual bliss. It was truly, an astounding performance. Seems surreal that less than two years earlier, in that same venue stood Yes. Playing as great as they ever did! It too, was an amazing show. I had never been so close to them as I was at the Carolina Theatre. Second row right in front of Steve! Oliver would have made Rick proud had Rick been there. David also did a great job fronting for them. It was, however, a little strange to see him instead of Jon, but he did to a great job. One might look at this as perhaps a battle between two opposing versions of an entity whose past was of one accord, jockeying for that coveted top spot. If this were a battle, who would have ultimately been the winner in this tempest? I was the victor, because I saw pieces of what I consider to be the best band in the world. Fragmented as it were, they ALL were Yes. Each piece a part of something bigger than them separated. Yes! I emphatically enjoy watching and hearing them. I like them all, because
they are all Yes. While I do admit I have
favorites of the various renditions of the band
as well as individuals, I would gladly see any
of them perform. Changes occur in life and how
we deal with them is a measure of our character
and our spirit. In the spirit of compromise I
would like to see them reunite and set aside any
differences weather real or perceived. If I
could offer a bit of advice, it might be wise to
listen to "No Way We Can Lose" from their OPEN
YOUR EYES CD. From: Miguel Paez mapaezr@yahoo.com Yes! I want to thank Yes for that enormous concert they played yesterday night here in Caracas. It was fantastic to watch them in scene. A neat show in all aspects. Always miss Jon's voice and Rick's keyboards. Pity for the rain that avoid us to have the great finale that great concert deserved. Good for Steve, Chris & Alan. What a great performance! Yesfans.com Entering 10 Years of Internet Life From: Tim Lutterbie 1yesfan@yesfans.com This coming spring (April 2011) Yesfans.com will celebrate the start of its 10th year on the internet. I wanted to thank everyone that has been part of the site's great growth and hope to see more of you join us and help to continue to positively support the band as it moves forward. Thanks. --Tim
From: John Morse morsepiano@fairpoint.net My music partner and I are working on
"Long Distance Runaround". I have waited almost 40 years to do a song by Yes. If anyone would like to check out a 2 man band attempting
"Long Distance Runaround", go to
GweegeStudios on
YouTube. Yes will live forever! From: Jan Geisler JJGYesforum@t-online.de Yes is still alive! We had a forum for the Yes fans in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Our first meeting, on the 9/11 in 2010, was 9 years after the last studio-output from Yes, MAGNIFICATION. Earlier this year we visited concerts form ASIA and this month of course YOSO and later this year the Anderson/Wakeman concerts in UK. Circa (with Billy & Tony) played great versions of Yes-Songs: "Hold On"; "Yes - Medley": Instrumental (only Tony Kaye); "Looking Around"; "Harold Land"; "Every Little Thing"; "Survival"; "No Opportunity..."; "America"; "Something's Coming; "Yours is no Disgrace"; "Wurm"; "Cinema"; "Open your Eyes"; "Changes"; "Make it Easy (intro)/Owner of a Lonely Heart"; "Roundabout". We also heard great solos, from Tony on the keys and Billy on bass. It was good to hear some early stuff of Yes. So now we looking forward to the Anderson/Wakeman-Shows and the new Yes-Album in 2011! What can you found in our forum? Lyrics-translations, pictures, reviews, interviews and many more... German Yes-Forum:
http://yes.siteboard.eu/
“Change We Must”: A Tribute to Jon Anderson From: ROB GJERDE YESSONGSBRASIL@GMAIL.COM
From Earthday Brazil:
http://www.changewemusttribute.com
My Yesography DVD (10 Minute Reduction Now on YouTube) From: Alex van Starrex avanstar@ihug.com.au I recorded a 65-minute DVD of my original solo-guitar (nylon and steel string) arrangements of Yes songs back in 2005, when I was Vice President of YESFANZ (the Australian and New Zealand chapter of yesfans.com). I recently made a 10-minute reduction of the DVD for my YouTube channel - avs002. In it, you can see me playing "my" versions of "I've Seen All Good People", "Mood For A Day", "And You And I", "The Ancient", "Gates of Delirium", "Awaken", "Onward", "In The Presence Of..." and "Clap". I hope you can all watch and enjoy it! I'm holding off any "rip" and upload or sale of the DVD; copies of it were given to a few YESFANZ members when it was made. There is also a dedicated "Yes - Related" section on my YouTube channel, where you can up with lots of interesting Australia-related Yes content - not to mention a recent project, where I added bass, drums and guitar to some live Jon Anderson solo songs. Enjoy!!! Autographed 1/2 Scale Pearl White Autographed "Jazz" Bass From: Lyle Glidden splitrockaudio@pshift.com On one of their final stops of the 35th Anniversary Tour the classic
Yes members autographed my Synsonics Mini Jazz Bass in Essex Jct., VT at the Champlain Valley Fair.
I am contemplating selling the autographed bass as I'm in a bit of a financial bind.
If anyone is interested please E-mail me for a photo... Minimum amount I might consider selling the instrument for is $750.00. I reserve the right to
not sell the instrument if things turn around
for me. Please put "Autographed Yes bass" in the
subject line of your communication. From:
Donald Stammes donnymick@yahoo.co.uk
Having finally got rid of my video player and
most of the videos, there are 1 or 2 such as
this one by Steve that I thought I could sell
for a fair price - all proceeds are going to
'food for life' charity in India. Any offers?
Many thanks. From: Chris Ravndal cravndal@comcast.net I have Jon's "Indigenous Journey" concert from South America on VHS and I'm looking to sell it. Watched the tape only a couple times within a year or so of purchasing it. Make an offer. From: Gino
Grimaldi grimaldigino@hotmail.com Yes, Jon Anderson is not back, Yes, we do have a new singer, Yes, there will be a new album forthcoming. For the latter part of 2 years, Yes has been touring the U.S. and Europe to cater to smaller crowds in smaller venues. I drove from Montreal to Concord NH (4.5 Hours) to see them in February 2010. They also came to Laval Quebec in June of 2010. To my surprise, the magic lives on in their music. Yes Is Still Yes. No Jon, no Rick, well hello Oliver and Benoit. They carried their parts very well. They blend in perfectly with our boys. We can clearly see that a pleasant chemistry has formed between them. Thanks to the elevated playing of Steve Howe and Chris Squire and of course with the perfectionist time keeper Alan White we were electrified from start to finish. It was a great treat to see Yes in a small venue as I doubt that with Anderson present it would have been possible. With Yes heading into the studio, one can only imagine what they will come up with. Whatever they come up with, I am sure that they will completely prove to us again and again that Yes is not a stagnant band. They have the ability to reinvent themselves once again. Maybe something completely original or something in the likes of DRAMA II. No matter what,
Yes Is Still Yes and they will be back to please us once again. We wish them all the best and we will be there to support them when they tour. From: Jim Voit JimSVoit@gmail.com The show on June 30th, 2010 at CMAC in Canandaigua, New York was phenomenal. I mean seriously...ANYONE who is having their doubts about seeing the band because of Benoit being there NEEDS to give Yes a chance. Benoit sounded fantastic, and the band played soooo tight and inspired that night. Steve was spot on...his solos in "Yours Is No Disgrace" were just excellent. "Perpetual Change" was one of the highlights....so much energy from the band!!! Also "Close to the Edge"...just amazing. Chris' bass, Steve's guitar and Alan's drumming right before the Oliver's keyboard solo were all just great. Not to mention the rest of the show! This was my first time seeing Yes live...in any incarnation. I was seriously in awe when they all walked out on stage in the same building as me!!!! I looked over at my girlfriend and she was thinking the same thing!!! I was SO excited that my hands were shaking for about 75% of their show...until we walked down front for the encore, "Roundabout", which was very cool to be so close to the band. They played with such genuine feeling that night. I closed my eyes and just tried to soak it all in. I wished it would never end. They still have the MAGIC that certain reviewers have been talking about. I felt it so vividly on that very night. Over three months have passed since that night and I am happy to say that I can still remember that feeling that I felt. The energy the band showed us. It was just beautiful. All in all, it was a truly truly memorable evening...I couldn't hold back the tears during the beginning of "And You And I". There was this special feeling in the air last night. I don't know if anyone else felt it...but it was there...and I knew the band felt it. They all seemed to be having so much fun up there. Steve was very excitable during some of the extended solos...jumping up and down and whatnot. Chris Squire really looked to be having a blast. On the last note of "Owner", he just flashed a huge smile and I could just feel the happiness radiate right off of him. Even though the crowd wasn't
huge, it was certainly big enough to get the
band going and keep them going! If I could
change ANYTHING about last night, I wouldn't
change a thing!! Seeing Yes live was EVERYTHING
I could have ever hoped for AND MORE. Chris even
pronounced Canandaigua (CAN-NUN-DAY-GUA)
perfectly!!! It was a night I will NEVER forget!
I can't wait to hear some new music from Yes "In
The Present"! From: Danny Tichio dannytjr@yahoo.com I had waited for years to see
Yes perform at the Theatre at Westbury. Last year I got my wish when I saw them perform there twice, once as a solo act and once with ASIA. They were
definitely the BEST Shows I have ever seen there! I had great seats in the 5th row. It was good to see my musical heroes up close. They put on a Great show. I hope they come back to Westbury again.
Thanks for a great show. From: Paul Rogers redmooncreative@xtra.co.nz Its great news to hear that Trevor Horn is producing the next album and its just what this lineup needs to ignite good press and drive along positive expectations for the new album. [Prior til recording began] in L.A anticipation amongst the bands supporters [was] building. As is the amount of negative postings on fan sites (AMY and YesFans) by those who haven't accepted this new lineup as a valid Yes. This debate between online factions has raged for the past two years as this lineup has evolved from "Howe, Squire, White of Yes" to "Yes" with both sides of the
"debate" having very strong emotions attached to their convictions.
That Jon has been replaced by a singer who was previously in a Yes tribute band has been difficult for some to accept. Add to that, an apparently healthy Jon is now performing regular solo shows and has an upcoming tour with Rick and there's been a lot of head scratching going on as many people wonder why the HSW and AW camps
haven't reunited and why are HSWDW are continuing as the new Yes lineup?
Simple answer really. HSW and AW don't get on.
After two years of playing with Benoit and Oliver, HSW see this lineup as a more functional, happier and more unified band. Their next challenge is to see if this lineup can be creative in the studio and with Trevor Horn at the desk... From: Robert Davidovich rdavido@comcast.net I was able to see
Yes this past June in Tunica, MS, and then was fortunate to be able to be in Mpls in August for Jon Anderson's opening solo tour at the Guthrie. The band sounded great, better than ever, it was a great pleasure to see them. And it was such a great privilege to see Jon Anderson live again. I'm sure the entire crowd, that night and each night of his tour, held their breath in anticipation of just how Jon would sound, and he performed tremendously. From first hearing
"Roundabout" in 1972, wow, I'm still able to see these guys play live! And all the great songs and lyrics that followed from that song, I could have never known! It's been enough for me to still see them all live and remember what they provided to me musically and theatrically, I don't dream of a
Yes re-reunion anymore. From: Matthew Swenson mswenson62@gmail.com The hope in me is that when the time is right that both Jon and Benoit could collarborate together in the Yes realm. It seems as if from whispers from other sources indicate that Jon has been at least semi supportive of Benoit David. Hey lets shoot the works and have Trevor Horn included also. Nothing permanent but a song or two including Yes vocalists past and present might be interesting to say the least.
Thanks, Matt From:
Dennis Kelly trallek4321@hotmail.com Hi, rabid Yes fan here. Okay, I've just played all my Yes collection including Jon's brilliant solo material and still I thirst for more. I still have this reoccurring dream of a new, groundbreaking Yes studio CD then I awaken to reality. I hope and pray that somehow life will take a slight detour off the beaten path and some sort of magic dust will fall on these guys called Yes and some new twist in prog rock appears with a natural beauty and luster that drives us all to ecstasy yet one more time. Alas, woe is me. I may have set the bar too high, ay? Life has always shown to be full of surprises though. I started collecting albums when they first became available in 1957.In 1969 I started faithfully following
Yes and collecting everything they released and then some. I can only hope for the best in their endeavors and health to keep "the light" shining bright on into the infinite future. Nuff
said. Looking Forward to a Jon Solo Period From: Forrest Tohill tohill@sbcglobal.net While it would certainly make Yes complete again, in the minds of the fans anyway, honestly, I am looking forward to a "Jon Solo" period. He's obviously got lots and lots of material either complete or in the works which is slow enough to surface for various reasons worthy of an entire discussion I'm sure... I fear that a reunited Jon/Yes would only slow or hamper Jon's material output to his faithful, if not halt it altogether. I for one am in a "Jon Solo" mode... as it seems Jon has been for some time! Bring it on Jon! Please. :-) From: John Payne jpayne@kvcc.edu I must say that as a Yes fan I find myself at a crossroads. I like the new lineup but not the negative stuff from the fans. I think that Jon is not able to sing a whole concert & the band has tried the blind-eye approach and this has created suspicion and hearsay. If Jon said he couldn't do it anymore, a lot of people would be silenced. I usually get good seats for Yes concerts but am sick of inconsiderate people blocking my view or any scam you can think of really! People complain about the band but mine is with the fans & the last six-shows have been painful with regret. The band was great though. People get on Yes for touring for a living but there is no retirement plan when you are a self-employed 1099 kind of person and have been ripped off your whole carrer by Rockefeller Center. At this point I am glad they are alive as most of the friends I went to see them with are not. I hope they do a new album and let the Kids write it! I will buy it and see the show as many times as the logistics allow. If you don't fight for your art, it will go away. Yes didn't get drunk and screw a lot of chicks on the Jersey shore so they are not in the Rock & Roll hall of shame. I guess Jon sang there but I won't walk into place until Yes is inducted, EVER. I was there and wouldn't go in. Maybe instead of wasting our energy on hating each other we should band together and drive Rolling Stone to its knees and get them in. It's down to three people, all with office doors, who are placing their drunken craft-beer version of music history on the rest of us. I am glad that I was there so I know the truth but in a hundred-years will they? The band needs to realize they are not at Madison Square anymore and be a little more accessible to the fans. If the band is scared of us they should go to the mall and buy some swords. They are very effective and don't need re-loading. They need a person in charge of the brand for Live Nation or something. I hope they do anyway because if they already have that person, then they need a new one! Where is the tour programs and live recordings for the US shows, missed opportunity! There is so much opportunity for Yes and I believe that the new band can move forward but the scarce drug dealer game that the music business plays is not one of them anymore. You can only make so much money selling key chains and limited edition re-master whatever and then it is over. I have four different re-mastered versions of CLOSE TO THE EDGE not including live and that is over! How about a cruise, songwriting class, or tour with a traveling Yes tradeshow, or even a Yes convention weekend! A lot of questions could be answered like what kind of open tuning on the Lap steel does Steve use or take a class with Steve. Lot of history to pass on or it gets lost. Got to fight for your art, are you ready to fight for
Yes? From: Etienne BOURET amiroses@hotmail.com I love both guys and we would have very nice multi-voice songs just as the beginning of Yes!
From: Simon Rudman simon.rudman620@googlemail.com I am not one to dictate to my mentors, but the current state of Yes is tragic. The gentlemen of Yes have not talked to NFTE for over a year and the recent sabotaging of the US tour reports by certain SIMIAN elements makes the group we love look as bad as Journey or Pink Floyd. Bill was so right in the recent
"History of Yes" DVD. The classic line up of Yes that
functioned so well until Rick's "retirement" and John's illness must go on a farewell tour of small theatres in Europe and the USA and then split up. All things must pass and that includes Yes. From: Michael Wiseman michael@rollingtones.com To paraphrase a fellow who posted on a Facebook Yes site, regarding the band rejecting Jon Anderson's membership: "Any musician who does not want to make music with Jon Anderson, does not belong in a band called Yes." I do think that Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White are great musicians and can make good music together--but it won't be Yes music. And when they cover old Yes catalogue live, that's exactly what they do: COVER it, like a COVER band, nothing more. I wonder if they will be able to find a record label willing to make their new CD. I will certainly not buy it.
To think that these three actually think they ARE Yes is mind-boggling to say the least. There is no
Yes without Jon Anderson, simply put.
I would love to see Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman put together a band to carry on with Yes. I'd like to see them retain the ownership of the name too.
Maybe they would eventually be gracious enough to permit membership of one or more of the
three guys called Steve, Chris and Alan--who knows? From: John Grant jongpw@yahoo.co.uk Went to see the band in Edinburgh last year and it just wasn't the same without Jon Anderson, I'm afraid they really are more like a tribute band than anything else without Jon and Rick. The concert didn't sell out either and this is indicative of the loss of interest in them. Have been a life long fan of Yes, but won't be going to see them again under this set up if they return. I'm sure many other fans feel the same way. From: Shaun Wise wisesongs@gmail.com I am just a curious Yes fan. I know Yes has stayed away from making any new music since 2001 because of the changing world of digital music, and the opportunity for consumers to buy individual tracks is almost making albums obsolete. I know that THE LADDER and MAGNIFICATION didn't sell many copies and it seems like the just the hardcore fans are buying albums these days, so why are they going to make an album without Jon? I love Yes and I never thought that I would see myself not buying a new Yes album but just the thought of a Yes album with Benoit singing doesn't feel right to me. I may be in the minority but I won't buy the new album if it ever gets made. Does Yes think that an album without Jon would sell more than an album with Jon? I doubt very much that any record company would feel this way. Anyhow, I am just a fan who loves
Yes and hates to see so much drama and in fighting at this late stage of their career. If anyone can help shed a little more light on this for me it would be much appreciated. From: Scott Arnold frscott@stmarksal.org Come on gentlemen, reconcile. Give the fans what they want. Bring Jon and Rick back into the fold for one more grand concert. Keep Oliver and David, and do a sort of UNION thing. Your fans will pour out to have one last chance to see one of the greatest bands together again. I've been a fan since I was 13, back in 1973. Back then, when my friends were raving about KISS and other such drivel, I was evangelizing for Yes. I still do that through my band and with young people, but its harder to do without part of the very the soul of Yes (Jon and Rick) not being a part of the concerts. Your fans have been good to you, be good to us. From: Laura Belfiore Awaken59@optonline.net First of all...Jon, thanks for coming back to the East Coast at the end of the summer and best of luck to you in England with Rick. Please try and convince him to come back to the states for a few shows. We are starving for a duet with you and Rick. You have performed in Canada and will be performing in England with him. Why won't he come to the States? Jon, thank you for releasing UNBROKEN SPIRIT OF MINE. Cannot wait to purchase it on iTunes!! There are other little songs that you do...the one you wrote for Jane...I just love the song. Hopefully you will release that as well!!! Jon, you need to have backup at your live shows...at least a guitarist...don't get me wrong, I love to see you in any form...but I do believe that you need to have some support up there on stage. Love you Jon (Janeee too!)
Yes needs to have Jon back. Benoit is wonderful and a GREAT guy and the band sounds GREAT, but Jon BELONGS back with the band. From: Myles Derreck cayenneman1@hotmail.com Are we to believe that Jon Anderson is permanently out of the band? Does anyone out there know? With all due respect to Benoit, and I understand he has an amazing voice, what happened to Jon? It seems that when Jon's chips were down, when he was as sick as he was, when only Alan could be bothered to check in and see how he was doing, Jon gets replaced in the band. How fair was that? If this was a temporary situation, one may be able to understand. But apparently there may be a new album of material recorded without Jon, who is healthy now. There could be things about this situation that are not generally known publicly, and fair enough. I don't know the ins and outs of all that, if anything. But on the surface, it looks like Jon got a raw deal. Good luck Jon on your UK tour with Rick. Wish I was over there to
catch a gig or two. From: Dean McMaster Stickman2010@hotmail.com I attended the final show of the 2010 tour at Snoqualamie Casino. I have seen Yes many times over many years and this show really made me sad. I hate to say it but perhaps it's time to retire (unless they get Jon & Rick back for one last real hooraw). I saw them the tour before with Asia, good show but this time they played almost the same set minus a couple great songs, the show was shorter, seemed that perhaps the guys where ready for the tour to end (they are pretty old). Maybe they're just too burned-out. I then attended the Rush time machine show and for the first time I can say
Rush totally kicked Yes's butts! Could anyone that attended both shows argue?
I'm sorry guys but I felt pretty disappointed with that last show, no magic at all, just going through the motions, no epics...kinda like seeing a really good Yes tribute band is my final thought. From:
Steve Stevenson stevethepainter77@comcast.net Having been a Yes fan for well over 37 years, I was willing to go check out the new "this is the Yes that works" line up at Saratoga, CA. I use that phrase because that is what Steve Howe called the band in [a] recent on-line interview, "This is the working Yes, the Yes that works". No offense, Mr. Howe, but I wish you could go sit out in the audience for one of "the Yes that works" shows. It's like watching and old friend, die a slow horrible death! Why has it come to this? Can't you see that without Jon, the band has lost it's heart? This Yes just seems to be "milking a dead cow". I have been to well over 50 Yesshows, but I won't see this Yes line-up, I won't tell my friends who have never seen Yes, to go see a show with "the Yes that works "as it is presented currently. Over the years I have invited numerous people to there 1st Yesshow, and everyone of them thanked me for introducing them to Yes music. I will always love Yes music, it's sad that it has come to this! Hope They Come to Their Senses From: Tim Manley tmanley777@sbcglobal.net Just saw Jon September 16, 2010 and he sounds GREAT. I hope the band has some consideration for him and comes to their senses and asks him to return to the band. I have a hard time thinking that I will never see Yes with Jon again, he is such a big part of the sound of band. The music is still awesome but the vocals are missing something (Jon). I have seen the band twice with Mr. David and no disrespect to him but come on guys he's not and never will sound like Jon. Maybe the new album will change my mind because it will contain songs Jon has never sung but I still think so much of the history contains that distinctive sound. Hopefully you guys can work something out.
Thanks for all your magic you make and keep up the good work. Too Many Disgruntled Yes Fans to Ignore From: Anthony Epperson yeswolf@sbcglobal.net Yes fans love Jon Anderson. It really doesn't matter in any way if someone else can handle his vocals for concerts or even if they can write new music with the other guys. Without Jon Anderson, Yes is not Yes, it is a tribute band, regardless of who the musicians are. You guys can get Trevor Horn to produce your new album but if it doesn't have Jon Anderson singing lead vocals and putting his touch on the writing and arrangements, most Yes fans will not be happy--even if it's a good album. We believed you when you said Benoit was just an understudy and that Jon Anderson would NOT be replaced. But now that Jon is well, now that he has asked for his job back two summers in a row only to to be told by his own band mates that they don't want him any more, now that even Steve Howe has done public interviews dissing Jon Anderson--most Yes fans have lost ALL FAITH in the other members of Yes. If you are men of integrity, the new album will NOT have Benoit David on it--it will have Jon Anderson instead--not only in honor of his founding the band with Chris and in honor of all the years and creativity he has put into this once amazing band--but also in honor of common human decency and friendship. No one means to get sick. All anyone can do is try to recover. Jon is ready for
Yes but Yes isn't smart enough or kind enough to open their arms to him.
Musicians who do not want to make music with Jon Anderson, should no longer be in
Yes. Jon's voice is the band's trademark sound and the current lineup is the most disappointing
Yes I have seen in nearly 40 years of Yes concerts.
All you accomplish in shunning Jon is driving your strongest supporters away for spending their money on
Yes.
PLEASE STOP THE FIASCO AND GET JON BACK BEFORE YOU RECORD NEW MUSIC OR GO ON THE ROAD AGAIN. WITHOUT JON ANDERSON,
Yes fans just say "NO". Yes without Jon Doesn't Exist to Me From: Mark Chocolas imemark66@gmail.com I love Yes and I feel every member is uniquely talented and an integral part of the band. I have seen the band on every tour since Big Generator (except Talk) and I just will not go see them without Jon. I had tickets to go see them and the tour was canceled. I was to understand when Jon got well enough it would resume, I was wrong. It seemed the tour with the new guy might have been successful, but they left a lot of true Yes fans disappointed and in the dust. Right now Yes does not exist to me and they won't until Jon is back. I won't listen to that new album either, are they kidding?! Who do they think is going to purchase it? I will, however, buy Jon's new solo album when it comes out. Between he and Rick, it will be more of a Yes album than the new Yes album. Peace. From: Matt Mangas matt@classicrock945.com Saw my first show, TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS [1973 tour] at MSG, and only missed a few tours over the years. Have enormous respect for all the musicians that have played with Yes over the years. I think one thing that all of us "lifers" can agree on is that a Yes show is much more than just the music. It's about creating an "atmosphere." And that atmosphere just isn't there with the current lineup of the band. I remember the GOING FOR THE ONE tour, when Rick rejoined the band. I thought the fans applause was going to ring down the walls of that historic building. And while I appreciate that Steve, Alan and Chris continue to soldier on and play (what are they supposed to do...they're musicians...they should play until they can't anymore), it's a disservice to call the Benoit David version of the band "Yes". Be fair to the fans the way ABWH did on their tour and call it "An Evening of Yes Music". And if they do record as has been rumored, they should not call the project "Yes". I could deal with Trevor Horn as lead singer 30 years ago, because the guys were playing so well, and the material was good, but on this latest tour, the playing was sluggish, the sound was atrocious and Benoit, while a talented guy, did not produce the magic that Jon Anderson is capable of. If they're going to do one more tour for the fans with Jon aboard, great. Otherwise, I'm staying home with my memories.
Thanks for the music guys...but please...call Jon and kiss and make up. From: A. Katherine Suetterlin wingedlioness@mind-n-magick.zzn.com I am not entirely sure what the precise motives were in shutting Jon out even after he said he was healthy and was ready to come back, but this does not feel right. Not in the least. I was under the impression at the first that Benoit was an interim singer, and IMO, it should have stayed that way. Jon and his talents have informed the Yes sound for the better part of 40 years. There might be new music made now, sure, but my heart and mind tell me that the sound just will not be the same without Jon adding his considerable knowledge, insight--and, indeed, wisdom--to the writing of the music and lyrics. I knew of Jon's music LONG before I knew he sang for Yes. And it is because of Jon that I ended up being introduced to Yes' sound. I listen to his solo work, then go back and listen to his work with Yes. Same glorious vibrations, same wonderful sound that helped Yes define what Progressive Rock really IS. I have listened long and hard to Jon's work outside of Yes. No one can match him for sheer power of talent, inspiration, and the true vibe of what it means to be truly a Prog soul: Changing the face of what is, based on a higher vision of what can be. Yes' classic song "Time and a Word" shows this true spirit. The Yes-members who are still within the band seem to have forgotten that message. It's like they totally wanted to completely eschew that ideal and go somewhere musically and philosophically, perhaps, that does not necessarily fit into the Prog genre. Progressive rock is called "Progressive" for a reason: it's not meant to fit into the mainstream mold. And those who love and adore Jon--including myself--do not fit into the mainstream mold by musical and philosophical default. Because we fans of Jon see what Jon sees. We see what can be. Yes was the sound--thanks to Jon, mostly--that helped others see this vision, too. But now we see Jon and his vision rejected by the very men who once were willing to play and work alongside him. We see Yes now as a shell of what it once was, and are doubly disturbed that that shell will not regain its former spirit if these other guys' egos have their way. Many of us realize that the full-on classic lineup will not play again, simply because Oliver Wakeman has taken his father's place. That's fine. But the truest Yes sound does, and should, include Jon. Bar none. You can hire a sound-alike, sure. But Benoit David is NOT Jon. Without Jon, Yes is just another tribute band. Jon is the truest spirit of what Yes sounded like before and still can sound like if egos were dropped, and true loyalty and remembrance of the original vision was regained and retained by bringing Jon back--even if it's just for a studio album. So come on guys. Drop the ego-trips, forgive and forget any rifts and invite Jon back to sing with you, to make music with you. Yes is not the true
Yes without Jon. My Thoughts on Yes in Its Current Incarnation From: Collin Sutherland nationstatesuser@yahoo.com I, for one, (and many others I know) am disheartened by the current Yes. This is due mainly to the induction of Benoit David as a permanent member of the band. Back when the fate of the "Close to the Edge and Back" Tour was being decided, we were given Benoit David as a "stand-in" for Jon Anderson in his time of illness. 4 years later, Jon has not been returned to his position, and not of his own choice. If Benoit had truly been a "stand-in", I would have been happy, and would have moved along w/Yes. Sadly, Steve, Chris, and Alan decided they'd rather have more money than do justice to the wonderful music of Yes, and now we are stuck w/heartless players putting nothing into their playing and an ignorant, uninteresting singer. The reason I cannot accept Benoit as the new singer of Yes is b/c of the following: 1. When I saw "Yes" live, Benoit did NOTHING to enhance or preserve the Yes live experience. He does little except copy Jon Anderson in attire and mannerisms, while adding nothing of his own. He is a shallow imitation of Jon's stage artistry. He did nothing but run around (literally) in circles and shaking a tambourine. Jon was so much more than that. Jon put many years and much love in to constructing the Yes stage show and his performances. A simple carbon-copy of that is not appropriate to Yes heritage. 2. Benoit sings flatly. Just watch the clip Yes put up on their site of Benoit singing "Owner of a Lonely Heart", and any other live videos. He is out of tune and sounds horrible. Jon would NEVER have sank to the level of thinking "Oh well, sounds bad, so what?". 3. Benoit has no respect nor love for Yes history. In a radio interview he did, his statements were akin to "Yeah, I've heard Yes....". He clearly does not value their place in rock history nor their music as anything more than a past-time. Such a man is unfit to claim the role of singer of Yes. 4. Look at the credits for any Yes album's lyrics. Almost ALL of them are credited to Jon Anderson. He wrote them. A future Yes album w/o his contributions, and given what we've seen of Benoit (that is, content to copy Jon in almost every way), a future Yes album w/o Jon or Trevor Horn (as the DRAMA album showcased a different side of Yes entirely, it was not simple rehashing of old glories) would be a disgrace to the Yes legacy, another TORMATO or some such catastrophe. All in all, I don't know now whether I will EVER support Yes again. I am saddened and angered by the actions of Chris Squire, Alan White, and Steve Howe. Such people as would turn on old friends and ignore their wish to be part of a group they helped bring to fruition as a vehicle for music of love, inspiration and creativity should not be entitled nor should they receive any of my money. Yes, in their current form, do not exist to me, only a shallow Yes tribute-band living on old fame and completely devoid of momentum, creativity, or love for the music they clearly once valued as more than a tool for making money. If they take Jon Anderson back, they can be forgiven. If not, I am sad to say I will never be able to claim them as respected musicians again. The 'New Yes' So Easy to Love and Hate From: Nick Puglin npuglin@aol.com I've been a fan since the beginning and have seen every tour, band and solo, since the early '70s. I'm sure this is something shared by most of the people that are frequenting this site. I love Yes, always have and always will. I was stunned when I heard about Jon Anderson's health crisis, and equally shocked to hear that he had been replaced. I've seen the new line up three times in the last 3 years, first at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, then The Bass Symphony Hall in Ft Worth, and last at the Hard Rock Dallas. I just saw Anderson last week at the Lakewood Theater in Dallas. The Yes shows started strong, long sets with an intermission, they looked like they were having fun. The second show was shorter and a bit tired, the Hard Rock Dallas show was embarrassing. Plodding and lifeless, they looked their age. Benoit has a great set of pipes, but Yes without Anderson in front is just simply uncomfortable. Anderson projects the music, he owns it. Without him they seem like a pretentious cover band, particularly when they pull out "Astral Traveler", it was a wet blanket on the crowd all three shows. I enjoyed the Anderson show more than expected. It was warm and the setting was intimate. He was upbeat, yet there was a sadness there. He talked openly about his health issues and spoke fondly of the Yes Days and his friends and handmade. He missed it, longed for it, you could feel it. His voice was clean, but clearly not as powerful as it was long ago. Just like Howe's picking and White's pounding, they have all lost a step. It's called getting old, you can do it with style and leverage your strengths like Rush has done, or you can become a
caricature of your former selves. Yes is walking a thin line, this is not a band that you can throw a couple of young guys into and expect the
fan base support. My hope would be that the members give the lifelong fans what they deserve, the real band playing the music they created. We have followed this group for 40 years, the time for
new material is long past. New songs with a new singer will only serve to increase the number of bathroom and drink runs at the concerts. Let's see one more Epic tour, 3 hours plus, complete versions of songs critics hated, and please no
"Astral Traveler"! From: David Williamson dwilliamson@roadrunner.com Yes is a Very Special Band that brings forth so many emotions, But Jon, Chris, Steve, Alan, & Rick take that and soar into the Magical... This is what now is lacking in Yes That Magic, Mr. David was Great for filling in while Jon was recovering, But it is Mr. David's voice that grates at your soul making these Yes classics that were Magical now unlistenable. It's not Mr. David's fault, his singing is there to bring you the songs but they are now hollow; no longer do they have the joy, hope, love, and magic that Jon still has a part of when he does the same songs solo, On Colin Scot's album he lists Dr. Yes (Jon) as doing background vocals and the song that Dr. Yes is on has a part of the magic that now Yes has Lost. Mr. David said he was just
filling in for Jon, but now that Jon is better
and wants to come back, the band has turned its
back on him and Mr. David will not give back
what he said was a honor to fill in for... This
makes this Yes into a poor tribute band that may
have the sounds but not the magic, that Jon,
Chris, Steve, & Alan have together. Any new
projects or albums that this tribute Yes Does
will be missing the magic, Chris, Steve, & Alan
are a part of this magic, just like Jon has a
part of this magic, But the magic spell of Yes
without all the ingredients is like a magic
spell missing parts that doom the spell to
failure. From: Bill Burchell WBURCHEL@ROCHESTER.RR.COM I am also a long time fan, since
'71, and I agree with many fans out there who think that without Jon, the music is missing something. Benoit just doesn't make it for me. I'm sure he's a nice guy but the magic is missing. If Yes can't get together with Jon, which seems likely, I have another idea that I'm pushing, but I don't know how to get it to the attention of the rest of Yes. Maybe this post will do it. My idea is to replace Benoit with Annie Haslam. Her voice is still very strong and her approach to singing, using her voice as an instrument, could add a new dimension to the Yes songs. They could even do a couple of Renaissance songs in Yes style. What do you think? From: Francois Landry flfrancoislandry@hotmail.com Hi, I read the autobiography of Rick Wakeman (funny), I read the autobiography of Bill Bruford (good), I read the autobiography of Peter Banks (he won't forget being fired of Yes by Chris and Jon). Now when we can reading the autobiography of Jon, of Chris and of Steve? Soon
I hope. From: Eric Lipper elipper@yahoo.com There have been DVDs of all the recent tours since SLO, except "Open Your Eyes Tour" and, .... Masterworks Live! This was perhaps their 'ultimate' tour - Steve Howe alone, on the guitar, with a slammin' five-piece Yes. And of course, the ultimate set list of all time.
Maybe the Yes relationship with Igor is hindering this from being offered to us, which would be a real shame. Igor was incredible with them by this stage.
Let's celebrate this great moment in Yes history! When Will The RnR Hall Of Shame Become Real? From: D. Ray Lowe sandydan.3girls@gmail.com I am so sic' of the truly talented, gifted, timeless artist
continuing to get the snub from the idiots controlling that
institution.
What is going on? When will the day come when the artistic
gifts from the creator matter.
Instead of the all mighty dollar. Time show's us, each year
Yes draw the youth of music....they know....
The kids are alright!!!!!!!! Next Year is Going to Be a Great Yes Year From: Tom DeRoux tomas516-220@yahoo.com I hear, that the current yes lineup is recording a new album soon, and then, Jon and Rick are also releasing an album. Reminds me of the Yes-ABWH fight back in the 80's. All great albums and concerts.
Now, all we need, is for Peter to get back together with Tony and Bill and
release another great album. That would be
awesome! Keep fighting boys, your fans are in
for a lot of fun! And then perhaps, another
Union Tour? From: Michael Sickels modcol54@yahoo.com I was viewing one of the Yes biography VHS tapes and one of the Yes members was telling how the group wrote music early on with a "David Foster". Then the screen changed over to a photo of David. It appears to be a young gentleman who looks very much like the Grammy winning and very famous and popular contemporary song writer. Is this the David Foster who worked with Yes members early in the band's career?
[Nope. The Grammy-winning David
Foster, who was born in Vancouver, Canada, never
worked with Yes; that David Foster, who was born
in Liverpool, has an official web site with info
here and mentions this topic.
--MOT]
From: Steven Shinder Chewbaca116@hotmail.com My name is Steven Shinder. I was born November 6, 1994 and have been a Yes fan for as long as I can remember, thanks to my father Dan Shinder. I have been collecting Yes albums and videos since 2002. Later on, I discovered a newsletter for fans like me: Notes From The Edge. Notes From The Edge was formed by a group of Yes fans on October 3rd, 1990. This was during a time when there were two Yeses. These two versions of Yes were Yes West and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. I've looked through the archives to see how people reacted to the combination of both Yeses and the albums that have been released since that time. In the past decade, the number of issues per year decreased. Most of the issues released in the last 5 years have mostly been interviews. I waited for the time when there would be more NFTE issues with submissions from fans. I am very happy to see that the time is now. 20 years of Notes and this site is still running in a time where there are many Yeses. There is the current Yes lineup of Benoit David, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Oliver Wakeman, and Alan White. There is the Anderson-Wakeman Project 360. There are Circa: and Yoso, which both feature ex-Yes members Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye. There is Asia, which has covered "Roundabout" and features current Yes member Steve Howe and ex-Yes member Geoff Downes. Peter Banks has also formed Affirmative, which will perform music from the first two Yes albums. There has also been news of a possible collaboration between Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman.
Though many people have come and gone in Yes and Notes, the future looks bright for all the people involved. From:
John Sposato
sposato@inmail24.com It's great that there's a new issue of NFTE. Been quite some time. So much has gone on since and is about to happen in the coming months. I would get the new issue of Classic Rock Presents Prog if it were easy to find in the States. Messrs Wakeman the elder and Anderson promote their upcoming tour and their thoughts on the band now. I think there should be an official Yes Twitter account and Facebook page. I could set them up if Mike won't. There's no reason not to have them. [John, it's not that I "won't" or that I even have any say in this at all, as this is the band's decision. Yes have considered these social networks and for their own reasons are not interested in official versions, at present at least. --MOT] I'm looking forward to the new album with Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman. The recent tour has been slated by some as this century's answer to the DRAMA tour, but true fans will still come and will get this album. Ace of Base and even Benoit's old band Close to the Edge each have two new members, so they too have to prove themselves to those who pine for the old guard. Take it or leave it. He and Oliver have already been in Yes for two years time now. I have seen Yes in Albany in '08 and Poughkeepsie this past February. I hope the current lineup will play in my area next year as it costs a few bob to do a holiday! I'll always take solace that I saw the classic lineup in '04. Which label will release the new album? Might it be Rhino since they sign artists in the US Warner catalogue? May it be an indie label? Who'll produce? We'll have to wait until after New Year's to find out then. It is now the 20th
anniversary of NFTE. This has pioneered having
an online community when few people could even
get online. At the time, ABWH were originally
gonna have another album, and Yes were gonna
have a new vocalist maybe, but Yes proper have
really come more full circle now than in '02.
Yes may never be in the Top 10 again, but
they'll always be at #1 in my book. Yes in the Atlantic Provinces? From: Dan Farrell AWAKEN76@MSN.COM I'm a long time Yes fan, saw my first show in Montreal 1974; and my last was in Toronto in 2004. In all I've attended 16 YESSHOWS over that period of time. I know the band plays smaller venues now, and in the Atlantic provinces we have numerous smaller venues they could play in , and they are all a short distance from each other. I know the personnel of the band has changed, but the music that is played is timeless and I think a tour would go over very well here. Maybe someone within management can look at our region. Also Mike, "Notes" has been gone way too long, hopefully we'll hear from you a little more often. Many thanks for all you do in YESWORLD. From: Daniel Thomas danielthomas4@mac.com
Whatever the line up, whatever the tour, what
ever the current pop music trend.... LONG LIVE
YES! And thank you to Mike Tiano for
contributing so mightily to the longevity of the
band. Its a good work Mike. As a life long fan
of the band, I am in your debt. From: Danny Tichio dannytjr@yahoo.com It's nice to see a new issue of NFTE. I hope
this is a sign of more frequent issues.
[Thanks, Dan, Daniel, and Danny...perfect segue to my column, which appears next. --MOT] Notes From the Editor Mike Tiano
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