Yes/ARW...(really)

Tom Ozric wrote: Random thought - Squire was Nick Beggs' idol - even before he formed Art Nouveau / Kajagoogoo. I doubt Beggs would ever step into the shoes of his idol. Haven't heard much from Pomeroy..... Sherwood fills Squire's shoes in a roundabout (no pun intended) sort of way. I know Beggs played bass at times for the Genesis revisited stuff - Rutherford's bass isn't exactly easy to play !!

Dellinger wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: Random thought - Squire was Nick Beggs' idol - even before he formed Art Nouveau / Kajagoogoo. I doubt Beggs would ever step into the shoes of his idol. Haven't heard much from Pomeroy..... Sherwood fills Squire's shoes in a roundabout (no pun intended) sort of way. I know Beggs played bass at times for the Genesis revisited stuff - Rutherford's bass isn't exactly easy to play !! After hearing "The Raven that Refused to Sing", and specially the opening song, I can't help but wish it had been Nick Beggs who replaced Squire. And then, Yes should have kept Oliver as the keyboard player, I believe he was doing a much better job than Downes (I did see them both live).

Tom Ozric wrote: ^ Oh yes, Luminol. Beggs is just BRILLIANT !! And indeed, Oliver is getting up there with his Father. I like Downes playing, but he's probably the 'lesser' of all the Yes keyboardists.

Oh yeah, Downes playes beautifully on his own songs. But if I see Yes live, I expect to hear mostly songs from before Downes time, and there are songs he won't get right... or perhaps it was only the night when I saw them... specially Awaken, he just didn't get it. As I remember it, Oliver did a better job.

I suppose the defining moment will be the Yes/ War album. Much as I enjoy Rabin and his contributions to the Yes canon I would prefer Steve Howe to add his magic to Yes music.

It's a case of money though. Rights to name, logo mean a lot of cash.

It's been interesting seeing so many people content that there will be two Yeses.

Anderson, Wakeman, Howe...

Thing is watching Alan White at the RRHOF and he seems a bit, well, tired. Carl Palmer's going great guns and maybe he should be on drums.

I saw Nick Beggs playing bass and stick for John Paul Jones. A bass player' bass player... yeah, he's fine. Things is it depends on the bass identity with Yes. Signature sound and style was Squire's contribution, along with the intricacy of course. Plenty of bass hot shots around who can do the bass lines... but I would be a bit concerned at the bass blandness ABWH had, being reproduced. Even with Tony Levin and Jeff Berlin on board the mix they had - studio and live - was anonymous at best and detracted from the overall experience. Sort of lite Yes.

But the grudges, bad feeling, game playing management will make sure the next album will probably be Heaven And Earth 2.

At least Tony Kaye managed to get through the HOF thing with appropriate dignity.

Yes were the best when they were 5 of the best in the world----they only let the best in---once they didn't seek out the best and let people in for political money or friendship reasons---the band goes downhill----I just don't think either band sounds great anymore---the chemistry of 5 great musicians is missing. And I know if you hypnotized Jon Anderson ---he'd say he wished Howe was in the band---he may like rabin as a person but Howe is his musical soul mate and he's left rabin behind a few times to play with Howe.

twosteves wrote: Yes were the best when they were 5 of the best in the world----they only let the best in---once they didn't seek out the best and let people in for political money or friendship reasons---the band goes downhill----I just don't think either band sounds great anymore---the chemistry of 5 great musicians is missing. And I know if you hypnotized Jon Anderson ---he'd say he wished Howe was in the band---he may like rabin as a person but Howe is his musical soul mate and he's left rabin behind a few times to play with Howe.

Oh yes, I agree with this. I guess it's since they let The Buggles in for the first time that they downgraded their aspirations for musicians. And then Trevor Rabin himself. They should always seek the best, otherwise they are not Yes. But even more important, they should seek the best songwrites they could find, since the old men seem to have run out of ideas.

Dellinger wrote: twosteves wrote: chopper wrote: By all accounts ARW is a much better band than the other Yes, maybe they'll join up and do "Union 2". Watch you tube concerts--rabin butchers genius Howe's parts on most songs---and the rearrangement of an amazing song like Awaken is just horrible---although Jon Rick and rhythm section is first rate compared to Howes Yes--- I will probably pass on both versions---a curse on both your houses The band of peace an love should practice what they preach. I did listen to Awaken on Youtube, and as you say, I felt Rabin butchered the guitar parts. He is suposed to be trying to play things as he would have recorded them originally, on his own style or whatever, instead of trying to replicate Howe's playing. Either way, Howe is much better. Still, if I get the chance to see either version of Yes live, I would choose ARW. Perhaps Rabin will get lured into his film scores again, and needing a new guitar player, if Anderson and Wakeman still can't resolve their problems with Howe, they I think they should try and get to work with Colin Tench. And if the other Yes were to part ways with Downes, then they should get the guy from Iamthemorning.

SouthSideoftheSky wrote: Everyone who has been in Yes are excellent musicians and among the best at what they do.  Rabin is an excellent guitarist and a good singer (though his lyrics are sometimes quite banal).