Or how about this. A new band called Geneyes featuring Steve Howe, Jon Anderson, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and Phil Collins. 

At the risk of upsetting P. Paul, I'm going to say I can live without another Heaven and Earth. I did find the recent ARW live recording miles better than the slightly lethargic offerings from the other Yes so it might have been more interesting if they'd done some studio stuff but it doesn't sound like that's going to happen.

No Squire, no Yes. 

Plus, no offense, they are rather old, Alan White cannot drum much anymore (I saw a video of a live show where he's backed up by a younger drummer). Howe seems to stubbornly continue to keep Yes just to piss off Jon Anderson. But Anderson created ARW, which pissed of Howe I think. It's ridiculous already. We kinda have two Yes bands. 

No, of course not. Since their break after the Magnification album and the subsequent tour Yes has become a Yes tribute band.

Soooooo, who's the drummer gonna be??

Psychedelic Paul wrote: I doubt if there'll be another Yes album without Chris Squire, and even if there is another album, I doubt if it would even come Close to the Edge of being anywhere near as good as the Heaven & Earth album.

So, you're actually saying that any album they would eventually produce would be the worst Yes album ever?

About Alan White, I do agree with you. The younger drummer is Jay Schellen, and I suspect that he's been added to the live band partly in preparation for White's retirement from the band. But that's just my own speculation.

Like you point out, and I probably should have mentioned this in the original post, there are two versions of Yes currently (or at least there was a couple of years ago). The "other" version containing Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman. They talked about recording a studio album together, but I doubt it will happen.

No, I wouldn't put it that way. If it was the worst Yes album ever, then it'd be worse than Tormato, Big Generator & Open Your Eyes combined.

I read in a magazine long ago that ABWH was not released under the Yes name out of respect for Chris Squire, because he was the heart & soul of Yes, the engine, the driving force behind the band. 

So that's why I said no Squire, no Yes. 

Peter Gabriel. 

As far as I know, the real reason the ABWH album was not released under the name "Yes" was that this name was legally owned by the other group.

Anyway, ABWH sounded like Yes, even more so than 90125 or Big Generator did.

It always surprises me when people say that "there can be no Yes without individual X". Yes was always something over and above its individual members, and the sound of the band survived through so many line up changes. No member was stricly essential, not Squire (as ABWH proves), not Anderson (as Drama proves)...

I just told you what I read. I've always believed Squire was the essential member of Yes. I guess I should not believe everything I read?! 

BTW, what other group? You mean to say Anderson was in both groups?! That traitor! 

Wasn't the Rabin line-up on a break after Big Generator? So Anderson got together with Howe and Wakeman and Bruford? The things I read... 

SouthSideoftheSky wrote: Anyway, ABWH sounded like Yes, even more so than 90125 or Big Generator did.

This is true, I think. But it also means, maybe, that 90125 was more progressive (in the sense of exploring new territories) than ABWH ever were, since they were more harking back to what they had done before... It is part of the reason why I think that nowadays Yes has become a Yes tribute-band, despite the "original" material.

Cristi wrote: We kinda have two Yes bands.

Oh, oh... So we can expect a new Union album. How shall we call it ? Union 2, Re-Union or Onion and Curry?

there can be no re-union, Howe and Anderson can barely stand each other. 

Cristi wrote: there can be no re-union, Howe and Anderson can barely stand each other.

There's a solution to that: I saw them on that Union tour In-the-Round (great concert, BTW!). It suffices to put JA on one side, SH on the opposite side, the drum kits (AW, BB) and the keys (RW, TK) in the middle and Jon and Steve will never have to meet each other (as long as they don't move around to much, something they never really did, actually)...

Honestly, I don't remember exactly who owned the name "Yes" at that time, but there was a legal conflict between Yes and ABWH. Anderson was in both groups.

It is similar to what we have today with Yes (Howe, White, Downes, Sherwood, and Davison) on the one hand, and Yes feat. Anderson Rabin Wakeman on the other hand.

The way I see it is that there cannot be too many Yes'es, the more the better

Well that's Heaven and Earth summed up nicely. 

oh, wait, I like Big Generator

No, let's not start this again. I wish I hadn't posted that now. 

sorry, I'll stop. 

I don’t think it would be a good idea. Heaven & Earth was extremely ordinary.

As far as new stuff is concerned, I am enjoying 1000 Hands. Anderson is on good form, although much of it is actually quite old music. I am looking forward to listening to Wakeman’s new one, and I thought the ARW live strand was far superior to the official Yes version.

Howe and Anderson will never work together again. Howe has barely suffered Jon since the financial fallout after the Tormato breakup of the band. ABWH was a fantastic effort, and should have been a springboard to a fine long term collaboration, but Anderson wanted Yes. Bruford had no interest in that beyond a money spinning tour, and that Union period put the final nail in the coffin of Anderson and Howe trusting each other. Howe loathes Anderson. End of.

Anyhow, I have no issue whatsoever in accepting it is over. I wish the Howe version would stop. I enjoy listening to past glories. I have more of an issue with older musicians trying, and failing, to revisit said past glories.

The past is the past. There is so much great new music out there, including some Yes members solo stuff. Let’s leave it at that.

Alas, the band has degenerated into a group of toddlers, fighting over blocks in the playpen. 

The sooner Yes passes on into the history books, the better.  There is no saving that mess.  Pains me to say it, my first Yes show was CTTE in 1972.  

I certainly agree that Heaven & Earth was weak, but why does that mean that a new album would be a bad idea? Could they not have learned something from how H & E was received, and make an effort to step up their game? They are sure taking their time, so maybe they are really holding off until they are sure they have a better album than the last one?

Wakeman's new album The Red Planet is fantastic, I highly recommend it.

Well said, D! 

When Yes were around, Chris Squire was truly innovative....there were very few with his skill and chops on the bass guitar.  However, decades later, many musicians have surfaced of equal skill and talent, Beggs being one.  

Squire was remarkable for singing and playing bass simultaneously, one of the best I'd ever seen!  Wetton and Lake could also do this, it is incredibly hard to do with complex bass parts.  

I would have liked to seen Yes retain Ollie Wakeman and gone in a more "progressive" direction for vocals instead of the hackneyed approach of bringing on a tribute band vocalist.  Personally, I always thought Yes music lent itself to a female lead vocalist.  

These are all "what if" stories, perhaps someday lighting will be captured in a bottle once more, and another band that rivals and even surpasses Yes will appear.  I'm happy to hold onto my memories of the amazing band I'd followed for decades, and I don't wish to sully my memories by seeing substandard performances in a tiny casino stage someplace. 

If any classic prog line up is looking for a drummer then why not Carl Palmer? He is virtually the only drummer from the classic era still either alive or going strong. Alan White is totally clapped out as already mentioned.  Howe and Palmer were in Asia together so maybe a version of Yes with them might not be so strange. I would float a line up of Howe, Davison, Oliver Wakeman, Palmer and Beggs that could comfortably play the classic Yes material and maybe produce a new album under the Yes moniker. As long as Howe is involved then the band can be called Yes imo. As suggested already , Nick Beggs is the only modern bass player remotely suitable .

 

There isn't likely to be an ARW album now. I agree with the person who said their live album is a whole lot better than the Howe-Yes live album. They have a lot more energy and drive so it's a shame this seems to have died a death. Still, the recent Anderson and Wakeman solo albums are both excellent.

 

Sorry Richard, whilst Mr Beggs is a fine bass player there are others who can play to that level. If you listen to the ARW live album, Lee Pomeroy is brilliant (better than Sherwood) - his playing on Heart of the Sunrise in particular is up to Squire's level.

Yes, Lee Pomeroy is great The drummer Lou Molino is good as well.

Pomeroy has been part of Wakeman's band for quite a while, and plays on The Red Planet. Moulino has been associated with Rabin. It would have been interesting to hear new studio material from this version of Yes, but like you say it is unlikely to happen. But it was nice to see Rabin on the stage again, after so many years doing film music.

I agree with Steve......Let's move on, the catalog is massive enough to keep anyone busy for quite a long time. A new album is never a "bad" idea, but a "bad" album is not a good idea. 

Well, I do agree that no album is better than a "bad" album. What I want to see is of course a good album, a new album that will blow the last one out of the water.

Now that would really piss off Steve Hackett, lol. 

There is no doubt that there are amazing players in and around the band, the problem seems to be with song writing. Possibly, it may also be that they simply make more money just touring the old material.

I think we have to recognize that the members of Yes never really liked each other, though they always respected each other musically. They were so focused on excellence early on that they left a few people out in the cold in order to notch up their technique. That does not foster deep friendship and mutual loyalty, but it did foster a commitment to excellence.

Yet some friendships did eventually form, often after real conflict. Anderson and Wakeman, for example. Howe and White, perhaps. 

When I think about my own current and past workplaces, I understand the notion of several categories: Those who become buddies because of non-work reasons, those who become devoted colleagues because of both non-work and shared work-skill reasons, those who deeply respect one another for work-skill reasons but don't have much in common outside that, and those whose lacking work skills prevent any further exploration of friendships. I've worked with only a small handful of people in the second category, but have worked successfully with people in the third. But the workplace is not hobby space. I am not buddies with all the people with whom I frequently travel, but we still get the job done because we are both committed to the outcomes.

Someone said that ABWH failed because Anderson wanted Yes, but it's always been my impression that it was the reverse--Yes wanted Anderson, and contrived a series of events vis a vis the Union tour and album to make that happen. 

Wakeman once commented that Yes was different because they could play stuff other bands couldn't play (added by me: especially live). Sherwood seems to me a fine musician, but he's not in that category. Lee Pomeroy is. 

With Squire's death, it seems to me that Yes became a tribute band to itself. My wife and I attended a local concert of the Marshall Tucker Band, and only one member was part of the original group. They sounded good, but did not advance the plot. I don't expect any album from "official" Yes to advance the plot. It's hard enough for the remaining classic-lineup minds to do so on their own.

Rick "who'd love to see ARW make one more tour as they hoped to do last year" Denney

Of course with two Yeses, on the remote possibility of them merging, we might end up with the sequel to Onion. Oops. I know, not likely. But if the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory is true, in another universe somewhere, this is happening right now. Oops.

Man I hate you.......2x live!!

Sort of a prog "Foghat" in other words.  Another old favorite of mine that has fallen on hard times. 

Some bands manage to age more gracefully than others....Uriah Heep still seems to be putting out some great music, Hackett and Fripp have done fantastic, and both of the Wishbone Ash bands (Andy's and Martin's) can put out the music as well as it was originally written.   

I agree, no Anderson, no new Yes album.  He was their creative and spiritual genius, anyone else is just making it up.  

Kansas could be another band you could compare them to but at least they are still putting out quality albums(from what I hear). I don't know much about Foghat but I'm sure there are several other bands like that. Uriah Heep have been around a long time also and refuse to give up too but they are apparently putting out quality albums at least(like Kansas). Nektar and Focus might be worth mentioning also in that regard.

Good call on Nektar and Focus by the way, I considered putting Focus down!  

Foghat were a blues-rock outfit that were formed from Savoy Brown & other bands, they were amazing (NOT prog).  Their first album was produced & engineered by Todd Rundgren.  The late Rod Price was, IMHO, the best slide guitarist in the world, bar none.  Now, they drift along, with only the original drummer leading the way. 

Some bands pull it off....Alice Cooper still puts on a good live show, and the Rolling Stones & Paul McCartney will probably outlast me.  Other bands just seem tired and lost.  

I haven't seen much of Yes with Davison, except on YouTube bits (which I didn't care for).  Jon Anderson is one of the best English poets of his generation, and rates up with the Romantics like Shelley etc.  You can't replace his lyrics with fluff nonsense as they have done since "Fly From Here."  

Over and out. 

Paul, is that you? 

Oh, wait, I've already given the internet my name on my profile here. Darn. 

Paul, stop lying to me. 

Hi,

Please, don't make me .... 

Chris is not there any more and his touch was way too important and a nice double up with Steve Howe ... 

I don't think that we need another YES album ... it's time for them to enjoy their "retirement" and go smell some roses and have a quiet dinner or two!

moshkito wrote: I don't think that we need another YES album ... it's time for them to enjoy their "retirement" and go smell some roses and have a quiet dinner or two!

Isn't that what some people said about Yes already circa 1976?

What is the frequency, Paul?

STOP CALLING ME PAUL!!!!!!!! Please?

Dellinger, you could just have edited out the weird font stuff SouthSide posted, like I have done here, saving much comment space.

When I saw Yes a couple years ago, honestly, Sherwood was the best one. He's no Squire, but he played with gusto, and sang very well (similarly to Chris, actually). The rest of the band was not up to snuff, apart for the drummer who sat in for White on most of the tunes (because of his back injury). Downes is the worst keyboardist they've had in my opinion, Davison is like a parody of Anderson, and Howe can't really keep up and more. Yours Is No Disgrace was... well... I don't want to say DISGRACEFUL, but those licks were not up to speed or snuff that night in early 2017.

ARW had WAY more energy and life.

Good post, A!  I like some of Sherwood's past work, like his "Conspiracy" project with Squire & his project "Circa."  The man has considerable talent and deserves to be on the stage. 

Davison, not so much.  He arguably can achieve Anderson's vocal range and mannerisms, but his stage style leaves much to be desired.  Someone once wisecracked that he looked like a lead part from the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" with his archaic 1970's long hair and wild-eyed poses.  

I was mildly interested in Yes, post-Anderson, but when they sacked Ollie Wakeman, my interest waned completely.  They should honor the musical legacy and hang it up, there is such a thing as dragging out an ending for too long. 

the world will be a better place without any new Yes album, whether new studio, new live or new compilation

^Is this what you post every time someone suggests a new album from an old band?

I'm afraid he's right, or better said I agree with him. 

In the case of Yes, a break is well-deserved. Plus, their last two albums were bland affairs to put it nicely. 

I did listen to the ARW live album, it was good.Better than anything I heard from the Howe line up. 

Yes... after listening to Fly by Night, I'm with you here.

What I meant was is that Sean said exactly the same thing on the Will we ever see a new Genesis studio album? thread - except he said the world will be a better place without any new  Genesis album, etc., etc.

Fly by Night is a Rush album. 

Yes's album is called Fly From Here. 

LOL, thanks!  That or "Godspell," I keep mixing them up! 

Ian Gillian was drop-dead AMAZING in the recording for "Jesus Christ Superstar," I think that is my favorite performance of his!  

Davison was excellent on Glass Hammer's CD "Perilous," but I can understand wishing to join a legendary band. I actually suggested Davison as a substitute for Benoit David some years ago, as Benoit's onstage twirling act grew tiresome. 

I only wish Yes had brought in a woman vocalist, that would have been a very progressive move!  Nope, they had to do the tired old "find a tribute band singer" routine, like Journey & everyone else out there. 

Have you ever seen this?  This thread is the perfect place for it!! 

Fly by Night... Fly from Here... same thing... 

are you serious? So now album titles don't matter anymore? 

As sure as my name is Paul, they don't.  is correct.

aw, have I upset you by thinking you are Paul. 

Ok, you are not Paul.

But if you are, you are the troll master.  Unbeatable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Ha ha... 

Have you noticed though, Psychedelic Paul himself has not been active on here since about when you asked if I was Paul...

... so I could be the unbeatable troll master... 

aw, have I upset you by thinking you are Paul. 

Ok, you are not Paul.

But if you are, you are the troll master.  Unbeatable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Ha ha... 

Have you noticed though, Psychedelic Paul himself has not been active on here since about when you asked if I was Paul...

... so I could be the unbeatable troll master... 

tell me which is your favorite Yes album and I will figure out if you are him or not. 

Ha ha... 

Have you noticed though, Psychedelic Paul himself has not been active on here since about when you asked if I was Paul...

... so I could be the unbeatable troll master... 

tell me which is your favorite Yes album and I will figure out if you are him or not. 

He's not going to fall for that one.

tell me which is your favorite Yes album and I will figure out if you are him or not. 

He's not going to fall for that one.

Are you sure? let's wait and see. 

He's not going to fall for that one.

Are you sure? let's wait and see. 

My favourite Yes album? The Ladder, of course.

Are you sure? let's wait and see. 

My favourite Yes album? The Ladder, of course.

it's Paul, the master troll!

That was hilarious.

Okay, BUSTED! 

Thank you, D, I didn't know anyone noticed my "Yes lineup coaching!"  

As time went on, I became rather fond of Benoit, and appreciated his voice much more than his live act.  I agree, his vocals on FFH were excellent.  Yes treated him harshly in the end, but that is their history....Banks, Moraz, Igor, etc.  (well, Igor had issues....)

Davison on the other hand disappoints me in Yes.  Not sure why, but there is no spark there.  I expected more.

Clearly, Howe blocks the door to Jon Anderson returning, they really have a war going on.  Howe pissed off Wakeman by sacking Ollie, and he is now the undisputed leader of this outfit.  Good luck to him.

Have Yes become a tribute band to itself, like some people here have suggested? Well, maybe there is some truth to that. But the reason is not, as far as I’m concerned, the absence or presence of this or that particular member in the current line up, but rather the fact that they keep touring year after year, and releasing live album after live album, without having any new material to showcase.

 

Yes is no alone in this, many (most?) older bands nowadays seems to be content playing their classic songs live, and rarely go in to the studio to record anything new. The fact that they make more money from playing live may have something to do with it, but personally I think it is lame. A band remains relevant as long as they create new music.

Well said.

http://www.loudersound.com/news/yes-announce-new-live-album-for-october" rel="nofollow - https://www.loudersound.com/news/yes-announce-new-live-album-for-october

I agree very much.  Howe took control of the band and tried to turn it into Asia Redux or something.  

By firing Ollie, he forever alienated Wakeman, to his everlasting discredit.  

Anderson said he'd come back, but it won't happen.  I hope they drift away into the sunset, playing "Roundabout" over and over and over.  

WTF, not yet another live album

This is exactly what I was talking about above, these old bands just touring endlessly and releasing live album after live album without having any new material to show for themselves. This is imo precisely the problem.

I don't mind live albums as such, but the ratio between live albums and studio albums is soo skewed. In the 70's, bands used to make several studio albums between live albums, nowadays it is the other way around.

Dellinger wrote: However, Yes would be much better if they got Anderson back, and Oliver as well, if they can't get Rick. I really think they messed up sacking Oliver for Downes.

Well, at least Downes (and Trevor Horn) had a history with the band, and some unfinished business. I am very glad that they got to finally record Fly From Here in the studio 30 years or so after it was first written. However, they should have done it with the exact Drama line up in the first place, like on this more recent "Return Trip" version.

My own speculation to why they did not do that, is that Howe wanted to do big tours and Horn did not. Howe's desire to tour all the time is also what drove Anderson and Wakeman away.