Yes Rumor-Geoff Downes to return?

There's a rumor that Geoff Downes has replaced O Wakeman on new Yes album.

It's a rumor--but it wouldn't surprise me if true---when I saw Yes live last year--O Wakeman was really bad---was not self-assured enough IMO---you have to be a BIG player to be successful in this group (Rick and Patrick)---to compete with Chis and Steve.

Why not go the full hog and form Yuggles again?

Seriously, this whole Yes thing is becoming worse than an episode of Dallas or Dynasty. As much as I have loved the band over the years, I really do think it is time they retired with some of their dignity intact and pass the torch to the great generations of bands coming behind them.

I think a bowl of porridge made with goats milk and 2yr old oats is a better recipe than this potential Yes recipe...

Thanks for making it clear this is just a rumour. Even rumours have sources though, could you please provide a link or some sort of evidence to support this as even being a rumour. Otherwise, it is not News.

twosteves wrote: It's a rumor--but it wouldn't surprise me if true---when I saw Yes live last year--O Wakeman was really bad---was not self-assured enough IMO---you have to be a BIG player to be successful in this group (Rick and Patrick)---to compete with Chis and Steve.

I agree; I thought that Oliver did not even want to be there?

lazland wrote: Why not go the full hog and form Yuggles again?

I would actually prefer that to the current line-up. Drama was a decent album (much stronger than Tormato, IMO) and pointed to an interesting way forward for Yes which they sadly never fully capitalised on.

I really do wonder though, what has this band got left to give? Their post-80s output has been a bizarre exercise in balancing expectations, trying to simultaneously appease fans of the classic 70s sound and their hard-won 80s pop fanbase. The result has been a string of mediocre, overproduced and uninspired albums with very occasional glimmers of the old magic. Unless Squire, Howe and White have cooked up some truly first-rate compositions which build on the best aspects of the band's sound whilst pushing them unapologetically into the here and now (which, let's be honest, doesn't seem likely given the track record) then this album is going to be yet another embarrassment and a further dilution of their legacy.

Whatever happened to Tom Brislin? He was fantastic on the Symphonic DVD, and would surely have been an ideal choice for this new iteration of the band? I've not seen Oliver Wakeman in action but reactions appear to be mixed, to say the least...

The Rock wrote: Bring back Patrick Moraz!

Oh yes! excuse the pun!


Edited by clarkpegasus4001 - February 26 2011 at 08:21

thehallway wrote: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wnyesm.htm confirms the rumour, but also confirms that it is just a rumour!   btw the word rumour has a 'u' in it.

In Dorset it does....

I think Geoff is only playing on the We Can Fly From Here track since Trevor Horn will be singing on it and that's the song they wrote for Yes in 1980. I love Geoff, Trevor H, and the Drama album. However, the new Yes line-up is Chris, Steve, Alan, Oliver, and Benoit. That's the line-up that has been touring, that's the line-up that should record. Geoff has Asia.