Yes to tour with "Understudy" singer

I think that YES could simply split without Jon  Anderson. I don`t see another goal for the "Howe / Squire / White of YES" band apart only  to earn more money for their lives. The politics in YES have always been very difficult. I don`t know if the members are really friends or they are only "bussiness partners". I think that if they were real friends they just simply wait for Anderson to improve in health. But, by the other part, the trio have waited Anderson for four years to tour, and he wasn`t able to do it because he was working as a solo musician or with bad health. But  I consider Anderson as the only member of YES who is really very hard to replace. YES tried once without him in 1980. Of course, it wasn`t the same and the "Drama" line-up didn`t  last.

Edited by Guillermo - October 20 2008 at 00:53

npjnpj wrote: They should have asked Annie Haslam to join as lead singer!

Edited by ghost_of_morphy - October 11 2008 at 15:34

I know Benoit and, yes he's a good singer, with the same voice and looks, but he has also the same spirit, a simple guy with a family, with a heart for Yes music and with all the good intentions.

Chris Stacey wrote: debrewguy wrote: Chris Stacey wrote: Changing the tact slightly Robert Plant has finally agreed to join Zep for next year's tour. The more I think about it the more mindboggling it is that Squire and co have gone ahead this year without JA and not waiting a bit...   Mind you who said that all people in their 60's make rational decisions..................... Please give us a link for the Zep story ???????   I saw it of all places in The Sun online UK   www.thesun.co.uk

If Queen picked up Paul Rodgers, maybe Zep was looking at Sammy Hagar ?

Just to point out something interesting, Robert Plant initially refused to take part in the reunion tour. However, it's been said that Led Zep were planning on a tour without Plant because an American fellow impressed them so much that they thought they didn't need him. This sentiment, clearly, struck fear into Robert's heart and he suddenly changed his mind. Funny how this seems to connect with the current issue, no?

Frankly, I think it's ridiculous that Chris, Steve and Alan did this without Jon's consent. HE should be the one to OK the "understudy" in my mind. However, I also think it's ridiculous that Jon is as irate as he is. Who's he to say what Yes is and isn't? Who's ANYBODY to say? Moreover, who's to CARE? If this group toured under a different name, it'd still be the same product. Whether or not it's genuinely "Yes" is immaterial. People are too hung up on nomenclature.

As for musical matters, Benoit David's AMAZING. Check out that climactic note before the pipe organ in CTTE in the YouTube video. Every bit as strong as even Jon's best nights. There are actually some advantages to this lineup, i.e. being able to perform music from Drama and stuff that Jon doesn't like. Also, one must admit, as much as we all love Rick, he's a real limiting factor on their setlists. I really don't know if Oliver is any more open minded, but one thing's for sure, if Rick was on the tour, we certainly wouldn't be hearing Ritual. (And we may not, anyway, I'm just sayin'.) Even if it was sub-par for Yes, it'd be unique.

Sadly, I won't be able to see the tour anyway. Hopefully next summer they'll reunite with Jon, because in light of everything I just said, Jon's the REAL singer from my favorite band. He's the one we've all listened to for as long as we've been fans.

In addition, is anybody else slightly unconvinced that this is actually going to happen? I mean, it sorta sounds like the "More Drama" tour, doesn't it? And we all know how THAT went over.

Edited by Syntharachnid - September 26 2008 at 21:42

Changing the tact slightly Robert Plant has finally agreed to join Zep for next year's tour. The more I think about it the more mindboggling it is that Squire and co have gone ahead this year without JA and not waiting a bit...

Easy Livin wrote: Seems Jon Anderson is a bit miffed: from  http://www.jonanderson.com/news.html   "Disappointed, and very Disrespected Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I’m fully recovered. And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design, also working with VH1 and Sirius and XM Radio to help promote the welfare of YES. Getting sick was not "on my radar”, and I thank my own angel Janeee and my family for helping me through this difficult time, and the many well wishers, friends and fans alike, for understanding that ''things happen''. Of course I wish the guys all the best in their 'solo' work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. After all YES is a precious musical band. This is not YES on tour... I send best wishes to one and all, Jon"

Having read this, I can only say: shame on the others!

Could be. But the reality seems to be that the "franchise" draws better than the individual members. So many will go see Yes, no matter what agglomeration; while many of the same wouldn't bother buying tickets for an Anderson/Howe/Squire/Moraz tour.

I'm not sure if I can see Yes without Jon.  There would have been no worries having Oliver on keys (I saw several concerts with Khoroshev and it was great because they played Gates - as an aside I wonder if Oliver would have hangups about Relayer stuff because his father didn't play on it?  Hmm.).  But this is different, plus Jon is really hurt by this.  Doesn't Squire have exclusive rights to the name "Yes"?  Legally fine I suppose but it's the sort of "bitchiness" that unfortunately seems to plague Yes.

Definitely wouldn't pay > $100 for this either.

Yeah, that would be cool. It reminds me of Genesis recruiting Ray Wison for Calling all Stations. It no work. This guy does sound a lot like Anderson but it still no going to work especially for $123.50. Especially that last 50 cents that`s what would break my bank.