Roger Dean to design the cover for new Yes CD

I feel free to doubt the excellence of Drama, but I agree that Yes should be capable of creating an excellent album without Jon Anderson or Rick Wakeman. And indeed, the influence of Chris Squire is not to be underestimated.

Well I just went to see Yes in Northampton, Mass and went backstage after the show with the meet and greet package, just because Benoit David is a high school friend of mine.  I actually recorded his first show ever in high school in Brossard, Qc Canada with his very first band "Crystal Rage" which was the first incarnation of what later became Visible Wind.  Strangely enough, our High School, (called Polyvalente in quebecois) was decorated with huge Yes album covers (Yesongs and Fragile mainly) painted on the walls of the cafereria and student radio hall back in 1983.  I asked Benoit if they were going to do a new album with this line-up.  He didn't reply to that question.  I also asked if Jon would ever come back in the band and he said:  "It's over with Jon, they're not going to tour together anymore."  Of course that could always change. 
On the other hand I got Alan White to sign my vinyl copy of ABWH and asked Steve Howe if Chris Squire would be willing to sign it also and he didn't think that was a good idea.  Anyways, Chris was the last to come in the room and was the first to go so I didn't get a chance to talk to him. 

grarschlonk wrote: I also asked if Jon would ever come back in the band and he said:  "It's over with Jon, they're not going to tour together anymore."  Of course that could always change.

I am surprised that he can be so certain on this matter. They're something big that happened in the band between Jon and the other guys. It would be sad to see this relationship broke like that.

^ I was just about to reply for the same issue. I just read the famous Peter Banks interview for The Marquee website and it appears as the birth of YES was possible because of the frequent collaborations between Squire, Banks and Bruford; by the time they were heavily involved in the underground scene Jon was but a boy who served at the bar and cleared the tables at The Marquee. Of course I'm aware of his importance in the musical mix of YES but calling him "the founder" of YES is incorrect. 

Raff wrote: JLocke wrote: grarschlonk wrote: . . . I asked Steve Howe if Chris Squire would be willing to sign it also and he didn't think that was a good idea.  I'm not surprised.  If you haven't already, look up the interviews Peter Banks did for the 2006 Yes documentary, and listen to his story about Steve Howe conspiring to force him out of a scheduled guest appearance on the 'Union' tour because his massive ego couldn't take it.  As for the Jon anderson thing, I'm more or less made peace with this. I will never support Yes again as long as they continue without their founder, but at the same time, many people don't seem to care, so who am I to judge? I won't buy any future records as it stands now, but I still wish them the best, and hope the fans who DO still support them will get a deserving new record someday.  I hate to contradict you, but, as far as I can remember, their founder was not only Jon Anderson, but Chris Squire as well. Actually, it was Squire who invited Anderson to join his band (Mabel Greer's Toyshop). Anyway, quibbles aside, I'm one of those people who still support the band, and will see them live (barring any natural disasters) next Monday. As to buying any future records, we will decide whether to do it or not when any come out, and on the basis of quality rather than lineup.

Edited by JLocke - February 18 2010 at 11:36

Yes 2010 is only because they need the name to tour, to me it is Yes karaoke as Anderson is not singing, for better or worse he is the voice of Yes. Benoit David is a good impersonator.

chopper wrote: There's nothing definite and Dean doesn't say if Anderson is on the CD or not. He does also mention that a Japanese company called Disk Union are producing "a couple of box set of Yes product" including Yessongs "as it was originally designed" (i.e. a full booklet cover).

An updated Yessongs would be great. I would love to see it expanded with more material from that era as well. ( Though it would be tough to do with Most of Fragile, The Yes Album, and all of Close To The Edge already on the Album )  Maybe a re-mix to tidy up the messy sound ?

The Quiet One wrote: By the way, Jon Anderson together with Bill Bruford, Wakeman and Rabin will also be doing a new album this year probably. This is gonna be a very interesting year

That's interesting, considering Bill has retired from performing two years ago (I think). He'll play on the album, but not perform?

Edit - Sorry, changed my mind.

Edited by npjnpj - March 23 2010 at 05:53

after seeing Asia's new cover art, I am afraid about Yes'