Who influenced Yes?

So I always hear how many bands the original "prog" bands influenced, but here is a question: who influenced Yes? Are there any bands that these guys listened to that helped them create their sound?

As one band, I have understood The Byrds were among them ("I See You" is in their 1st album, and they are also strong with multivocal harmonies in their 1st album).

I would say that definetly the beatles, they were an influence on so many early prog bands

The Beatles, Pink Floyd, probably The Doors, King Crimson...

They say also: Vanilla Fudge.

Oh, and don't forget Buffalo Springfield. And have Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young not influenced Yes? If you listen to "Carry On" on Deja Vu: some parts of Yes' "Yours Is No Disgrace" remind me of that song.


Edited by Moogtron III - November 30 2009 at 05:00

As said before Simon and Garfunkel were quite an influence. I believe just in the early days they were. The debut album and Time and a Word. No! wait, I've Seen all good People is a little on the Paul Simon side. Steve Howe was really into a Jim Hall sound especially on the Yes Album. If you listen to The Planets by Holst everyday for about a week, you will also hear direct notation used in Yes songs. But as I said give yourself time to absorb The Planets. Many little ditties by Yes are influenced by various classical composers and not always artists of their genre. The Clap is obviously a ragtime piece. There may be a ragtime guitarist that Howe listened to. Who knows? Or maybe he just listened to a lot of Scott Joplin?

Interesting, looks like I shoulda googled just a bit more 

Its interesting that so many "new" prog bands almost shamelessly copy some of the more traditional prog bands and at the same time these more traditional bands needed to grow from somewhere. Traditional isn't really the right word, but it is too early to think yet!

Thanks for the input.

Dean wrote: "Who influenced Yes?" ....  no they didn't.

Isn't it amazing the lenght that bands like Yes went from their influences, while new bands nowadays arent' really much more than being good copies of these original prog bands, generally speaking. 

I have a hunch that Howe had very disparate influences. Some of his phrasing is straight out of the Hendrix playbook but then on certain early songs you get a bit of a Les Paul and Chet Atkins kind of vibe coming through. He was always a fast and remarkably "clean" player - but towards the late seventies with Drama - it's pretty clear he was drawing upon some inspiration from others coming on the scene in that time period - while the rhythms, speed, and direction of the notes were all Howe, he was getting a more Van Halen-esque tone from the instrument - something that became very evident a couple years later with his stint in Asia.