Relationships | Members: Steve Howe - guitar, vocals, Alan White - drums, percussion, vocals, Geoff Downes - keyboard, vocals, Billy Sherwood - guitar, Jon Davison - vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboard
Past Members: Chris Squire - bass, harmonica, vocals, Jon Anderson - vocals, guitar, harp, Bill Bruford - drums, percussion, Tony Kaye - keyboard, vocals, Peter Banks, Trevor Horn - guitar, vocals, Tony O'Reilly - drums, Rick Wakeman, Patrick Moraz, Eddie Jobson, Igor Khoroshev, Oliver Wakeman - keyboard, Trevor Rabin - guitar, vocals, keyboard, Benoît David - vocals |
Biography | Yes are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye, and drummer Bill Bruford. The band has undergone numerous formations throughout its history; nineteen musicians have been full-time members. Since June 2015, it has consisted of guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Geoff Downes, singer Jon Davison, and bassist Billy Sherwood, with no remaining founding members. Yes have explored several musical styles over the years, and are most notably regarded as progressive rock pioneers.
Yes began in 1968, performing original songs and rearranged covers of rock, pop, blues and jazz songs, as evident on their first two albums. A change of direction in 1970 led to a series of successful progressive rock albums until their disbanding in 1981, their most successful being The Yes Album (1971), Fragile (1971) and Close to the Edge (1972). Yes toured as a major rock act that earned the band a reputation for their elaborate stage sets, light displays, and album covers designed by Roger Dean. The success of "Roundabout", the single from Fragile, cemented their popularity across the decade and beyond.
In 1983, Yes reformed with a new line-up that included Trevor Rabin and a more commercial and pop-oriented musical direction. The result was 90125 (1983), their highest-selling album, which contained the U.S. number-one single, "Owner of a Lonely Heart". From 1990 to 1992, Yes were an eight-member formation after they merged with Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe for Union (1991) and its tour. Since 1994, Yes have released albums with varied levels of success and completed tours from 1994 to 2004. After a four-year hiatus, they resumed touring in 2009 and continue to release albums; their most recent is Heaven & Earth (2014). In 2016, a new group of former Yes members began touring and named themselves Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman.
Alan White (b.14 June 1949-d.26 May 2022) |