Two Versions of YES touring in 2017?

[Prim8Pal]

Saw this notice today of Yes playing at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA, but with Rabin, Anderson, and Wakeman. Who has the rights to tour with the band name? Will there be competing versions of Yes touring this year?

http://www.axs.com/events/334158/yes-tickets?skin=mountainwinery

[Sean]

You just saw an ad from a confused promoter. This isn't reality. ARW is the band that they are talking about.

[Prim8Pal]

Thanks. Actually it's not just AXS but the Mountain Winery itself has them shown as Yes on their concert schedule.

[Sean]

Someone should call them and tell them they are mistaken.

[Scott Bails]

Someone should call them and tell them they are mistaken.

I think that Brian Lane would disagree with you.

[miamiscot]

Here we go!!!

[Man In The Mountain]

A couple guys in YES are OK with two Asia's. What is the problem really?

[gojikranz]

A couple guys in YES are OK with two Asia's. What is the problem really?

don't know that they are ok with it beyond the law forcing them to accept it.

[Dan Roth]

Rick Wakeman has posted that ARW are now known as "Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman" (http://www.rwcc.com/gorr.asp)

[SteveSly]

Rick Wakeman has posted that ARW are now known as "Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman" (http://www.rwcc.com/gorr.asp)

Wow.....this should make for some interesting conversations at the Hall Of Fame induction Friday night.

[Zonefish]

At this point, what does it matter? Fans understand the difference and can choose to see both versions, see neither or one or the other based on predisposed opinions of "legitimacy." It's just a label that may, or may not bring a few more casual fans to a show. Otherwise, I personally don't care or see the harm. I don't think mommy and daddy are going to get back together, so you might as well enjoy getting double the presents at Christmas! If you enjoy the music, then enjoy whatever brand (and band) floats the boat. If it bothers you that so and so is in/not in the band--that's fine. If the "owners" of the name want to hash it out in court, that's their business and doesn't affect whether I personally go or skip a particular show.

Also, who wants to lay odds that the ARW team names their first album "Yes" or some variation therein?

Just my 2 cents.

[JKL2000]

There were two Gallaghers.

[dpt3]

I'm totally forming a band and naming it "Yes featuring Bill Bruford's Admirable Restraint".

[Scott Bails]

:lol

[Mister Triscuits]

There were two Gallaghers.

How many Lyles?

[Stickleback]

The Olsen twins of Prog.

[Obscured]

I hope they both tour the Relayer album.

[yamishogun]

Also, who wants to lay odds that the ARW team names their first album "Yes" or some variation therein?



something subtle like


ARW Yes Awakening

[SteveSly]

At this point, what does it matter? Fans understand the difference and can choose to see both versions, see neither or one or the other based on predisposed opinions of "legitimacy." It's just a label that may, or may not bring a few more casual fans to a show. Otherwise, I personally don't care or see the harm. I don't think mommy and daddy are going to get back together, so you might as well enjoy getting double the presents at Christmas! If you enjoy the music, then enjoy whatever brand (and band) floats the boat. If it bothers you that so and so is in/not in the band--that's fine. If the "owners" of the name want to hash it out in court, that's their business and doesn't affect whether I personally go or skip a particular show.

Also, who wants to lay odds that the ARW team names their first album "Yes" or some variation therein?

Just my 2 cents.

As long as they all agree to this from a legal perspective it is all good, but if they don't it could get ugly.

[The Dark Elf]

Yes and No.

[GuitarGeek]

There were two Gallaghers.

They were brothers. I saw a program about the famous one, apparently Gallagher II was a way for him to help out his unemployed brother, but he stipulations. Gallagher II wasn't allowed to play the same markets as Gallagher, he wasn't allowed to do TV, etc. Well, Gallagher II apparently contravened the agreement, so Gallagher sued him. Apparently, it got real ugly.

[3RDegree_Robert]

Hey there's like 3 Trans Siberian Orchestras :)

[timmy]

Who will be first to start the "Bracket: Yes vs Yes, which is the better Yes" thread?

Seriously, if those were smart they would incorporate all members not unlike the Gallagher brothers (the comedians - not the Oasis dudes). Then both bands could work in shifts, or at the same time, traversing the world vacuuming up $$$$$ CASH $$$$$$.

[SteveSly]

They were brothers. I saw a program about the famous one, apparently Gallagher II was a way for him to help out his unemployed brother, but he stipulations. Gallagher II wasn't allowed to play the same markets as Gallagher, he wasn't allowed to do TV, etc. Well, Gallagher II apparently contravened the agreement, so Gallagher sued him. Apparently, it got real ugly.

Yea, it turned into a real mess.

[kid_runningfox]

Oh boy. Let the lawsuits commence...

[iguana]

i hope that they climb the two peaks of kilimanjaro. pythonesque doesn’t even remotely describe it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbFl5cCNcB4

[bigbassdrum]

Also, who wants to lay odds that the ARW team names their first album "Yes" or some variation therein?

"Yes We Are"

[yamishogun]

Philosophical question of the day: If the planes carrying Yes and ARW collided this summer and the only survivors were Lee Pomeroy, Lou Molino, Jay Schellen, discovered by Benoit who coincidentally happened to be the first at the crash site, what would this new group be called?*




*Of course a new keyboardist can always be called up on short notice so not an issue.

[Roth-Handle Studios]

Tony Kaye

[bRETT]

You just saw an ad from a confused promoter. This isn't reality. ARW is the band that they are talking about.

Very confused, as the event page includes a "Yes Bio" which is the Howe/etc Yes.

Still, they wouldn't have billed ARW as Yes if it hadn't been sold to them that way.

[mx20]

I'm assuming (dangerous with this bunch of dudes, especially Brian Lane) that the name was recently changed to "Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman." Is this incorrect?

[Dan Roth]

I'm assuming (dangerous with this bunch of dudes, especially Brian Lane) that the name was recently changed to "Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman." Is this incorrect?

So says Rick, anyway: http://www.rwcc.com/gorr.asp

[Sean]

If that's on Rick's blog then I guess the change was recent. I stand corrected.

Honestly, it IS a Yes so I like this new development....

[Jefferson James]

"Twin botanists."

[gojikranz]

the photo and bio on AXS for the mountain winery are for the Steve Howe led yes. very well done.

[JeffCarney]

During my morning radio news this morning, I heard a spot for upcoming concerts featuring "80s artists" at the Mountain Winery.

"Yes featuring Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin" found its way into the proceedings, at which point "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" made about a 10 second appearance.

Some of the other artists mentioned in the list were also those I would associate more with the 70s, so Yes was not out of place in this regard.

If there is a more confusing musical "brand" at this point than "Yes," well ...

[Man In The Mountain]

What's next, BKH?

YES featuring Bruford, Kaye & Horn.

[Harbottle]

Yes featuring John Payne.

[Mister Triscuits]

Yesoo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazoo_(band)).

[JKL2000]

ARW is being billed as "Trevor Rabin's Yes with special guests Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman."

[moecurlythanu]

A couple guys in YES are OK with two Asia's. What is the problem really?

Continental drift, baby.

[infandous]

Time to break out the popcorn..........

[Obscured]

I guess at the time I found this funny.
1015310154

[Sean]

Wonder if they will get the sober Cassidy?

[Man In The Mountain]

At one time we had FIVE Steve Howe's playing together, I really don't see the problem here.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS5tXzsEMuE

[bondegezou]

As long as they all agree to this from a legal perspective it is all good, but if they don't it could get ugly.

They don't.

Henry

[bondegezou]

If that's on Rick's blog then I guess the change was recent. I stand corrected.

Honestly, it IS a Yes so I like this new development....

ARW have been advertising themselves as "Yes ft. ARW" for over two months on European dates. My ticket for the London show said "Yes feat Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman (ARW)".

Henry

[flowerking]

Given the rather mundane setlist that ARW is playing, I'd let Steve Howe carry the name Yes: 2/3s of Tales + Drama? Who can match that?

[bondegezou]

Given the rather mundane setlist that ARW is playing, I'd let Steve Howe carry the name Yes: 2/3s of Tales + Drama? Who can match that?

Themselves? Next year, Yes appears to be planning Tales + Relayer.

Henry

[JKL2000]

ARW have been advertising themselves as "Yes ft. ARW" for over two months on European dates. My ticket for the London show said "Yes feat Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman (ARW)".

Henry

ARW should bill themselves as "The Real Yes" That'd ensure some fun at the RRHOF!

[Yodelgoat]

I'll go see both, even if they're just a day apart. I do not see a problem, other than what they wind up calling each other. Should be interesting. I think Wakeman will be doing it just for the laugh.

[Sean]

"I had no idea he had written all these great songs, like ‘Bang On The Drum’."

Yeaaahhhh, Alan. If you think that's great you should hear his amazing ones. There's a multitude.

You guys play Close to the Edge and Todd will play The Ikon. Let's see who finishes first. :D

[Man In The Mountain]

"I had no idea he had written all these great songs, like ‘Bang On The Drum’."

Yeaaahhhh, Alan. If you think that's great you should hear his amazing ones. There's a multitude.

You guys play Close to the Edge and Todd will play The Ikon. Let's see who finishes first. :D

Sorry I had deleted the link to Alan's interview before you replied...

http://yesworld.com/2017/03/askyes-qa-alan-white-march-2017/

"The next tour won’t be so much of an album-orientated tour, we’ll be playing a lot of YES songs the public enjoy seeing the band play on stage. We’re doing a YESFest this summer with Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer – 3 bands touring together, it’s a great combination. Todd is a great musician. I just saw him recently with Ringo. I had no idea he had written all these great songs, like ‘Bang On The Drum’. "

[rich]

I hope they both tour the Relayer album.

Well the one without A R and W couldn't play it!There is no way Alan or Downes could play that material

[mx20]

Schellen +White could approximate it, imo. What's the status of Howe's relationship with Moraz? I, too, have trouble imagining Downes enjoying or mastering that Relayer material. On the intro to Soundchaser, for example, maybe one of the two drummers could trigger the Fender Rhodes samples from their sampler pads? There ARE workarounds when there are extra hands on deck.

Still, that's a Bass Guitar Album in my book; someone would have to bribe the soundman to boost Billy's bass waaaaay up in the mix to pull this material off with any gusto.

But, with Schellen in the band (alone or with Alan), it's possibly possible (if Downes has a plan).

[Rand Kelly]

Rick hates Relayer. He said: " had they asked me to play on that I couldn't find a place to make a contribution. I just didn't understand it at all." Patrick Moraz OTOH did.

[Scrotum Scissor]

I wonder how many versions of Yes will be touring in, say, 2037.

I just betcha it ain't few.

[JKL2000]

^^ Yes featuring Yodelgoat

[Scott Bails]

I wonder how many versions of Yes will be touring in, say, 2037.

I just betcha it ain't few.

Yes is propagating.

[moecurlythanu]

Tinky Winky on lead vocals.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Tinky Winky on lead vocals.

But surely Willie Robinhood is still going strong in 20 years, and it isn't as if he wasn't a true member of the true version of what's true? Skeleton-Jon is jerking that micro-phone-home from beyond an astral dome like spectral-gnome underneath a tombstone.

Ooh.

[Obscured]

Saw this notice today of Yes playing at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA, but with Rabin, Anderson, and Wakeman. Who has the rights to tour with the band name? Will there be competing versions of Yes touring this year?

http://www.axs.com/events/334158/yes-tickets?skin=mountainwinery
The other YES will be in L.A. the following night.

[Yodelgoat]

^^ Yes featuring Yodelgoat

Hey leave me out of this! Besides, I expect I'll be pushin' up wheat for the hungry long before 2037!

[The Crimson King]

I hate Sound Chaser. It's just unmelodic crazy noise to me. I like good dissonant stuff, like a lot of King Crimson, but this style doesn't fit Yes, in my opinion. I don't get the love for Relayer. Gates of Delerium has some good parts, though.

[Dan Roth]

From a new interview with Anderson and Rabin (https://www.yahoo.com/music/rock-roll-hall-famers-jon-anderson-trevor-rabin-many-faces-yes-221600286.html)

Q: You, Trevor, and Rick are currently playing in Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman (ARW), while Yes continues with drummer Alan White, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Geoff Downes and singer Jon Davison. Chris Squire was with them until he passed away in 2015. Why are they continuing as Yes when Steve is the only longtime member?

ANDERSON: That’s a tough one to answer, but we think we’re Yes, anyway. ARW equals Yes. It’s mind-boggling in a way to think I started the band and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to utilize the name, because it’s part of my life And me, Rick, and Trevor are performing an evening of Yes music because that’s who we are. We can’t deny who we are.

[chescorph]

From a new interview with Anderson and Rabin (https://www.yahoo.com/music/rock-roll-hall-famers-jon-anderson-trevor-rabin-many-faces-yes-221600286.html)

Q: You, Trevor, and Rick are currently playing in Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman (ARW), while Yes continues with drummer Alan White, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Geoff Downes and singer Jon Davison. Chris Squire was with them until he passed away in 2015. Why are they continuing as Yes when Steve is the only longtime member?

ANDERSON: That’s a tough one to answer, but we think we’re Yes, anyway. ARW equals Yes. It’s mind-boggling in a way to think I started the band and there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to utilize the name, because it’s part of my life And me, Rick, and Trevor are performing an evening of Yes music because that’s who we are. We can’t deny who we are.

Did the questioner think Rabin and Wakeman were in Yes longer than White, who, by the way, has been in Yes longer than Howe??

[Sean]

Magic meeting!
10173

[Scrotum Scissor]

I hate Sound Chaser. It's just unmelodiic crazy noise to me. I like good dissonant stuff, like a lot of King Crimson, but this style doesn't fit Yes, in my opinion. I don't get the love for Relayer.

What Yes are doing on "Sound Chaser" and Relayer in general isn't about style - it's about attempting to create something new and different. Now granted they didn't always succeed - they weren't exactly seasoned 'avant-gardists' - but they were merely complying with their own artistc and aesthetic creed. There were (and are) numerous other (and commercially less successful, of course) artists making far more jarring, edgy, dissonant and formally advanced rock music, but this is not the point; Yes were pushing their capacities and horizons, and this was essentially what they logically and admirably set out to do. For this I can still praise them - as they were.

[Rand Kelly]

http://www.mountainwinery.com/assets/doc/MW_WebCal2017-1d44703e3a.pdf

[kid_runningfox]

I hate Sound Chaser. It's just unmelodiic crazy noise to me. I like good dissonant stuff, like a lot of King Crimson, but this style doesn't fit Yes, in my opinion. I don't get the love for Relayer. Gates of Delerium has some good parts, though.

I think the first part of 'Sound Chaser,' up to Howe's unaccompanied, all-treble Telecaster abomination and the ridiculous 'cha cha chas', is magnificent - possibly some of the most thrilling and intense music Yes ever produced, and really quite jarringly different from anything they'd done before. What comes after that...not so much. The fact that the whole thing ultimately degenerates into a pretty fair impression of 70s porn film music (erm, so I've been led to believe) is deeply unfortunate. The rest of Relayer is ace, though - 'Gates' is both stunningly intense and intensely moving (if probably a good 6-10 minutes too long), and 'To be Over' simply one of the most sublimely beautiful pieces of music Yes ever made. The production is truly rotten, though, and I'm not sure that really helps the music shine as much as it might otherwise do.

[calyx]

Rick hates Relayer. He said: "Had they asked me to play on that I couldn't find a place to make a contribution. I just didn't understand it at all."

To be fair, he was asked to contribute to "Union" and "Keys To Ascension" and couldn't think of much to contribute either.

[flowerking]

Themselves? Next year, Yes appears to be planning Tales + Relayer.

Henry

Drool starts forming out the corner of my mouth as I mutter "mmmm, relayer..." Seriously, Steve Howe is enacting decades of revenge on Jon Anderson by putting together setlists of what he wants to play and f*ck the audience. The good news is this is pretty much what many of us want to see him play.

[helix]

Drool starts forming out the corner of my mouth as I mutter "mmmm, relayer..." Seriously, Steve Howe is enacting decades of revenge on Jon Anderson by putting together setlists of what he wants to play and f*ck the audience. The good news is this is pretty much what many of us want to see him play.





yep



the canon and catalog are being represented live. that's been an awesome thing to see


in fairness to JonA and Wakeman even, the Yes setlists from 1997 to 2004 always had one or two cool chestnuts thrown in there.

still, seeing outliers like Drama and Relayer are the real trophies for Yes train-spotting, 2 LPs they've both gone out of their way to demean

[moecurlythanu]

http://www.mountainwinery.com/assets/doc/MW_WebCal2017-1d44703e3a.pdf

This is an advert/schedule for the Mountain Winery and will download to your phone. Be forewarned.

[Frumious B]

yep



the canon and catalog are being represented live. that's been an awesome thing to see


in fairness to JonA and Wakeman even, the Yes setlists from 1997 to 2004 always had one or two cool chestnuts thrown in there.

still, seeing outliers like Drama and Relayer are the real trophies for Yes train-spotting, 2 LPs they've both gone out of their way to demean


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2skjn8


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2skjn8
I'd think "Gates Of Delirum" with a freaking orchestra qualifies as something more than a "thrown in" chestnut.

[helix]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2skjn8


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2skjn8
I'd think "Gates Of Delirum" with a freaking orchestra qualifies as something more than a "thrown in" chestnut.





that was my fucking point


it took Wakeman not being there for Gates to be played.

[gojikranz]

downes and Sherwood were apparently at a Patrick Moraz show last night. courting him for a relayer playthrough tour next year?

[2steves]

Rick hates Relayer. He said: " had they asked me to play on that I couldn't find a place to make a contribution. I just didn't understand it at all." Patrick Moraz OTOH did.

there would be no Relayer without Moraz. He like any strong musician who brought their strong style to Yes---Howe, Wakeman, Moraz influenced the sound on each album. Rick doesn't do avant garde, jazz and electronic except for Ritual . Howe also said recently don't count on a classic Yes reunion after Hall of Fame---there are so many reasons why and he didn't go into any of them Sad.

[bondegezou]

downes and Sherwood were apparently at a Patrick Moraz show last night. courting him for a relayer playthrough tour next year?

Official Yes are on friendly terms with Moraz: he goes to their shows, they go to his shows, everyone gets on. I doubt there's any appetite for him to re-join the band though.

Henry

[calyx]

there would be no Relayer without Moraz. He like any strong musician who brought their strong style to Yes.

Not sure I agree. Moraz was a last-minute addition to that line-up, and he contributed very little to the album - the "Sound Chaser" intro being the main (and indeed notable) exception. The prog-fusion vibe was present long before they'd settled on him. They even considered carrying on as a 4-piece for a little while. If you listen to Refugee's s/t album there is absolutely nothing of the Jan Hammer dimension to Moraz's playing on "Relayer", despite his documented background in jazz, and there's nothing (that I know of) in his subsequent solo output that suggests otherwise. Wakeman left because the band were moving in that direction (among other reasons, one being that he had a #1-charting solo album and was more interested in touring with that), that direction didn't happen because Moraz joined.

[bondegezou]

Not sure I agree. Moraz was a last-minute addition to that line-up, and he contributed very little to the album - the "Sound Chaser" intro being the main (and indeed notable) exception. The prog-fusion vibe was present long before they'd settled on him. They even considered carrying on as a 4-piece for a little while. If you listen to Refugee's s/t album there is absolutely nothing of the Jan Hammer dimension to Moraz's playing on "Relayer", despite his documented background in jazz, and there's nothing (that I know of) in his subsequent solo output that suggests otherwise. Wakeman left because the band were moving in that direction (among other reasons, one being that he had a #1-charting solo album and was more interested in touring with that), that direction didn't happen because Moraz joined.

What he said.

Henry

[Obscured]

downes and Sherwood were apparently at a Patrick Moraz show last night. courting him for a relayer playthrough tour next year?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JkBkdqzXBI

Official Yes are on friendly terms with Moraz: he goes to their shows, they go to his shows, everyone gets on. I doubt there's any appetite for him to re-join the band though.

Henry

They kicked him off his stage and played an Asia tune. Funny.

[gearHed289]

I hate Sound Chaser. It's just unmelodic crazy noise to me. I like good dissonant stuff, like a lot of King Crimson, but this style doesn't fit Yes, in my opinion. I don't get the love for Relayer. Gates of Delerium has some good parts, though.

I wouldn't go as far as to say I *hate* Sound Chaser, but I've never been a fan. Yes attempting jazz-fusion, and the Fender Rhodes sound just doesn't work for me. And I MUCH prefer the Yesshows version of Gates. I do respect the fact that they wanted to explore that territory, it's just not for me.

[floyd umma gumma]

I like the song (Sound Chaser) but agree with the Fender Rhodes sentiment, generally enjoy Yes music and its relative lack of Fender Rhodes sounds

[Kcrimso]

I generally enjoy the sound of Fender Rhodes but I LOVE Sound Chaser! I really hope that Yes would have done more as crazy music.

[Rand Kelly]

What he said.

Henry

The timing of Relayer was perfect for a 22 yr. old fan like me. I was already in love with Patrick anyway because of Refugee.

[Rand Kelly]

there would be no Relayer without Moraz. He like any strong musician who brought their strong style to Yes---Howe, Wakeman, Moraz influenced the sound on each album. Rick doesn't do avant garde, jazz and electronic except for Ritual . Howe also said recently don't count on a classic Yes reunion after Hall of Fame---there are so many reasons why and he didn't go into any of them Sad.

I do not agree with this at all. Yes wanted Vangelis and he couldn't get a visa to the UK. Then they were telling us and Atlantic they were quite content to release the album with no keyboards. Patrick was gaining all kinds of attention thanks to Melody Maker aka Chris Welch and the obvious comparisons to Rick and Keith and Tony,so it was a match made in heaven when Patrick came on board the Yesstarship. Nobody knew it was to only be one album and 2 tours though.

[calyx]

Yes wanted Vangelis and he couldn't get a visa to the UK.

That was just one aspect. Vangelis was also reluctant to fly, which was problematic for world tours. Also, he was very much a solo artist and seemingly unable to function within a group context. No discipline. This being said, they did rehearse together for some time (most of July 1974, it would seem), and his keyboard set-up was still at the rehearsal place when Moraz came to audition. Since said set-up included a Rhodes and a string synth, this may have factored in Moraz using these on the first track they worked on together that day - "Sound Chaser".

[chescorph]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JkBkdqzXBI


They kicked him off his stage and played an Asia tune. Funny.

I hear echoes of John Wetton and Greg Lake in Sherwood's stylings on this song.

[ThomasKDye]

I disagree about the second half of Sound Chaser. I consider Moraz's keyboard solo to be the best keyboard solo ever committed to a Yes album.

[Dan Roth]

Yes posted this press release:

A Huge THANK YOU to all our fans from YES
To all our incredible fans,

Last night was truly a special evening for us. We can’t thank you enough for all the continued support you’ve shown us throughout the decades and for helping to get YES into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Thank you, as well, to Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee from RUSH for the wonderful induction, and to Geddy for the amazing bass playing on “Roundabout”. What a tribute to Chris!

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone this summer on the YESTIVAL tour. And contrary to what you may have heard, YES has no plans to tour with the guys from ARW next year.

We do, however, have our own exciting plans to celebrate YES’s 50th Anniversary in 2018, which we will announce this summer during our 2017 YESTIVAL Tour. For more details, go to yesworld.com

– YES – Steve, Alan, Geoff, Jon and Billy

[GuitarGeek]

Relayer was the first Yes album I ever owned (largely because it was the cheapest one at Wax Stax that had a side long piece of music on it), and it's still my favorite from them. It's truly a one of a kind album in the Yes catalog. I like the dissonance and the sort of over the edge quality it has.

Having said that, Sound Chaser is my least favorite of the three pieces on the album. It's always seemed to have a disjointed arrangement, like a bunch of odds and ends bits that got thrown together in a pot (which I have the impression is how most of those long Yes pieces ended up being composed, actually). There's certain amounts I like, such as Steve's "electric Spanish guitar" solo, and Moraz's solo, and I somehow dig the "cha-cha-cha cha-cha" thing, too. But for me, it doesn't quite gel as a composition the way Gates Of Delirium or To Be Over do.

[Frumious B]

that was my fucking point


it took Wakeman not being there for Gates to be played.

My point is that is more than a "throw in." They also did both sides of TFTO that are currently being toured with Wakeman between 2002 and 2004 and also the versions of "TRSOG" from 97-98 with Khoroshev are stunning. In terms of song selection and covering different eras of the band the 2004 set list is actually pretty hard to beat. A dozen different albums were represented.

[Rand Kelly]

I found this on the official ARW website. http://udo.jp/concert/ARW/

[Rand Kelly]

You just saw an ad from a confused promoter. This isn't reality. ARW is the band that they are talking about.


I think Sean is onto something.

[malgeo]

I found this on the official ARW website. http://udo.jp/concert/ARW/

Ian Hornal replacing Lee Pomeroy on bass?

[Scott Bails]

Ian Hornal replacing Lee Pomeroy on bass?

Lee was done, apparently.

[andypashley]

Lee was done, apparently.

http://www.hornal.net/

Works with Pomeroy in 10CC, apparently.

[andypashley]

http://www.hornal.net/

Works with Pomeroy in 10CC, apparently.

"Take That" are on tour throughout May and June, so presumably Pomeroy is playing with them (I'm guessing a more lucrative gig)

[helix]

My point is that is more than a "throw in." They also did both sides of TFTO that are currently being toured with Wakeman between 2002 and 2004 and also the versions of "TRSOG" from 97-98 with Khoroshev are stunning. In terms of song selection and covering different eras of the band the 2004 set list is actually pretty hard to beat. A dozen different albums were represented.






FRUM: that was my fucking point


before the 'Album Series' they always took the time to "throw in"/add/choose/select/rehearse/play whatever fucking semantic you can comprehend, some cool selections from the catalog


we agree




but the other component to this fact is that St. Jon wouldn't play any Drama and Rick 'Don Rickles' Wakmen wouldn't play any Relayer.

these 2 albums can be represented by YES2017 more easily that by any lineup/band that those 2 are or would be in. in fact it seemed like a real win when the 35 Year lineup played Revealing and Ritual given Rick's schtick about Tales


that band playing Turn of the Century, We Have Heaven, SOUTH SIDE OF THE SKY, Whale, the Beatles track was amazing

we agree


at the same token, having the Benoit line-up play Parallels, Machine Messiah, ASTRAL TRAVELLER was also amazing


I went to all of these shows and loved them all



I guess if you want to get argumentative or have a nice debate, we should ask who made those set choices?


faction-wise, we could go on and ask ourselves who has the cooler setlist in 2017 as well




JFC

[helix]

more JFC :


press release as of 7 minutes ago. 10:00AM


"ROCK ICONS JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN AND RICK WAKEMAN ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THEY WILL OFFICIALLY BE KNOWN AS ‘YES FEATURING JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN’, WHICH IS THE NAME THEY WILL BE TOURING UNDER IN NORTH AMERICA DURING THE LATTER HALF OF 2017.

“IT’S VERY SIMPLE,’ EXPLAINS BAND FOUNDER AND VOCALIST JON ANDERSON. “THE FANS WANT IT, WE WANT IT AND IT’S OUR RIGHT TO USE THE NAME. YES MUSIC IS IN OUR DNA!”

THE DEFINITIVE LINE-UP OF THE GREATEST PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND EVER – JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN – TOGETHER AGAIN LIVE!

[moecurlythanu]

:lol These guys are pros.

[malgeo]

No Lee Pomeroy, No Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman!

[helix]

'DEFINITIVE!' :



the coolest obscure/"thrown in" non-Trevor track that Trevor played (not called Awaken) was what? a handful of Sweet Dreams? last tour's Perpetual Change?


the coolest obscure/"thrown in" non-Wakeman track that Wakeman played was what? Changes??




what "thrown in" 'Hall of Fame YES' tracks do we hope will be being played by ARW??


do they even touch Yours is no Disgrace again? South Side? can you imagine a Turn of the Century???? will they do the semi-regular Khatru, even??




stay tuned 'Yes' fans!!!! lol

[arturs]

But seriously... I remember when ABWH were an item, Rabin and Co. hit them hard with legal threats such that ABWH not only could not use the name Yes, they could only very minimally mention "Yes" in PR. If that is indeed an accurate description of how it went down 25 years ago, and if Howe and mates have their trademark ducks all in a row now, this should be an easy legal case. ARW should have no right to refer to themselves as Yes.

The Wishbone Ash case in the UK should have pointed to a similar conclusion in Europe.

Am I missing something here? Any lawyers here on PE want to chime in?

[jamesmanzi]

more JFC :


press release as of 7 minutes ago. 10:00AM



Heh. I just got a notification on Facebook that the ARW page changed its name to the Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman page.

[gojikranz]

was playing the hall of fame some sneaky way to say "well, we were in the yes induction at the hall of fame how are we not yes?" or something to that degree? maybe steve should have brought some legal documents for them to sign before the ceremony.

[Sean]

That would have really added to the feeling of camaraderie.

I'm sure... ;)

[wilcox660]

Here's the release I got:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


Monday, April 10, 2017.


2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees
YES
Featuring
JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN
ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR


PHILADELPHIA, PA (April 10, 2017) - Rock icons Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman are proud to announce that effective immediately, they will officially be known as ‘YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman’, which is the name they will be touring under in North America during the latter half of 2017.


“It's very simple,’ explains band founder and vocalist Jon Anderson. “The fans want it, we want it and it's our right to use the name. YES music is in our DNA!”


The definitive line-up of the greatest progressive rock band ever – Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman – together again LIVE! For tickets, tour and VIP information, go to YESfeaturingARW.com.


The reviews are in from their recent worldwide tour…


“Every song sounds like a celebration. Every song is uplifting.” - Classic Rock Magazine
“There were multiple ‘pinch me’ moments throughout the show.” - Daily Express
“Yes, These Guys Still Have It: Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman faithfully delivered the spirit and the essence of the music of the band from which they derived...and they did so in grand style.”
- Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
“Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin & Rick Wakeman affirm Yes' musical legacy” – St. Louis Post Dispatch
“There were many standing ovations on the evening, not surprising with the commendable performance put on by these five musicians.” - Rock Show Critique
“Truly was a momentous concert. Great song selection, tight performances from everyone, and a little fun at the end…If they’re coming to a town near you, DO NOT miss it.” - Progarchy
“Can Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman still dazzle? Yes, indeed!” - The (Salt Lake City) Herald Extra
“Sometimes comebacks from beloved musicians can be disappointing; not so this time.” - Goldmine Magazine


Since reuniting for a U.S. tour in 2016, YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman have performed sold-out shows in Israel, the UK, Belgium and Holland, and have a Japanese tour scheduled for April. Due to public demand, they return to tour the U.S. again from August 26th through October 11th. In addition to the tour dates, the trio will be recording new material throughout the summer for a projected album release of early 2018. Also upcoming is a DVD that was filmed at the final UK show of their recent European tour (at Manchester Apollo, on March 25th), for release later this year. And to the delight of longtime YES fans, all three were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Fame on April 7th.


The most successful prog rock group of all time, YES, was co-founded by Jon Anderson and the late Chris Squire in 1968 and went on to sell millions of units with releases such as Fragile, Close to The Edge, Tales From Topographic Oceans, Going For The One and 90125, as well as embarking on several record-breaking world tours.


Whilst Rick is predominantly associated with the '70s "prog era" of the band (which saw YES become a worldwide stadium headliner) and Trevor associated with the '80s "pop era" of the band (which furthered the band's popularity - including the band's biggest chart success), Jon is the bridge between both factions (as he was a member of both eras). The touring band line-up is completed by two extraordinary musicians - Lee Pomeroy on bass and Louis Molino III on drums – who help to ensure that YES’ immaculate artistic legacy remains intact.


The worldwide tour with YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman is being produced by renowned concert promoter Larry Magid, who is considered an architect and leader of the modern concert business. With over 17,000 concerts and live events to his credit and still counting, he has produced national and international tours for YES, Billy Crystal, Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder, Robin Williams, Gladys Knight, The Isley Bros., Earth Wind & Fire, ARW, Il Divo, The Allman Brothers Band, Patti LaBelle, Grover Washington Jr. and many others. In 1985 Larry Magid, co-produced the American portion of Live Aid, and in 2005, he was the American producer of Live 8. In 2001, he produced the United We Stand concert at RFK Stadium to benefit the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.


Confirmed 2017 YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman Tour Dates
All shows are going on-sale shortly
Go to www.YESfeaturingARW.com for on-sale information
Additional U.S. and International dates to be announced soon


Sat/ Aug- 26 Stockton, CA Bob Hope Theater
Mon/ Aug- 28 Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery
Thu/ Aug- 31 Las Vegas, NV Smith Center
Sat/ Sep- 2 Layton, UT The Kenley Amphitheater
Sun/ Sep- 3 Littleton, CO Hudson Gardens
Tue/ Sep- 5 Kansas City, MO Kauffman Center
Thu/ Sep- 7 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
Sat/ Sep- 9 Hammond, IN Venue at the Horseshoe Casino
Tue/ Sep- 12 Kettering, OH Fraze Pavilion
Wed/ Sep- 13 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap
Fri/ Sep- 15 Akron, OH Goodyear Theater at East End
Sat/ Sep- 16 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
Mon/ Sep- 18 Quebec City, QC Grand Theatre du Quebec City
Tue/ Sep- 19 Montreal, QC St. Denis Theatre
Sat/ Sep- 23 Wallingford, CT Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Sun/ Sep- 24 Brookville, NY Tilles Center
Wed/ Sep- 27 Newark, NJ NJ PAC (New Jersey Performing Arts Center)
Fri/ Sep- 29 Reading, PA Santander Performing Arts Center
Sat/ Sep- 30 Trenton, NJ Patriots Theater at the War Memorial
Sun/ Oct- 1 Philadelphia, PA Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center
Wed/ Oct- 4 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
Sat/ Oct- 7 Niagara Falls, NY Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino.
Sun/ Oct- 8 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
Wed/ Oct- 11 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

[Scott Bails]

:roll:roll:roll:roll:roll:roll

[Sean]

Two Yesses are better than one, is my thought....

[gojikranz]

Las vegas gets yes on the 29th and yes on the 31st

[bondegezou]

more JFC :


press release as of 7 minutes ago. 10:00AM


"ROCK ICONS JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN AND RICK WAKEMAN ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THEY WILL OFFICIALLY BE KNOWN AS ‘YES FEATURING JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN’, WHICH IS THE NAME THEY WILL BE TOURING UNDER IN NORTH AMERICA DURING THE LATTER HALF OF 2017.

“IT’S VERY SIMPLE,’ EXPLAINS BAND FOUNDER AND VOCALIST JON ANDERSON. “THE FANS WANT IT, WE WANT IT AND IT’S OUR RIGHT TO USE THE NAME. YES MUSIC IS IN OUR DNA!”

THE DEFINITIVE LINE-UP OF THE GREATEST PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND EVER – JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN – TOGETHER AGAIN LIVE!

They've been using that name for some months. That's what it said on my London ticket and in lights outside the Hammersmith Apollo. I'm guessing the announcement now is partly to cash in on the post-Hall publicity.

Yes appear to have sent a cease and desist letter pretty soon after ARW first started using the "Yes featuring" name. Either ARW feel they've got enough claim to the name or they think the publicity (of the name and any subsequent legal fight) is worth it. Last I knew, official Yes had not agreed to this. Who actually has what rights is a minefield, but a comparison with the recent Wishbone Ash case would suggest that, no, it's not ARW's right to use the name. Rabin and Wakeman both left Yes of their own free will and have turned done multiple offers for them to re-join. Anderson appears to have done a deal where he gave up at least some rights. None of them protested for the last 9 years that continuity Yes were using the name, which can be taken as agreement that Yes have the rights to use it, which makes it harder to claim that ARW also have the rights to do so.

But you don't necessarily win by having the best legal case. You win by spending money on lawyers. You win by getting publicity, even if you have to stop using the name. You win in the court of public opinion.

Henry

[bondegezou]

Ian Hornal replacing Lee Pomeroy on bass?

Sorry, where are you seeing that?

Henry

[wilcox660]

I'm touring as Yes in January 2018.

[bondegezou]

Two Yesses are better than one, is my thought....

I think there are definite benefits to 2 Yeses. It might be more convenient for US fans' wallets if they were touring at different times of the year rather than practically on top of each other.

Two Yeses who are at peace with each other would be better than two Yeses who are at war with each other. Unless peace has broken out very recently, as far as I know, the latter best describes the current situation. Competition might spur all on to greater heights... or legal shenanigans might distract everyone. It's going to be difficult for any archival releases to come out while all this going on.

Henry

[Jefferson James]

I wonder if anyone's considered having three, maybe four versions of Yes? Just to keep things interesting.

[Scott Bails]

Ian Hornal replacing Lee Pomeroy on bass?


I found this on the official ARW website. http://udo.jp/concert/ARW/


Sorry, where are you seeing that?

Henry

It's on the link that Rand provided

[bfd]

wow! guess they didn't bury the hatchet at the RRHoF induction. If I'm only shelling out for one version, I give a slight edge to the Anderson/Wakeman one..but I'm secretly hoping the Kaye/Bruford version plays nearby.

[gojikranz]

would be nice if they could agree to split the songs up and only both play roundabout or something. sorta like who gets the kids on which days...

I plan to see both but potentially within days of eachother so would be nice to not get too much overlap.

[helix]

would be nice if they could agree to split the songs up and only both play roundabout or something. sorta like who gets the kids on which days...

I plan to see both but potentially within days of eachother so would be nice to not get too much overlap.




I think that the Howe faction was up for delving into Trevor's catalog a bit more hopefully before ARW started



now it's probably even less of a notion, which makes sense. it's still cooler to think of YES2017 being a more receptive outlet for the whole canon and catalog. I'd love to see Howe play that pedal bit on Hearts again for one example . . .

[malgeo]

It's on the link that Rand provided

Yes, Henry, when you go to http://udo.jp/concert/ARW/ and translate the page into English, it says: "Scheduled members to come ▪ John Anderson (Vo) ▪ ︎ Trevor Rabin (G) ▪ ︎ Rick · Wakeman (Key) ▪ ︎ Louis Molino III (Ds) ▪ Ian Hornal (B) Changed from Lee Pomeroy who was done." Obviously not a perfect translation!

[Obscured]

Tickets for both YES' go on sale at the same time too.

[Paulrus]

would be nice if they could agree to split the songs up and only both play roundabout or something. sorta like who gets the kids on which days...


LOL :lol

[jamesmanzi]

I wonder if anyone's considered having three, maybe four versions of Yes? Just to keep things interesting.

Yes featuring David, Haun, Brislin. Yes featuring Horn, Schellen, Kaye. Geddy Lee's Yes featuring Igor Khoroshev.

[webbcity]

I wonder if anyone's considered having three, maybe four versions of Yes? Just to keep things interesting.

"Yeah!" featuring Benoit David, Jimmy Haun, Pat Moraz, Tony Levin, and Tony O'Reilly...

[webbcity]

Yes featuring David, Haun, Brislin. Yes featuring Horn, Schellen, Kaye. Geddy Lee's Yes featuring Igor Khoroshev.

Haha! Beat me to it. :D

[Obscured]

I wonder if anyone's considered having three, maybe four versions of Yes? Just to keep things interesting.
The Anderson-Ponty Band will retroactively be called "Yes featuring Anderson & Ponty".

[webbcity]

This whole thing just makes me sad honestly. I mean, I know the sparring is nothing new, but wow... ARW are just making themselves look really bad, IMO. I'm a big fan of Jon and Trevor, but this is seriously embarrassing. It reflects very poorly on them.

[gojikranz]

its too bad banks died before getting his yes going. if he coulda roped tony kaye into it they could have actually had a claim with two originals.

[Scott Bails]

This whole thing just makes me sad honestly. I mean, I know the sparring is nothing new, but wow... ARW are just making themselves look really bad, IMO. I'm a big fan of Jon and Trevor, but this is seriously embarrassing. It reflects very poorly on them.

Yep. Totally agree.

[helix]

its too bad banks died before getting his yes going. if he coulda roped tony kaye into it they could have actually had a claim with two originals.




a 'Peter Banks from YES' tour featuring whomever in his band would have KILLER


really wish he would been able to do some club tours or whatever . I would have loved to have seen him play

[bfd]

Announcement with new logo here:

http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/news.php

[Dan Roth]

But seriously... I remember when ABWH were an item, Rabin and Co. hit them hard with legal threats such that ABWH not only could not use the name Yes, they could only very minimally mention "Yes" in PR. If that is indeed an accurate description of how it went down 25 years ago, and if Howe and mates have their trademark ducks all in a row now, this should be an easy legal case. ARW should have no right to refer to themselves as Yes.

The Wishbone Ash case in the UK should have pointed to a similar conclusion in Europe.

Maybe Yes can get the same judge that heard the Ash case. ARW would wind up being re-branded 'Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman play the music of Yes'.

[mx20]

I've long wanted to stage a Doppelganger Fest (could have a cool metal logo & everything!) where only those bands with doubles could play:

Both versions of:
Yes, Wishbone Ash, Hawkwind, Asia, etc., etc.


...But we wouldn't tell the bands about their doppelgangers being there until they bumped into each backstage.

[Dodie]

its too bad banks died before getting his yes going. if he coulda roped tony kaye into it they could have actually had a claim with two originals.

Surely they'd have been called 'The New Originals' because there was already another band in the East End called 'The Originals'? :-)

[Jefferson James]

I recently heard the debut Yes album with Peter Banks for the first time -- killer album! I love it. Bass playing is amazing. But I was astounded and blown away by Peter Banks, how he already had a sort of Steve Howe-ish thing of his own going on. Imagine finding another guitarist like Peter Banks, and in walks Steve Howe? What luck!

I'm embarrassed to admit I always thought it was Wakeman on The Yes Album -- that church organ thing. I had no clue it was Tony Kaye killing it. I hope I get to see him again soon, I need to worship at his feet for a moment.

[moecurlythanu]

I wonder if anyone's considered having three, maybe four versions of Yes? Just to keep things interesting.

Oliver Wakeman's Yes : The Next Generation
Tony Kaye's Deep Yes Nine
Jane Anderson's Yes Voyager

[bondegezou]

It's on the link that Rand provided

Ah, イアン・ホーナル! Forgive me for being slow at reading katakana.

Henry

[bondegezou]

would be nice if they could agree to split the songs up and only both play roundabout or something. sorta like who gets the kids on which days...

I plan to see both but potentially within days of eachother so would be nice to not get too much overlap.

There wasn't much overlap between the European ARW set and Yes's short February tour, just "Heart of the Sunrise", "And You and I" and "Roundabout". I'm guessing ARW will stick with the same set this summer. We know Yes are doing one song from each album up to Drama, and ARW aren't playing anything from Yes, Time and a Word, Tales from Topographic Oceans, Relayer, Tormato or Drama, so plenty of difference there.

Henry

[bondegezou]

a 'Peter Banks from YES' tour featuring whomever in his band would have KILLER

really wish he would been able to do some club tours or whatever . I would have loved to have seen him play

It was great seeing him play. The plan for a tour playing old Yes songs was never going to happen, however. Pete wasn't together enough to play a rehearsed set.

Henry

[Scott Bails]

Announcement with new logo here:

http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/news.php

Isn't that the same, awful logo they were already using?

If not, why is it still so horrible?

[gojikranz]

Isn't that the same, awful logo they were already using?

If not, why is it still so horrible?

No Roger Dean no Yes!

[Frumious B]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170410/03785c660e084998a8337c296adc6469.jpg

Whoopee! I'm finally a full fledged "Current Yes" fan again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dpt3]

its too bad banks died before getting his yes going. if he coulda roped tony kaye into it they could have actually had a claim with two originals.

They could be both an alternate Yes and an alternate Flash!

It's definitely a shame, though. My fondness for those first two albums has really grown over the years.

[Jefferson James]

Geddy Lee featuring members of Yes

[Sunlight Caller]

It is all a little tawdry isn't it? I really enjoyed the ARW gig in London and I really enjoyed the last continuity Yes tour. I think there is room for both, but these OTT hyped up promotional announcements are beyond the pale. Their last Facebook post was enough for me to stop following them, I'm not an excitable teenager anymore.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Interstellar]

I look forward to the Kickstarter for "Yes featuring Dweezil Zappa : the cease and desist tour".

[jamesmanzi]

It's worth noting that Mabel Greer's Toyshop is very active these days.

They need to rebrand themselves "Yes from Beyond and Before Yes was even Yes" and start rolling in cash.

[webbcity]

Geddy Lee featuring members of Yes


I look forward to the Kickstarter for "Yes featuring Dweezil Zappa : the cease and desist tour".

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

[Dave (in MA)]

In my e-mail moments ago:
http://image.direct.livenation.com/lib/fe95157070600c7a74/m/5/ln_logo_2017.png
2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees
YES
Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman

Wednesday, October 4
Orpheum Theatre
Presale:
Thu, 4/13 at 10am – Thu, 4/13 at 10pm
Password: PARTY
Public On Sale: Fri, 4/14 at 10am

[Rand Kelly]

Yes featuring Jon Anderson,Trevor Rabin,Rick Wakeman. Yestival: Yes-Todd Rundgren-Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy. I think we can do this without confusion now.

[arturs]

was playing the hall of fame some sneaky way to say "well, we were in the yes induction at the hall of fame how are we not yes?" or something to that degree? maybe steve should have brought some legal documents for them to sign before the ceremony.

If this ever goes to court, I bet ARW will use that argument as evidence.

[Rand Kelly]

http://www.yesfeaturingarw.com/

[dpt3]

So, at this point I'm convinced that the best way forward is if Moon Safari can somehow use the fact that they kind of used to be the Syn to argue that that kind of makes them Yes and stake a claim on the name, which would result in the best "Yes" album in decades!

[Frumious B]

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/yes-featuring-jon-anderson-trevor-rabin-rick-wakeman-band-name/?trackback=tsmclip

It's legal y'all.

[Gruno]

Such a clusterf*ck these musicians and their band politics turned out to be.

[Dave (in MA)]

Maybe Kaye and David could get together and tour as Yes or the Platters or something.

[rdclark]

Their first time in Philly, ARW played the Keswick, a popular if somewhat ramshackle venue in the suburbs. Seats 1300, and I don't think it sold out.

This time, on October 1, they're booked into Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, arguably Philadelphia's most prestigious venue. It's where the Philadelphia Orchestra plays; seats 2500.

Meanwhile, two months earlier in August, Yestival will play the legendary Tower Theater, a 3000-seat venue just over the city line.

[helix]

Their first time in Philly, ARW played the Keswick, a popular if somewhat ramshackle venue in the suburbs. Seats 1300, and I don't think it sold out.

This time, on October 1, they're booked into Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, arguably Philadelphia's most prestigious venue. It's where the Philadelphia Orchestra plays; seats 2500.

Meanwhile, two months earlier in August, Yestival will play the legendary Tower Theater, a 3000-seat venue just over the city line.






YARW tickets for the Verizon show are on sale tomorrow at 10:00AM




ideally I'd like to wait for the setlist nut I'll probably bite on a ticket. most likely a cheaper selection

[rdclark]

YARW tickets for the Verizon show are on sale tomorrow at 10:00AM

ideally I'd like to wait for the setlist nut I'll probably bite on a ticket. most likely a cheaper selection

I'll be hiking in Maine in October. Just as glad I don't have to worry about whether to buy a ticket, although I'd be very interested to see how ARW has tightened up in a year (Rabin particularly did not yet have his "stage legs" when I saw them at the Keswick). And I woudn't want to see essentially the same setlist, either.

[Obscured]

Maybe Kaye and David could get together and tour as Yes or the Platters or something.
Tony KaYE'S Band. There.

[helix]

I'll be hiking in Maine in October. Just as glad I don't have to worry about whether to buy a ticket, although I'd be very interested to see how ARW has tightened up in a year (Rabin particularly did not yet have his "stage legs" when I saw them at the Keswick). And I woudn't want to see essentially the same setlist, either.





I thought the Keswick show was a little standard for sure



I also don't think that this booking will sell out, 'Yes' added nomenclature or not. possible that they booked this larger venue for Larry as an ego reward. it still kinda creeps me out that he gets such a public display on their publicity as part of this "legendary" endeavor. lots music business-y stuff going on here. I want to see more creative music stuff sooner than later. put out a digital single or something

[Paulrus]

lots music business-y stuff going on here.

Yeppers. That's what gives the whole ARW endeavor such a foul odor to me.

[arj]

Well, now that has been settled maybe RW can chill out a bit on that intro to Awaken and approach it with the light touch he displayed on the album. Is he capable? It's nearly as unpalatable as TR's piano opening to AYAI. GD is not quite there either. Maybe a call to TB or IK is in order?

[SteveSly]

This was on Pollstar today: https://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=830388

[Dan Roth]

Their first time in Philly, ARW played the Keswick, a popular if somewhat ramshackle venue in the suburbs. Seats 1300, and I don't think it sold out.

This time, on October 1, they're booked into Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, arguably Philadelphia's most prestigious venue. It's where the Philadelphia Orchestra plays; seats 2500.

Meanwhile, two months earlier in August, Yestival will play the legendary Tower Theater, a 3000-seat venue just over the city line.

And the day before the YFARW show at Verizon Hall Philly show, they are playing up the road a bit at the home of the 2002-3 Nearfest: the 1800-seat Trenton War Memorial. I'm betting they are trying for slightly larger venues banking on the hall of fame exposure and the name change.

[boilk]

Does anyone know the presale code for YES feat. ARW, for the Toronto show at Massey Hall that goes on sale tomorrow?

Thanks,
neil

[pinkpanther]

Here in Baltimore, the Ticketmaster link for Yestival features a photo of ARW!!!

[Obscured]

Here in Baltimore, the Ticketmaster link for Yestival features a photo of ARW!!!


Same here.
10197

[Paulrus]

Here in Baltimore, the Ticketmaster link for Yestival features a photo of ARW!!!

That right there might give Steve and co. grounds to file some kind of cease and desist.

[Obscured]

That right there might give Steve and co. grounds to file some kind of cease and desist.
Unless it helps them sell more tickets!

[Paulrus]

Unless it helps them sell more tickets!

That would be wonderfully ironic!

[wilcox660]

Aren't John Lees' Yes & Yes through the eyes of Les Holroyd still touring?

[Obscured]

http://i.imgur.com/4EAoTfi.jpg

[yamishogun]

^

I wonder which one of his fine guitars did Mr. Howe throw across the room when he saw that. :D

[Dan Roth]

Yes posted something about how they will be announcing special plans for the 50th anniversary of the band. I wonder if they would bring past Yes members on a 2018 tour as special guests like Horn or Moraz or Kaye (all of whom they seem to have a good rapport with) to come out and perform on a song or two. Can't imagine what else they could plan that would be "special".

[Obscured]

http://i.imgur.com/4EAoTfi.jpg
10198Ticketbastard just changed the pic.

[Interstellar]

Like Jon said, we are all beautiful people.

We're all Yes featuring ourselves.

[Wil]

I'm not really bothered what they call themselves but I don't find ARW particularly snappy and for a band so, presumably, linked to visuals their graphic design is rather weak. Maybe they should try and find Garry Mouat to work his 90125 magic on the logo (which I really liked).

[Stevie B]

Pathetic behaviour from ARW and/or their representatives :down

[moecurlythanu]

Can't imagine what else they could plan that would be "special".

Stage set designed by Roger Dean?

[Scott Bails]

Pathetic behaviour from ARW and/or their representatives :down

Yep.

[popeyebonaparte]

Archive releases of the following:

· London 1971
· Bruford shows
· Tales soundboard
· Boston 1974
· 1976 multitracks
· Wembley 1978
· Various studio outtakes

[Dan Roth]

Stage set designed by Roger Dean?

Ah. I hadn't thought of that.

My guess is that whatever Yes does to commemorate their 50th anniversary will be done with an eye to solidify/legitimize their case as THE Yes. Bringing along a Dean-designed stage would be something that YfARW would be unable to do.

[progman1975]

Anyone got a presale code for the Reading,PA gig for ARW??

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[Sean]

You'll never stop.... Yesses!

[helix]

ARW pre-sales for Trenton and Phila now up. cheapest VIP deal right now is $203 without fees


password is 'BRE'

[helix]

just bought a Howe side Yestival ticket for Holmdel. 7th row


probably will now wait for ARW's setlist to see if I purchase a top or lower tier ticket. plenty of options in Phila, Reading, Trenton or Red Bank

[bondegezou]

Yes posted something about how they will be announcing special plans for the 50th anniversary of the band. I wonder if they would bring past Yes members on a 2018 tour as special guests like Horn or Moraz or Kaye (all of whom they seem to have a good rapport with) to come out and perform on a song or two. Can't imagine what else they could plan that would be "special".

I have wondered that too. Although I don't think Horn would be interested in a whole tour. Kaye is reportedly having some health problems, but hopefully they are just temporary.

Henry

[bondegezou]

Archive releases of the following:

· London 1971
· Bruford shows
· Tales soundboard
· Boston 1974
· 1976 multitracks
· Wembley 1978
· Various studio outtakes

I'm fearful that any archive releases are just going to get tied up in inter-band arguments. :(

Henry

[wilcox660]

Can't imagine what else they could plan that would be "special".
Special Yescorn popcorn in a Roger Dean bucket!

[dpt3]

I can't imagine it would be cost effective to invite ex-members along for entire tour just to play one or two songs. Having them make guest appearances at specific shows seems likely enough, though.

[dpt3]

So, "Ian Hornal" is this guy, I presume?

http://10538overture.dk/Members%20of%20ELO%20and%20Relatives/Iain%20Hornai%20(Jeff%20Lynne%27s%20ELO)/Fronts/lain_hornal_history.html

[helix]

So, "Ian Hornal" is this guy, I presume?

http://10538overture.dk/Members%20of%20ELO%20and%20Relatives/Iain%20Hornai%20(Jeff%20Lynne%27s%20ELO)/Fronts/lain_hornal_history.html




so . . . a singer songwriter and guitar player is going to perform one of the top bass player's iconic parts on tour??!!


COOL

[Dan Roth]

I can't imagine it would be cost effective to invite ex-members along for entire tour just to play one or two songs. Having them make guest appearances at specific shows seems likely enough, though.

Cost effective? no. Special? yeah! I was thinking how the Stones brought Mick Taylor along on their 2013 tour to play on four songs each night. Of course a Roger Dean-designed set might not be cost effective either. I was just thinking out loud - something special for the anniversary (and reissues with Anderson and Wakeman on them probably wouldnt be high on their list) - I am guessing that they would try and do something that the YfARW band couldn't.

[Scott Bails]

Cost effective? no. Special? yeah! I was thinking how the Stones brought Mick Taylor along on their 2013 tour to play on four songs each night. Of course a Roger Dean-designed set might not be cost effective either. I was just thinking out loud - something special for the anniversary (and reissues with Anderson and Wakeman on them probably wouldnt be high on their list) - I am guessing that they would try and do something that the YfARW band couldn't.

Like.....playing "And You And I" with a 12-string acoustic guitar? ;)

[gojikranz]

Cost effective? no. Special? yeah! I was thinking how the Stones brought Mick Taylor along on their 2013 tour to play on four songs each night. Of course a Roger Dean-designed set might not be cost effective either. I was just thinking out loud - something special for the anniversary (and reissues with Anderson and Wakeman on them probably wouldnt be high on their list) - I am guessing that they would try and do something that the YfARW band couldn't.

I know it has been bandied about a few times about doing little residencies in major areas rather than a wide tour. they could do 2 or 3 night stays bring along moraz and kaye and horn(khoroshev, brislin and a orchestra? haun to cover rabin parts on yeswest songs?) to do their songs and play a really truly representative sets over 2-3 nights.

I think that would be a pretty great way to celebrate 50 beyond a actual re-union tour.

[bondegezou]

I know it has been bandied about a few times about doing little residencies in major areas rather than a wide tour. they could do 2 or 3 night stays bring along moraz and kaye and horn(khoroshev, brislin and a orchestra? haun to cover rabin parts on yeswest songs?) to do their songs and play a really truly representative sets over 2-3 nights.

I think that would be a pretty great way to celebrate 50 beyond a actual re-union tour.

Who knows? Yes (non-featuring) have been mixing up their set lists in interesting ways (Tales & Drama! one song from each album! Relayer!) and they have had a guest appearance from Horn, so I wouldn't put it past them to do something along these lines. The other thing they've been doing is the Yestival and the Cruise, so getting a bunch of other bands to play. Might they do something like that, with other Yes-related acts?

Henry

[Scott Bails]

Who knows? Yes (non-featuring) have been mixing up their set lists in interesting ways (Tales & Drama! one song from each album! Relayer!) and they have had a guest appearance from Horn, so I wouldn't put it past them to do something along these lines. The other thing they've been doing is the Yestival and the Cruise, so getting a bunch of other bands to play. Might they do something like that, with other Yes-related acts?

Henry

Honestly, they don't get enough credit for this stuff, IMO. Everyone is so eager to complain about Downes, Sherwood, White, entire album tours, etc. and argue about who is the "real Yes," but this band has been recording and gigging for years now. They're the opposite of stagnant, and have creatively tried to give their fans something interesting. They're not just touring on their legacy (i.e. playing the hits). They've combined with several interesting acts, did the cruise, now the Yestival. What more do you want from them?

[Kcrimso]

Honestly, they don't get enough credit for this stuff, IMO. Everyone is so eager to complain about Downes, Sherwood, White, entire album tours, etc. and argue about who is the "real Yes," but this band has been recording and gigging for years now. They're the opposite of stagnant, and have creatively tried to give their fans something interesting. They're not just touring on their legacy (i.e. playing the hits). They've combined with several interesting acts, did the cruise, now the Yestival. What more do you want from them?

Tighter playing at gigs and better studioalbums please. :)

[bRETT]

Archive releases of the following:

· London 1971
· Bruford shows
· Tales soundboard
· Boston 1974
· 1976 multitracks
· Wembley 1978
· Various studio outtakes


The ideal release to my mind would be a Progeny II containing one show from each tour through Drama, skipping the Yessongs tour which has been done to death. The holy grail would be a well-recorded show from the solo albums tour if anybody's got one in the vaults.

[yamishogun]

Tighter playing at gigs and better studioalbums please. :)

I'll have what he ordered :horns

[Scott Bails]

Tighter playing at gigs and better studioalbums please. :)

You're not getting that from TARWNY (They're ARW, Not Yes), either

[Rand Kelly]

Tighter playing at gigs and better studioalbums please. :)

We saw Yes in Reno last September with Jay Schellen on drums and they were tight. Billy and Jay lock in quite well.

[gojikranz]

We saw Yes in Reno last September with Jay Schellen on drums and they were tight. Billy and Jay lock in quite well.

I would agree the tales drama set was the tightest I have ever seen the reformed yes. maybe Jay Schellen has been a help in that regard. so with that in mind I am looking forward to a potential relayer.

[Dan Roth]

The worldwide tour with YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman is being produced by renowned concert promoter Larry Magid, who is considered an architect and leader of the modern concert business.

And yet, just a few months ago, Mr. Magid said, "Certainly this isn’t Yes. It’s not meant to be even though it’s going to be an evening of Yes music redefined and updated." (from https://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=826387)

[Kcrimso]

You're not getting that from TARWNY (They're ARW, Not Yes), either

Oh this was a competition? Of course I want the same from ARW.

[wilcox660]

I'd like each iteration of the band to succeed. Who doesn't?

[Paulrus]

And yet, just a few months ago, Mr. Magid said, "Certainly this isn’t Yes. It’s not meant to be even though it’s going to be an evening of Yes music redefined and updated." (from https://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=826387)

Thanks for posting that. It would be great for someone to read this back to Mr. Magid (or one of the ARWs) and get their response.

[Scott Bails]

Thanks for posting that. It would be great for someone to read this back to Mr. Magid (or one of the ARWs) and get their response.

You'd probably get some mumbo jumbo about "Perpetual Change" :roll

[wilcox660]

Magid & honesty meet very infrequently.

[Frumious B]

The ideal release to my mind would be a Progeny II containing one show from each tour through Drama, skipping the Yessongs tour which has been done to death. The holy grail would be a well-recorded show from the solo albums tour if anybody's got one in the vaults.

They could do Yesshows: Ultimate Edition with a complete recording of every concert represented on the original album. That would cover 76-78 really nicely.

But what I would most like to see would be a full length concert released from the YesWest period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[popeyebonaparte]

Well apparently Steve actually said on the cruise that they're going to release a Progeny type set from the Union tour and that they have six shows. Politically, it seems a bizarre thing to do considering that a second Union is being denied almost daily. Anyway... So long as I get Denver 1991 with the complete video footage I'm glad!

[helix]

Well apparently Steve actually said on the cruise that they're going to release a Progeny type set from the Union tour and that they have six shows. Politically, it seems a bizarre thing to do considering that a second Union is being denied almost daily. Anyway... So long as I get Denver 1991 with the complete video footage I'm glad!






that seems a bit superfluous as there really wasn't much change between the gigs on that tour. represented well by the live sets that have been released


I'd love to hear the one off of Close to the Edge tho, that's for sure. Lake Placid I think . . .

and they did Take the Water once or twice, yeah?

[jamesmanzi]

they did Take the Water once or twice, yeah?

At least once.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38U68yOIdTA

Heh.

2:21, Jon, "no Tony, not yet."
2:24, Jon, "Okay, now."

[Obscured]

First off, this thread should be titled "Two Versions Of YES Touring in 2017!" I am ecstatic that there is so much YES going around. In fact I'm gonna just call them both YES.

My guess is that whatever Yes does to commemorate their 50th anniversary will be done with an eye to solidify/legitimize their case as THE Yes. Bringing along a Dean-designed stage would be something that YfARW would be unable to do.Why can't they both use Dean designed stages? They're both YES. Won't they both be celebrating their 50th anny's?

I hope they both tour the Relayer album.
I hope this happens even more so now. They're both calling themselves YES so it shouldn't matter who was or wasn't in the band when the album was released/recorded. Relayer is a YES album, so both YES' should be able to play it. I bet Wakeman has tinkered with the opening of SC and the battle portion of GOD many times over the past 40 years, would love to hear howe he interprets that album. Trevor would have a kick-ass solo on SC and I'm sure Steve would kick his solo in SC up a notch too. Imagine the "Which Jon "cha-cha-cha's" better" thread! I think everyone knows Jon will "cha-cha-cha" better than Jon.

I'd like each iteration of the band to succeed. Who doesn't?
THIS. I'm a gonna love them both this summer/fall regardless of the bitching and moaning over who's in which YES and which YES is/isn't the real YES around here. It's all about the music and I've enjoyed all the shows I've seen so far from both YES'. Another reunion would be fitting.

a second Union is being denied almost daily.
They denied Geddy was going to perform with them too. Peace on Earth and goodwill to all YES'. We're not getting any younger and this should/could happen still.

[JKL2000]

Yes should call itself Asia featuring Steve Howe.

[Frumious B]

I am still kind of giddy at this news. I was hoping for Union Lite with Anderson, Howe, Rabin, Wakeman, White and Sherwood, but ARW is the best consolation prize I could possibly get and the rebranding to include the Yes moniker is totally the icing on the cake.

[Obscured]

ARW pre-sales for Trenton and Phila now up. cheapest VIP deal right now is $203 without fees


password is 'BRE'
The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY added for 9/21. Presale starts tomorrow at noon; HALLOFFAME.

[arturs]

So long as I get Denver 1991 with the complete video footage I'm glad!

Denver 1991 came out a long time ago on the Union Live Deluxe Edition. Or maybe it wasn't the complete footage? It looked complete to me but I haven't watched it in a few years.

[Progatron]

The holy grail would be a well-recorded show from the solo albums tour if anybody's got one in the vaults.

I would love that. :cool


that seems a bit superfluous as there really wasn't much change between the gigs on that tour. represented well by the live sets that have been released

Maybe an early gig, where they played Starship Trooper and City Of Love... I recall both were dropped very early on.

[profusion]

Denver 1991 came out a long time ago on the Union Live Deluxe Edition. Or maybe it wasn't the complete footage? It looked complete to me but I haven't watched it in a few years.

Yes, it's essentially bonus footage, though. As I recall, the audio could use some work.

[kid_runningfox]

You'll never stop.... Yesses!

...but we could have a jolly good try by just refusing to participate in this nonsense.

[Obscured]

Yes should call itself Asia featuring Steve Howe.
Asia will be at Yestival, but they won't be at Yestival.

[SteveSly]

Cost effective? no. Special? yeah! I was thinking how the Stones brought Mick Taylor along on their 2013 tour to play on four songs each night. Of course a Roger Dean-designed set might not be cost effective either. I was just thinking out loud - something special for the anniversary (and reissues with Anderson and Wakeman on them probably wouldnt be high on their list) - I am guessing that they would try and do something that the YfARW band couldn't.

The Eagles also did it on their "History Of The Eagles" tour bringing Bernie Leadon along for parts of the set.

[chescorph]

Bring out Moraz to dust off the Relayer pieces. Downes and Sherwood were at his performance last week. Hmm...

[Rand Kelly]

If Yes really want to make us happy-Get Masterworks 2000 on a Blu-Ray/CD in 5.1/2.0 from Holmdel and Get the whiz kid,Steven Wilson to "fix" Q.P.R. because those performances are the HOLY GRAIL.

[Rand Kelly]

You'll never stop.... Yesses!

Yes can't stop Yes.

[Frumious B]

Yes, it's essentially bonus footage, though. As I recall, the audio could use some work.

Trevor Rabin mixed about an hour of the Denver show for a TV broadcast. The full length version suffers from a milder case of OPRitis. Think I read that the audio on the DVD is Steve Howe or somebody else's monitor feed.

[bondegezou]

I'd like each iteration of the band to succeed. Who doesn't?

The other band?

And maybe 30% of their fans?

Henry

[yamishogun]

The other band?

And maybe 30% of their fans?


This will get even more interesting once Wakeman leaves. It would be funny if they bring Moraz on board next year!

Yes featuring ARM.

Rabin said last November that the new album was about half done, then in December he said the band intended on devoting a lot of time to it in January and February, and he recently said that the album was now about one-fifth done. We'll get another statement about further time to devoted to "create new vibrations from the celestial spheres" (the inevitable Anderson quote) and by November they will have perfected one-eighth of the album. By February, they will stream the first twenty notes. Trevor perfectionism at work!

[calyx]

For me the respective attitudes of Anderson/Wakeman v/s Howe during their Hall of Fame speeches were a good encapsulation of what they're about. Anderson and Wakeman seemed "in the moment", happy to be there and saying, in Anderson's case, whatever came through his mind, and in Wakeman's, what amounts to a not particularly tasteful (to put it mildly) stand-up comedian's routine; Howe had a carefully written speech which contained profound statements about how he viewed his art, but reading from a paper as he did felt a little awkward amid the spontaneity of the other two.

Similarly, it seems to me the "Yes feat. ARW" faction approach live performance with enthusiasm and camaraderie but with a few exceptions ("Heart Of The Sunrise" being one), not seeming to have given much thought, or sweat, to how the material is arranged and presented, which is either relatively faithful to the original, a half-baked version of what they promised would be radical reinterpretations, or (in most cases) either Rabin or Wakeman adding their personal stamp to material which would require something more faithful to the original (Wakeman emulating Kaye and/or Rabin emulating Howe), but egos and/or laziness ensured that this didn't happen.

In contrast, the "official Yes" have an almost scholarly approach to their performances of what is viewed as "repertoire music". Downes for instance isn't trying to change Kaye's or Wakeman's parts to fit his own style, but reproduces the original arrangement to the best of his ability. It doesn't quite always work as Wakeman arguably has more chops and a few notes here and there are fluffed or missing. Davison is there to imitate his Anderson namesake rather than attempting to make the songs his own. Sherwood is paying tribute to Chris Squire and doing a fine job of it (although not using the actual basses used on the originals). White... Well, whatever he says I don't see him lasting much longer and I think there's a future of Shellen in the band. Lastly, Howe is trying his best, and occasionally struggling, to deliver his own parts as faithfully as possible. The overall impression is one of a band doing their best to do the material justice, which I commend them for.

Obviously, ARW have Anderson - the one remaining original member still alive and gigging, which is irreplaceable. In Wakeman they have an important, and famous, member of the "classic" band. In Rabin they have the legitimacy to cover an sizeable additional chunk of their repertoire, including their commercial peak. Musically, however, my feeling is that they're not working hard enough. A set with few surprises, none of the initially promised new material and a number of "WTF?" moments throughout the set.

Official Yes have Steve Howe, a guitarist with his own unique, if somewhat dated, style (which is something I wouldn't say about Rabin, who to me is of a certain school of guitarists of which there are plenty and more easily replaceable), equal claim as Anderson to the best Yes repertoire. Where they pale in comparison to ARW is that whereas ARW have 3 major members with sufficient playing abilities to perform the material they helped created, this can't be said of the rest of Official Yes, who are either a shadow of their former selves (White), people who didn't play on any of the Top 5 classics (Downes), or replacements.

This being said, and to my own surprise, I'd still rate Official Yes as the superior musical experience - although of course neither remotely compares to the band at their peak ca. 1972-76.

[dpt3]

Rabin said last November that the new album was about half done, then in December he said the band intended on devoting a lot of time to it in January and February, and he recently said that the album was now about one-fifth done. We'll get another statement about further time to devoted to "create new vibrations from the celestial spheres" (the inevitable Anderson quote) and by November they will have perfected one-eighth of the album. By February, they will stream the first twenty notes. Trevor perfectionism at work!

Aliens are only us from the future... when we invent time travel to try to go back and hear the full ARW album!

[miamiscot]

I doubt we'll ever see an ARW album. Maybe a track or two. As for YES, it might be best if they refrain from recording another record that hurts their legacy. I personally enjoy Heaven & Earth but most people hated it and I understand why.

I've seen YES the last few tours but am skipping Yestival in favor of the Dayton date ARW have scheduled for September.

I will reserve judgement until then. For now - all I can say is YES have been very good live of late...

[Stevie B]

To calyx: a very fair and thoughtful summation of the two Yeses.

I passed on ARW solely because of the prices they were charging, so I can't comment on them, but based on the last time I saw Yes (almost exactly a year ago - Drama/Fragile) I'd say you are being slightly harsh on Howe and White. Obviously White has had his back issues since then, but when I saw them last he was on fine form, and there were no dragging tempos that I could detect, and Howe was his usual mixture of intensity and effortlessness. The band weren't perfect of course...I've seen many Yes shows going back to the late seventies, and I've never seen perfection from them (unlike Genesis for example). They always play close to the edge (pun definitely intended) and occasionally fall over it. I've seen Turn of the Century descend into a train wreck...I've seen them have to stop Ritual and start again, regardless of the orchestra sitting behind them! But that's what is so exciting about a Yes show...I've only been bored once and that was about five years ago (B.David and O.Wakeman).

If they come my way with Tales/Relayer I'll be there in a heartbeat...

[calyx]

I'd say you are being slightly harsh on Howe and White. Obviously White has had his back issues since then, but when I saw them last he was on fine form, and there were no dragging tempos that I could detect.

Maybe my judgement is too informed by the sight of how much he seems to have aged over the past ten or fifteen years. I would agree the tempos are back to normal since Sherwood joined (which would put most of the blame on Squire where one would assume it was Howe forcing them to), but I too saw the Drama/Fragile tour last year and I couldn't help but imagine the music sounding much more alive if they had a younger and more energetic drummer. Jay Schellen certainly filled the latter requirement - I've only heard, not seen, them doing Tales and despite the diminished pedigree of not having White around, I thought they sounded noticeably better. It pains me to say this as White is clearly a nice guy and wants to keep playing.

[progfan1]

For me the respective attitudes of Anderson/Wakeman v/s Howe during their Hall of Fame speeches were a good encapsulation of what they're about. Anderson and Wakeman seemed "in the moment", happy to be there and saying, in Anderson's case, whatever came through his mind, and in Wakeman's, what amounts to a not particularly tasteful (to put it mildly) stand-up comedian's routine; Howe had a carefully written speech which contained profound statements about how he viewed his art, but reading from a paper as he did felt a little awkward amid the spontaneity of the other two.

Similarly, it seems to me the "Yes feat. ARW" faction approach live performance with enthusiasm and camaraderie but with a few exceptions ("Heart Of The Sunrise" being one), not seeming to have given much thought, or sweat, to how the material is arranged and presented, which is either relatively faithful to the original, a half-baked version of what they promised would be radical reinterpretations, or (in most cases) either Rabin or Wakeman adding their personal stamp to material which would require something more faithful to the original (Wakeman emulating Kaye and/or Rabin emulating Howe), but egos and/or laziness ensured that this didn't happen.

In contrast, the "official Yes" have an almost scholarly approach to their performances of what is viewed as "repertoire music". Downes for instance isn't trying to change Kaye's or Wakeman's parts to fit his own style, but reproduces the original arrangement to the best of his ability. It doesn't quite always work as Wakeman arguably has more chops and a few notes here and there are fluffed or missing. Davison is there to imitate his Anderson namesake rather than attempting to make the songs his own. Sherwood is paying tribute to Chris Squire and doing a fine job of it (although not using the actual basses used on the originals). White... Well, whatever he says I don't see him lasting much longer and I think there's a future of Shellen in the band. Lastly, Howe is trying his best, and occasionally struggling, to deliver his own parts as faithfully as possible. The overall impression is one of a band doing their best to do the material justice, which I commend them for.

Obviously, ARW have Anderson - the one remaining original member still alive and gigging, which is irreplaceable. In Wakeman they have an important, and famous, member of the "classic" band. In Rabin they have the legitimacy to cover an sizeable additional chunk of their repertoire, including their commercial peak. Musically, however, my feeling is that they're not working hard enough. A set with few surprises, none of the initially promised new material and a number of "WTF?" moments throughout the set.

Official Yes have Steve Howe, a guitarist with his own unique, if somewhat dated, style (which is something I wouldn't say about Rabin, who to me is of a certain school of guitarists of which there are plenty and more easily replaceable), equal claim as Anderson to the best Yes repertoire. Where they pale in comparison to ARW is that whereas ARW have 3 major members with sufficient playing abilities to perform the material they helped created, this can't be said of the rest of Official Yes, who are either a shadow of their former selves (White), people who didn't play on any of the Top 5 classics (Downes), or replacements.

This being said, and to my own surprise, I'd still rate Official Yes as the superior musical experience - although of course neither remotely compares to the band at their peak ca. 1972-76.

Very well said. This is about the best assessment of the current situation I have read. Like you, I was somewhat disappointed that there weren't more radical reworkings of the music. I'm generally not the biggest Rabin fan, but I loved his Jacaranda album and was hoping that he would bring some of that creativity to Yes. I was glad he didn't infuse the Howe material with '80s shredding, like he did on the Union tour, but I was surprised at how subdued he was and how little individuality he brought to the music. Perhaps they suffer from the underrehearsal and laziness that seem to plague the Yes camp the last few years.

I totally agree also with the assessment of Official Yes. Sherwood does a good job of replicating Squire's parts, Howe (for the most part) ably reproduces his original parts, and Downes does his best to approximate Kaye and Wakeman while adding his own (better) sounds, although I don't know how he'll deal with Sound Chaser. I was glad to hear them with Schellen last time, as White has been simplifying his parts since the early 2000s and, in recent years, sounds like he's struggling just to keep time. The RRHoF performance of "Owner" was just plain painful. The ARW guys, like you said, are much better equipped technically to perform the repertoire. While I enjoyed the Official Yes show I attended, though, I have to say that ARW "felt" more like a Yes show, I guess largely due to the presence of Anderson. It is a shame that there has been so much bad blood between these guys that they can't put aside differences for the 50th anniversary, but I suppose it can't be helped. You would think that someone who smokes as much weed as Howe allegedly does would have a more pleasant disposition.

[Paulrus]

I doubt we'll ever see an ARW album. Maybe a track or two.

Wasn't it Anderson who was cool to the whole idea of putting out albums after Magnification's lack of success, which then contributed to the schism between himself and Steve and Chris in 2004? And I can't quite recall (Henry?) but wasn't he at the time talking about all these alternative ideas for putting out new music, like operas and one-off concerts? I guess this is his chance to put all those idea(r)s into practice.

[bondegezou]

For me the respective attitudes of Anderson/Wakeman v/s Howe during their Hall of Fame speeches were a good encapsulation of what they're about. Anderson and Wakeman seemed "in the moment", happy to be there and saying, in Anderson's case, whatever came through his mind, and in Wakeman's, what amounts to a not particularly tasteful (to put it mildly) stand-up comedian's routine; Howe had a carefully written speech which contained profound statements about how he viewed his art, but reading from a paper as he did felt a little awkward amid the spontaneity of the other two.

Similarly, it seems to me the "Yes feat. ARW" faction approach live performance with enthusiasm and camaraderie but with a few exceptions ("Heart Of The Sunrise" being one), not seeming to have given much thought, or sweat, to how the material is arranged and presented, which is either relatively faithful to the original, a half-baked version of what they promised would be radical reinterpretations, or (in most cases) either Rabin or Wakeman adding their personal stamp to material which would require something more faithful to the original (Wakeman emulating Kaye and/or Rabin emulating Howe), but egos and/or laziness ensured that this didn't happen.

In contrast, the "official Yes" have an almost scholarly approach to their performances of what is viewed as "repertoire music". Downes for instance isn't trying to change Kaye's or Wakeman's parts to fit his own style, but reproduces the original arrangement to the best of his ability. It doesn't quite always work as Wakeman arguably has more chops and a few notes here and there are fluffed or missing. Davison is there to imitate his Anderson namesake rather than attempting to make the songs his own. Sherwood is paying tribute to Chris Squire and doing a fine job of it (although not using the actual basses used on the originals). White... Well, whatever he says I don't see him lasting much longer and I think there's a future of Shellen in the band. Lastly, Howe is trying his best, and occasionally struggling, to deliver his own parts as faithfully as possible. The overall impression is one of a band doing their best to do the material justice, which I commend them for.

Obviously, ARW have Anderson - the one remaining original member still alive and gigging, which is irreplaceable. In Wakeman they have an important, and famous, member of the "classic" band. In Rabin they have the legitimacy to cover an sizeable additional chunk of their repertoire, including their commercial peak. Musically, however, my feeling is that they're not working hard enough. A set with few surprises, none of the initially promised new material and a number of "WTF?" moments throughout the set.

Official Yes have Steve Howe, a guitarist with his own unique, if somewhat dated, style (which is something I wouldn't say about Rabin, who to me is of a certain school of guitarists of which there are plenty and more easily replaceable), equal claim as Anderson to the best Yes repertoire. Where they pale in comparison to ARW is that whereas ARW have 3 major members with sufficient playing abilities to perform the material they helped created, this can't be said of the rest of Official Yes, who are either a shadow of their former selves (White), people who didn't play on any of the Top 5 classics (Downes), or replacements.

This being said, and to my own surprise, I'd still rate Official Yes as the superior musical experience - although of course neither remotely compares to the band at their peak ca. 1972-76.

I agree with most of that, and I love the metaphor of their acceptance speeches for how they approach the music.

So, some caveats, nuances and questions... Will continuity Yes's more artistic approach to the back catalogue be their hidden trump card? If ARW stick to the same set list this summer (as I suspect they will), while Yes are doing one song from each album through to Drama -- or if ARW stick with the same approach even on a refreshed set list next year, while Yes are doing Relayer and Tales -- will Yes win more plaudits and fan attention? Or do mass audiences want ARW's greatest hits approach and not want to sit through "To be Over"? ARW also remain hamstrung, I think, by the mismatch between the Wakeman years and the Rabin years.

How important is new music? It's not a priority for either band, as not for most of their peers: they know audiences want the old songs. But it can influence perception. I suspect Anderson and Wakeman would readily blunder through a half-baked album (because they already did with The Living Tree -- b'dum tish!), but will Rabin's perfectionism hone a great album? Howe has been sceptical about recording new Yes material, but the official band are inching towards an album too... but will it be any good?

As I've said before, the game-changer is whether we see any changes in the core personnel, through ill health or through disinterest. Wakeman's track record on leaving Yeses is well known. Some think Rabin has fully signed up to this new direction in his career; some think he will be tempted back by film scores. You discuss White: we'll have to see what happens. Any of the Hall inductees are old enough that something terrible could happen any time, even without taking into account their known past health problems.

In the short term, I suspect both bands will just go on doing what they do. People will get confused which one they're seeing, but they'll both sell well enough to be viable.

Henry

[Scott Bails]

So, some caveats, nuances and questions... Will continuity Yes's more artistic approach to the back catalogue be their hidden trump card? If ARW stick to the same set list this summer (as I suspect they will), while Yes are doing one song from each album through to Drama -- or if ARW stick with the same approach even on a refreshed set list next year, while Yes are doing Relayer and Tales -- will Yes win more plaudits and fan attention? Or do mass audiences want ARW's greatest hits approach and not want to sit through "To be Over"?

ARW will win more plaudits and fan attention because Jon Anderson is our Lord and Savior and can do no wrong.

[Sunlight Caller]

In the short term, I suspect both bands will just go on doing what they do. People will get confused which one they're seeing, but they'll both sell well enough to be viable.


I suspect you are spot on Henry, it will keep going for a few years yet. I really think it is more about pension planning than art at this point in time, and some band members need this more than others. They have an extensive repertoire that they can slice and dice in many ways to keep the casual fan in attendance, and nostalgia will keep the punters coming for a period of time, probably as longs as the core band members are fit and able to keep slogging around the halls.

When you consider the Hammersmith show we both recently saw, there were a handful of PE posters in attendance, the vast majority are just classic rock / Yes fans who want an evening out. They will mostly show up for whoever carries the name in their banner advertising, which is why ARW have rebranded. I take friends along to many of the Yes gigs, they have loved the music for decades, but none of them really have an album this side of 90125, they just like a night out in the presence of (some of) their heroes, hearing the tunes they grew up with.

[progman1975]

ARW are charging $650 for meet n greet...they can shove that up their asses...lol

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[bondegezou]

Wasn't it Anderson who was cool to the whole idea of putting out albums after Magnification's lack of success, which then contributed to the schism between himself and Steve and Chris in 2004? And I can't quite recall (Henry?) but wasn't he at the time talking about all these alternative ideas for putting out new music, like operas and one-off concerts? I guess this is his chance to put all those idea(r)s into practice.

Anderson, as others, was unhappy with how Magnification sold. His response was twofold: a greater focus on live work, and releasing new music in other forms. That desire for more touring soon dissipated as it took a toll on his health and ability to sing, although he -- and more Wakeman -- mooted other approaches to live work, like more one-off special event concerts or residencies in one place over several days. Despite saying all that, YfARW is touring now in an utterly conventional way.

Anderson has talked of various alternatives to doing an album:

- playing new music live and then including it on live releases: he's done this with some of his own material, although ARW have now said no to doing that. Although Wakeman has previously also talked about moving to live DVDs as the best way to respond to collapsing album sales and online piracy.
- releasing pieces one by one digitally: again, Anderson has done this with his own material and he's repeatedly said this is what ARW will do. Initially, Rabin seemed to be sticking with a traditional album model, but the last interview he did endorsed this model, with the material collated on a traditional album eventually.
- releasing music through an app: I'm unconvinced Anderson has any idea what he's talking about here. Some of what he says seems close to his other comments, like how we're evolving to not need 3D glasses to watch 3D movies, but I think there could be a viable model here.
- crowdsourced funding: see the Anderson Ponty example, and how well that went.

Best estimate, ARW are going to do some prior digital releases and then an album, so not too unorthodox. Fans will complain about having to buy things twice, but will do it anyway.

The other idea(r) Anderson has talked about, which Aymeric alluded to, is a new approach to the live set with radical reinterpretations that takes you on a grand musical journey, segueing between bits of old music and new material. He talked about this before ARW's tour, before the Anderson Ponty tour and before. I think we get a glimpse of what he meant in how Yes did "Mind Drive" in 2004, and maybe also on Invention of Knowledge and "Open". I am convinced that Anderson has the idea in his head of how this would work, but he hasn't found collaborators who are able to deliver this &/or want to &/or are able to and want to within the amount of time made available for rehearsals.

Henry

[calyx]

Thanks Henry, that's one aspect I didn't cover - the question mark of whether ARW will change/improve their repertoire over successive tours, v/s Official Yes presenting almost completely different setlists each time they tour a territory - last couple of times I saw them, they had The Yes Album / Close To The Edge / Going For The One, the next Fragile / Drama, 2018 hopefully Tales / Relayer, which is incredible variation in setlist and undeniably a strong point in favour of Official Yes.

Now as you say let's wait and see what ARW do in the future.

[bondegezou]

I suspect you are spot on Henry, it will keep going for a few years yet. I really think it is more about pension planning than art at this point in time, and some band members need this more than others. They have an extensive repertoire that they can slice and dice in many ways to keep the casual fan in attendance, and nostalgia will keep the punters coming for a period of time, probably as longs as the core band members are fit and able to keep slogging around the halls.

When you consider the Hammersmith show we both recently saw, there were a handful of PE posters in attendance, the vast majority are just classic rock / Yes fans who want an evening out. They will mostly show up for whoever carries the name in their banner advertising, which is why ARW have rebranded. I take friends along to many of the Yes gigs, they have loved the music for decades, but none of them really have an album this side of 90125, they just like a night out in the presence of (some of) their heroes, hearing the tunes they grew up with.

Yeah, I think that is largely true. Any half-credible band with the Yes name or some approximation thereof can make a decent living touring the greatest hits, over and over and over.

Although I don't think this is just about pension planning. I think all the players in Yes and YfARW are driven by artistic ideals, to some degree or another. And this isn't just about money for Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman: this is also about wanting to claim their legacy, to be Yes and, indeed, to stop the other side being Yes. (I wouldn't underestimate the animosity there.)

But it is also about money, and it's about money for Lane and Magid, who may be making many of the decisions.

Henry

[IncogNeato]

Perhaps Yes will end up like TSO...different touring versions of the same band. :cool

[bondegezou]

Wasn't it Anderson who was cool to the whole idea of putting out albums after Magnification's lack of success, which then contributed to the schism between himself and Steve and Chris in 2004?

PS: I guess that the schism in 2003 (it began going bad before 2004) was perhaps as much about personalities as it was about music.

Bands argue about money, girlfriends and drugs: they just pretend it was "musical differences". There's this narrative that Yes ruthlessly kept replacing members with better musicians in the run up to Fragile, but I think that was a byproduct of dumping Banks, because he was difficult, and Kaye, because he was partying too hard.

Henry

[Paulrus]

it's about money for Lane and Magid

This should be a tagline under the ARW logo in all of their marketing materials.

[helix]

This should be a tagline under the ARW logo in all of their marketing materials.





'YES' featuring ARWL&M