Yes T-ShirTS

Years of absence and the departure of keyboardist Rick Wakeman had done little to diminish fan interest in the reunion of the classic version of Yes back in 1997. At that time, the band sold out shows in New York and Philadelphia in a matter of minutes. Well, things haven’t changed so much, fans once again crazy for what Yes has to dish out with another global tour.

Why all the hoopla this year? Well you see, Yes has been at this for 35 long years of rock and rolling. 35 years is a freaking long time to maintain a collective creative endeavor, very few bands have been able to do it. So, in grand tradition, Yes took to the stage and launched their 35th Anniversary Tour.

Yes has been touring the planet and is about to embark in a North American Summer Tour with scheduled stops including Syracuse, NY; Denver, CO and Albuquerque, NM. The band is sure to carry over some of the design esthetic of their European tour, as their elaborate stage was designed by Roger Dean and took advantage of the open space of an arena stage. 


The classic line up of Yes is currently made up of longtime members: guitarist Steve Howe, vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist/vocalist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White. The on again, off again membership by Rick Wakeman is back on, as he takes to the keyboards.

YESWORLD
The band’s on stage performance is truly spectacular. Both visually and sonically they have been able to recapture what has made then great and simultaneously infusing it with a fresh take that is worth

“Yes Acoustic” is a brand new DVD featuring live performances that were recorded in front of a Los Angeles studio audience on January 26th, 2004. It originally appeared in the big screen when it was broadcast live via satellite to 21 Regal Cinema theatres across the USA. The DVD includes behind the scenes footage before the band went live on stage.


At 35 years and counting, Yes could qualify as progressive rock’s longest running drama and if you want to see the reality TV version of such then their new documentary, “Yesspeak” is not to be missed. Particularly entertaining is the band’s resident storyteller and jokester, Rick Wakeman.


Perhaps the most interesting and delightful element of the “Yesspeak” documentary is an aspect that is not directly Yes-related. Instead it is Who-related, as Who front man Roger Daltrey spins a jovial, metaphor laden narration over the entire Yes production.

Yes are an English progressive rock band that formed in London in 1968. Their music is marked by complex classically-influenced arrangements, unusual time signatures, virtuoso musicianship, dramatic dynamic and metrical changes, a blend of musical styles, and oblique lyrics. Despite the many changes to its lineup, the band has continued for nearly 40 years and retains a strong international following.

Yes played their first show at East Mersey Youth Camp in England on August 4, 1968. Soon after this, they opened for Cream at their 1968 Farewell Concert from Royal Albert Hall. Early on, influenced by bands like 1-2-3 (later Clouds)[2], the group earned a reputation for taking other people's songs and drastically changing them into expanded, progressive compositions. In September, they subbed for an absent Sly and The Family Stone at Blaise's and as a result of that appearance gained a residency at The Marquee club. Soon after, they made their second radio appearance on John Peel's programme (after previously having played the show as Mabel Greer's Toyshop) and, when Melody Maker columnist Tony Wilson selected them and Led Zeppelin as the two bands "Most Likely To Succeed" (as he states on the liner notes of the band's debut LP), it appeared that their future was assured.

Their eponymous debut album was released on July 25, 1969. The harmony vocals of Anderson and Squire were an immediate trademark of the Yes sound. The band's optimistic, vaguely futuristic outlook on the world was delivered with a combination of melody and virtuosity. Standout tracks were a jazzy take on The Byrds "I See You" and the album closer, "Survival", which displayed the band's vocal harmonies and deft song-construction. Notably, the album was given a favourable review by Lester Bangs in Rolling Stone magazine, which described the band as promising, the album displaying a "sense of style, taste and subtlety".[3]

In 1970, the band released their second album, this time accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra. Time and a Word featured mostly original compositions and two cover songs, Richie Havens's "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed", and "Everydays" by Stephen Stills, originally recorded by Buffalo Springfield. The reworking of Havens' song also included excerpts from the theme song of the movie The Big Country. Although musically exceptional in terms of melody delivery, the orchestra (and keyboardist Tony Kaye) overpowered Banks and much of the vocal work, leaving Time and a Word somewhat uneven. Before the album's release, guitarist Peter Banks was asked to leave and ex-Tomorrow guitarist Steve Howe was hired. Howe was included in the front cover photo of the American release despite not having played on the album.

from Wikipedia licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.