Yes Artistfacts

Yes song list

Yes Artistfacts

1968-
Jon AndersonVocals1968-1980, 1983-1990, 1994-2008
Chris SquireBass, vocals1968-1980, 1983-2015
Tony KayeKeyboards1968-1971, 1983-1994
Peter BanksGuitar1968-1970
Bill BrufordDrums1968-1972
Steve HoweGuitar, vocals1970-1980, 1991-
Rick WakemanKeyboards1971-1974, 1976-1980, 2002-2004
Alan WhiteDrums1972-1980, 1983-2022
Patrick MorazKeyboards1974-1976
Geoff DownesKeyboards1980-
Trevor HornVocals, bass1980-1981, 2008
Trevor RabinGuitar, vocals1983-1995
Billy SherwoodVarious1997-
Igor KhoroshevKeyboards1997-2000
Jon DavisonVocals2012-
Yes got a lot of exposure opening for Cream at their farewell concert and by appearing on John Peel's BBC program Top Gear.
From 1981-1982, they took a hiatus to work on solo projects. When they came back, they returned with 90125, which veered away from their prog sound but became their best-selling album. It also got them on MTV.
Trevor Horn and Geoffrey Downes, who both joined the band in 1980, were members of the Buggles, whose song "Video Killed The Radio Star" was the first video played on MTV.
In 1989, Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe released an album under the name Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe. Due to legal issues, they weren't allowed to call themselves Yes. >>
Suggestion credit:
Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington, for all above
Howe and Downes were both in the supergroup Asia, which had hits with "Only Time Will Tell" and "Heat of the Moment."
Yes holds the record for the most performances at New York City's Madison Square Garden during the 1970s. >>
Suggestion credit:
Chester - St.Catharines, Canada
Founder member Peter Banks played with Yes for their first two albums, 1969's Yes and 1970's Time And The Word, but a disagreement about the direction of the band led to his dismissal before the release of the second LP. Banks was found dead in his London home on March 8, 2013 due to heart failure. He was reportedly discovered after failing to show up for a recording session.
The band's name came from their first guitarist Peter Banks, who suggested it because it was "short and sweet." >>
Suggestion credit:
Patrick - Des Moines, IA
Prior to Jon Anderson rejoining Yes for the recording of 90125, the other bandmembers Chris Squire, Alan White, Tony Kaye, and newcomer Trevor Rabin had formed as a new group and called themselves Cinema. This lineup is also known by Yes fans as Yes West, because their recordings were held in Los Angeles. >>
Suggestion credit:
Randy - Colerain Twp., OH
One of their first gigs was opening for Cream at their Farewell Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1968. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
Rick Wakeman has left and rejoined Yes six times. He told Kerrang!: "Somebody once said Yes and myself were like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor: couldn't live with each other, but couldn't live without each other. And I said, 'That's absolutely fine – as long as I'm Richard Burton.'"
In 2008, the group replaced Jon Anderson, who was dealing with health issues, with Benoît David, a Canadian singer who was once part of a Yes tribute band. Two years later, Anderson teamed up with Rabin and Wakeman to form Anderson Rabin Wakeman (ARW), which later used the name Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman.

So ever since 2010, there have been two versions of the group, each with a claim to the name and lineage. They came together when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, but diverged again after the ceremony. The version of the group led by Howe and White use the name Yes, along with the logos.
During a quiet section at a Yes gig in 1973, Rick Wakeman ducked behind his keyboard and tucked into a vindaloo that had been handed to him by a roadie.
Jon Anderson dreamed of playing for the Accrington Stanley soccer club as a child. "They were my life," he told Mojo magazine. "Just up from our house was Peel Park football ground, and every night a few of the local kids would kick a bowl around the car park. I played a lot against David Lloyd, who later became a famous cricketer."

"One time we started playing with some of the professionals, but I realized I could either be a football player or sing in a group," he continued. "Les Cocker, who'd played for Accrington Stanley and become the trainer for England, said to me one day, 'John, you're too small, you're going to get kicked here, there and everywhere.'"

And that's when Anderson decided to concentrate on music rather than football.
The actor Jack Wild - best known for playing the Artful Dodger in the 1968 film Oliver! - sold Rick Wakeman his first Minimoog synthesizer for just £30, even though new ones cost over £1,000 at the time. Wild bought the instrument but thought it was broken because it could only play one note at a time, not realizing it was a monophonic synth. "Jack said to my manager, 'It's no good to me if it only plays one note,'" Wakeman laughed to Mojo magazine. "'Tell Rick to keep it.'"

Comments: 26

Ed from FlSaw them in 72 on the Close to the Edge release tour. They played the whole album in order & then went on to play most of Fragile & The Yes Album. Played for 2 hours. No jumping around on stage,they just stood there & played. Incredible. Glad I grew up in the 70s.
The opening band came out with a banjo & played a catchy tune that Id never heard b4 . They played for 45 mins which turned out to be their first album. The music was good id just never heard them. Turned out to be the Eagles
Yes, Ed from Belleville, NjDefinitely by far a collection of some of the greatest musicians of their instruments. I saw them at Madison Square Garden in 1982 with the round stage in the center of the arena what an incredible show Wakeman and Anderson had left the band and they replace them with Jeff Downs and Trevor horn. As much as I thought Chris Squire was one of the best bass players in the world Alan White also on drums and certainly Steve Howe on guitar I also was extremely impressed by Jeff Downs all I was familiar with was his work on video killed the radio star but when I saw them live I actually thought he was better than Rick Wakeman and would put him up there with Keith Emerson I then saw Jeff downs with Asia when they were first starting out at the Capitol theater in Passaic New Jersey unbelievable lineup four fantastic musicians. Along with one of the most incredible voices I ever heard in rock and roll in regards to John Wetton unbelievable band both Yes and Asia.
Liam Tierney from Arizona Usa Where Mr Squire Passed Away From Leukemia Sadly like many Yes fan-atics I turned away from Drama. A terrible mistake on my part. It is one of their best adventures in sound.
David from Apex, NcNeed to update the band members list on this page. It is missing the last two vocalists, plus it doesn't show the return of Downes to the band.
Legacy User from Seattle, WaYes is my very favorite band ever. They bring such joy to listen to them. I saw them live in Seattle about 6 weeks ago, and they were great.
Michael from Charlotte, NcAnyone who has seen the circus that Chris Squire is presenting as yes, you have to say... Yep they sold out.
Ken from Powder Springs,Yes... one of the greatest (my personal favorite) bands of all time. Outside of my family, nothing gives the complete and pure joy that listening to Yes in concert (to this day) does.

For those of us who were teenagers in the early 70's there was the new innovation of FM radio. With that came FM music which was not "pop" but more album rock where you could here a bit of Yes.

I was introduced to Yes by my boss at the little store that I worked at in Montgomery Al. Guy and his girlfriend came down from South Bend IL, 1974. Very young, hip fellow. (Also introduced me to another new innovation called "compact cassette" tapes. Never thought they'd beat out 8-track...

Oh, and Steve Howe is the greatest guitarist of m generation. If you have a chance give a listen on youtube to the Yes remake of Simon & Garfunkel's "America". It's the old promo of a studio session where the boys (young 'uns, really) are having a rollicking good time. Howe does phenomenal work (much longer/better than studio or live versions). Ok, the video quality is atrocious and the audio is not a lot better, but you'll be glad you took the time.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Guy, where ever you are!!!
John from San Leandro , CaAs Steven, Conyers, of the United States said
" The problem is that 99.9% of radio stations dont want to play music that seems too DEEP. The average radio listener does not have the brain capacity to deal with real music. They want little cute tunes that they can sing in the car. So much good music never got air play. " That is so true. Taking all of Yes's music into account, there isn't an album they wrote that isn't good. You could listen to Yes everyday and once you knew every album/song...you'de figure out that Yes is good for every mood you could ever expieriance. I have everything they ever released including a Bootleg "Yes ~ In The Round. Yes is such an amazing Band that in my opinion, had never recieved what they deservr in recogition as being one of the best. No one has the angelic voice of Jon Anderson, or is as talented as Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman or Chris Squire and Bill Bruford. I'm soo sorry that Jon is ill at present, and hope with all my heart he'll be able to return to share more of his True God GIVEN TALENT with us all. Yes will forever hole the title as being the BEST PROG ROCK BANDS OF ALL TIME !!
Rod from Nottingham, EnglandRANDY, GTR HAD STEVE HOWE AND STEVE HACKETT EX GENESIS IN ITS LINE UP.
Randy from Colerain Twp., OhI vaguely remember Steve Howe being in a group called 'GTR'- which I believe released only one album. But does anyone else recall that group, and who else was in the band?
Scott from Philadelphia, Pasaw Yes in the "round" back in the 70's. i remember they had such an amazing sound! very complex music - rock with jazz and classical overtones. greta vocal harmonies. just saw jon anderson perform with "paul green's school of rock". the kids had all the licks down & rocked it! Having Jon Anderson there to sing very cool. it's easy to forget how difficult Yes's music is - now that we live in an age of studio samples and dubbed tracks.
Randy from Colerain Twp., OhIt is hard to establish when YES had the best lineup. Some say that the group was best when Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, and Alan White were the members. But I thought when 'Union' was released, the better songs were which Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe were performing, with Squire collaborating on backing vocals. I have recently heard that Steve Howe and Geoff Downes have reunited in order to reform ASIA. Will YES continue to perform with yet another lineup?
Mike from Long Island, NyYes is one of the greatest bands of all time, and is emptiomic of progressive rock. While it is true that they did sell out with albums like "90125", that lineup only lasted three albums. Their 2001 album, "Magnification", has Steve Howe, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, and Alan White, and the re-assembling of the classic lineup was complete when Rick Wakeman joined them for the album's tour. The album was the final step in the slow return to the "classic" Yes style following Howe's return in the late nineties, and the band's unfortunate interim years can be happily forgotten.
Greg from Oakville, CanadaYes is such an incredible band. Chris Squire is obviously one of the best bass players ever and has inspired me for my now 6 years of bass playing. Anyone who has started listening to Yes, listen to "Roundabout", "Heart of the Sunrise", "Siberian Khartu", "And You And I", "Long Distance Runaround/The Fish", "Starship Trooper", "Yours Is No Disgrace", "I've Seen All Good People", "Mood For A Day", and "South Side Of The Sky".
Derek from Monroe, CtIve actually heard Close to the Edge twice on the radio. Man, it was so cool, it really took me by surprise. I thought the only songs they had by Yes were Ive Seen All Good People or Owner of a Lonely Heart. But they would play long ones like Roundabout, Yours is No Disgrace, Starship Trooper, and And You and I on special occassions. Thank you Yes for your amazing 70's music and thanks WRKI 95.1FM "i-95" for playing them.
David from Broomall, PaI have heard all of Yes' 70's music (except for "Time and a Word")...I only know of their earlier music from the "Yesterdays" album, and I feel that there was an acceleration in creativity starting with "The Yes Album" (and I realize that their peak years may be considered to be from 1970-72)...also, I enjoy the crisp production of "The Yes Album"...thanks, Yes
William from Montreal, Canadawakeman is awsome in close to the edge!!!!! best yes song ever!!!!It's just sad you don't here it on the radio
Chris from Derwood, MdROUNDABOUT
Nick from Nyc, NyBest band ever!
Ken from Dupont, PaI'd have to go with Mood For A Day. Trust me, you don't want The Clap.
Cameron Mcintyre from Port Colborne, Canadayes did not get bad, they changed but stayed amazing. I was fortunate to have amazing seats at the YES 35th anniversary tour and was witness to the gods that yes really are. Even with a speaker breaking, Steve played the best live solo ever.(ps if anyone has pics from this concert send them to german_pride_worldwide@yahoo.com)
Cameron Mcintyre from Port Colborne, CanadaA quick question: What solo song is better, Mood For a Day, or The Clap? I really cant decide.
Jon from Victoria, CanadaYes didn't really sell out. Yes is only a name, and a band is only as good as the musicians that form it. "Yes" could keep putting albums out under that name all they want, but look at all the personnel changes over the years. Yes got bad because the good lineup only lasted a few years, that being the Close to the Edge lineup. another classic addition to the list of bands that would have gone down in history if only they had died in a firey plane crash at their peak. nothing personal yes....
Steven from Conyers, United StatesI would say that YES was only underrated because they got so little air play. And if they did it was always Roundabout or Ive seen all good people.
The problem is that 99.9% of radio stations dont want to play music that seems too DEEP. The average radio listener does not have the brain capacity to deal with real music. They want little cute tunes that they can sing in the car.
So much good music never got air play. King Crimson, Strawbs,ELP,Early Genesis etc.
Kevin from Danbury, CtThis band seems so underrated yet they had alot of fans in the 70s. These guys were one of the best.
Legacy User from Electric LadylandThis band was really good until they sold out

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