Yes News and Information
Posted 6/18/2009
Yes is touring this spring and summer on their "Close to the Edge and Back” tour at a variety of venues throughout the country. They are celebrating their 40th anniversary.
Yes was an English progressive rock band that came into the scene in the late 1960s, marked by the dynamic contrasts in their music and long instrumental breaks for artists to showcase their talents.
The group was formed by singer Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire in 1968, and the rest of the members developed and was soon opening for legendary acts such as Cream. Their self-titled debut in 1969 put the band on the map as and up-and-coming optimistic rock outfit.
A 30-piece orchestra accompanied the band for their next effort, "Time and a Word,” showing their desire to push the envelope in the rock industry. The bands sound in the 1970s their classic sound. Longer tracks full of complex arrangements, dramatic changes in styles mid-song and stream-of-consciousness lyrics became the sound of Yes.
Over the next decade and a half, the band released seven platinum albums, including "Fragile” in 1971 that sold over two million copies and "90125,” which sold over three million.
The band went through a number of lineup changes, and even a break up - but they remained relevant through the 1990s, including "Union,” "Talk” and most recently "Magnification” in 2001.
The tour will feature Anderson, Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White, as well as Oliver Wakeman to replace his father, Rick, who decided not to tour for health reasons.