Driving around the UK last year we pulled over for a potty break. I opened up the Maps program and, there, easily visible, was Yes Tor.
No tomatoes, alas.
Going-For-The(ir)-One tour in Cologne we met. Once it was, I think around 1978-79 some time. I'd bought the hash for my friends & me, named Black Afghan. It was the stronger "chewing-gum" type, and it went straight into the blue cloud in front of the stage, which we were right in front of as teenagers.
Donovan opened the act with "Mellow Yellow", complaining about Mr. "Allah Rick Wakeman" and we never understood why, assuming it was because he was being served less promptly at the hotel bar.
All was good. *
I miss Yes and their musicianship. How their songs were never formulaic as no two were ever alike. Interesting time signatures, beat changes and how one song could morph into another and go on tangents and eventually come back to the central theme. Their songs were long but they packed them with so much interesting content that they never really felt too long (with the exception of Tales from Topographical Oceans). They obviously became more commercial on their 90125 & Big Generator releases. Plenty to like there but I still like their older stuff better.
I loved studying Roger Dean's wild seascapes? airscapes? pictured on the Yes ablbum covers. Half the fun of a new Yes release was getting lost in the cover while listening to Yes provide the soundtrack to the art.
Going-For-The(ir)-One tour in Cologne we met. Once it was, I think around 1978-79 some time. I'd bought the hash for my friends & me, named Black Afghan. It was the stronger "chewing-gum" type, and it went straight into the blue cloud in front of the stage, which we were right in front of as teenagers.
Donovan opened the act with "Mellow Yellow", complaining about Mr. "Allah Rick Wakeman" and we never understood why, assuming it was because he was being served less promptly at the hotel bar.
buddy when would that have been? When Jon first split with the band?
In any event I saw Jon recently as well with his new backing band and he sang great and the band performed the songs very well. The only Yes song that fell flat was "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and probably because those interesting sounds that the song incorporates just didn't sound that great in that particular live rendition. My only criticism with the performance was that they played too many songs from an album he recently put out with his new band. That is to be expected but they obviously don't hold up as well as the "Yes" catalog and sound like watered down unreleased Yes songs. They also played "Awaken" which is a deep Yes cut by most standards and I would have rather heard another stronger song from their back catalog. I was secretly hoping that he would do "America" the Simon and Garfunkel song but no such luck.
I would absolutely see him/them again.
A shame that he and the rest of the band can't reconcile their differences. I went to see Jon because (even though he is the only member of the band performing in that group) he is the heart of the band and I would rather see a Yes incarnation with him in it than a band without him.
I also saw them back in the day when they toured "in-the-round" (circular stage set up roughly in the middle of an arena on a slowly rotating platform) and if my memory serves correct, I think it was with a two drummer (Bruford, White) configuration? But my memory may be off.
Yes is a big part of my musical history and will always remain so.
If memory serves me right it would have been around 1979. But I could be off. Too lazy to look it up.
That would be the Union tour with every-freaking-one on stage. Bruford/White, Rabin/Howe, Anderson, Squire, Wakeman/Kaye. A video below. Too much noise, but an opportunity like no other time. Imagine the contracts and logistics to get them all touring together...
The new Jon Anderson album is prime Yes. With some nods to Squire and even to UK (an opening chord to remind you of Mental Medication/Holdsworth). Strong strong work.
I also saw them back in the day when they toured "in-the-round" (circular stage set up roughly in the middle of an arena on a slowly rotating platform) and if my memory serves correct, I think it was with a two drummer (Bruford, White) configuration? But my memory may be off.
That would be the Union tour with every-freaking-one on stage. Bruford/White, Rabin/Howe, Anderson, Squire, Wakeman/Kaye. A video below. Too much noise, but an opportunity like no other time. Imagine the contracts and logistics to get them all touring together...
The new Jon Anderson album is prime Yes. With some nods to Squire and even to UK (an opening chord to remind you of Mental Medication/Holdsworth). Strong strong work.
Maybe, but I seem to remember it when their incarnation was with The Buggles in the band (Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes). I think I may have seen that tour in Amarillo of all places. A disappointing show without Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman. But I could be mistaken.
buddy when would that have been? When Jon first split with the band?
In any event I saw Jon recently as well with his new backing band and he sang great and the band performed the songs very well. The only Yes song that fell flat was "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and probably because those interesting sounds that the song incorporates just didn't sound that great in that particular live rendition. My only criticism with the performance was that they played too many songs from an album he recently put out with his new band. That is to be expected but they obviously don't hold up as well as the "Yes" catalog and sound like watered down unreleased Yes songs. They also played "Awaken" which is a deep Yes cut by most standards and I would have rather heard another stronger song from their back catalog. I was secretly hoping that he would do "America" the Simon and Garfunkel song but no such luck.
I would absolutely see him/them again.
A shame that he and the rest of the band can't reconcile their differences. I went to see Jon because (even though he is the only member of the band performing in that group) he is the heart of the band and I would rather see a Yes incarnation with him in it than a band without him.
I also saw them back in the day when they toured "in-the-round" (circular stage set up roughly in the middle of an arena on a slowly rotating platform) and if my memory serves correct, I think it was with a two drummer (Bruford, White) configuration? But my memory may be off.
Yes is a big part of my musical history and will always remain so.
What was the tour with the round stage in middle of the arena. 90125? That was the only other time I had the privilege.
Maybe, but I seem to remember it when their incarnation was with The Buggles in the band (Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes). I think I may have seen that tour in Amarillo of all places. A disappointing show without Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman. But I could be mistaken.
Also the Union tour. A magical moment in the middle of And You and I when the overhead lighting opened up like a flower over them. ALL of them.
Going For The One was out around the time I was in Germany and a lady MP I was friendly with was enthralled with it so you know...um. Basically we both loved it.
Anyway I didn't get arrested but I tried...
What was the tour with the round stage in middle of the arena. 90125? That was the only other time I had the privilege.
Also the Union tour. A magical moment in the middle of And You and I when the overhead lighting opened up like a flower over them. ALL of them.
it's at 3:25
Seen Yes in various incarnations many times, but my friend Greg knew the promoter and we got right up front for the last show of the Going for the One tour (Donovan opening!!!!) and afterwards he snuck me into the after party. I missed the part with Wakeman wearing underwear on his head, but did walk up to Rick and Chris while they were talking and having a beer. I stuck out my hand to shake Rick's and he wouldn't let his beer go, so gave me his 4th/5th fingers to shake. Awesome. Haven't washed my hand since. And, since I spoke to Chris, I haven't brushed my teeth.
Better get that checked. lol
Funny how events way back there seem almost a dream, I often ask myself if that was really me there in my memories. Me and time have always had a toxic relationship. lol
Seen Yes in various incarnations many times, but my friend Greg knew the promoter and we got right up front for the last show of the Going for the One tour (Donovan opening!!!!) and afterwards he snuck me into the after party. I missed the part with Wakeman wearing underwear on his head, but did walk up to Rick and Chris while they were talking and having a beer. I stuck out my hand to shake Rick's and he wouldn't let his beer go, so gave me his 4th/5th fingers to shake. Awesome. Haven't washed my hand since. And, since I spoke to Chris, I haven't brushed my teeth.
As a YEShead since '72 and Close to the Edge concert; this is a real gem. Back then he was a tall, skinny dude wearing a cape, his face blurred by dry ice fog. Heartwarming to even see these guys again.
I saw them on the same tour and that's exactly the way I remember it. That Chris Squire bass at the beginning of "And You And I" blew me away live.
As a YEShead since '72 and Close to the Edge concert; this is a real gem. Back then he was a tall, skinny dude wearing a cape, his face blurred by dry ice fog. Heartwarming to even see these guys again.
WOW! 
