and here’s the Official Press Release from September 10th:
STEVE HOWE, CHRIS SQUIRE AND ALAN WHITE OF GROUNDBREAKING ROCK GROUP YES
UNITE FOR “IN THE PRESENT” U.S. TOUR
Members will be joined by Oliver Wakeman on keyboards and vocalist Benoit David to perform the group’s classic repertoire in live spectacular
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10, 2008—Albums like Fragile, Close to the Edge Tales from Topographic Oceans and 90125 and singles such as “Roundabout,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “I’ve Seen All Good People” are just some of the enduring classics that have made YES one of the most influential and groundbreaking groups in rock & roll. Now, the classic YES line-up of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White will launch the “In The Present” tour starting November 4th in Hamilton, Ontario, marking yet another chapter in the art-rockers’ amazing, 40-year career of legendary live performances. The three will be joined by keyboardist Oliver Wakeman, the son of YES’ Rick Wakeman, and vocalist Benoit David, a Montreal, Quebec, native and vocalist in several YES tribute groups, who was discovered by the band on the Internet.
With a remarkable 40-year career that has time and again redefined the boundaries of rock, YES was formed in 1968 by Chris Squire and Jon Anderson, who shared a mutual interest in vocal harmonies and classical music. With drummer Bill Bruford, guitarist Peter Banks and keyboardist Tony Kaye, they became YES, earning a residency at the famed London venue The Marquee Club, where they played with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, releasing their self-titled debut album in July 1969.
Guitarist Steve Howe, who went on to play in the popular prog-rock groups Asia and GTR and continues releasing acclaimed solo albums and touring, brought an experimental cutting edge to YES for their 1970’s The Yes Album, their first number one album in the UK. Drummer Alan White, who had been hand-picked to play on John Lennon’s Imagine and George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, came aboard in 1972. YES then went on to conquer America and played at some of the largest paid attendance concerts of all time including the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in 1976 to a crowd of over 130,000 people.
YES postponed plans for a 40th anniversary Close to the Edge and Back tour in June, when vocalist Jon Anderson suffered a severe asthma attack and was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure. Commented Squire: “This isn’t an attempt to replace Jon Anderson, because as we all know, that would be impossible. With Benoit, we are bringing in a talented singer so that we can go out and honor the music of YES for the fans who have waited for the past four years to see us perform.”
A dominant force in rock music for more than four decades, YES has created some of rock’s most enduring and compelling hits, selling more than 30 million albums worldwide. The group has defined music history with their dynamic instrumental contrasts and abstract lyrics. Their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical styles continues to make them the most successful progressive rock band in history and their amazing career continues to defy many of their rock counterparts.
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Here is the press release regarding the tour cancellation:
NEW YORK, NY, JUNE 4, 2008 - Legendary rock band Yes announced today
that the group will unfortunately be canceling their 2008 40th
Anniversary Tour. The 26-city tour was scheduled to kick off in
Quebec next month and run through the summer.
Said Jon Anderson, In the wake of my recent respiratory attack,
doctors have advised me to spend the coming months resting and
recovering. Unfortunately, this means I won’t be able to tour with
Yes this summer as originally planned. I’d like everyone know how
deeply disappointed I am by this turn of events. I was looking
forward to celebrating our music with the amazing family of Yes fans
once again; but as we all know, health must come before anything
else. Wishing you all the very best…
Said Chris Squire, We were all looking forward to performing for our
fans after a prolonged leave of absence from touring. I am especially
regretful of the fact that I know many of our fans and friends have
probably laid out non-refundable airfares and hotels, etc. in order
to enjoy the Yes shows this summer. Please join me in wishing Jon a
speedy return to health, which at this point in time is our main
concern.
Yes frontman and founding member Jon Anderson was admitted to the
hospital last month after suffering a severe asthma attack. He has
now been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and was told by
doctors this weekend that he needs to rest and not work for a period
of at least six months or suffer further health complications. Upon
receiving this news the band has determined that their tour plans
need to be put on hold.
Ticket refunds will be available at the point of purchase.
“The first progressive rock artists exploded out of England during the period from 1966-1970. In this era, such groups as Pink Floyd, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Genesis appeared. During this fertile time, rock guitar technique took a quantum leap forward, seeing such players as Yes’ Steve Howe and King Crimson’s Robert Fripp eschewing the blues-based Hendrix/Clapton approach and instead inventing very novel ways of playing that were often as cerebral as they were visceral.”
The article continues to go through the history of Prog Rock Guitar, including Steve Howe, Greg Lake, Steve Hackett, Robert Fripp, David Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, and Martin Barre.
“Throughout much of last year, e-mails and phone calls were held between Jon, Chris, Steve, Alan and myself as to where we all felt the future for YES lay, and of course, there were conflicting views in many areas! (Nothing new there, but very healthy of course). My major concern was that of over-touring, which I felt YES had done since 2002 with far too many shows, especially in America which for me diminished the “specialness” of the band. I also was concerned for the health of the band, both as a whole and as individuals. It’s a matter of public record for instance, that Jon in particular really suffered during the last weeks of the previous YES tour which was extremely worrying for us all.
Over the years, I have had my fair share of “narrow escapes” when it comes to health and I felt that I simply could not do months and months of touring each year anymore and I expressed this to the other guys from the outset. I’m absolutely fine at the moment, but want to stay that way, so I suggested to the new management that we perhaps limited the shows we would do and make each show something special, but this was rejected with the management feeling that lengthy touring was the answer for the band.
It was therefore with an extremely heavy heart that I had to say to the guys that I could not be part of a massive long term touring schedule as I did not feel it right for the band musically and also for the band member’s health. We are a democratic band and I accept that I was a sole voice in this thinking.
Chris and I met up a few times and spoke about who I felt would be able to do a good job in the keyboard department and I put forward just two names, my two eldest sons Adam and Oliver. Adam, to be truthful, was not really a “contender” because he is fully committed to Ozzy and is touring constantly. Oliver has worked with Steve of course on various recordings and so there was already a rapport there. I was therefore very happy when Oliver told me that Steve had called him.
I am sad of course not to be walking on stage with the guys on the upcoming tour, but like each member of YES, I have developed a deep inner spiritual feeling that takes over your whole life, and sadly witnessing too many friends around my age, (both musicians and people connected with the business), either departing this world or having serious illness, has played an enormous part in the very difficult decision I had to make.
I truly hope that this is not the end of the Classic Line-Up and that something very special may happen in the not too distant future. In the meantime, I wish the guys, good health, great music and much happiness.”
While on vacation on Hutchinson Island in Florida, one of the ways we relaxed and chilled out was by listening to one of Steve Hackett’s classical albums, Metamorpheus.Released: 28th March 2005
‘Metamorpheus’ is the natural successor to Steve’s previous orchestral album, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The album is a musical expression of the legend of Orpheus and his passage through the Underworld, combining nylon guitar with orchestra, seamlessly linking the small and large musical forces.
“A subject as broad and far reaching as life and death is a challenging one for any artist, in any medium,
and the story of Orpheus is exactly that; an examination of the themes of life and death asking the eternal questions
“Why are we here”? And “Why do we have to die”? This album contemplates those questions and
the Orpheus story itself in a broad canvas of musical vignettes.”
“Steve set himself no easy task with this album. Contemplating the eternal verities, even if through
the extended metaphor of myth, is no easy task. He brings no answers to the table, for there are none.
The answers to the questions asked here are for each of us to find for ourselves in our own lives.
What you do have here, however, is an artist who is prepared to ask those questions, and present those
questions and observations in a musical way, which will set the listener to thinking about them themselves.
Can any work of art truly reflect life? I don’t honestly know, but there is more of life in this album than
can be easily described - bravo maestro!”
Steve Hackett has earned the reputation of being one of Britain’s finest composers and guitarists.
He joined Genesis in 1970 and his complex and distinctive playing contributed heavily to their early success,
developing an elegance and sophistication which have become his trademark. Steve has since achieved consistent
solo success internationally and, uniquely amongst rock players, has discovered an equal talent for composing
for the classical guitar.
Steve tours with both electric and acoustic set ups.
You can go to Amazon, listen to audio clips, and purchase this amazing CD by clicking on this link for Steve Hackett = Metamorpheus
Asia is pleased to announce that they have committed to an April 2008 tour of America. They plan to re-visit some venues while adding new venues and territories to their itinerary. In this internet age, there may well be individual venue leaks in advance of the full official itinerary. Please keep in mind that no dates are considered official until the band confirms them here on their official website.
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