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 The popular music group Yes is a progressive rock band that formed in London in 1968. Despite many lineup changes, occasional splits and many changes in popular music, the band has endured for over 30 years and still retains a strong international following.
Membership overviewFounding members Jon Anderson and Chris Squire are often considered the core of the band since Squire has performed on all official Yes albums and Anderson has performed on all but one. Rick Wakeman, on the other hand, has joined and left the band at least four times. The following explains the different lineups of Yes. Keep in mind that Yes was split up in 1981 and 1982. Current Lineup
Original Members
Other Members
The "classic" lineupThe early 1970s Yes recordings are still considered the classic Yes sound by many fans. These albums feature complex classically-influenced arrangements, unusual time signatures, virtuoso musicianship, dramatic dynamic and metrical changes and oblique, stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Their repertoire often exceeded the standard three-minute pop-song structure with lengthy multi-part suites lasting 20 minutes or more. Vocal verses alternated with atmospheric instrumental interludes, frenetic ensemble passages and extended guitar, keyboard and bass improvisations. The most recognisable sonic features of this 'classic' period are Anderson's distinctive high-register lead vocals, their strong vocal harmonies, Wakeman and Howe's respective keyboard and guitar solos, Bruford's polyrhythmic drumming and the distinctive sound of Squire's Rickenbacker model 4001 stereo bass. Squire was one of the first rock bass players to successfully adapt electronic guitar effects such as tremolo, phasing and the wah-wah pedal to the instrument. The rhythm section of Squire and Bruford was considered by many to be one of the best in rock music at this time.  Their first two Yes LPs (recorded with the lineup of Anderson, Banks, Bruford, Kaye and Squire) mixed original material with covers of songs by their major influences, including The Beatles, The Byrds and Simon & Garfunkel. The departure of Peter Banks in 1970 and his replacement by ex-Tomorrow guitarist Steve Howe gave Yes a new edge. The group's emerging style coalesced on their next LP, the critically acclaimed The Yes Album, which for the first time consisted entirely of original compositions by the band; it was also the record that united them with long-serving producer and engineer Eddie Offord; his studio expertise was a key factor in creating the Yes sound. In 1971 original keyboard player Tony Kaye left to form his own group, Badger. He was replaced by classically trained Rick Wakeman, who had just left The Strawbs and was already a noted studio musician with credits including David Bowie and Lou Reed. As a soloist, Wakeman proved to be a perfect foil for Steve Howe. He also brought two vital new additions to the group's instrumentation -- the Mellotron and the Minimoog synthesiser. Surrounded by banks of keyboards, his flowing blonde hair and sequinned cape provided a strong visual focus on stage, although they later became the object of ridicule in some quarters. The first recording by this 'classic' lineup of the group (Anderson, Bruford, Howe, Squire and Wakeman) was a dynamic ten-minute interpretation of Paul Simon's America. It was both the end of one era -- their last non-original track -- and the beginning of another, showcasing all the elements of the new Yes sound in place. With Wakeman on board, Yes entered what some consider their most fertile and successful period, cutting two highly acclaimed LPs. Fragile (1971) went Top Ten in America, and Close to the Edge (1972) was also a huge seller. Yes enjoyed enormous commercial and critical success around the world and became one of the most popular concert attractions of the day. They also notably benefitted from the tremendous advances in live music technology that were taking place at that time, and they were renowned for the high quality of both their sound and lighting. Fragile also marked the beginning of a long collaboration with artist Roger Dean, who designed the group's logo and their album covers, as well as their light shows. Some consider the album Close to the Edge to be the high point of the whole progressive rock genre. Fans of this era commonly describe themselves as "Troopers", after the 3-part track "Starship Trooper" from The Yes Album. Shortly after the release of Close To The Edge, at the height of the band's success, Bill Bruford stunned fans with the news that he was quitting to join King Crimson; he was replaced by former Plastic Ono Band drummer Alan White who debuted on their next release, the three-record live collection Yessongs, recorded on their world tour in late 1972 and early 1973. Yessongs was a hugely ambitious project and undoubtedly a major gamble for their label, Atlantic Records. It was one of the first rock triple-album sets, featuring live versions of all-original material from the previous three studio albums. Presented in one of the most lavish album packages to date, Roger Dean's artwork spread across a triple gatefold cover, and continued the cosmic-organic design concepts of the two previous albums. The album was another best seller. Their next studio album, Tales from Topographic Oceans marked a sea change in the band's fortunes, polarising fans and critics alike. Although extended compositions were by now a Yes hallmark -- the title track of Close To The Edge took up the entire first side of that album -- the four tracks, each roughly 20 minutes long, that comprised the two-disc Topographic Oceans earned mixed reviews and left many feeling that the band was beginning to overreach itself. Rick Wakeman, in particular, was not pleased with the album and increasing interpersonal tensions between him and the rest of the band led Wakeman to quit at the end of the Tales tour. Perpetual changeWakeman was replaced by Swiss musician Patrick Moraz for Relayer in 1974. Again, the album boasted a side-long track, "The Gates of Delirium," from which the "Soon" section was put out as a limited single release. Following an extended tour through 1975-76, each member of the group released their own solo album. When Moraz left in 1976, the group commenced sessions for a new album without a keyboard player. After a considerable amount of persuasion on both sides, however, Rick Wakeman rejoined his old band on a "session musician" basis. He soon rejoined the band as permanent member when he heard the new material, which he liked much more than the band's two previous albums. Apart from the 15 minute track, "Awaken," the album Going for the One was mostly made up of shorter songs. The album, along with 1978's Tormato, was successful in spite of being released at the height of the punk rock era in Britain, by which time Yes were being held up by many adherents of punk and New Wave as epitomising the most bloated excesses of early 1970s progressive rock. Ironically, Yes outlasted almost all the groups of that era as well. In 1980, the band's career took a serious left turn, even by its own standards. Wakeman had again grown disenchanted with the band, but this time so had Jon Anderson, who was enjoying success out of the band in partnership with Vangelis. This left Squire, Howe and White to start sessions for a new album without a singer or a keyboard player. Meanwhile, Howe had heard an album called Age of Plastic by a band called The Buggles which contained the world-wide Number One hit, "Video Killed The Radio Star". Howe invited Buggles duo Geoffrey Downes (keyboards) and Trevor Horn (bass/vocals) to help out on a new Yes album. Initally, the plan was that Downes and Horn would help shape the material, ready for the return of Wakeman and Anderson. Eventually though, Howe, Squire and White confessed that their singer and keyboards player had actually left the band. To their surprise, Downes and Horn were invited to join Yes as full-time members; they accepted the invitation and performed on the Drama album in 1980. While Drama was well received by many fans (named "Panthers" after a feature of the album's artwork), many other Yes followers missed Anderson's unique lyrics and vocal style. After the Drama tour, Yes broke up. Downes and Howe went on to form Asia, Horn went into producing, and Squire and White began sessions with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, fresh from Led Zeppelin's recent breakup. The band was to be called XYZ, but nothing came of the sessions. In late 1982, two years after the breakup of Yes, Squire and White met guitarist Trevor Rabin (late of the band Rabbitt) and formed a new group, initially dubbed Cinema, which also included original Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye. They played Jon Anderson some of their new music, who was very impressed and decided to join the project, thus resulting in the reformation Yes in 1983. The album, 90125 (produced by Trevor Horn), was a radical departure from their earlier sound. It was simpler and harder, with modern (for the time) electronic effects. The song Owner of a Lonely Heart from this album was even a hit in discos, resulting in the band's only number one single. Fans of this line-up are called "Generators", from this line-up's second album, Big Generator. Yes had major success throughout the rest of the 1980s, playing arenas and scoring major hits with "Leave It," "Love Will Find a Way," and "It Can Happen." By the end of the 1980s, Anderson grew tired of the new Yes sound and wanted the band to return to its classic sound. While Yes was on break after the 1988 tour, Anderson began working with former Yes members Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, and Bill Bruford. The group wanted to be called Yes, but Yes was technically still a current group with other members, so the group called themselves "Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe." Legal battles ensued. Law suits were followed by a remarkable turn of events, as Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe joined Anderson and the rest of Yes, which resulted in the album Union and a world tour which united all eight members in a short-lived "mega-Yes". Featuring tracks spanning the band's entire career, it was one of the highest grossing concert tours of 1991 and 1992. After the tour, Bruford quit the band, followed shortly by Howe and then Wakeman. Yes was suddenly back down to its popular 1980s lineup of Anderson, Squire, Rabin, Kaye, and White. In 1994, Yes released Talk, one of the group's poorest selling releases. On the 1994 tour, guitarist/vocalist Billy Sherwood joined as a sixth member. Proving the truth of the old adage never say "never again," the band surprised and delighted fans by reforming with the classic '70s line-up of Anderson, Squire, White, Howe and Wakeman for a live performance in the Californian town of San Luis Obispo in 1996. The resultant live recordings were released, together with new music, on the Keys To Ascension albums, considered by many fans to be their finest music since their 1970s zenith. The new studio cuts from those two albums were later reissued on a single CD called "Keystudio." As fans waited for a tour of the classic lineup, Wakeman left the group again before the release of Keys To Ascension 2. Wakeman was replaced by Sherwood, who not only played guitar, but also now handled keyboard duties. Open Your Eyes was released in 1997. While Sherwood's influence seemed to take the band back in the direction of the 90125 lineup, the tour also featured keyboards from Russian keyboard player Igor Khoroshev, who was later made a full time member for the following album The Ladder. The 1999 tour resulted in a live DVD from The House of Blues in Los Angeles. Both Sherwood and Khoroshev left the band before the recording of the 2001 orchestral release Magnification. Magnification, the only Yes album without keyboards, is considered by many as the best Yes studio album since the 1970s. The band was not only backed by a 60-piece orchestra, but specific parts and arrangements were written and executed by the orchestra, sounding as if the orchestra was a permanent band member. Fans short-changed in 1996 were delighted as Wakeman announced his return to the group in 2002 and a world tour for Yes followed, including a return to Australia after more than 30 years absence. The classic line up is currently enjoying a somewhat revitalized presence in the public consciousness, especially after the celebration of their 35th anniversary in 2004. Discography
Sleeve artwork for many of these albums was done by Roger Dean, who also designed the band's logo. The Yes Atlantic Records catalog has undergone at least two remasterings and re-releases on CD. The initial CD releases appeared in the late 1980s, and the first remasters were released in the mid 1990s, with dramatically improved sound and much original album art restored. In 2003 a further remastering effort was begun by Rhino Records, this time including more original art, extensive booklet liner notes, and rare bonus tracks. Game coversThe cover track of the 1999 album The Ladder, Homeworld (The Ladder) was used in Relic Entertainment's Homeworld real-time strategy as the credits and outro theme. External links
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