Message to all YES Fans from Benoit David

FROM BENOIT DAVID:

Dear YES fans,

As you all know, the final three shows of last year's European tour were cancelled due to my ill health. On my return to Canada, I was advised to cease touring, for the foreseeable future, in order to avoid further damage to my voice. Following this extremely disappointing diagnosis, I had no alternative but to inform my fellow band members that I was unable to confirm my availability for, at least, the forthcoming concerts in New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

Although there was no alternative, I did so with a heavy heart as I felt that I was letting everyone down especially those who have supported me since I had the privilege of becoming the band's vocalist in 2008. The band members were all very understanding and asked if I would mind being replaced for the April shows - I immediately agreed that this would be the best way forward and gave them my blessing. I was then pleased to learn that Jon Davison would be my replacement as he is an accomplished musician with a fine voice.

I subsequently learnt, from a band member's interview, that I had officially left Yes and that my departure was permanent. As this is the situation, everyone should know that I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity I was given and very proud to have contributed to more than 200 concerts and to the 'Fly From Here' and 'In The Present Live From Lyon' albums. I would also like to express my appreciation for the support I was given by each member of the band, the fantastic crew, the management and everyone else involved during my time as vocalist in the band. Finally, to the fans who have applauded my efforts and to those I have had the pleasure of meeting - many thanks, my best wishes and please continue with your support of one of the world's greatest bands - YES.

Although I need to take it easy for a while, I fully intend to continue with my music career. In late summer of 2011, I added vocals to Mystery's forthcoming album 'The World Is A Game' - which is at the final stages of mixing and will be available in the near future. This is my third collaboration with Michel St-Pere, and Mystery, following 2007's 'Beneath the Veil of Winter's Face' and 2010's 'One Among The Living'. So I guess I will, hopefully, see you somewhere down the road…

Blessings,

Benoit David

17th February 2012

NIGHTWISH, Ex-YES Members Featured On New GRÖNHOLM Album

Lion Music has set a September 16 release date for GRÖNHOLM's sophomore album, "Silent Out Loud". Featuring 10 tracks full of infectious vocal melodies over dynamic
musical backdrops, the CD is an impressive collection of songcraft
topped off with a powerful production and mix.

GRÖNHOLM is built around the songwriting skills of Mika Grönholm (guitar, bass and keyboards), with vocals once again handled by Markku Kuikka (STATUS MINOR) and drums from Tom Rask. This core trio of musicians is joined by "special guests" Billy Sherwood (ex-YES) and Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), who add some extra dynamics to backing vocals, and in the case of Sherwood, help add his trademark lush "YES-style" vocal harmony sheen to the likes of "Out From The Nest", among others.

While
the new offering, aside from a greater emphasis on guitar, has a sound
not too dissimilar to its well-received predecessor, "Eyewitness Of Life", it sees Mika take a heavier approach to his songwriting, utilizing a downtuned B tuning for all stringed instruments. Mika comments, "All the songs on 'Silent Out Loud' are tuned down to low B. Sometimes B-tuning is used for roaring vocals
or lighting fast guitar parts, but no, not this time. With this tuning I was seeking more power and energy to my riffs."

"Silent Out Loud"'s first six tracks are all up-tempo numbers where the new tuning is given a fine showing between the hard rock riffs with some prog-influenced
melodies.

As the album nears its conclusion, we see an instrumental offering in "Giant Step", which clears the minds palette for the acoustic flavor that is heard on the final three tracks, with album finale, "Away", also getting an orchestral arrangement.

Lyrically, Mika Gronhölm drew on "silent" thoughts in his head and once put onto paper in lyric form become "out loud," hence the album's title.

Writing for "Silent Out Loud" began in May 2010 and was completed four months later. Mika's approach was to "simply sit down and record riffs and ideas to an mp3
player and those riffs that maintain attention on repeated plays get
worked on into bodies of songs." Once the tracks had taken shape, the
recordings took place in January 2011. In contrast to the debut, Tom Rask's drums were recorded first this time round and Mika then built the final tracks around the drum work. Markku Kuikka recorded his vocals in his home studio in a short three-day stint. March 2011 saw the arrival of the guest vocal tracks from Billy Sherwood (chorus parts on "Cross" and "Out From The Nest") and Marco Hietala (lead vocals on "Vanity"). The band then had to wait until April 2011 for Janne Tolsa to become available to mix and master and the results show the wait was justified. Mika then mixed the last three songs at his home studio "because they were
easy and quick to do." In addition, a promotional video for the opening
track, "Cross Of Mind", has been shot and can be viewed below.

"Silent Out Loud" track listing:

01. Cross Of Mind
02. Distorted Eyes
03. Under My Star
04. Vanity
05. Out From The Nest
06. Race Is On
07. Giant Step
08. Set The Stones
09. Dawn Of A Dream
10. Away

Billboard.com: Yes Bassist Talks 'Fulfilling Experience' of Recording 'Fly From Here'

From Billboard.com

A friendly get-together between old bandmates is what led to the return of former Buggles partners Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes to the Yes fold for the veteran prog rockers' new album, "Fly From Here."

Bassist Chris Squire, Yes' lone constant member, tells Billboard.com that he and Horn -- who sang with Yes during 1980-81, while Downes also played keyboards -- had a sit-down last year to talk about an album Squire had recorded with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. Over the course of the conversation, Squire recalls, he and Horn "started talking about whether we thought we might work together again on something." The conversation turned to "We Can Fly From here," a song Yes had worked on during Horn and Downes' tenure in the band but did not make the "Drama" album in 1980. It did show up in the 2005 box set "The Word is Live."

"Trevor said, 'Oh, yeah, we never did do a studio version. Maybe we should get together and do that,' " Squire says. "That was the idea, really to do one song." The piece grew into a six-part, 23-minute epic a la "Close to the Edge" and other lengthy Yes epics. After that, Squire says, "we realized how much we enjoyed working together and expanded into Trevor doing the whole album."


"Fly From Here," which comes out July 12, is Yes' first new studio album in a decade and marks the debut of singer Benoit David, who replaced an ailing Jon Anderson in 2008. It was also supposed to include former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman's son Oliver, who co-wrote the song "Into the Storm" and plays on two other tracks, but Squire says that Horn had other ideas.

"Trevor really thought that the album would benefit from working with Geoff again," Squire notes, "which I wasn't immediately sure about because we were getting on very well with Oliver, and Oliver didn't really do anything wrong. But eventually Trevor did persuade me we'd make a better album with Geoff, and we do enjoy working with Geoff. (Wakeman) has taken it very well, and you know the way Yes is -- he could wind up being back in the band again in a couple of years."

That said, Squire does expect that Yes "is gonna stick with this lineup for a while" and says there's even talk of a follow-up album. "If an album becomes successful, of course everyone is very favorably disposed to want to talk about doing another one," he says. "I hope that does happen because I enjoy working with Trevor a lot, and it's really a fulfilling experience."

Before any of that, however, Yes hits the road July 4 in Camden, N.J., for a U.S. tour with Styx. A European jaunt, meanwhile, begins Nov. 8., by which time Squire hopes the group will be able to dip more deeply into "Fly From Here."

"The (Styx) tour is not going to be an ideal forum to present the whole or even a lot of the new album," says Squire, who hopes to have the album with Hackett out this year as well. "It's more of a summer shed, rock 'n' roll-y tour and we'll have to obviously play Yes songs people are familiar with and squeeze it all into 90 minutes. Later on we'll hopefully go into a format where we have a longer playing time, so we'll be presenting more of the new album."

http://www.billboard.com/news/yes-bassist-talks-fulfilling-experience-1005248322.story#/news/yes-bassist-talks-fulfilling-experience-1005248322.story

YES: 'Fly From Here' Album Details Revealed

The most influential and ground-breaking progressive rock 'n' roll band in history, legendary rockers and Grammy Award winners YES, will release their first studio album in a decade, "Fly From Here", on July 1 in Europe and July 12 in North America through Frontiers Records. The group's long-awaited 20th studio LP is the follow up to 2001's "Magnification" and marks the band's reunion with producer Trevor Horn, who helmed YES' chart-topping 1983 album "90125" and also sang for YES on the "Drama" LP in 1980.

YES is Benoit David on vocals (his first studio recording with YES), Steve Howe on guitars/vocals, founder Chris Squire on bass/vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards and Alan White on drums. Roger Dean, creator of a number of YES' most memorable album covers, also returns with his signature style for "Fly From Here".

"At last we have some shape and dynamics within these tracks that are truer to the
original idea of what a YES recording is about," proclaims Howe.

"The new album represents the best of YES from the '70s and the '80s with a current twist," Squire adds.

All of the songs on "Fly From Here" embody that classic and now iconic YES sound and style. The first single, "We Can Fly", (to be released digitally on June 13) is borne from a piece of music that was written prior to the "Fly" writing sessions — an idea that has now grown into an overture and five subsequent movements that feature the unparalleled musicianship and virtuoso talents that are synonymous with YES. From the first chord of "Fly From Here – Overture" to the last note of the album's closer "Into The Storm", there is no question that the unmistakable technical proficiency of YES carries on.

"It's awesome working with Trevor Horn again; he pays a lot of attention to detail. It was a great pleasure in the studio to play some incredible music with some great players," says White.

First formed in 1968, YES' remarkable career spans over 40 years and the band has time and again redefined the boundaries of rock music.

YES has sold nearly 50 million albums worldwide and continues to stretch the boundaries of progressive art-rock with their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical styles.

This summer, YES will return to the road to bring "Fly From Here" as well as some of their classic hits to their loyal following. European tour dates are scheduled for the fall.

"Fly From Here" track listing:

01. Fly From Here - Overture
02. Fly From Here - Pt. I - We Can Fly
03. Fly From Here - Pt. II - Sad Night At The Airfield
04. Fly From Here - Pt. III - Madman At The Screens
05. Fly From Here - Pt. IV - Bumpy Ride
06. Fly From Here - Pt. V - We Can Fly
07. The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be
08. Life On A Film Set
09. Hour Of Need
10. Solitaire
11. Into The Storm

"Fly From Here" will be released in four different configurations: CD, CD plus a bonus DVD including a documentary "Making of the Album" in digipak edition, a gatefold vinyl and a special box set limited edition including the CD, DVD, vinyl, t-shirt, poster, sticker and a lithograph of the cover art.

Geoff Downes To Join With Yes

Further to earlier news regarding the upcoming Yes album “Fly From Here”, which is due for release in July, it now seems that Geoff Downes has rejoined the band to play keyboards, as reported by Heavy Rock Playlist:Quintessential prog-rockers Yes have announced that they have reunited with legendary producer Trevor Horn for their highly anticipated new album, “Fly From Here”. The album marks the band’s first studio album in ten years. The album originated from a conversation between Horn and Yes bassist Chris Squire, who re-discovered the song ‘Fly From Here’ and realized that it had never been recorded in a studio. “Chris and I were talking one evening about the song ‘Fly From Here’ that we never recorded,” explains Horn. “I said I was prepared to spend two weeks with Yes recording that song. When I arrived in America to record it, I was taken prisoner by the band and only allowed my freedom again in return for producing the whole album. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse!” “Fly From Here” retains Yes’ signature brand of mysticism and large-scale compositions. The record contains plenty of the complex arrangements, beautiful harmonies, and heavy riffs the band is known for. “The new album represents the best of Yes from the ’70s and the ’80s with a current twist,” said Squire. Keyboardist Geoff Downes, who originally joined the band for 1980's “Drama,”, has also re-joined the band for the new album. Yes now consists of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Downes, and lead singer Benoit David.

YES Re-Teams With Producer TREVOR HORN For 'Fly From Here'

The world's most quintessential prog rock band YES will release its highly anticipated new album, "Fly From Here", in July via Frontiers Records. The CD marks the group's first collaboration in ten years with legendary, two-time Grammy Award-winning producer Trevor Horn. Horn and YES bassist Chris Squire re-discovered the song "Fly From Here" which had never been laid down as a studio track. "Chris and I were talking one evening about a song 'Fly From Here' that we never recorded," explains Horn. "I said I was prepared to spend two weeks with YES recording that song. When I arrived in America to record it, I was taken prisoner by the band and only allowed my freedom again in return for producing the whole album. It was an offer I couldn't refuse!" "Fly From Here" encompasses YES' signature brand of mysticism and grand-scale compositions while maintaining a complex, symphonic sound that features the beautiful harmonies and strong heavy riffs they are known for. "The new album represents the best of YES from the '70s and the '80s with a current twist," states Squire. YES are the pioneers for the use of synthesizers and sound effects in modern music, which produced such timeless, symphonic-rock masterworks as "Roundabout", "Close To the Edge", and "Awaken". YES continued to push the cutting edge of art-rock music to their limits, selling over 30 million albums, reaching platinum status multiple times worldwide. YES' powerful mainstream progressive compositions have influenced a generation of musicians with a hugely successful and indelible catalo of music with hit albums such as "Drama", "Fragile", "Close To The Edge" and "90125". Classic songs include "Roundabout", a seminal hit which consistently appears on "the best songs of all time" lists, and the group's No. 1 hit "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", which Horn is responsible for. Taken from the YES album "90125", this single would form part of a unique double, which would see YES and Horn top both the U.K. and U.S. charts simultaneously.

October News Bytes

• Voiceprint Records is set to release the 21st Century Schizoid Band Live In Japan Concert CD and DVD bringing together both the visual and audio elements of the concert in one package. As both the separate elements of Live in Japan have been unavailable for some time this reissue now means you have both together in the one package and as King Crimson and the relevant offshoots of the band
• The members of Yes are going in studio to record a new album that should be ready next year. They are working with producer Trevor Horn.
• Singer Rob Sowden has decided to part ways with the band Arena. The explanation given so many times at moments like this is ‘musical differences’, usually as a veil for somewhat darker reasons; but actually, in this case, it is precisely the reason.
• Believe, the outstanding art/progressive rock band led by the former guitarist of the Polish prog rock legend Collage, return with their fourth studio album. The new material entitled “World Is Round” will be released in January 2011.
• Gary Husband, pianist and drummer, is about to release an all star album titled Dirty And Beautiful which will feature Gary Husband (Drums and Keys);Allan Holdsworth (Guitar); John McLaughlin (Guitar); Robin Trower (Guitar); Steve Hackett (Guitar); Steve Topping (Guitar); Jan Hammer (Keyboards); Jerry Goodman (Violin); Jimmy Johnson (Bass); Mark King (Bass); Laurence Cottle (Bass); Livingstone Brown (Bass); Steve Price (Bass)
• Brett Stranne Of Cairo is battling cancer. Donations can be given through this website: http://brettstranne.com

James Cameron Gives Nod To Yes In New Movie

From Entertainment Weekly Magazine:
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20336893_10,00.html
Where did James Cameron get the idea for the floating mountains? Was thatfrom a Yes album cover?'' It might have been,'' the director says with a laugh. ''Back in my pot-smoking days.''

Announcing Mellodrama, the Mellotron Movie coming to DVD

MELLODRAMA: THE MELLOTRON MOVIE Coming to DVD January 2010

THE STORY OF THE FIRST “SAMPLING” INSTRUMENTS, THE CHAMBERLIN AND THE MELLOTRON, FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF THE MOODY BLUES, THE BEACH BOYS, GENESIS, KING CRIMSON, CHEAP TRICK, BLACK SABBATH, THE ZOMBIES, LATIN PLAYBOYS, YES, MAROON 5, OPETH AND MANY MORE

“Surprisingly fascinating.” –Philadelphia Weekly

“A study in the unpredictability of innovation.” – Rhizome

“An insider’s view on the history of the Chamberlin and the Mellotron, which isn’t always pretty.” – Echoes

“The Mellotron stays cool.” – Brian Wilson

“This is where sampling started.” – Jon Brion

Bazillion Points Publishing is delighted to announce the long-awaited DVD release of the acclaimed and unusual music documentary,
Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie, by Dianna Dilworth, coming January 2010 in NTSC Region 0 format packed with bonus features in a deluxe Digipak.

Mellodrama explores the five-decades-long rise and fall of the Chamberlin and its better-known successor the Mellotron—the first musical keyboards to play the prerecorded sounds of other instruments. Essentially the first sampler, its haunting sound has changed the production and texture of popular music, from the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” and the Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin,” to Radiohead’s OK Computer and Kanye West’s “Gold Digger.”

Featuring Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues, Ian McDonald of King Crimson, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, famed L.A. producer Jon Brion, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, singer-songwriter Michael Penn, author Brian Kehew, (Recording the Beatles), as well as members of Opeth, Bigelf, Maroon 5, and former employees of the Mellotron and Chamberlin companies. While the musicians tell their tales, the engineers and experts deliver the gear porn by taking you inside the captivating contraption.

Mellodrama screened at over a dozen festivals throughout the world in 2009, including the CMJ Film Festival in New York, Buenos Aires Film Festival, Documenta Madrid, Portobello Film Festival in London, Atlantic Film Festival in Canada, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Indie Memphis, Tucson Film and Music Festival, and was specially programmed by Stephen O’Malley of Sunn O))) at the Lausanne Underground Film Festival in Switzerland.

“While everybody knows the sound of the instruments, most people have never heard of the Mellotron or the Chamberlin,” says director Dianna Dilworth. “I hope Mellodrama will change that.”

Mellodrama: The Mellotron Movie DVD includes the 80 minute film, 30 minutes of DVD extras, and an 8-page booklet containing an essay by Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues and several illustrated machine timelines. Preorders are now available at this location: http://www.mellodramadvd.com

http://www.bazillionpoints.com

Magenta Release Yes Classic As Download Single

Magenta are excited to announce that they will release a version of the Yes classic Wonderous Stories as a download-only single, on Tigermoth Records, on November 15th.
The song, which will come in three alternative versions, will be available to download from all normal download sites – including Amazon and Itunes worldwide. Rob Reed talks about the bands reasons for the release:
“We are often compared favourably to Yes, and many of our fans have been asking us to have a go at a Yes piece for a while. We have been playing Wonderous Stories as part of our set during our recent run of acoustic gigs, and it was great fun to do and really well received, so we thought we’d take it into the studio and give it the full-band Magenta treatment. We think that we’ve brought something new to the song while maintaining total respect for the original, and we really hope people enjoy it.”
Wonderous Stories, from the Going For the One album, was Yes’ biggest UK hit, reaching number 7 in September 1977.
The three versions of the song will be:

1.Wonderous Stories : Full Mix

2.Wonderous Stories : Instrumental Mix

3.Wonderous Stories : Acoustic Mix
The band have also produced a video for the song, and an excerpt can be seen below. The complete video will be made available on the day of release.
http://www.vimeo.com/7429531
www.magenta-web.com

YES cancels remaining tour dates

FRIANT, Calif., Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The rock band YES says it is canceling the remaining U.S. dates on its In The Present Tour because founding YES member Chris Squire is recovering from surgery.
Squire had a leg operation Feb. 11. Although the surgery was successful and the musician is on his way to a full recovery, Squire has been advised by his physician that he needs a one-month rest period, hence the reason for the cancellation of the rest of the tour dates, the group said.
"It is regrettable that the band was forced to cancel their remaining shows on this current tour, including the performance scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at Table Mountain Casino," John Mayewski, president and chief executive officer of California's Table Mountain Casino said in a statement. "All of the guests and employees of Table Mountain Casino wish Chris a speedy, complete recovery, and hope that YES is able to resume their tour in the very near future."
http://yesworld.com

YES AND GENESIS LEGENDS TEAMING UP FOR JOINT ALBUM AND TOUR

Chris Squire is already looking past Yes' upcoming 40th anniversary In The Present tour for his next creative outlet. Squire's been recording with former Genesis lead guitarist Steve Hackett on a joint project which may be named Squakett and released early next year in time for a joint European tour.
The project isn't the first time that Hackett has aligned forces with a member of Yes -- in the mid-80s Hackett and Steve Howe formed the prog-pop supergroup GTR. Squire admits that prior to his new collaboration, GTR was the last he had heard of Hackett: "I knew about GTR -- that was about the only thing I knew about. I didn't have a guitar player, and honestly, I hadn't been too up on what he'd been doing since he left Genesis, but he'd been doing a ton of stuff, like classical and folksy stuff. So I started to talk to him -- 'Would you like to play on a couple of tracks?' And then he did such a great job, I said, (laughs) 'Well, could you just play on the rest of the album?' Following that, he said, 'Well, I've been working on some stuff...'"
Steve Hackett was in Genesis from 1970 to 1977, and played on such seminal albums as Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound,The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, A Trick Of The Tail, and the live set Seconds Out -- which featured former Yes drummer Bill Bruford. Yes opens their In The Present tour on November 4th in Ontario. Touring with the latest incarnation of the band will be Squire, Howe, drummer Alan White and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman -- who's the son of legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman. Lead vocalist Benoit David is filling in for Jon Anderson, who is suffering from respiratory failure due to chronic asthma and needs to keep off the road until next year.

Yes To Tour Without Anderson, Finds Replacement

By MARGIE SZAROLETA, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The classic rock band Yes, which was forced to cancel their 40th anniversary tour this year due to the illness of its lead singer, has decided to relaunch the tour with an "understudy" — a Yes tribute band singer.

Benoit David, who sings in several Yes tribute bands in Montreal, will replace Jon Anderson on the "In the Present" tour, which kicks of Nov. 4 in Ontario, Canada, according to bassist Chris Squire.
"I think it's all going to work out fine," Squire told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "Of course, realistically, there's an element of risk, but there always is."
Yes, which consists of Squire, Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Alan White, scrapped their anniversary tour in June after Anderson suffered acute respiratory failure and was ordered by doctors to rest six months.
Squire found David on the Internet after a friend sent him a YouTube clip of David's tribute band, Close To The Edge. Squire liked what he saw and called David to offer an audition.
"The first thing he said to me was, 'Well, I'm looking around to see where the cameras are in case I'm being punked,'" Squire said.
Yes has taken a page from another classic rock group, Journey, who selected Arnel Pineda, a sound-a-like of old lead singer Steve Perry, to be their singer after the group discovered him singing Journey songs on YouTube. Pineda sang on the group's successful comeback album this year and has also been touring with them.
It's not the first time Yes has had a singer besides Anderson. Trevor Horn sang on the 1980 Yes album "Drama" when Anderson briefly left the band. Squire hopes to work songs from that album into the set for the upcoming tour, plus a few songs he said were not Anderson's favorites to perform live but the rest of the band likes.
"You can't ever really replace Jon Anderson, because he's been such a force in the music business," Squire said. "We look upon his replacement as more of an understudy."
Squire said he is hopeful Anderson will be well enough to do shows next year.

http://yesworld.com

Yes Launch Tour Without Jon Anderson And Rick Wakeman

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.