Yes
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Biography
One of the few surviving progressive rock bands of the 1970s, Yes has distinguished itself by the high-pitched voice of its historic singer Jon Anderson, its virtuoso musicians and its conceptual albums illustrated by artist Roger Dean. In 1968, Yes was formed under psychedelic auspices around bassist Chris Squire, bassist Peter Banks, singer Jon Anderson, keyboardist Tony Kaye and drummer Bill Bruford. Signed to Atlantic Records, the quintet recorded a debut album of the same name the following year, followed in 1970 by Time and a Word, with its more stretched-out compositions. However, it was with their new guitarist Steve Howe (ex-Tomorrow), that Yes established their reputation in a sophisticated style. Rated #4 in the UK, The Yes Album (1971), including the classic "Starship Trooper", is followed by a series of recordings featuring Rick Wakeman on keyboards: Fragile (1971, no. 7), Close to the Edge (1972, no. 4), Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973, no. 1), Relayer (1974, no. 4) - with his temporary replacement Patrick Moraz - and Going for the One (1977, no. 1), formed the backbone of a progressive rock at its peak, which the band would continue to nourish. The departures of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman, replaced by The Buggles' Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, led Yes in a new, more spontaneous musical direction on the album Drama (1980, No. 2), while at the same time the supergroup Asia was formed, featuring Steve Howe and Geoff Downes. In 1983, Yes scored its biggest hit with "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (#1 in the U.S., #4 in France), taken from the album 90125. After Big Generator (1986), various disagreements arose, notably over the use of the name, leading to the 1989 release of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, and two years later to a reunion with Chris Squire, Tony Kaye and Trevor Rabin for the aptly-named Union. An umpteenth metamorphosis took place when Jon Anderson left the band for good, replaced by Benoît David on Fly from Here (2011), Heaven & Earth (2014) and The Quest (2021), the first album without any original members, following Chris Squire's death on June 27, 2015. Yes now comprises Jon Davison (vocals), Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Billy Sherwood (bass), Jay Schellen (percussion), Alan White (drums). The latter, who replaced Bill Bruford in 1968 to become a permanent member, died on May 26, 2022 at the age of 72. Meanwhile, in 2019, the band released the mini-album From a Page, reissued with bonus tracks in 2026, while the 24th studio album Aurora was released that same year.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Roundabout
- Owner of a Lonely Heart
- Your Move / I've Seen All the Good People
- Leave It
- Every Little Thing
- Machine Messiah
- And You and I
- Tempus Fugit
- Long Distance Runaround
- Rhythm of Love
- Love Will Find a Way
- Hold On
- Yours Is No Disgrace
- Into The Lens
- Starship Trooper
- Arriving UFO
- Release, Release
- Future Times / Rejoice
- Sound Chaser
- Homeworld (The Ladder)
- On the Silent Wings of Freedom
- Parallels
- Awaken
- Be The One: The One / Humankind / Skates
