Jon Anderson has confirmed an appearance on stage with his former Yes bandmates during next month’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, along with a very special guest. He also tells Billboard that Rush‘s Geddy Lee will sub for late Yes co-founder Chris Squire for their performance of “Roundabout.”
UPDATE: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation later issued a statement clarifying Lee’s role. “Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were only confirmed to do the induction speech for one of their favorite bands and not perform,” the hall said, also via Billboard. “They, like all the other Yes fans, look forward to honoring them and watching them perform at the induction ceremony on April 7 and the HBO broadcast on April 29.”
Anderson joins current members Steve Howe and Alan White, along with other alumni including Bill Bruford, Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin, Squire and Rick Wakeman, in Yes’ official induction class. This lineup toured together behind 1991’s Union album, but Anderson hasn’t fronted the band since an acrimonious 2008 split.
“It’s a family; there’s always animosity,” Anderson says. “People that you love you don’t always like, and there’s always going to be that. But when you’re celebrating who you truly are, you forget about all that and just get on with meeting each other and seeing each other, and it’s just one of those things. It’s not a problem; We’ll just get together and have fun. Music is a healing force on every level.”
Squire, Yes’ only consistent member, died in 2015. He will be represented by his widow.
“He always believed that we should have been in the Hall of Fame,” Anderson adds. “It wasn’t high on my agenda. ‘It happens when it happens’ was my mantra. But we know Chris will be there in spirit, in energy. I loved the guy very much. Without him I wouldn’t be here, that’s for sure. And I can’t believe it’s nearly 50 years ago when me and Chris started the band. You think you’re gonna be together two, three years maybe, if you’re lucky, and here we are. Yes’ music is still surviving.”
Lee, a long-time Yes advocate, has already been announced as the band’s inductor on April 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Anderson also said two other Yes songs are under consideration for performance that night, “I’ve Seen All Good People” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” the band’s lone No. 1 single. He is currently on tour with Anderson Rabin Wakeman, with shows beginning this month in the U.K. and Europe.
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Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
It'd be fun to watch !
As an aside, this band {fill in the blank} it's hard to keep track of who is mad at whom, who is still in the band, who isn't.
Not a huge YES fan, but that sounds fun and would be cool if Geddy plays with them. We are going to the show mostly to see Pearl Jam (and Neil) although the Mrs does like Journey also :-/
I suspect the current Yes bassist will be doing the honors. Will be nice to hear as many of the Union guys together as possible. They were good in multiple lineup variations including a couple one off lineups at shows.
I always liked Yes, especially with Steve Howe and still think he's one of the most talented guitar players alive today. I saw them a few times, but the last one was "in the round" and it consisted of all the players who were ever in Yes (early '90's) and it was a great show. Watching Howe move about the stage and play Clap into Mood for a Day (both of which were high water marks for guitar players in my circle) with such little effort was inspiring. Glad they're getting the recognition and stoked Anderson is going to sing with them.
I saw the Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe line-up in the early 90's at a small outside venue in Weedsport, NY. I think it was the Cayuga County fairgrounds. Absolutely GREAT show. Given it was general admission and not a huge crowd, my buds and I stood right at the rail separating the stage from the crowd....We were maybe 10 feet from Steve Howe. Just a great night of music and stellar musicianship.
To top it off we witnessed the most bizarre end of a show beat down I've ever witnessed. Some very drunk dude made the mistake of stealing a t-shirt from one of the vendors hawking non-official YES memorabilia in the parking lot and was chased down by several of the vendors "crew" and was beaten pretty severely.
I still recall how several concert goers along with me and my crew just stood there and watched these guys pummel the sh@t out of the guy. We seemed to all have that "you asked for it" attitude. Eventually security saved his ass but not after he was bloodied up pretty badly.
