Here we go again...:( 🙁 🙁 🙁
One of my all-time favorite bassists...
RIP Chris Squire
http://www.udiscovermusic.com/chris-squire-r-i-p
We’re sad to report that the death has just been confirmed of Chris Squire, the widely-respected bass player best known for his work with Yes. Chris, aged 67, had been undergoing treatment, in his adopted home town of Phoenix, for acute elytroid leukemia.
“Utterly devastated beyond words to have to report the sad news of the passing of my dear friend, band mate and inspiration Chris Squire,” his colleague in Yes, Geoffrey Downes, has tweeted this afternoon (Sunday).
Squire, born in London in 1948, was a founding member of Yes in 1968 and was the only musician to play on every one of their albums, from their self-titled 1969 debut to last year’s ‘Heaven & Earth.’ It had already been announced that Squire was taking a break from Yes, with Billy Sherwood taking his place on bass for their upcoming tour. The band’s first date of their upcoming tour with Toto, on August 7, will mark the first time they have ever performed live without Squire.
uDiscover’s 50 Greatest Bass Players feature, published last week (June 21) and compiled from a “poll of polls” of online surveys, reaffirmed the huge esteem in which Squire was held by his fellow musicians. He came in at No. 16, just below Charles Mingus and ahead of such great players as Stanley Clarke, James Jamerson and Larry Graham.
In addition to his expertise on the Rickenbacker, and on backing vocals, on such landmark Yes albums as ‘Fragile,’ ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans,’ ‘Going For The One’ and ‘90125,’ Chris had a wealth of other key recordings in his catalogue. His 1975 solo album ‘Fish Out Of Water,’ which featured Yes colleagues Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz among others, was much revered, and a top 30 UK success.
Prior to Yes, he was a co-founder of The Syn, who toured and recorded for two years from 1965 and played a famous support slot for the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Marquee Club in 1967. He played on Rick Wakeman’s ‘Six Wives Of Henry VIII’ in 1973 and on former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s ‘Out Of The Tunnel’s Mouth’ (2009) and ‘Beyond The Shrouded Horizon’ (2011), before the pair formed the much-lauded Squackett, releasing the album ‘A Life Within A Day’ in 2012.
“You can deviate to the extent that you can put more into the concept and less into the playing,” Squire told Sounds in 1977. “That’s great for people who like concepts. But possibly the concept should be less important than the joy of playing.
“There’s so much choice of what you can do whether you are gifted or dumb, qualified or not. I mean, someone like me with no great academic ability can be successful.” Chris Squire was, for the better part of 50 years, and he’ll be much missed.
[Edited on 6/28/2015 by les_paul_sunburst]
man i knew he was sick but......RIP Chris
That's a blow!! DAmn rip
Lose one on to the heart of the sunrise
Darn it!
I saw Yes last Summer. Squire was mesmerizing. One of the best.
RIP
I've been a BIG Chris Squire fan for a long time. He was the player that REALLY made me pay attention to the bass ! His style and tone were like noone else. I was hoping that he'd beat this, but it wasn't to be. As a 16 or 17 year old kid, in 76 or 77, I got to kick a soccer ball around with Yes at FDR park in Philly when they were in town . They were all pretty nice to this kid that was in awe of kicking a ball to them !
[Edited on 6/28/2015 by funkyfitter]
After the Allman Brother's Band, I've seen Yes more than any other band (neck and neck with Bob Dylan, perhaps). The passing of Chris Squire is certainly devastating news.
The passing of any number of players always brings the, "best ever" line. I honestly think that Chris Squire - along with the recently passed Jack Bruce have as much or more legitimacy to the claim of supremacy than any other bassist (I'll save room for Oteil). Chris' bass lines were so much more than the "bottom" to Yes' music. What I liked so much about Yes was how the guitar, bass and keyboards so often doubled for one another. His bass playing far exceeded the typical role of that instrument in music of any type.
Yes pulled off what most fans would've deemed to be impossible in finding singers to replace Jon Anderson. They actually found two who could do an acceptable job.
No offense towards Billy Sherwood, but I can't personally fathom Yes without Chris Squire.
Going to give Fish Out Of Water a spin tonight .
R.I.P.
[Edited on 6/29/2015 by dimplesjbc]
Damn...the loss of yet another great musician. I never had the opportunity to see Chris Squire in a live setting. My only opportunity to see any incarnation of Yes was the Anderson, Bruford, Wakefield, and Howe touring group way back in the early 90's...At the Cayuga County Fairgrounds in Weedsport, NY just down the road from Syracuse, NY....RIP, Mr. Squire...
I'm sorry to learn of Chris' passing. To say that the man was immensely talented is an understatement. I've seen Yes several times over the years. The first show was at the old International Amphitheater in Chicago for the "Going for the One" tour. The last one was August last year at The Grove of Anaheim. This is a major loss to all Yes fans.
My condolences to his loved ones. RIP.
Utilityman
so glad i saw him about 6 years ago with YES. what a loss
Sad day. I am surprised that they would continue without Squire especially without Anderson too.
His bass playing and backing vocals played a huge part is their sound and in many ways he was Yes.
RIP
RIP Chris and thanks for the music. Really glad I went and saw Yes a few years ago.
Very sad. I listened to Yes most of the day yesterday. Tempus Fugit, Don't Kill the Whale, Starship Trooper, Changes, It Can Happen, America, Into the Lens, acoustic Roundabout, The Calling, Run Through the Light, Wonderous Stories, Going for the One, Parallels, Heart of the Sunrise....and more. What a soundtrack.
While the classic lineup of Anderson/Howe/Squire/White/Wakeman was my favorite, they produced good songs with virtually every lineup of the band. RIP Chris.
Sad day. I am surprised that they would continue without Squire especially without Anderson too.
His bass playing and backing vocals played a huge part is their sound and in many ways he was Yes.
RIP
when it was announced chris was sick the band already announced shows with a replacement hoping chris would get better
The "Skynard-ization" of Yes?: there are now officially no original members in the band. Discuss among yourselves.
The last Yes show I attended was about 18 months ago in Birmingham at the BJCC concert hall. They were doing three albums in sequence and entirety. We had to leave early (Donna had a migraine) but we did see all of Close to the Edge.
The concert hall is a small venue. We had excellent seats - about 5th row right in front of Chris with precise eye-line contact. After one of his bass interludes, I clapped politely. Chris made eye contact with us and did a little head nod of acknowledgement. Just a priceless moment.
When did Steve Howe leave the band & who replaced him?Anyway RIP Chris paying tribute now playing first 3 albums yours was no disgrace so many of my teenage heros are passing must mean i'm getting old but I'm still listening
When did Steve Howe leave the band & who replaced him?Anyway RIP Chris paying tribute now playing first 3 albums yours was no disgrace so many of my teenage heros are passing must mean i'm getting old but I'm still listening
Steve Howe is still on board - just not the original Yes guitarist. He replaced Peter Banks after the 2nd album.
When did Steve Howe leave the band & who replaced him?
Steve is still in. He wasn't an original member if that is what prompted the question.
RIP, Chris. It really took the win out of my sails when I heard the news. I've never really listened closely to the release The Word is Live before, but it's been on constant spin since I heard the news.
Blooby
When did Steve Howe leave the band & who replaced him?
Steve is still in. He wasn't an original member if that is what prompted the question.
RIP, Chris. It really took the win out of my sails when I heard the news. I've never really listened closely to the release The Word is Live before, but it's been on constant spin since I heard the news.
Blooby
So what recording does Mr Banks play on?
So what recording does Mr Banks play on?
first album, time and a word and various live releases of the early days
So what recording does Mr Banks play on?
The eponymous album and Time and a Word, but I seem to recall some of his stuff was replaced on the second album. I can't recall exactly when Steve showed up. I just know it was before The Yes Album.
Blooby
[Edited on 6/30/2015 by Blooby]
Never knew that Learn something new everyday Thanks
I think Banks was on the Yes album, but they put Howe's picture on the cover.
A while back I posted a link to some old Yes videos that featured Peter Banks and Tony Kay (keyboardist). I can't find the link right now. Anybody?
I think Banks was on the Yes album, but they put Howe's picture on the cover.
That is definitely Steve on the Yes Album.
Time and a Word -
Then (This has Steve Howe, but I hadn't seen this video before. Very amusing. He wasn't on Time and a Word, but he shows up in this promo video? I guess he got the gig shortly after this record dropped.) -
No Opportunity (Again with Howe, but this is too funny) -
Blooby
Time and a Word LP, I meant. At any rate, one of the albums has Banks playing but Howe on the cover.
Time and a Word LP, I meant. At any rate, one of the albums has Banks playing but Howe on the cover.
I never noticed. Wow, that's pathetic. My secret prog decoder ring is definitely going to be seized for missing that.
Blooby
Here's treasure trove of old Yes. Chris's genius is on full display even this early.
one of the first bands i enjoyed in the early 70s. saw them so many times..........Chris and Jon original members, sorry Jon faded away from the band a few years back, but Chris was always there dropping those bass lines......a sad day in music another great one gone.............ps never seen him play live without those black leather pants..........RIP............
