This might get sticky! 😉
Rock icons Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman have announced that effective immediately, they will officially be known as "YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman," which is the name they will be touring under in North America during the latter half of 2017.
"It's very simple," explains band founder and vocalist Jon Anderson. "The fans want it, we want it and it's our right to use the name. YES music is in our DNA!"
Since reuniting for a U.S. tour in 2016, YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman have performed sold-out shows in Israel, the U.K., Belgium and Holland, and have a Japanese tour scheduled for April. Due to public demand, they return to tour the U.S. again from August 26 through October 11. In addition to the tour dates, the trio will be recording new material throughout the summer for a projected album release of early 2018. Also upcoming is a DVD that was filmed at the final U.K. show of their recent European tour (at Manchester Apollo, on March 25), for release later this year. And to the delight of longtime YES fans, all three were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on April 7.
The most successful prog rock group of all time, YES, was co-founded by Jon Anderson and the late Chris Squire in 1968 and went on to sell millions of units with releases such as "Fragile", "Close to The Edge", "Tales From Topographic Oceans", "Going For The One" and "90125", as well as embarking on several record-breaking world tours.
Whilst Rick is predominantly associated with the '70s "prog era" of the band (which saw YES become a worldwide stadium headliner) and Trevor associated with the '80s "pop era" of the band (which furthered the band's popularity — including the band's biggest chart success), Jon is the bridge between both factions (as he was a member of both eras). The touring band lineup is completed by two extraordinary musicians — Lee Pomeroy on bass and Louis Molino III on drums — who help to ensure that YES's immaculate artistic legacy remains intact.
The worldwide tour with YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman is being produced by renowned concert promoter Larry Magid, who is considered an architect and leader of the modern concert business.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
I'm already confused with this announcement versus the other Yes tour announcement http://ultimateclassicrock.com/yes-2017-dates-yestival/
Can someone give me the short, layman's version of just who does not get along with whom? And the reason for two versions of this band ? Or is it too long? I may have known the story some time back, but obviously lost interest.
It would be odd if there was a lawsuit since all of them did just get on stage together for the R&R Hall Of Fame over the weekend. However, maybe that's why they held off this announcement until after the ceremony was over so that everyone could be on stage together and be civil towards each other before dropping the "we're going to use the name Yes as well" bombshell.
Yes was never a band I could get into, mostly because of Anderson's vocals. They were always interesting musically (except when they went too keyboard/synth on songs), but his vocals took the songs down a notch for much. That seems to be a thing with a lot of prog bands for me. I feel the same way about Rush.
Yes was broken up and Jon Anderson had voice issues. Squire, Howe and White reunited under the name An Evening of Yes Music featuring Squire, Howe & White. Shortly after that Geoff Downes (Drama-era Yes member) joined them and they changed their name to Yes. They did an album with Trevor Horn (lead singer on Drama and producer of 90125) as producer and built it around great song from the Drama era that was left off that album. They are on their second sound-alike lead singer now. Squire died and they replaced him with Billy Sherwood had a stint in Yes in the 90s as a second guitarist was a friend of the firm.
That is the band that has been billed as Yes for 5-6 years (with and without Squire).
Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman started touring last year playing Yes music under just their own names (ARW for short). An "Evening of Yes Music Plus" was the name of the tour.
At the RnR Hall of Fame Inductions Anderson, Howe, Rabin, Wakeman and White performed together. Howe covered bass on Owner of Lonely Heart interestingly and Geddy Lee played bass on Roundabout. Rabin & Howe both played guitar on Roundabout (did they do I've Seen All Good People?).
I was thinking somehow the camps might be merging again under the Yes name. Everyone seemed to get along well and it sounded just like the real thing.
Since both bands (each with 3 members from the 70s/80s) are out on the road playing Yes music they'd both like to sell tickets and that comes from using the name. Anderson is the only original member among the 6 of them. Squire was the holder of the name since he was the only one who had been every version of the band.
This is the second time there were two camps of Yes members as two groups and the last time Squire had the trump card on the name. The two bands combined and did the Union Tour.
It will get interesting from here...
http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/yes-comments-on-anderson-rabin-wakemans-name-change/
Here is an update.
The response from Howe looks like they won't fight it and both bands will have Yes in their name.
Indeed:
YES said in a statement: "While Jon Anderson has rights to use the name as one of the co-owners of the trademark, YES's position is that every effort should be made by promoters, ticket agencies and all involved to respect YES's magnificent and loyal fanbase and minimize confusion regarding the use of YES Featuring Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman."
I thought I read elsewhere that Anderson, Wakeman, Howe and maybe White (?) have some partial ownership rights in the band's name "Yes". Looks like Howe is acknowledging as much in that quote.
The article also mentions Wakeman tweeted after the R&R HoF ceremony that there would never be a reunion of classic Yes lineup. Never say never, of course, but there's more bad blood there than I was aware. Seems like they've been more professional over the years with the rotating cast of who's "in" and who's buddying up with other "out" members for touring with an alphabet soup moniker.
