Yes (music group)
Yes is a renowned English progressive rock band formed in 1968 by singer Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire. The group is celebrated for its intricate compositions that combine multilayered, neoclassical harmonies with modern rock elements, making it one of the most successful progressive-rock bands in music history. Yes gained significant popularity during the 1970s, particularly with albums like "Fragile" and "Close to the Edge," which featured hit singles and showcased their trademark sound. Over the years, Yes underwent numerous lineup changes, with Anderson and Squire remaining key figures throughout most of the band's history. Despite facing challenges, including a brief breakup in the early 1980s, the band successfully reformed and adapted to changing musical landscapes, most notably with the Grammy-winning single "Owner of a Lonely Heart." Yes has released multiple albums over the decades and continues to tour and create music, even after the passing of Squire in 2015. Their enduring legacy reflects a commitment to artistic evolution and a deep connection with their fan base.
Yes (music group)
Yes is an English progressive-rock musical group formed in 1968 by singer Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire. Early Yes albums blended multilayered, neoclassical harmonies with modern rock music. The band's unique compositions made it a hugely popular act throughout the 1970s, and it remained so even after updating its sound in the mid-1980s. Though Yes underwent a series of lineup changes throughout the decades, Anderson and Squire remained active members for the bulk of the band's career. The band has sold millions of records since its debut, becoming arguably the most successful progressive-rock band in music history.
Early Career
Jon Anderson and Chris Squire first met at a bar in London in the summer of 1968. They quickly became friends and shared each other's eclectic musical interests. They were huge fans of Simon and Garfunkel's harmonic musical styling, a sound that influenced their early songwriting. Anderson and Squire sought to incorporate harmony and rock elements into their music, aiming to achieve perfection as instrumentalists and vocalists. They enlisted the help of keyboardist Tony Kaye, guitarist Peter Banks, and drummer Bill Bruford to help them accomplish their goals. They called their group Yes and began recording and performing material that year.
The band members received a lucky break shortly after formation when they were asked to fill in for an act at the Speakeasy Club in London in October 1968. The gig got them attention from high-profile bands, and they were chosen to open for Cream's farewell concert in November of that year. Their music soon hit the radio waves, and they regularly performed at London's Marquee Club. Yes opened for Janis Joplin the following April and by August had a record deal with Atlantic Records.
Yes released the single "Sweetness" ahead of its debut self-titled studio album in November 1969. The record featured original material and covers of song by the Beatles and the Byrds. It also showcased what would become the band's trademark classically inspired space-rock melodies. The band was still unable to draw crowds as a headliner, though, and continued to open for various acts while working on a follow-up album. Time and a Word was released in June 1970 following the departure of guitarist Banks. He was replaced by Steve Howe, whose image was featured on the album's cover despite his absence in the recording studio. Time and a Word included orchestra music on several of the songs.
Yes's popularity saw substantial growth in the early 1970s with the release of its third full-length album, The Yes Album (1971), which produced a number of hit singles. The record went gold, reaching the number seven spot on England's album charts and making it to number forty in the United States. In early 1971, Yes embarked on its first U.S. tour as a supporting act for Jethro Tull. Keyboardist Kaye quit that August and was replaced by Rick Wakeman, who played on the band's next album, Fragile, which also earned gold status. The single "Roundabout" reached number thirteen on the U.S. charts and was very popular with teens and college students. Fans were equally thrilled with the band's next album, Close to the Edge, released in the fall of 1972. The release of the album once again coincided with the departure of another band member. Drummer Burr left to join the band King Crimson and was replaced by Alan White, who had played with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The ensuing tour for Close to the Edge was recorded and released as a live album titled Yessongs in May 1973.
The band found further success with 1974's Tales from Topographic Oceans, which went gold before ever hitting stores due to presales. Though fans and critics had mixed opinions regarding the album, it topped British and American charts. After touring throughout the year, Wakeman announced he was leaving the band to pursue solo efforts. Patrick Moraz joined the lineup shortly after and contributed to the band's next album, Relayer, released in late 1974. Wakeman would return to the band in 1976.
Solo Pursuits and Later Career
Many band members spent the last half of the 1970s working on solo projects while simultaneously touring with Yes. The band released two more albums that decade, Going for the One in 1977 and Tormato in 1978. By 1980, the band was in a state of disarray after Wakeman and Anderson walked out of recording sessions. They were replaced two months later by vocalist and guitarist Trevor Horn and keyboardist Geoffrey Downes. The new lineup released the album Drama in August of 1980, but Yes's popularity waned with the loss of two of its core members. The band announced its breakup in 1981.
The breakup was short-lived, however. Squire, White, Anderson, and Kaye reformed the band in 1983 with guitarist Horn and new addition Trevor Rabin. The group found success with its single "Owner of a Lonely Heart," which was followed by the full-length album 90125 later that year. The album featured the Grammy Award–winning song "Cinema." Members came and went from the group throughout the 1980s, and the band put out one more record during the decade, 1987's Big Generator.
The band started the 1990s with a huge world tour. The decade proved very fruitful, with Yes releasing six albums in total through 1999: Union (1991), Talk (1994), Keys to Ascension (1996), Keys to Ascension 2 (1997), Open Your Eyes (1997), and The Ladder (1999). Following the release of Magnification (2001), the band commemorated its thirty-fifth anniversary in 2002 with an international tour. The 2000s mainly saw a flurry of reissues and deluxe edition album releases. The group did not release another new album until 2011's Fly from Here. A lengthy tour followed before the band returned to the studio in 2014 to record Heaven & Earth. The following year, bassist and core member Squire died of leukemia at the age of sixty-seven. The band members announced Yes would continue making music and continued their North American tour with Billy Sherwood filling in for Squire.
Bibliography
Eder, Bruce. "Yes Biography." AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/yes-mn0000685647/biography
"We Are Yes." Yes. YES '97 LLC. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. http://yesworld.com/we-are-yes/
"Yes Biography." Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/yes/biography
"Yes Chart History." Billboard. Billboard. Web. 20 Dec. 2015. http://www.billboard.com/artist/431615/yes/chart
"Yes Continues On After Death of Bassist Chris Squire: 'Absolutely We're Moving Ahead.'" Billboard. Billboard. 21 July 2015. Web. 30 Dec. 2015. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6640906/yes-moving-forward-chris-squire-death-interview