Yes

Yes are an English rock band who achieved success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. They are distinguished by their use of mystical and cosmic lyrics, live stage sets and lengthy compositions, often with complex instrumental and vocal arrangements. The band's current line-up since February 2012 consists of singer Jon Davison, guitarist Steve Howe, bass guitarist Chris Squire, keyboardist Geoff Downes, and drummer Alan White. Squire formed Yes in 1968 with singer Jon Anderson. Squire and guitarist Peter Banks had played together in The Syn and then Mabel Greer's Toyshop. Anderson and later drummer Bill Bruford joined a line-up of Mabel Greer's Toyshop, which evolved into Yes. Keyboardist Tony Kaye completed the first Yes line-up. Their early sets were a mix of original material and cover versions.

The 1970s saw Yes release the albums that are widely viewed as their creative peak: The Yes Album, Fragile (both in 1971), Close to the Edge (1972), Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), Relayer (1974) and Going for the One (1977). For most of this period, the band included Anderson, Squire, Howe (who replaced Banks in 1970), Rick Wakeman on keyboards and Bruford, or later Alan White, on drums; Kaye and Patrick Moraz each play keyboards on one of these albums. After the relative failure of Tormato (1978) and the rise of punk rock, Anderson and Wakeman left the band in 1980; Squire, Howe and White recorded Drama with Downes and new vocalist Trevor Horn, both also members of The Buggles. The band disbanded in December 1980, with Howe and Downes subsequently creating Asia.

Yes reformed in 1983 with Anderson, Squire, White, a returning Kaye, and singer and guitarist Trevor Rabin, adopting a more pop rock sound. This quickly became the most commercially successful Yes lineup with 90125 (1983), which spawned the US number one single "Owner of a Lonely Heart", and Big Generator (1987). The tour in support of Union (1991), which amalgamated members of Yes and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, was a commercial success that featured an eight-man line-up (instead of a quintet). Subsequent albums and singles have sold less well.

Links To Peel
Yes made their debut on Peel's Top Gear show in the late 60's after the band was selected to open for Cream farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall. This concert led subsequently to the band opening for Janis Joplin and ultimately a record deal to Atlantic Records. Most of the 70's, Peel would regularly play Yes' material, when on the first Festive Fifty in 1976, the group debut at number 50. The beginning of punk ultimately led to a decline of airplay by the band, when Peel started to be hostile to groups like Yes, Led Zeppelin and Genesis. After the band decided to perform at Glastonbury in 2003, Peel when chatting to Jo Whiley on the BBC commentated sarcastically on the following:

JP: I'm looking forward to Yes

Jo Whiley: Do you have a relationship with Yes?

JP: No, well only one of deep unmitigated hatred.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * 1976 Festive Fifty: And You And I #50

Live
Recorded 1970-03-12, Paris Theatre, London. Broadcast: 15 March 1970
 * 1) Astral Traveller
 * 2) Then
 * 3) Every Little Thing
 * 4) Everydays
 * 5) For Everyone

Other Shows Played
1972 1976
 * Radio Luxembourg Tracklistings 2: America (LP - Various: The New Age Of Atlantic - Atlantic Records)
 * 24 December 1976: And You And I (LP – Close To The Edge) Atlantic