YES
YES! The most positive of all positive words...and as such, an accurate reflection of the music created by five guys who have leapt from near-obscurity to the forefront of the international music scene over the past year.
Yes have happened because they are one of the few groups around to successfully combine finesse, power and style. Their music is fresh, vital, and above all else, totally original - a rich, colourful tapestry of varying moods and textures that is immediately recognizable as the Yes sound.
The real key to their success lies in their total involvement in their music. In the early days, they could so easily have sacrificed artistic integrity and turned to a more immediately commercial form of music. Instead, they chose to persevere with a style and approach they could honestly call their own. And recent events have proved their decision was the right one.
The group have been around for quite a time, but although the music industry were quick to recognize their potential, it wasn't until the advent of "The Yes Album" (winner of the Album of The Year award in the recent "Sounds" poll) that they eventually won total public acceptance this year.
They did well enough, mind, on club and concert gigs for a couple of years, and enjoyed a fair degree of success with their first two Atlantic LPs - "Yes" (which won them the support of the musical press) and the rather more adventurous "Time And A Word", which helped spread the gospel a little further and ultimately paved the way for the success of "The Yes Album".
Three founder - members of Yes are still in the line-up. There's Jon Anderson - slightly built, soft-spoken, a deep thinker and a bundle of nervous energy. Jon writes the bulk of the group's songs (both words and music) and apart from singing all the lead parts, doubles on tambourine and, occasionally, mini-synthesizer. The Anderson voice defies description - suffice to say that it's the most distinctive sound on the British music scene for years.
Then there's Chris Squire - intense, thoughtful and a complete perfectionist. His driving, carefully controlled and impeccably played bass guitar is the pivot around which the group swings, and he also happens to be a good singer to have around to double up on harmonies with Jon. He takes a deep interest in the technical aspects of recording, and is quickly emerging as a quality writer - both songs and arrangements.
The third surviving founder-member is drummer Bill Bruford - not so very long out of his 'teens and already recognised as one of the country's top percussion men, In fact, a poll among fellow drummers would find "Tubs" pretty near the top. He's a bouncy, very alive character, prone to genuinely funny caustic wit. The writing bug has finally caught up with Bill, too, and his first recorded composition - built around rhythmic patterns - is included on the group's new "Fragile" album.
The group's first personnel change occurred over a year ago, when Steve Howe took over the guitar chair from Peter Banks. Steve is something of a rarity on the music scene - a guy who is equally at home on either electric or acoustic guitar, which isn't too common these days. He's an easy-going character, seemingly always grinning, and completely wrapped up in his music. His dexterity is nothing short of amazing, and when it comes to foot pedals, he's the real master. Steve is the group's third singer - and it goes without saying that he writes good stuff, too!
Finally, we come to the newest Yes-man - Rick Wakeman, late of The Strawbs. Unlike his predecessor, Tony Kaye, Rick won't simply be concentrating on organ. The tonal textures achieved by the group will now be more rich and varied, since Rick will be surrounded by organ, piano, mellotron, electric piano and Moog. Perhaps the most flambuoyant member of the group, he has a natural flair for showmanship that is certain to emerge on stage appearances.
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