[kristallin]

Originally Posted by GuitarG2

I guess if you've been in a band for 40 years and released countless albums then you can afford to take certain personality liberties

Oh yeah, you want entertainment, you hide cameras backstage at a Yes concert. You'll get lots of "If he's keeping his guitar on stage I'm not playing!"

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by kristallin

I toured with Yes for two weeks doing tour promo for them on their '98 tour. I'll never look at the band the same way again... bunch of divas...

I got to know Peter Banks, the first Yes guitarist, pretty well some years ago, and according to him the diva thing goes back a long ways, particularly to Jon Anderson. Within the band, Jon's nickname was "The Little Napoleon." Steve seemed like a pretty nice dude when I met him many years ago. Chris Squire mostly concentrates on living the rock 'n roll lifestyle, I think.

[YYZ2112]

I can tell just from interviews I've seen or read with Jon Anderson that he's seems he can be a tough to guy to work with. To be honest, as much as I love Yes, his vocals really get on my nerves with certain songs. I always really liked Squire's voice though. Of course I'll take shit from the Yes purist, but I always thought that Trevor Rabin was the best Yes singer!

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by YYZ2112

Of course I'll take shit from the Yes purist, but I always thought that Trevor Rabin was the best Yes singer!

Not live, he wasn't. His live vocals always struck a discordant note for me. Plus, Howe's backing vocals blend better with Squire and Anderson, even though Howe is a terrible lead singer. Yes is really all about the vocal harmonies, much like CSNY. Jon's voice, by itself, is hard to take, but when he sings unison lines with Squire, and especially in sections when Howe joins in, there's nothing like it.

[Shawn]

I've always liked Yes. Great band.

[kristallin]

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

I got to know Peter Banks, the first Yes guitarist, pretty well some years ago, and according to him the diva thing goes back a long ways, particularly to Jon Anderson. Within the band, Jon's nickname was "The Little Napoleon." Steve seemed like a pretty nice dude when I met him many years ago. Chris Squire mostly concentrates on living the rock 'n roll lifestyle, I think.

Most of the diva outbursts actually came from Steve, Chris was way too stoned to complain about anything, he just sulked around. Alan White was a nice bloke, as was Jon, when he wasn't floating around on some other celestial plane...

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by kristallin

Most of the diva outbursts actually came from Steve, Chris was way too stoned to complain about anything, he just sulked around. Alan White was a nice bloke, as was Jon, when he wasn't floating around on some other celestial plane...

Interesting. I guess I have heard stories of diva behavior from Steve. Especially around that time, because he was very unhappy that Billy Sherwood was added as a second guitar player. Although, as it turns out, it was Billy who saved the band as it was on the verge of falling apart a couple of years prior. He wrote, financed, and played a lot of the "Open Your Eyes" album that they were touring for in '98. Not the best album, though...

[GuitarG2]

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

Howe is a terrible lead singer.

Uurgh tell me about it. I heard him doing the lead vocals for Soon once. I guess Jon doing it and Steve doing it both make me want to cry, in different ways tho haha.

Here's hoping for a Yes 40th anniversary tour.

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by GuitarG2

Here's hoping for a Yes 40th anniversary tour.

Your wish is their command. They are touring starting this summer. I have tickets for July in Baltimore. Don't know if they are touring Europe this year, though.

[jim777]

I have tickets for July in Atlantic City. I think I've seen them about 35-40 times, but I've lost count honestly. I've seen almost every tour since Relayer, definitely a favorite of mine for years.