Vol. 7, No. 1 - January 2000

Rick - Jan 2000 | Dec 99 Yes News

New Year, New Yes From: Henry Potts [h.potts@ucl.ac.uk] - Jan. 3

What does 2000 bring for Yes and the many former members of Yes?

Yes are touring Europe from February before going on to Japan, probably in April. There are plans to hit Australia in Jun, the first time Yes will have toured there in over two decades, but these have yet to be solidly confirmed.

It seems unlikely that there will be any radical change in the set list, although there may be small alterations. The band played a considerable body of music live in 1999, so any differences compared to the end of the North American tour will probably involve bringing back songs played earlier on. On the South American leg, when visiting countries for the first time or after a long break, Yes did change the set list to include more old favourites, a tactic it seems probable they will repeat if they make it to Australia.

Yes then hope to return to North America next summer for a joint tour with... well, that's the big question. Plans to tour with ELP appear to have dissolved, possibly given ELP's own difficulties in staying together. The Moody Blues are reported to have been approached, but the most recent suggestion is King Crimson, who, ironically, are without a Yes connection in the band for the first time in many years. The only problem is, while plans for a tour with Crimson are mentioned by the Yes camp, Robert Fripp has flatly denied the report!

The European leg is to be accompanied by the release of _The Ladder Europe Tour Special Edition_, which comes with a second disc of live performances of "Homeworld" and "The Messenger" plus a live video track. Presumably taken from the 31 Oct Las Vegas show, this material is rapidly becoming familiar and is also expected on video and DVD sooner or later.

And after the tour? Band members have talked about then starting work on the next studio album. Anderson has been quoted as saying that: "The next album has to be a two-hour concept piece on a double CD." Howe reportedly shares a desire to record more epic material, but whether the other band members are interested in such an approach is not known and it seems unlikely any firm decisions will be taken for some months.

Compared to their contemporaries, Yes have been slow to release archival material: _Something's Coming_ (a.k.a. _Beyond & Before, a.k.a. _The Millennium Collection_) was engineered by Peter Banks and the band have opposed various recent video, laserdisc and DVD releases. However, there have been rumours for a while yet that some unreleased Yes songs will be made available in some form or another in 2000, a development that will have been long-awaited.

All the band members continue with careers outside Yes, but Yes continues to keep them busy most of the time. Few new projects from the six appear to await us in 2000, but several previously recorded works do await release.

Jon Anderson's next solo album is expected to be _The Millennium Child_, which seems to include some ideas left over from _The Ladder_. Anderson has various other projects on the go, including his infamous "Chagall" musical, but there are no signs of any others reaching fruition soon. One Way are re-releasing _Deseo_ and _Toltec_ in 2000. Anderson has also been working with a variety of collaborators. The results of work with Robin Crow are expected in 2000.

Another collaboration is with Igor Khoroshev. The pair have recorded _True You, True Me_, which should be released early in the new year. They have also been working with a Tibetan musician who goes by the rather odd name of MAO Inhibitor.

Dr. Scott Richards [Scott.B.Richards@kp.org ] adds: "The Tibetian musician with Igor who calls himself MAO Inhibitor is truly an odd thing. MAO Inhibitor (or MAOI's as we call them in the business) is a class of an antidepressant that has been around for about 25 years and is used for depression, panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. It is a medication that inhibits a certain enzyme called Monoamine Oxidase (thus M A O) in the blood."

Steve Howe has a number of older projects awaiting release or completion. He has had difficulty securing a release for _Masterpiece Guitars_, the album with Martin Taylor, but hopefully it will emerge in 2000, a mere four years after being recorded. Howe's collaboration with Annie Haslam has been going on for as long, but does not seem any closer to completion than it did at the beginning of 1999. An album of rock guitarists' interpretations of classical pieces, produced by Steve Morse, also awaits release and includes contributions from both Howe and Trevor Rabin.

As for new work, Howe has talked about doing a jazz album and says he has recorded two tracks already, but with Yes keeping him busy, it seems unlikely that he will have a solo release of new material ready until late in 2000 at the earliest. On the archival side, Howe promises _Homebrew 2_ around March, to include Yes material and work with Patrick Moraz. _Headstock_ is a compilation of Howe's work that has been promised by Rhino Records for a while now and may appear in 2000. Due very early in the year is a live Asia album, _... And the First Shall be Last_ (the original quartet's last performance together from September 1983), while a best-of compilation including rare b-sides is due from MCA/Geffen.

When Chris Squire first promised a sequel to _Fish Out of Water_, I don't think anybody expected he meant in the next millennium. Work with Billy Sherwood as the Chris Squire Experiment nearly produced an album -- _Chemistry_ got as far as promo tapes in 1997 -- but we now await the promise of a release under the name Conspiracy in March. It is unclear how Conspiracy relates to earlier material, but it is presumably mostly the same Squire/Sherwood songs that have been floating around in one guise or another for about a decade. We have waited so long for this album that several songs have leaked out as different versions down the years: expect alternate versions of "Open Your Eyes", "Man in the Moon", "Love Conquers All" and "The More We Live -- Let Go".

Squire and Trevor Rabin have been reported to be helping with a new solo album from Roger Hodgson, possibly to be entitled _Open the Door_, which would be a rare guest appearance for The Fish.

We have been waiting for a second solo album from Alan White nearly as long as one from Squire. Despite mutterings over the year of such a project, nothing is on the horizon. Nor have I heard anything recently about White's company with Reek Havok to make music for entertainment products (computer games, TV etc.): Crash and Bang. However, two guest appearances by White are expected in 2000: on MerKaBa's eponymous album, due March; and Treason's second album, _Code of Silence_. _Code of Silence_ also includes guest appearances by Anderson, Sherwood and Khoroshev.

Aside from Billy Sherwood's work in Conspiracy with Squire -- and I wonder whether a name change from the Chris Squire Experiment indicates he was tired of not getting equal billing -- Sherwood does not appear to have any projects in 2000, beyond guesting on _Code of Silence_. He has said that he would like to do another World Trade album when time is available. An archival release of material by the first Key band from the early nineties is another possibility.

Work in Yes and with Anderson keeps Khoroshev occupied for the beginning of 2000 and plans for a second solo album and work with Carl Jacobson appear to remain delayed.

Turning to the past Yes members, I hope we will see Peter Banks' band project with John Jowitt and Steve Christey finally get off the ground in 2000. A new solo album, _Production_, has also been expected for some time. Early 2000 should also bring Ant-Bee's _Electronic Church Muzik_, on which Banks guests along side such notables as Daevid Allen and Jan Akkerman. 2000 will hopefully see time for the planned Banks/Downes collaboration, although Downes starts the year busy finishing a new Asia album. Downes also has his second solo album, _The World Service_, awaiting release at the end of January. A while back Robert Berry spoke of the possibility of recording with Downes in 2000, to further fill a busy year. Back to Asia, 2000 will hopefully also see the release of Dave Gallant's authorised biography of the band, "Asia -- The Heat Goes On".

Downes' fellow Buggle, Trevor Horn, was in a surprisingly media friendly mood for 1999. Once shy of attention, Horn seems to plan to stay in the foreground in 2000. He continues a returns to touring with the Art of Noise, who play the UK in 2000. In something of a coup, he was commissioned to create a piece of music to accompany the millennial fireworks over the River Thames tonight, which he has done so partly using Art of Noise material. Meanwhile, _The Trevor Horn Archive Collection, Vol. 1_ is expected early 2000, with material from the last twenty years. Otherwise, Horn can be expected to continue with production work for various new ZTT signings.

Bill Bruford's new incarnation of Earthworks are playing Guildford in January and between them, possible further work with Pete Lockett's Network of Sparks and a new band with Mark Nauseef, Miroslav Tadic, Steve Swallow and David Torn, Bruford has another busy year ahead of him. There may be further work with the Bruford-Levin band and _B.L.U.E. Nights_ (three quarters live material and one quarter new pieces) receives wider release in Mar having already come out in Japan.

Bruford is out of King Crimson and does not appear to be in any hurry to return, but archival work and re-releases involving him continue to pour out. We have been waiting so long it seems like another archival release, but the album formerly under the UK tag, _Legacy_, is also expected early in 2000. Who wants to bet whether _Legacy_ or _Conspiracy_ will actually appear first?

After the big budget of _Return to the Centre of the Earth_, the first half of 2000 looks likely to show a more familiar pattern of activity from Rick Wakeman, with numerous solo albums on small labels (_Preludes to a Century_ and _Chronicles of Man_ are due early in the year), a solo UK tour and various celebrity TV appearances. However, 2000 may also mark an important change in his career. Largely for medical reasons, Wakeman has announced an intention to slowly withdraw from touring, although an exact time scale is unclear. One early casualty of this appears to be the plan for a joint tour with Keith Emerson in the summer of 2000, although plans to record an album together remain. Wakeman is also turning towards writing: a sequel to his autobiography "Say Yes!" is expected and he's also working on a novel.

Plans in 2000 by Tony Kaye, Patrick Moraz and Trevor Rabin are unclear. 1999 was a quiet year for Moraz, but two solo albums seem largely ready for release and may emerge in 2000. Moraz has also been working with percussionist Ronnie Ciago, which may lead to another release. 1999 was an even quieter year for Kaye. Occasional reports emerge suggesting he is still working on music of some sort, although he has effectively retired from any sort of live performing. Let us hope we finally hear something from him soon.

Brian Neeson adds: "Patrick has completed his "Piano" album, and has said that he would like to take this on the road with his "Drummer". (I assume this is Ciago?). A couple of people on this [Southside] list have already heard parts of his new work - and their reactions were very favourable. (I will leave it to them to expand if they wish.) Patrick has also said that there is a possibility he will work on some composition with Annie Haslam."

In all, I think there is plenty to look forward to in 2000 for the Yes fan: worldwide touring, work beginning on a follow-up to _The Ladder_ and a hint that the archives may be opened. Outside of Yes, Anderson's _The Millennium Child_ sounds particularly intriguing if it turns out to be one of his more Yes-like solo releases, while _True You, True Me_ could be the start of a Jon & Khoroshev collaboration to rival Jon & Vangelis.

It is hard to remain excited about Conspiracy when we have been waiting so long, with so many false dawns. I think we know what sort of work to expect and a possible guest appearance by Squire on a Roger Hodgson album seems more interesting now.

Among former Yes members, I am most looking forward to the possibility of band material from Peter Banks and of seeing Trevor Horn at the front of a band again, rather than behind the mixing desk. And, as ever, Bruford has numerous exciting projects for the year already lined up.

Billy Interview in Music Street Journal From Gary at MusicStJournal - Jan. 1

The new and improved Music Street Journal debuts today. Among the articles included is an interview with Billy Sherwood from late November. You can check out MSJ by using either of these URLs http://www.50megs.com/msj or http://MusicStJournal.50megs.com.

Animation Petition From: Yesence@aol.com - Jan. 3

In response to the huge interest in the rerelease of Jon Anderson's Animation project, Opio has put together an Animation petition on the website. If you are interested in adding your support, go to www.webcom.com/opio/music.html for more details.

'Classic Rock' mag - YES Competition From: SPBrader@aol.com - Jan. 5

Classic Rock magazine in the UK have a competition running in the February edition. The prize is for the winner and partner to meet the band backstage after the Feb. 20th gig at the Royal Albert Hall. It doesn't explicitly say that tickets for the show are included, but one assumes they are!

To enter, answer the following question:
'Who is the only member of Yes to have remained with the band since their inception in 1969?'

Entries can be sent on a postcard or the back of a sealed envelope to:

'Igor Toraballockoff' (This is their puerile joke, not mine!)
c/o Classic Rock Magazine,
Dennis Publishing,
19 Bolsover Street,
London
W1P 7HJ

or email it to: production.oneshots@dennis.co.uk

YESschool From Chris Kraatz [kraatz@gateway.net] - Jan. 6

i'm doing an experimental seminar this spring entitled "religion, selfhood and the unconscious". actually, i've done it twice before, but i'm still experimenting with the syllabus. anyway, at the end of the semester the final two classes will be spent in the university's state of the art auditorium for a group enjoyment and analysis of TALES.

the 1st of those classes we'll be watching "the revealing" from 10/31/97 on a GIANT wall-sized video screen and then listening to "the remembering" on a killer sound system. the 2nd class well be listening to "the ancient" and then watching "ritual" from the QPR video.

along with the music, students will be reading pertinent selections from the YESbooks by tom mosbo and bill martin - and of course they'll have to get some of the background on YES and TALES from me.

the rest of the semester is full of exciting stuff as well. if you'd like more info on the course or why TALES is an absolutely ideal way to end it (i've used the other times i've conducted the seminar and the students loved it), please e-mail me or check out a complete syllabus for the course on my web-page at the university: http://phil.iupui.edu/ckraatz.htm

there's a link to the syllabus on my page. also, there is a link to another page operated by me which is now part of the YES webring. its a pretty cool page devoted to varying interpretations of the OLIAS symbol. the page is called "spirit of olias": http://phil.iupui.edu/spiritofolias.htm

thoughts and suggestions regarding the above mentioned seminar or the spirit of olias page are certainly welcome from all my YESfriends and family (that's YOU).

peace,
chris

Jon Anderson Interview From: Eddie Lee [Eddie_K_Lee@hotmail.com] - Jan. 7

Someone just post this on AMY:

Check out the interview here (16 minutes long). You will need Real Player. http://www.hob.com/live/artistinterviews/991102yes/

Yes Music Circle supporters club bulletin (year 2000) number 01 In this issue :
1) Rick Wakeman’s new CD ‘Preludes to a Century’
2) BBC Radio 2 series ‘Re:percussion’
3) Rick Wakeman presents BBC series ‘Radio 2s Classic Albums’
4) ‘Classic Rock’ magazine has competition to win 2 Yes UK tickets
5) Re-launch of magazines ‘Yes Music Circle’ and ‘Progress’
6) Rick’s performance in BBC2 tv’s ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’
1) Rick Wakeman’s new CD ‘Preludes to a Century’
This CD should be in shops within days of now (January 5, 2000). The music comes from a Steinway Concert Grand piano, and to me sounds as pure and calming as ‘Heritage Suite’. For anyone disenchanted by Rick’s ambient albums, it’s well worth listening to this 61-minute return to the Grand piano. The YMC supporters club eagerly awaits emails and letters with listeners’ reactions, for publication in ‘Yes Music Circle’ magazine. (Or if you prefer your comments to be for the editor's eyes only, please mark them “NFP”, meaning Not For Publication!)

2) BBC Radio 2 series ‘Re:percussion’
POLICE man Stewart Copeland presents 'Re:percussion', the story of drumming in the 20th century. This new Radio 2 series commences January 5, 2000, at 10.03–10.30pm GMT. Clearly, Bill Bruford is likely to be included sometime in the series! In the UK, Radio 2 is at 88–91FM. Via the ‘net Radio 2 is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/radio2/front.pl.

3) Rick Wakeman presents BBC series ‘Radio 2s Classic Albums’
Rick presents the second series of ‘Radio 2s Classic Albums’, starting January 6, 2000, at 9.03–9.30pm GMT. This commences with Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’. In 1998, Rick presented Series 1, which gave ½–hour insights into 6 albums: The Beatles ‘Abbey Road’ ~ Simply Red ‘Stars’ ~ Fleetwood Mac ‘Rumours’ ~ Annie Lennox ‘Diva’ ~ Phil Collins ‘Face Value’ ~ Dire Straits ‘Brothers In Arms’.

4) ‘Classic Rock’ magazine has competition to win 2 Yes UK tickets
UK-based newsagent stocked magazine ‘Classic Rock’ (February 2000 issue) includes a competition to win a pair of tickets for a Yes show in the UK, and a chance to meet musicians after the show. Entrants have to identify the only member to remain in the band throughout its history. There is also a live photo of Yes and a review that’s generally positive about the music (but teasing re clothing!) Elsewhere, a fan nominates ‘Talk’ as an underrated album.

5) Re-launch of magazines ‘Yes Music Circle’ and ‘Progress’
The intention is to re-launch the magazines to coincide with the UK Yes tour. It can be revealed that, in addition to my now slightly improved medical condition, publication of the magazines was delayed whilst awaiting a superb Yes album (which ‘The Ladder’ largely is!) This was essential because, even prior to irregular production of our magazines, there was a large drop-out in subscriber numbers, and indeed in support generally for Yes, world-wide. I believe this was due mainly to widespread disillusionment prompted by ‘Union’, ‘Talk’ and latterly ‘Open Your Eyes’ (though clearly all have many good points!) Also, the Internet has developed as a fast (though often frustrating) medium of communication. I’d say its big drawback is time-consuming sifting of fact from gossip, speculation and a curious aggression. The effect on YMC of the drop-out is that it’s loss-making to get the magazines printed (very expensive in Surrey!) and, living on a little insurance money, I’ve been unable to continue subsidising YMC. I’ve tried using the ‘net to swell our subscriber number.

The YMC merchandise clearance sale continues. The full list is available on our Progressive Maze website at http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2757/mer-uk.html ~ although there are some rare items that will not be announced anywhere until the magazines are published, as it’s only fair our subscribers have “first refusal”! The 16-page list is also available on paper. If you live within the UK, please supply 3 x 1st class stamps, towards the cost of postage, printer-toner, paper & envelope. All items are unused, officially released Yes, progressive & related CDs, rare singles, Roger Dean calendars, posters, postcards, etc. Because I foolishly bulk-purchased the items, over the years; in advance of having ‘customers’ for the specific items; I need to sell off everything in order to regain access to my personal funds. Virtually all items on the list are being sold at less than the cost to me, so there is no ‘profit margin’ for free supply of lists ~ sorry! If desired, you can use part of your magazine subscription to buy merchandise. Just email me if you need to know your subscription status. (Most people have subscribed for 1–3 mailings of our magazines. Remember, the price was £1.15 UK Pounds per magazine, including postage within the UK, for both ‘Yes Music Circle’ and ‘Progress’.)

Do you or any friends & relatives wish to buy the metal classic-Yes logo YMC badge (or button, in American terminology)? This is a limited edition of 1000. I’m offering them at cost price. Within the UK, the price is: x1 badge for £0.40 UKP ~ x2 badges for £0.60 UKP (postage costs the same for 2 as 1!) ~ x3 for £0.80 UKP ~ x4 for £1.00 UKP ~ x10 for £2.35 UKP. Wearing the badge in public places is a great method for striking up conversations with current or past Yes-music enthusiasts! (I’ve received some wondrous stories about this happening in the most unlikely of places!)

Pricing info for the button (including Air Mail shipping) from England to the U.S. is: x1 button costs $1.50 ~ x2 buttons for $2.55 ~ x3 for $2.85 ~ x4 for $3.25 ~ x10 for £5.70

Also available at a similar price is the YMC pen. (Please email for details.) Using either item in public draws attention to the fact Yes are shortly to perform concerts, so it helps the band.

6) Rick’s performance in BBC2 tv’s ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’
For anyone unable to view Rick Wakeman’s recent performance on BBC2 television’s ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ (Dec 29, 1999, repeated Jan 1, 2000) … dressed as Wizard Wakeman (gold cape, long silver wig and green cone hat), Rick performed along with comedian Bill Bailey (guitar), whilst celebrity contestants endeavoured to identify renditions from: the Clash ‘London Calling’ ~ Sweet ‘Hell Raiser’ ~ Ram Jam ‘Black Betty’ ~ Duran Duran ‘Save a Prayer’ ~ Cream ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ ~ Mike Oldfield ‘In Dolce Jubilo’. Somehow ‘Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer’ kept intercepting the Wakeman / Bailey renditions!

Published by YES Music Circle international Yes supporters club T. Hay, c/o 13 The Court, Bury Fields, Guildford GU2 5BA, England website (Progressive Maze) http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/2757 email Tizwin Hay tizwin@progress.freeserve.co.uk">tizwin@progress.freeserve.co.uk

* * * End of YMC y2000 n01 (5 January 2000) * * *

"Close the the Edge: the Story of Yes" Update From Tizwin Hay [tizwin@progress.freeserve.co.uk] - Jan. 13

Book on Yes by Chris Welch being updated!

Yes book 'Close to the Edge: the Story of Yes' by Chris Welch is to be published in paperback format, April 2000. It will be updated to include information regarding 'The Ladder' and the recent tour of the American continent.

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