Online Yes TV
From: Eddie Lee [Eddie_K_Lee@hotmail.com] - March 1
Just read this at Henry Potts' alt.music.yes FAQ site:
"Expected in the summer is 'Online Yes TV', an initiative by the band to make material, including film of live performances, music and exclusive interviews, available over the Web. Filming has already begun of a rockumentary celebrating the band, including footage of shows and soundchecks on the current tour, interviews with fans and the 20 Feb signing event in London. This may be later released on video/DVD."
First "Conspiracy" Review
From: izyrp@odn.de - March 3
Today I purchased the CD from Squire/Sherwood called Conspiracy.
After first listening there's to say (or so it seems to me):
-Everyone enjoying good pop-rock will like it
-Squire is still a great singer but higher vocal tones known from his one and only solo album are missing
-Sherwood is a mediocre lead singer
-Song ideas are mostly convincing
-It's hard to understand why are they releasing another version of "The more we live", it doesn't add anything new to the song.
-Another version of "Love conquers all" is included together with 3 bonus tracks
-One of those 3 bonus tracks is probably the first version of "Open your eyes" with verses that were apparently left off later
-Another bonus is vocaly stripped-down "Man in the moon"
-Some great sounding bass lines here
-I like it
As a whole maybe the best comparison for Conspiracy would be kind of worse OYE with less vocal harmonies and very strong pop-influences.
Zbig
Yes mentioned in Entertainment Weekly
From: ZOEYopioni - March 3
From Entertainment Weekly:
Music snobs may disdain prog rock, but they can kiss my mellotron-loving butt. I listen to Yes, King Crimson, Caravan, even Utopia - the gurgling synthesizers, the 17-minute neoclassical song structures, the lyrics about wizards and unicorns, the whole deal. I admire now-obscure '70s bands with names like Premiata Forneria Marconi and Atomic Rooster. I've gotten goose bumps from a flute solo. Beat me over the head with Beck CDs all you want - I'll still defend the non-ironic (through sometimes misguided) musical ambition of even the most pompous progsters. After all, any schmo can write a song about alienation, broken hearts, and hating the Man, but just try composing a magnum opus about "The Revealing Science of God" as Yes once did ("The future poised with the splendor just begun/the light we were as one/And crowded through the curtains of liquid into sun"). Not that's impressive.
And I'm not alone. Prog-leaning albums from the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, and Radiohead have topped critics' lists in recent years, and even hipster film director Vincent Gallo made brilliantly unexpected use of Yes and King Crimson in Buffalo 66. So if you happen upon that ELP record in my apartment, instead of chuckling derisively why not join me for a rousing sing-along to "Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression"? You'll be glad you did.
howe article
From: Tony Carson [anthony_carson@hotmail.com] - March 6
don't know if this has been mentioned but there is a nice Steve Howe article/lesson in this month's (no. 34) Guitar World Acoustic magazine with Sting on the cover.
Alan White Interview
From: Jon Affonson [joao-affonso@uol.com.br] - March 7
http://www.en.com/users/dhw/uw/uwalwhite.html
Steve's Homebrew 2 sound samples
From: Eddie Lee [Eddie_K_Lee@hotmail.com] - March 7
This was posted by Henry Potts on the AMY:
Steve Howe's website now has sound samples from Homebrew 2 at http://stevehowe.com/homebrew2.html. Several of these are identifiable as having been used in Yessongs, but damned if I can identify them all!
"Conspiracy" Sound Clips
From: Eddie Lee [Eddie_K_Lee@hotmail.com] - March 7
http://nfte.org/conspiracy/ has sound samples of the Conspiracy album.
Guitar Rondo
From: Daniel Potvin [yesfragile@videotron.ca] - March 7
Just to let you know that Steve's official web site (guitar rondo) has been updated.
Yes Italy Tour Dates Cancelled (+ Bologna report)
From: brian_neeson@solectron.co.uk - March 7
Hi Eddie - you reported from Yesworld.
"Due to illness the Yes tour dates for Milan on March 6 and Florence on March 7 have been cancelled. More details to come shortly."
Reports on Southside suggest that Jon was ill. He seemed fine at Bologna on Saturday. It was touch and go whether I would be able to make it. I had flu since Tuesday, and the doc told me to rest until today. I felt a little better on Friday morning, and we just went. The seventh country in my Yestravels.
I was a little weak, so we didn't manage to take in everything we would have liked to. The archtitecture was stunning. - mainly 16th Century, and completely different from anything I have seen in other Italian cities. It was not particularly aesthetically pleasing - just completely different. (I wish I could describe it bettter - imagine 16th Century Lego coloured Rust brown, interspersed with statues of everything. There seemed to be a statue on every wall. We even saw 12th Century graves built into walls.). Jean and I were sitting in the main square - open-air restaurant on Saturday lunchtime - when she says "Oh, look who it is" quite excitedly. I look up to see Jon and Jane passing our table, and taking seats, just two tables along from us.
10 minutes later Alan joined them. He had been filming them from the square - so we are probably in Alan's home movies.
On Saturday evening we met some Italian friends (and David Orsini from Toronto - maybe some of you know him), and we had a rather nice dinner before the concert. The gig started at 9pm. The hall was basically a basketball arena which held around 2500 people and looked fairly full. I met some of the crew before the gig, who told me that the next gig was planned for a TENT. The band were very unhappy about this, particularly as the stage was so small - only 13feet long. They wanted to cancel the gig, but the Italian promoters told them if they cancelled the show, they would pull the rest of the tour. This has made me doubt the "illness" stories. Remember the official story about the Chile cancellation at the time was "poor ticket sales". Since then Alan has said publicly that Management pulled the concert due to concerns over the band's safety in the Political climate at that time.
I was surprised at the sound at the show. I expected it to be very poor. However - it was not at all bad. Maybe it was because I am usually in the front rows. This time I was 10 rows back - so I probably got a truer mix. One thing you guys may not know - on all of the European dates so far Jon has the crowd on their feet for Face to Face.
The setlist was exactly the same as recently - one addition "Happy Birthday" to Chris in Italian.
No Confetti on Awaken. Steve played Clap - (he had played Mood for a Day in Spain).
It was Jean's 6th Yesshow (in 4 different countries), but the first of this tour. Previously when I asked her how the show was - she has been fairly non-commital, but she declared that she really enjoyed the show. I asked her what was different this time.
It appears she is getting to like most of the songs. She still does not like the Epics, but likes AGP, Hearts, Owner, Roundabout, YIND, and most of the new stuff - so the setlist clearly suited her. (I haven't caught her sneaking around the Yesroom, since we got home, though).
This was my 14th and last show of the tour. I had been hoping to see one more - Bucharest. However my Travels take me to USA in the week of that concert, and the following week I will be in...Romania.!!
These last three years of touring have been immensely exciting. It has been fascinating to meet many of you + literally hundreds of others. I could write a book about my adventures.
Sadly - I doubt if I will ever be able to do this on the same scale again.
Regards, Brian
Yes in March 10th ent. weekly magazine, picture of downes
From: Roy DeRousse [relayer@iname.com] - March 7
From the Asia e-mail list:
From: Heyyou3333@aol.com
Thought you would like to know that the March 10th entertainment weekly magazine (U.S.) has a one third page article defending prog rock, and mentions Yes several times. There is a picture of Yes with downes and trevor horn at the top of the article. The magazine just arrived by mail, so may not be in stores yet, it is the one with Pamela Anderson on the cover.
Roger Dean posters available
From: Eddie Lee - March 9
http://www.allwall.com/asp/Search_Do-asp/_/PG--1/1.asp?Search_String=roger+dean+ has 10 different Roger Dean posters for sale at $8.99 each.
Bass Player Magazine
From: Eddie Lee [Eddie_K_Lee@hotmail.com] - March 12
Check out the March issue of Bass Player Magazine, it has a short interview with Chris Squire. The picture in the interview was taken by Roxi.
Contact Rhino Handmade to get "Animation" on CD
Go to Rhino Handmade's website and suggest that that consider "Animation" as a new, limited CD release. http://www.rhinohandmade.com/suggestions/index.html
Yes on Canadian JUNO Award Show
From: james starchuk [jamesstarchuk@hotmail.com] - March 13
I've never been a fan of music awards presentations but Sunday was the Canadian Juno awards and guess what? I missed it. So my friend tells me that the Canadian Bruce Fairbairn was featured for his work as a producer and who do they show clips of? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! actually recording the LADDER in the studio. They did it a lot as a band live in the studio unlike what I had thought! Bravo Canada for giving YES exposure. Or should I say the JUNO producers for featuring Brucey (as Jon calls him). [snip] This is going to mean more sales for YES!!!!!!
We interrupt [snip] to quote from the new issue of Classic Rock (#13) from the UK:
"Yes are to launch their own TV station later this year. Fans will be able to access Yes TC - as it will be called - 24-hours-a-day via the Internet.
"We will have all sorts of stuff available for fans," says bassist Chris Squire. "There will be interviews and also exclusive live broadcasts of shows from our world tour. The idea came after we approached VH-1 in America to broadcast one of our US shows. They weren't interested, so we thought, 'Why not do it ourselves?'" Details will be published in Classic Rock as soon as they are confirmed. Meanwhile, Squire also has exclusively revealed his plans to record a follow-up to his acclaimed 1975 solo album, 'Fish Out Of Water'. "I'll get onto it as soon as possible," he says, "but it'll have to be done in the same way as the original."
The issue also contains an in-depth article in their series The Story Behind The Album on 90125. When I've read it, I'll post some nuggets, but really everyone should make an effort to acquire it, I suspect.
Geoff Downes has just issued a new solo album, "The World Service". I heard it last night. I seriously recommend it; it's loose, imaginative and beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd say it's even better than Sherwood's solo cd, so I have to get me a copy as well. If you're interested go to http://www.asiaworld.org for more information. I have a friend who's a huge Asia fan, who turned me on to this great album. I also heard the Asia cd "Rare", which is very good as well. Either or both are perfect for serious Yes/Asia fans I would think.
Perpetual Change - Thirty Years of Yes is a new book about the history of Yes by David Watkinson. Due for release later this year the book will take a fresh look at the band aiming to create a visual history of their achievements.
For all those interested in the book a website has been set up which along with the associated mailing list will maintain up to date news as the book moves towards publication. The site also contains details about how you can contribute to the book if you have rare or exciting Yes memorabilia or pictures.
You can find the site at http://yesbook.net/
Steve Howe Guitar Rondo - Poll
From: Eddie Lee [Eddie_K_Lee@hotmail.com] - March 21
A message from Steve:
Dear Friends,
I am planning to record a studio acoustic instrumental CD. It
will contain new solos, duets, and other guitar family tracks.
Would you like me to include an acoustic version of a Yes tune
or perhaps a few on an accompanying CD single?
If so, which title/s would you choose?
-- Steve
To suggest a track or tracks for Steve's upcoming album, please
fill out the form below. Poll ends April 2, 2000.
Go to: http://stevehowe.com/acpoll.html
There is a new NFTE up on the NFTE site. This one features a new interview with Steve Howe on his tenure in Tomorrow and focuses on the re-release of the Tomorrow album on CD and particularly on the release of "50 Minute Technicolor Dream". The latter features rare tracks and a rare live recording of Tomorrow playing at a show called Christmas on Earth Continued. Steve has some pretty interesting things to say about the music and the times. ;-) Both of these CD's are worth checking out for any Howe fan as well as Steve Howe: "The Early Years with Bodast" and Steve's "Mothballs" compilation. It is really cool to hear the evolution of the guitarist we've all grown to idolize as "The Maestro".
Also there are a couple of new additions to the Rolling Stone YES documentary site. There are now videos from Steve regarding "Home Brew 2" and something called $0 years of Guitar where Steve talks about his evolution and Guitar collection.
According to YESWorld, the HOB show from "Los Angeles on November 2nd" (I think they probably mean the Las Vegas show on Oct 31st.) will be re-broadcast on the Net on April 13th. [snip] I imagine this is a lead in to the DVD sales.