Vol. 7, No. 5 - May 2000
Matt Riddle has a review of a new PM album called "Resonance" on the Envision website.
Found this on the KLOS web site Rock Report for April 25th.
Yes will be kicking off their Masterworks tour on June 20th in Reno. On this tour, the group plans to play their longer songs, many of which never have been played live or rarely... They'll play the Universal Amphitheatre on June 23rd.
Word *is* getting out. ;-)
There's a Picture of Yes performing Live at http://galeon.hispavista.com/progvisions/ . And its a great prog site as well.
It used to be, in the old glory days of Yes, fairly common to run across a Steve Howe interview...especially if one was perusing through some guitar-oriented publication. But nowadays, it seems, one really has to look for them to find them. Hence, it is always a pleasant surprise to me when I stumble across one while looking for something else entirely!
Today, I found a link to a website called Guitar.com. I was searching the web to find information about classical guitars. The homepage of Guitar.com promised some feature interviews...and low and behold, there was a new one with Steve Howe! And, a very cool one, indeed! Here is the link and the web addy...enjoy! :-)
Guitar.com - Your guitar guide!
http://www.guitar.com/g2kfeatures/viewfeature.asp?featureID=28
Q104.3 Classic rock in New York is pushing sales of the Yes Masterworks/Kansas tour on their home page.
The HOB-Vegas show just went on presale at CDNOW.com also (along with Tower). They are advertising both a DVD and VHS version, with VHS about $2 less (DVD @ $19.99; VHS @ $17.99). No indication of what's on it, but the length is the same as the satellite broadcast at 117 minutes, so Heart and CTTE are unlikely to be on it.
Just in from the Yahoo Yes Club...
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I was at work today and had 105.5 (WDHA) on and at about 2.00 they were playing a double play of Yes and when the songs were over the DJ had Jon on the air (he was calling from So. California). She was asking about the upcoming tour and Jon said they will play for a little over 2 hours, he said they will play 5 epic songs (he did say "Gates"), and then 2 or 3 songs and then an encore ...
For everyone interested in DVD, I thought I'd share my experiences. I've decided to list all available DVD's with some info about where you can buy them.
Musikladen: Available from any major US supplier.
Yessongs: Available from any major US supplier.
QPR: Available in two versions.
- Eddie Lee (http://www.geocities.com/yesmusic/hkvcdvd.htm) offers a single disc version (as released in Hong Kong). I have not bought from Eddie myself, but I hear from several people he is reliable.
- HMV Japan (http://www.hmv.co.jp) offer a two-disc version. I have recently bought some items from HMV Japan. They have info in English (not too much, but enough to be able to place an order). Their service it good, but they charge quite a lot for packaging, so be warned!
Philadelphia: Available from any major US supplier.
ABWH: Two versions exist
- A single-disc version used to be available as US release, but sadly this is no longer the case. If you're lucky you find one lying on the shelves in a shop, but I doubt very much you'll get one if you order it.
- HMV Japan (see above) offer a two-disc version.
Union: Available from HMV Japan. My favourite DVD! Partly because I'd never seen the show before.
Keys: To be released in Europe next month. I've pre-ordered my copy from Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk).
House of Blues: To be released in the US (and Europe?) next month. I have pre-ordered a copy from CD Now.
I have not added info about region coding for any of the titles. I own a region-free player, so I never pay any attention to this. If you need more info, don't hesitate to ask and I might be able to find out.
This info is all just from personal experience. and I don't have any business interest in the suppliers mentioned above.
Happy DVD-ing!
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From: Eddie Lee [Eddie_K_Lee@hotmail.com] - May 13
QPR: Available in two versions.
I need to make a correction here, the Hong Kong version of the QPR show is also on 2 discs, just like the Japanese DVDs. All the DVDs from this Hong Kong company (Panorama Music Video) are code-free, so folks in the US can view it without any problems.
ABWH: Two versions exist
- A single-disc version used to be available as US release, but sadly this is no longer the case. If you're lucky you find one lying on the shelves in a shop, but I doubt very much you'll get one if you order it.
- HMV Japan (see above) offer a two-disc version.
There's a chance it'll be released by Panorama because I just talked to someone there and he said the'll release all the stuff by VideoArts Music in Japan sooner or later and the ABWH DVD happens to be a VideoArts release.
Union: Available from HMV Japan. My favourite DVD! Partly because I'd never seen the show before.
It's my favorite, too! Too bad it wasn't filmed "In The Round".
Keys: To be released in Europe next month. I've pre-ordered my copy from Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk).
Darn, the European only makes PAL disc AFAIK, even though I have a region-free (NTSC) machine, I can't watch it. Panorama might release it here since Castle owns the right and Panorama has been releasing their stuff.
House of Blues: To be released in the US (and Europe?) next month. I have pre-ordered a copy from CD Now.
It'll be a good one, here is the detail of it from the HMV site:
http://www.hmv.com/servlet/HMVApp/ProductDetails.ProductDetails/product?productSKU=762521
Don't forget the possibility for the Japanese to release "9012 Live" in DVD. It'll be great if they can release it with the songs that didn't make to the original VHS and laser disc.
Also, the Rick Wakeman's "Chronicles" DVD will be released by Panorama next month, I bought the Japanese DVD from a friend just 2 weeks ago, and it's very good!
I was driving home from work on Friday and caught the middle-to-end part of a radio interview with Jon Anderson on WDVE! I couldn't believe it! DVE rarely talks to bands that I like and hardly played anything from The Ladder, but the station has been plugging the heck out of the upcoming concert. According to the DJ, Jon just happened to call in and chat cuz that was the day general tix went on sale for the show :)
Anyway, Jon was his usual positive, enthusiastic self. Sounded thrilled about the Masterworks Tour and talked at length about how Yes has fans all over the world and they seem to like the epic pieces better than short ones. He mentioned Gates and Ritual were strong possibilities.
The DJ also talked about how intricate and complicated their music is and Jon said they were "built to create music like that." Then they discussed the internet and how technology-astute Yes is. Jon mentioned that Beyondmusic.com will soon be having concert footage so that "someone in Germany can watch a concert in Pittsburgh" etc.
He's happy to embrace new technology and doesn't mind that people get music for free via the computer. He always wanted music to be free but the record execs (are bastards said the DJ) (but Jon said something more diplomatic).
Then the DJ asked Jon about Kansas, did Yes have any contact with them. Jon said Yes always knew of Kansas but never had a chance to tour with them. Jon likes opening bands because they bring in a wider circle of fans and he wants more and more people to hear good music. They thought about getting a younger group but Kansas was available and they liked the idea.
So it was pure Jon, nothing about internal fighting or Billy, unless I missed that. Did anyone else hear the interview? I didn't hear anything about personnel changes but, it was a great way to pass the time sitting in traffic! DVE then went onto play "Changes" which is a good rocking Yes tune.then they played Clapton's "Cocaine" as I mercifully went into a tunnel.
Found on the Rolling Stone site:
Yes to Dust Off Their "Masterworks"
Latest tour from prog-rock kings Yes will focus on longer epics
Masters of epics
When a band like Yes calls a string of dates their "Masterworks Tour," you better believe they've got grander designs in mind than promoting a new album or just playing the "hits." For the veteran prog-rocker latest go-round, they'll focus on their "epic masterpieces."
In other words, "Owner of a Lonely Heart" fans probably needn't apply. However, early arrivals will likely get to hear "Point of No Return" or "Dust in the Wind" courtesy of opening act Kansas.
As for the Yes portion of the show, the band (which includes longtime members Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Chris Squire, as well as relative new kid Alan White, who joined in 1972) promises to focus on their longer songs, many of which have either never been played live or have not have been played in ages. Fans have been voting for their favorite forgotten epics on the band's official Web site, www.yesworld.com, and suggestions have included sprawling works like "South Side of the Sky" (1972), "Gates of Delirium" (1974) and "Mind Drive" (1998).
"Our audience has been asking for this for years," said lead singer Anderson. "We want this show to honor their passion and loyalty."
Tickets for Yes' Masterworks tour go on sale in early May.
A new issue of NFTE has appeared today, including a very interesting conversation with Nikki Squire (ex of Chris). Go check it.
I just stumbled across this
http://homepages.which.net/~simon.arnold1/yesbook.htm. It may be old news, but it's new to me :) it will be called "Perpetual Change - 30 Years of Yes". It is a visual history. kewl beans.
As usual, any birthday wishes sent to Rick Wakeman Communication Centre will get passed on to the birthday boy...
The paperback version of the Chris Welch tome is now available in the UK -and is the revised version, including the Ladder (even correct in the text for Birmingham only getting one night - I was impressed).
In a message dated 5/17/00 ZOEYopioni@aol.com writes:
"'Where Are They Now?' segment on Asia is due to air on May 23 at 10pm Eastern Time (USofA). Anyone know about this ?"
Hi....the Asia/QANGO segment has now been changed to May 22nd at 10PM Eastern time. VH-1 kept flip-flopping the show, but as of yesterday the 22nd will be the correct airtime. The show will include recent interviews with Geoff Downes and John Payne, as well as info on QANGO....the new band started by John Wetton and Carl Palmer.
Patrick Moraz (ex Yes, Refugee, Moody Blues) is going to play a one-off date in the UK at the Marlborough Memorial Hall on August 26th 2000.
The set will include material ranging through his entire career from "Story of I" to his latest albums "ESP" and "Resonance" due out in June.
Tickets are priced at twenty pounds and more details can be obtained by phoning Paul Chandler on +44 (0)1672 811636 or by e-mailing earthworks@cwcom.net