The iconic Yes line up of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White and the returning Rick Wakeman toured behind the “Going for the One” album with Donovan opening and the fans could not be more pumped up to see the progressive rock kings in their prime. This was my first of what would be many Yes concerts seeing my favorite band at the time and the stage’s “Going for the One” cover backdrop added to the anticipition as the album was an instant all time classic. The return of legendary Rick Wakeman to the fold also added to the buzz in the Madison Square Garden crowd. Yes, this would be the first of many Yes concerts I would attend but the only show where we would see the band in a classic concert end stage setting as Yes would tour “in the round” for several years to come. 

The members of Yes are some of the greatest pure musicians on the planet and with the ethereal Jon Anderson providing the lead spiritually and lyrically, Yes was the greatest progressive rock band, for my money, in the history of rock and roll.

This April, Yes will finally join Donovan in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame- a long overdue honor primarily because the HOF committee would seem to have a bias against progressive rock music. Unfortunately co-founder Chris Squier did not live long enough to to be acknowledged in this forum; Greg Lake and Keith Emerson will also be honored posthumously some day. It appears that this committee goes out of its way to create a mix of styles so as to draw the biggest television audience for the HBO production sometimes overlooking “worthy” candidates for potential ratings and media chatter. 

I recently saw Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman at the Paramount in Huntington. They are currently on a lengthy tour and are in top form. 

I struggle with the current Yes lineup that includes Alan White and Steve Howe and have not gone out of my way to see them the past few times they have passed through town.

Jon Anderson has said he could see the band reunite at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Hall of Fame ceremony which would be nice to see after the apparent ongoing bad blood between various members through the years.

Close to the Edge

Rock on

GQ