Yes to tour w/ "Jon understudy"

[kirk]

It's official, Benoit David of Toronto Yes Trib band
"Close to the Edge" will be touring w/ Yes-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3BFuxBayxg

Thoughts ? `-( or 8-)

Kirk

[Dark Side]

:xfinger:

[kirk]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7609952.stm

I'm going to wait for some input before weighing in,
but personally, I'm not doing handstands and huzzahs...

K

[cribguy]

Sounds like Jon, but...

[PFD]

Yeah, he's a good stand in; but that's just it. It's not the real thing. Would be cheaper to just go see the dude's cover band instead.

[progzealot]

I hope fans don't heckle the guy and chant "WE WANT JON".

[AAAball]

that would suck..

[dangerboy]

Yeah, he's a good stand in; but that's just it. It's not the real thing. Would be cheaper to just go see the dude's cover band instead.

Nice avatar :D

That's a good point. I think I'd rather keep my money in my pocket. But, on the other hand, Yes is a band that's changed out quite a few members over the years ;)

[Thor]

How about they tour as NO and call it a day.
I agree to see with this singer at $20 as a tribute band at would be better than spending $120 to hear him with Yes

[Yesspaz]

I don't care for clone singers (see Journey's attempts to find a new Steve Perry). When you change drummers or keyboardists, you don't expect them to be clones. Why no just look for the best singer, period?

That said, I hope they don't recycle the hits. We all know the reason no Drama is played is Jon won't sing it.

Other than that, I'm all for the idea. Why whine that Jon is gone? At the end of the day, Jon is a musician. He's not irreplacable. Yes has had many line-ups. The more the merrier.

My real gripe is Oliver Wakeman. They should get Geoff Downes.

[kirk]

I don't care for clone singers (see Journey's attempts to find a new Steve Perry). When you change drummers or keyboardists, you don't expect them to be clones. Why no just look for the best singer, period?

That said, I hope they don't recycle the hits. We all know the reason no Drama is played is Jon won't sing it.

Other than that, I'm all for the idea. Why whine that Jon is gone? At the end of the day, Jon is a musician. He's not irreplacable. Yes has had many line-ups. The more the merrier.

My real gripe is Oliver Wakeman. They should get Geoff Downes.

My objection is the use of a "Jon clone", a tribute singer.
The question comes to mind, "who's next to be trib-traded out?"
Will this eventually evolve into the "official tribute band", the one
that flies the Dean logo ?

I think this non-artistic direction leads to casinos and State Fairs
ala the Beach Boys for arguably the greatest Progressive rock band ever.

I would've loved and supported an effort to merge some existing talent
in the way that even the Syn has bounced back w/ Francis Dunnery,
Tom Brislin, Brett Kull (touring band, production).

Imagine a new "Drama" concept w/ say, Neal and Ryu joining C,S,A
in a new Yes...

K

[TheFish]

Not particularily excited about this change of things. For Chris to base an offer on a grainy poor sound quality you tube video is scary.:jawdrop: I smell contractual obligation (for the tour) and this is a lazy way to complete the tour contract. Hell, what am I saying? I'm too much of a fanatic, I'll be there.:rockband: :dunno: :confused: :shootmeno

[progdirjim]

Well I think the vocalist sounds pretty damn good, and the rest of the band is decent but obviously not the match of Howe/Squire/etc. Shows how overrated Jon is. He has the perfect voice for Yes, but if there's a match, well, I think a Yes tour with this guy would still be darn good. Just my opinion...

I think "but he's not Jon" is simply idol worship, and whilst valid if you feel that way, I don't, personally...

[Rick and Roll]

It's not my place to tell anyone who should be in what band. It is my place to react and plan accordingly.

I agree with Jim about the Idol worship comment, and definitely spaz and kirk about not getting a clone. Saga did the same thing with some guy that sounds like he's from Survivor.

I guess anything's better than Queen with Paul Rodgers. :confused:

If they put a record out I will listen. But to see them on tour, I'll pass. Be interesting to see if they charge less than the last tour prices.

After seeing them at Wolf Trap in 2001 years back nothing will top that. So I'm not concerned, whatever they do is ok with me. I'm enthusiastically indifferent.

[kirk]

From Variety online:
http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlis...y=chris+squire
"For the second time in the last 20-odd years Yes is not Yes, using the names of the musicians in the band for a North American tour that begins Nov. 4 in Hamilton, Ontario. Dates are still being booked so no tour route yet.
Billed as Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes - try putting that on a marquee - the band will head out on its "In The Present" tour with the son of Rick Wakeman on keyboards and a singer from a Yes tribute band handling lead vocals.
Singer Benoit David, a native of Montreal, is understudying for Jon Anderson whose health issues are keeping him home through the end of the year. To not suggest that Anderson is out of the band, the man who founded the act with the singer, bassist Squire, they are not using the name Yes. "

Good move, says I .

K

[Rick and Roll]

From Variety online:
http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlis...y=chris+squire
"For the second time in the last 20-odd years Yes is not Yes, using the names of the musicians in the band for a North American tour that begins Nov. 4 in Hamilton, Ontario. Dates are still being booked so no tour route yet.
Billed as Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes - try putting that on a marquee - the band will head out on its "In The Present" tour with the son of Rick Wakeman on keyboards and a singer from a Yes tribute band handling lead vocals.
Singer Benoit David, a native of Montreal, is understudying for Jon Anderson whose health issues are keeping him home through the end of the year. To not suggest that Anderson is out of the band, the man who founded the act with the singer, bassist Squire, they are not using the name Yes. "

Good move, says I .

K

Just marketing, that's all. Unnecessarily cumbersome, says I.

How about "three virtuosos + two scrubs"? :)

Understudy lol - guy's probably well into his 40's.

[kirk]

Just marketing, that's all. Unnecessarily cumbersome, says I.

How about "three virtuosos + two scrubs"? :)

Understudy lol - guy's probably well into his 40's.
Good self preservation move, in the way that
Plant and Page didn't include JPJ, making it a Zep reunion...imo.

If it bombs, then the Yes franchise is still intact.

K

[Rick and Roll]

Good self preservation move, in the way that
Plant and Page didn't include JPJ, making it a Zep reunion...imo.

If it bombs, then the Yes franchise is still intact.

K

Good point. And still less cumbersome tha the law firm of "Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe".

[KeithieW]

The songs will still be great though and I'm sure it will be a pleasure to hear.

Bring it on!!!

[Giloeada]

In addition to prog, I also love classical music. Since we no longer have Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc. with us to conduct the music the way they intended, we get to hear the different interpretations of their masterpieces by various conductors, soloists and orchestras. That is part of the joy of listening - contrasting and comparing different versions.

I see no difference in the prog world, and I greatly anticipate hearing a new interpretation of the Yes classics. You know that Rick Wakeman said long ago that he believed that Yes would be like a symphony orchestra and go on into the future. Why should we be deprived of this beauty simply because the original artists are no longer able to perform?

[Graybags]

Agreed - you can't tour Yes with a stand in singer, I saw Fragile with Steve Howe on Guitar, the vocalist wasn't brilliant,if it wasn't for the fact that Steve was there it would have been a washout
But Benoit is better
(Fragile are a Yes tribute band )
G

[Yesspaz]

You know that Rick Wakeman said long ago that he believed that Yes would be like a symphony orchestra and go on into the future. Why should we be deprived of this beauty simply because the original artists are no longer able to perform?I'm sorry, but I just don't get this thing Rick said. To me it's the most, ahem, "Pretentious" thing ever said in relation to Rock Music. Yes are my favorite band ever, but, at the end of the day, they're just a band. Bands come, and bands go.

"'C'est la vie' say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell."

[Giloeada]

I'm sorry, but I just don't get this thing Rick said. To me it's the most, ahem, "Pretentious" thing ever said in relation to Rock Music. Yes are my favorite band ever, but, at the end of the day, they're just a band. Bands come, and bands go.

Yes - just a band???!?! Not to me. Their music was the spiritual soundtrack to my youth. To paraphrase the film Amadeus, it was "as if they were taking dictation from God." I'm sorry if that sounds pretentious to you, but that is how I feel.

I would no more say that Yes was just a band than I would say that Mozart was 'just a musician', or Da Vinci was 'just a painter.'

[claycorn]

:dogpile: im quite excited to hear this the new singer is spot on ol` jon and my will finally hear some drama era music!!:notworthy

[Yesspaz]

Yes - just a band???!?! Not to me. Their music was the spiritual soundtrack to my youth. To paraphrase the film Amadeus, it was "as if they were taking dictation from God." I'm sorry if that sounds pretentious to you, but that is how I feel.

I would no more say that Yes was just a band than I would say that Mozart was 'just a musician', or Da Vinci was 'just a painter.'What I'm saying is that "genius" isn't are rare as most think. There are so many great musicians in the world that to idolize one or one group is put undo glory on a single person. Pedastals are one construction job from being gallows. "All good things must come to an end," as they say, and when Yes is done, they should be done. To quote John Lennon on the hoopla after the Beatles disintigrated, "We were just a band who made it very, very big - that's all. All the old records are there if you want to reminice."

Yes are my favorite band; that's why I'm Yesspaz. But there was great music before them, and there'll be great music after them. They're not God, nor gods, nor "celestial travellers." They are men and musicians. They are good musicians, to be sure, but just a band.

If you really want to preserve their aura, why take the side of making Yes like a symphony? Sorry, but in my opinion, that's just dumb. When they get ready to rap it up, Yes should rest in peace. Don't sully their name by having a bunch of people who have never been in Yes suddenly called Yes.

[Giloeada]

What I'm saying is that "genius" isn't are rare as most think. There are so many great musicians in the world that to idolize one or one group is put undo glory on a single person. Pedastals are one construction job from being gallows. "All good things must come to an end," as they say, and when Yes is done, they should be done. To quote John Lennon on the hoopla after the Beatles disintigrated, "We were just a band who made it very, very big - that's all. All the old records are there if you want to reminice."

Yes are my favorite band; that's why I'm Yesspaz. But there was great music before them, and there'll be great music after them. They're not God, nor gods, nor "celestial travellers." They are men and musicians. They are good musicians, to be sure, but just a band.

If you really want to preserve their aura, why take the side of making Yes like a symphony? Sorry, but in my opinion, that's just dumb. When they get ready to rap it up, Yes should rest in peace. Don't sully their name by having a bunch of people who have never been in Yes suddenly called Yes.


IMO, it would be "just dumb" to let Yes rest in peace. I suppose you believe that we should let all great music, art, literature, philosophy, and ideas of the past just rest in peace. Let's just scrap all the museums - after all, there was great art before, and there will be great art afterward. Burn down the libraries - there will be good writers in the future.

I believe in preserving and reinterpreting the best of all ages.

[kirk]

Oh this just keeps getting better...the italics on "understudy"
are a given now.
Sent from Jon's Myspace blog-

" Thursday, September 18, 2008

"Not Yes"

September 18, 2008

Disappointed, and very Disrespected

Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I'm fully recovered.

And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design, also working with VH1 and Sirius and XM Radio to help promote the welfare of YES.

Getting sick was not "on my radar", and I thank my own angel Janeee and my family for helping me through this difficult time, and the many well wishers, friends and fans alike, for understanding that ''things happen''.

Of course I wish the guys all the best in their 'solo' work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. After all YES is a precious musical band.

This is not YES on tour...

I send best wishes to one and all,

Jon Anderson
September 2008

3:47 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos -
**************
Man, that's some cold shit not to inquire after a fallen comrade
that's made great music w/ them for 40 years....wow.

K

[Yesspaz]

IMO, it would be "just dumb" to let Yes rest in peace. I suppose you believe that we should let all great music, art, literature, philosophy, and ideas of the past just rest in peace. Let's just scrap all the museums - after all, there was great art before, and there will be great art afterward. Burn down the libraries - there will be good writers in the future.

I believe in preserving and reinterpreting the best of all ages.Correct me if I'm wrong, but did I ever say to detroy the Yes vinyls, 8-tracks, cassettes, cds, mp3s, dvds, or any such?


NOPE.

C'mon. If Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr decided to recruit two guitarists and hit the road as the Beatles, who would EVER accept that? No one. I say Yes should hang in there as long as possible, but don't give me this crap about thirty years from now there being a Yes with a bunch of musicians who are only 3 years old now. When this core dies, Yes should die as a performing and recording band, but not their output!

Of course I'm for keeping the museums. I'm just not for idolizing Monet to the point we state something as idiotic as "There will never be a painter that good again." Look to the next painter, the next musician, the next writer.

It's not dumb to love and acknowledge great work gone before. It is dumb to drag it out beyond it's time and stretch it to the point of breaking for the sake of keeping a "name" alive. This is where Lucas screwed up with his Star Wars franchise. The first three were hailed as milestones. The second three hurt the team, and made the first three not stand up as well. Now there's the animated Clone Wars, which is even worse. Throw in the video games, comics, toys, and over a hundred novels and you get a monstrosity that should have stopped and preserved its legacy along time ago.

I'm all for Yes writing and recording new music while these guys are still here, but when Howe, Squire, White, Wakeman, Anderson, Bruford, Kaye, and Rabin die like Richard Wright just did, I don't want five other guys touring as Yes.

Yes is a Rock Band, not an Orchestra. The dynamics are entirely different.

In classical music, (1) the piece and (2) the composer is the star. You can hear Brahms' Piano Concerto in B min performed legitimately in many places, and not one says, "Who does this orchestra think it is, daring to perform this piece?" Exactly. Yet this doesn't translate to Rock Bands.

For your consideration: The star in Rock is (1) the piece and (2) the artist - only it's MUCH MORE ENTWINED a relationship than an orchestra and the piece it's playing. Want proof? How come tribute bands aren't as popular as the real band?

Fifteen orchestra's playing a concert of Tchaikovsky is way more legitimate and accepted than fifteen tribute bands playing a concert of Yes.

Another analogy: After Stravinsky died, there may have been many composers come and write in the style of Stravinsky, but it wasn't billed as "New Music by Stravinsky." So after Yes is gone, if people want to play in their style, write in their style - awesome. But it should never be billed as "The New Album from Yes."

That's just dumb.

[dinosaur]

I've said before that Jon IS the voice of YES, and that Drama was a side project of YES members. (Nevertheless, Drama remains one of my favorite listens.) I think the same thing of the Rabin years. Without Steve, I'm not sure I would call it YES. But Rick and Roll said it, It's just marketing.
Some will go to hear this new version of YES music with a new singer and compare, note for note, whether he got it right, or just like Jon.
I think such comparisons are beside the point.
Music should be fun. I agree with Rick Wakeman. YES music, the music, is timeless and I hope more people try to play it, change it, expand it, or otherwise try to get it right. I'll likely be pleased to hear it. I agree with Giloeada here. It's like classical music under different maestros.
I enjoy seeing The Musical Box (Genesis tribute band who seem to mostly get it right--IMO.) I never was able to see Gabriel in Genesis. It has been a treat to see the 'next best thing' (several times).
Too bad Jon feels disrespected. He seems to be a soul who doesn't deserve to be treated with ill will or lack of grace.
But in the end, I simply don't care if they call it YES or not. The music is the key. Like Keithie said, bring it on!

[secrettouch2me]

It all good in the end, and the end is not over :)

[Rick and Roll]

Spaz, I appreciate the passion, but the tone needs tweaking. there are many examples of bands that look like they used to, and especially in the 50's, artists touring w/o any original members (the Kingston Trio is one, I know, I saw them).

It's really just a franchise to them.

Yes and the bands from that era engender so much debate, and it's like a soap opera at times. Now we have Martin Orford and his drama.

Matters not what they call it. Agreed, it sounds like they're cold blooded, but if the music's good I'll listen. If not (see most of the last 15 years), I'll pass.

[NorCalKurt]

Rick, so what you're saying is their tone is all wrong?

[Giloeada]

Oh this just keeps getting better...the italics on "understudy"
are a given now.
Sent from Jon's Myspace blog-

" Thursday, September 18, 2008

"Not Yes"

September 18, 2008

Disappointed, and very Disrespected

Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I'm fully recovered.

And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design, also working with VH1 and Sirius and XM Radio to help promote the welfare of YES.

Getting sick was not "on my radar", and I thank my own angel Janeee and my family for helping me through this difficult time, and the many well wishers, friends and fans alike, for understanding that ''things happen''.

Of course I wish the guys all the best in their 'solo' work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. After all YES is a precious musical band.

This is not YES on tour...

I send best wishes to one and all,

Jon Anderson
September 2008

3:47 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos -
**************
Man, that's some cold shit not to inquire after a fallen comrade
that's made great music w/ them for 40 years....wow.

K


I love Jon and his music and his beautiful spirit. It is very disheartening to hear that his bandmates did not even check on his well-being, while replacing him. However, it is a bit audacious for Jon to say that this is not a Yes tour. How many "understudies" has he toured with? White, Wakeman, Moraz, Rabin, Khoroshev, even Tony Levin on the ABWH tour.

[kirk]

To further complicate the situation, Ticketmaster is billing
them as Yes. Whether they've decided to go w/ "screw Jon"
remains to play out.

[kirk]

I love Jon and his music and his beautiful spirit. It is very disheartening to hear that his bandmates did not even check on his well-being, while replacing him. However, it is a bit audacious for Jon to say that this is not a Yes tour. How many "understudies" has he toured with? White, Wakeman, Moraz, Rabin, Khoroshev, even Tony Levin on the ABWH tour.
Yeah, but which one of those was an imitator of the style
of his predecessor ?

It's like U2 taking out a "New Bono wanted....
Must swagger, have own hat ".

How about Rush putting in a Geddy clone...would you buy that ?

K

[Yesspaz]

I love Jon and his music and his beautiful spirit. It is very disheartening to hear that his bandmates did not even check on his well-being, while replacing him. However, it is a bit audacious for Jon to say that this is not a Yes tour. How many "understudies" has he toured with? White, Wakeman, Moraz, Rabin, Khoroshev, even Tony Levin on the ABWH tour.EXCELLENT POST!

[Yesspaz]

Yeah, but which one of those was an imitator of the style
of his predecessor ?

It's like U2 taking out a "New Bono wanted....
Must swagger, have own hat ".

How about Rush putting in a Geddy clone...would you buy that ?

KEVEN BETTER! As I've said before, Yes shouldn't get a Jon clone, but a NEW SINGER, just whomever is the best one! Or for the love of controversy, Trevor Rabin. :thumbsup:

[NorCalKurt]

we want Jon....... yeah .... I may go, but it's not the same. The boys should be ashamed of them selves.... IMO.