Wakeman Rejoins Yes

[Yesspaz]

Wakeman Rejoins Yes

http://www.yesworld.com/ywnews.html
http://rwcc.com/rwcc/code/notice_yes.htm


Yes are touring North America from 16 Jul (Seattle, Wa.) until mid-Sep: Anderson, Squire, Howe and White will be joined by Rick Wakeman. YesWorld and Rick Wakeman's Communication Centre have now confirmed Wakeman's return. The RWCC statement reports that: "Further countries are likely to be added for either later in the year or in 2003." A European leg next year has been rumoured.

Reports are emerging as to other specific tour dates, although these are yet to be confirmed: 22 Jul, Denver (City Lights Pavilion); possibly 26 Jul, Chicago; 23 Aug, Los Angeles (Universal Amphitheater). Full tour dates will be posted to YesWorld. (Previous reports suggesting that Wakeman would only be playing on selected dates on the tour appear to have been wrong.) The tour will be without last year's orchestral accompaniment. The RWCC also reports that, "it is likely that there will be a DVD made of the tour".

What any of this means in terms of set list is unclear, but Wakeman has said (RWCC):

I've not been in the band for nearly five years. they have played a lot of material, both new and old, during that period . Chris, Jon, Steve and Alan are really the ones who know what needs to go in the set this time around. I don't have a problem playing on stuff I didn't originally record as long as I have some freedom to stamp my own keyboard style wherever possible.
(There were various rumours saying that Trevor Rabin will be re-joining the band as well, notably one in German magazine Oxmox, but these have not been substantiated.)
Longer term plans
It is unclear what Wakeman's return will mean for Yes's long-term plans. In the YesWorld statement, Wakeman says, "I am so looking forward to this tour and hope that it may be just the start of more exciting musical events to come". In the RWCC one, asked "You have left before, how long do you see this lasting?", Wakeman replies, "A long time. YES appear to have strong management [...] and there seems to be a really good feeling about the future." The RWCC statement also reports that there are no plans for a new studio album this year, but "[s]peculation suggests that if all goes well a studio album could well follow sometime in 2003."

In an Oct interview, White said the band have plenty of material to start work on the next album and that they will hopefully do so in 2002. He also said the new album may include an orchestra again. In late Nov, in comments to fans after a show, White re-iterated that view, that he felt Yes should return to the studio in 2002 and, moreover, that he already had some demos prepared to bring to any sessions. In a Nov 2001 interview, he said, "I suppose that after the tour we'll take a couple of months off and then we will start to write something for the new album." In an interview, circa Mar 2002, White said: "Yes will keep me busy during this next period of down time."

[WallyG]

Hooray!!! Look for us in the first four rows at the Uni in LA (and any other venue I can drive to in less than 4 hrs) just as I have been for the last 25 yrs! Yes rules! That they continue to perform live in the new millenium is far beyond my wildest dreams. Thank you Yes, AM, and Yesspaz (who introduced me to AM, which gave me new life). Nothing beats a Yes concert.

P.S. That's me on the House of Yes video in the front audience during Lightning Strikes. Only regret is I didn't stick around to meet and gamble w Chris and Alan in the wee hrs.

Nice touch w the Mozart too.

[Yesspaz]

I'd have preferred Moraz (let the war begin), but I'll take old Ricky. Yes just needs keyboards. I really really like Magnification. It had to grow on me a lot (what prog album doesn't grow on you?). I just like the way Moraz and Howe work together. He's by far the best keyboardist Yes ever had, although Squire has said on numerous occasions the best Yes keyboardist was Geoff Downes. Anyhoo. I just hope this lasts and lasts for a long time. The best thing about it is that the other four guys in the band are excited about music again. I don't believe that Wakeman and the other four "bring out the best in each other" - I think that happened with Moraz and Howe, which was the best album for the Squire/White combo as well - but this "new" line-up (RE: 4th time in the band together) will definitely get the collective creative musical juices flowing. Man, I hope they do at least three studio albums. the Keys studio material was great, but just imagine what could have happened if they'd toured on that material, gelled as a unite again, and then went back into the studio!!! Whatever they do, they better do it fast. Anderson and Howe are creeping up on 60 quick.

Long live Yes!

Yesspaz out!

Yes is opening in Seattle and I want to make sure I can get tickets. TicketMaster is only having the pre-sale tickets up until June 1, but it requires a password to get them. Does anyone out there know the password to get the tickets early.

Can you hook a prog brother up?

Thanks

[WallyG]

Password is "classicyes", and is available on the tour page of Yesworld.com.

Careful, though. My experience w their web pre-sales is that the seats usually offered are not the best. Same w early day of public sale seats, at least here in SoCal.

I always go the ticket broker route, and end up paying double face value for 1st 4 rows, which is defeinitely worth it when seeing Yes. I'm sure by now the guys recognize me and my wife. We sat right behind Jon's wife last time.

Enjoy the show! Guaranteed to be awesome.

Thanks for the tip.