Yes: A Musical Journey
yesshows77
Well-Known Member
It was a bit strange seeing Jon singing again with the band at the RR HoF induction after being out of the group for so long. He tends to be a bit of a dingbat when he is speaking to the audience, but he can still belt it out. If you want to see him at his best, take a look at the video of him performing "Awaken" live with Todmobile in Iceland. While it is true that he has an orchestra and a full choir and other vocalists backing him, it amazes me how well he can still reproduce those vocals faithfully to the original. While I have enjoyed the other replacement singers in Yes, I feel that Jon Anderson has a certain style that they cannot replicate.
KevinJS
Lunatic Member
Jon's performance at the HoF was undeniably great. I felt for some years that he had lost it, but that clearly proved me wrong. It was great to see Geddy Lee performing with his heroes, but of course, it would have been better yet had Chris Squire still been around.
Re: dingbat - Rick Wakeman claims that the best way to describe Jon is that he tries to save this planet while living on another one.
yesshows77
Well-Known Member
Jon appears to be a real free spirit and tries to work with just about anyone interested in making and playing music, be it Yes, the School of Rock, or just a friend of mine who was starting up his own prog band (Blue Shift) and Jon sat in with them one day to lend his help. IIRC, there is a video posted by a couple of guys who were attending a music industry show (NAMM ?) and they contacted Jon (who was going to attend the event) and they filmed their interaction with him while at the event. It was classic Jon...autographing a guitar with a marker that he was not asked to, giving his "Olias of Sunhillow" symbol reproduction to one of the guys to "hold" and then disappearing...which caused the guy to have to explain to a security guard that he was not stealing this item when he went to leave the event. Very funny stuff.
yesshows77
Well-Known Member
In more recent years, Jon has also been known to forget the lyrics during a song and on a few occasions made the band stop the song and start over. Once, I saw him take a nasty tumble off of his platform he was using to sing from. Luckily, he was not hurt and managed to gather himself and eventually was able to determine where the band was in the song and jumped back in to the proper verse.
Cylontymany
Super Member
I saw them in the round in 79 and yes it was magical expeirience
Dusty Ol'Man
Yes, Still trudging along.
I was introduced to Yes quite by accident. It was 1974, I was in college and was asked if I wanted to go see them at Winterland in San Francisco. Of course I said Yes! My ticket was for Friday and my friends were for Saturday so they dropped me off at the door, handed me a quite unexpected hit of some quality acid and left. This was the Close to the Edge tour and I had no idea what I was in for. Needless to say I had a great time, the crowd was a typical friendly Yes fanbase, and the music was excellent, even in my enhanced state. I became an avid fan and bought the previous albums as well as the next few. Anderson, Howe, Wakeman, Squire, and Bruford will always be Yes to me. Tormato was the last thing I bought. The subsequent personnel changes put me off and i didn't continue to follow them. The only person outside that group that i accepted was Patrick Moraz for the Relayer album.
Upon rereading this and after having seen so many favorable comments about other Yes music and that by the individual musicians, I will be revisiting the music with a concentration on that which I have never heard. Age makes all the difference.
Upon rereading this and after having seen so many favorable comments about other Yes music and that by the individual musicians, I will be revisiting the music with a concentration on that which I have never heard. Age makes all the difference.
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IPADave
Turning a whiter shade of pale.
I've been a Yes fan since high school. Although I enjoy most of the various band configurations, my favorite is Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, and Bruford. To me, Bruford's drumming has a style that provides a unique propulsive force to the music. No knock on Alan White. He's a very fine drummer.
I saw, or read, an interview with Jon Anderson where he stated that some of his lyrics were nonsensical. The words were strung together because of the way they sounded. That seems like a unique way to write lyrics, but it certainly allows him to use his voice as an instrument.
My favorite Yes albums are "Close to the Edge", "Fragile", and "The Yes Album". "The Yes Album" is my favorite without Wakeman. "Going For the One" gets an honorable mention; some of the most beautiful songs that they composed and performed.
-Dave
I saw, or read, an interview with Jon Anderson where he stated that some of his lyrics were nonsensical. The words were strung together because of the way they sounded. That seems like a unique way to write lyrics, but it certainly allows him to use his voice as an instrument.
My favorite Yes albums are "Close to the Edge", "Fragile", and "The Yes Album". "The Yes Album" is my favorite without Wakeman. "Going For the One" gets an honorable mention; some of the most beautiful songs that they composed and performed.
-Dave
noisefreq
Super Member
When I discovered Yes in the late seventies, I was blown away by Steve Howe's playing style! One of the greatest rock guitarists of all time.
He was in a band before Yes called Tomorrow. They have a good album from 1968 that I will pull out on occasion.
Tommorow also featured Twink Alder from Pink Fairies fame.
A good listen to bookend Yes' first two albums, "YES" and "Time and a Word"
Steve's subsequent solo albums are also a fun listen. Just an amazing player.
Edit: I just realized Steve isn't on either of the first two records. Although the US version I have has a picture of him.
He was in a band before Yes called Tomorrow. They have a good album from 1968 that I will pull out on occasion.
Tommorow also featured Twink Alder from Pink Fairies fame.
A good listen to bookend Yes' first two albums, "YES" and "Time and a Word"
Steve's subsequent solo albums are also a fun listen. Just an amazing player.
Edit: I just realized Steve isn't on either of the first two records. Although the US version I have has a picture of him.
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KevinJS
Lunatic Member
2. Chris Squire
Born on 4th March 1948 to Peter and Joanne Squire, Christopher Russell Edward Squire was a founding member of Yes, and the longest serving member, remaining with the band until his death from acute erythroid leukaemia on 27th June 2015.
Squire's musical career started not with the bass guitar, but as a vocalist in school and church choirs. He took up the bass guitar, purchasing his trademark Rickenbacker 4001 from his then employer, Boosey & Hawkes, Regent Street, London.
Squire's first band was The Selfs, which later transformed into The Syn, first playing Tamla Motown covers and then psychedelic rock. Peter Banks became a bandmate during Squire's time with The Syn. The band performed at the Marquee in Soho and were contracted to Deram Records.
Squire and Banks joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop in late 1967, and met Jon Anderson, who was working in a bar close to the Marquee. The track "Sweetness", that would appear on the first Yes album, was composed at this time.
Mabel Greer's Toyshop changed their name to Yes, Bill Bruford and Tony Kaye were added and the initial line-up was in place.
Away from Yes, Squire produced some solo work. In 1975, with help form Bruford and Patrick Moraz from Yes, and Andrew Jackman from The Syn, he produced Fish Out Of Water. In 1981, with Alan White and Jimmy Page, he was a member of XYZ. Squire and Billy Sherwood formed Conspiracy, and released two albums, the first self titled in 2000 and the second, The Unknown, in 2003.
In 2005 The Syn re-formed and released Syndestructible.
Chris Squire's Swiss Choir was released in 2007, and a collaboration with Steve Hackett, formerly of Genesis, resulted in A Life Within A Week, attributed to Squackett, in 2012.
Squire never left Yes. Having been diagnosed with leukaemia, he took a break for treatment, but succumbed to the illness. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Yes, in 2017 by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush. Squire's place at the R&RHoF performance was taken by Geddy Lee.
Born on 4th March 1948 to Peter and Joanne Squire, Christopher Russell Edward Squire was a founding member of Yes, and the longest serving member, remaining with the band until his death from acute erythroid leukaemia on 27th June 2015.
Squire's musical career started not with the bass guitar, but as a vocalist in school and church choirs. He took up the bass guitar, purchasing his trademark Rickenbacker 4001 from his then employer, Boosey & Hawkes, Regent Street, London.
Squire's first band was The Selfs, which later transformed into The Syn, first playing Tamla Motown covers and then psychedelic rock. Peter Banks became a bandmate during Squire's time with The Syn. The band performed at the Marquee in Soho and were contracted to Deram Records.
Squire and Banks joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop in late 1967, and met Jon Anderson, who was working in a bar close to the Marquee. The track "Sweetness", that would appear on the first Yes album, was composed at this time.
Mabel Greer's Toyshop changed their name to Yes, Bill Bruford and Tony Kaye were added and the initial line-up was in place.
Away from Yes, Squire produced some solo work. In 1975, with help form Bruford and Patrick Moraz from Yes, and Andrew Jackman from The Syn, he produced Fish Out Of Water. In 1981, with Alan White and Jimmy Page, he was a member of XYZ. Squire and Billy Sherwood formed Conspiracy, and released two albums, the first self titled in 2000 and the second, The Unknown, in 2003.
In 2005 The Syn re-formed and released Syndestructible.
Chris Squire's Swiss Choir was released in 2007, and a collaboration with Steve Hackett, formerly of Genesis, resulted in A Life Within A Week, attributed to Squackett, in 2012.
Squire never left Yes. Having been diagnosed with leukaemia, he took a break for treatment, but succumbed to the illness. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Yes, in 2017 by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush. Squire's place at the R&RHoF performance was taken by Geddy Lee.
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Rob84
Addicted Member
My introduction to Yes was through my older brother, who I shared a bedroom with. If I recall correctly he first bought Fragile and Close To The Edge and both were heavily played by him. Those albums just stuck in my head and made a very positive impression on me, although if he pissed me off, I used to tell him "that music sucks", just to get back at him and which was very untrue. Subsequently, Close To The Edge and Fragile were the first two albums I bought years later in high school, along with 90125. Now, I am the proud owner of all their works except the last two albums they released
KevinJS
Lunatic Member
3. Peter Banks
Peter William Brockbanks was born on 15th July 1947 in Chipping Barnet. He played guitar from an early age, having his first instrument purchased for him by his parents. He also learned to play the banjo.
Banks' first band was The Nighthawks, which he joined in 1963, moving on the following year to Devil's Disciples. His next move, to The Syndicats in 1966, saw him replace Ray Fenwick, who had replaced Steve Howe. Howe would later replace Banks in Yes.
In 1967, Banks joined The Syn, along with Chris Squire. The pair joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop before The Syn folded. Banks left the band to join Neat Change, recorded one single "I Lied To Auntie May" on which Chris Squire played tambourine. Banks then returned to Mabel Greer's Toyshop.
The band decided to drop the name and Banks' suggestion of Yes! was adopted. Banks remained with Yes until April 1970, during which time the first two Yes albums, Yes and Time And A Word were released. Time And A Word used an orchestra to back the band. Following a disagreement over this approach with the rest of the band members, Banks left and joined Blodwyn Pig for 2 months.
Subsequently, he was involved with Jungle Pilot, Flash, Zox and the Radar Boys, Empire, Guitar Workshop Sessions Band, The Teabags, The Peter Banks Band, Gypsy Lovers, Bron Co Express, the re-formed The Syn, Peter Banks Trio, Harmony In Diversity and Old Cranks.
Banks also worked with many musicians including Oliver Wakeman, son of Yes keyboard player Rick Wakeman.
He produced several solo works:
Two Sides of Peter Banks, with Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Jan Akkerman, Ray Bennett and Mike Hough
Instinct
Self-Contained
Reduction
Can I Play You Something? (The Pre-Yes Years Recordings From 1964 to 1968), combining solo material with material by The Syn, The Devil's Disciples, Mabel Greer's Toyshop and Yes
The Self-Contained Trilogy, re-release of Instinct, Self-Contained and Reduction together
Be Well, Be Safe, Be Lucky... The Anthology, compilation including previously unreleased material
Peter Banks died of heart failure on 7th March 2013
Peter William Brockbanks was born on 15th July 1947 in Chipping Barnet. He played guitar from an early age, having his first instrument purchased for him by his parents. He also learned to play the banjo.
Banks' first band was The Nighthawks, which he joined in 1963, moving on the following year to Devil's Disciples. His next move, to The Syndicats in 1966, saw him replace Ray Fenwick, who had replaced Steve Howe. Howe would later replace Banks in Yes.
In 1967, Banks joined The Syn, along with Chris Squire. The pair joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop before The Syn folded. Banks left the band to join Neat Change, recorded one single "I Lied To Auntie May" on which Chris Squire played tambourine. Banks then returned to Mabel Greer's Toyshop.
The band decided to drop the name and Banks' suggestion of Yes! was adopted. Banks remained with Yes until April 1970, during which time the first two Yes albums, Yes and Time And A Word were released. Time And A Word used an orchestra to back the band. Following a disagreement over this approach with the rest of the band members, Banks left and joined Blodwyn Pig for 2 months.
Subsequently, he was involved with Jungle Pilot, Flash, Zox and the Radar Boys, Empire, Guitar Workshop Sessions Band, The Teabags, The Peter Banks Band, Gypsy Lovers, Bron Co Express, the re-formed The Syn, Peter Banks Trio, Harmony In Diversity and Old Cranks.
Banks also worked with many musicians including Oliver Wakeman, son of Yes keyboard player Rick Wakeman.
He produced several solo works:
Two Sides of Peter Banks, with Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Jan Akkerman, Ray Bennett and Mike Hough
Instinct
Self-Contained
Reduction
Can I Play You Something? (The Pre-Yes Years Recordings From 1964 to 1968), combining solo material with material by The Syn, The Devil's Disciples, Mabel Greer's Toyshop and Yes
The Self-Contained Trilogy, re-release of Instinct, Self-Contained and Reduction together
Be Well, Be Safe, Be Lucky... The Anthology, compilation including previously unreleased material
Peter Banks died of heart failure on 7th March 2013
KevinJS
Lunatic Member
Thanks again, Kevin, for these histories that you put together. Valuable information for sure.
-Dave
Thanks, Dave. I've thought several times about returning to the thread, and finally decided the only way to do it is bite the bullet and get on with it. Couple more bios, of Tony Kaye and Bill Bruford, and it will be time to start exploring the music. There won't be much here that can't be easily located elsewhere on the net, but hopefully as the thread goes on, the AK version will become unique with personal stories and experiences with the band and their music. Thanks to all those who have already contributed.
KevinJS
Lunatic Member
4. Tony Kaye.
Anthony John Selvidge was born on 11th January 1946. His family was musically inclined and he studied piano taking formal lessons from the age of four. He continued taking lessons until the age of eighteen and also learned to play the clarinet. He intended to pursue a career as a classical concert pianist, but discovered the work of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. He formed a jazz trio while still at school and joined, age fifteen, the Danny Rogers Orchestra. He also played clarinet in a big band.
In 1963, Kaye responded to an advertisement in Melody Maker, and joined The Federals, with whom he stayed until 1967. The band opened for Roy Orbison during a 1965 European tour. Next, Kaye joined Johnny Taylor's Star Combo, followed by Jimmy Winston & His Reflections, toured Europe with singer Johnny Hallyday and then joined Bittersweet for a short time.
Kaye had already met Jon Anderson in Leicester, and was invited by Chris Squire to audition for Mabel Greer's Toyshop. The audition was successful and Kaye joined the band, which embarked on a UK tour after having renamed itself Yes! Kaye remained with the band until 1971, whereupon he was fired after refusing to play synthesizers, being primarily a pianist and organist. The band had used profits from the 1968 tour to purchase a Hammond organ for him. Jon Anderson was forced to play pedals in support of the keyboard parts that Kaye refused. Rick Wakeman joined Yes in Kaye's place.
Following his dismissal from Yes, Kaye joined Peter Banks in Flash to play on the self-titled album, but refused a position as a full-time member of the band. Instead, he formed Badger, with Yes songwriter David Foster. Deciding that Badger was not destined for great things, he relocated to Los Angeles and moved in next door to John Bonham. In 1976, he met David Bowie's road manager and agreed to work with Bowie on his Isolar - 1976 tour, in support of Station To Station. Kaye's contributions are heard only on bonus tracks of reissues of Station To Station.
Back in California, Kaye joined Detective, which was followed by a spell in management and music production. In 1979, he joined Badfinger.
In 1982, Kaye was invited to join a new band by Chris Squire, which would include Alan White and Trevor Rabin. The band name was Cinema, and the album was 90125. He left after arguments with Trevor Horn and Rabin played keyboards in his place. In 1983, Jon Anderson joined the band, Kaye was replaced by Eddie Jobson and Cinema changed its name to Yes. During mid to late 1983, Kaye rejoined Badfinger and went on tour with the band, rejoining Yes at the end of the tour. His earlier hostility to synthetic keyboards had waned.
After a two year hiatus between 1988 and 1990, Yes released Union. This was the first time that Kaye and Rick Wakeman had worked together.
Kaye left Yes in 1995. His offer to stay on in management bore no fruit and his involvement with the band was over, save for a guest appearance during the 2018 Cruise To The Edge tour.
During his stints with Yes, he appeared on the following albums:
Yes (1969)
Time and a Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Yesterdays (1975; compilation)
90125 (1983)
9012Live: The Solos (1985)
Big Generator (1987)
Union (1991)
Talk (1994)
After leaving Yes, Kaye joined Billy Sherwood on a Pink Floyd tribute project. The two subsequently formed CIRCA with Alan White and Jimmy Haun, who had played with Yes on Union.
In 2009 he joined Zoso. The band dissolved in 2011.
Anthony John Selvidge was born on 11th January 1946. His family was musically inclined and he studied piano taking formal lessons from the age of four. He continued taking lessons until the age of eighteen and also learned to play the clarinet. He intended to pursue a career as a classical concert pianist, but discovered the work of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. He formed a jazz trio while still at school and joined, age fifteen, the Danny Rogers Orchestra. He also played clarinet in a big band.
In 1963, Kaye responded to an advertisement in Melody Maker, and joined The Federals, with whom he stayed until 1967. The band opened for Roy Orbison during a 1965 European tour. Next, Kaye joined Johnny Taylor's Star Combo, followed by Jimmy Winston & His Reflections, toured Europe with singer Johnny Hallyday and then joined Bittersweet for a short time.
Kaye had already met Jon Anderson in Leicester, and was invited by Chris Squire to audition for Mabel Greer's Toyshop. The audition was successful and Kaye joined the band, which embarked on a UK tour after having renamed itself Yes! Kaye remained with the band until 1971, whereupon he was fired after refusing to play synthesizers, being primarily a pianist and organist. The band had used profits from the 1968 tour to purchase a Hammond organ for him. Jon Anderson was forced to play pedals in support of the keyboard parts that Kaye refused. Rick Wakeman joined Yes in Kaye's place.
Following his dismissal from Yes, Kaye joined Peter Banks in Flash to play on the self-titled album, but refused a position as a full-time member of the band. Instead, he formed Badger, with Yes songwriter David Foster. Deciding that Badger was not destined for great things, he relocated to Los Angeles and moved in next door to John Bonham. In 1976, he met David Bowie's road manager and agreed to work with Bowie on his Isolar - 1976 tour, in support of Station To Station. Kaye's contributions are heard only on bonus tracks of reissues of Station To Station.
Back in California, Kaye joined Detective, which was followed by a spell in management and music production. In 1979, he joined Badfinger.
In 1982, Kaye was invited to join a new band by Chris Squire, which would include Alan White and Trevor Rabin. The band name was Cinema, and the album was 90125. He left after arguments with Trevor Horn and Rabin played keyboards in his place. In 1983, Jon Anderson joined the band, Kaye was replaced by Eddie Jobson and Cinema changed its name to Yes. During mid to late 1983, Kaye rejoined Badfinger and went on tour with the band, rejoining Yes at the end of the tour. His earlier hostility to synthetic keyboards had waned.
After a two year hiatus between 1988 and 1990, Yes released Union. This was the first time that Kaye and Rick Wakeman had worked together.
Kaye left Yes in 1995. His offer to stay on in management bore no fruit and his involvement with the band was over, save for a guest appearance during the 2018 Cruise To The Edge tour.
During his stints with Yes, he appeared on the following albums:
Yes (1969)
Time and a Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Yesterdays (1975; compilation)
90125 (1983)
9012Live: The Solos (1985)
Big Generator (1987)
Union (1991)
Talk (1994)
After leaving Yes, Kaye joined Billy Sherwood on a Pink Floyd tribute project. The two subsequently formed CIRCA with Alan White and Jimmy Haun, who had played with Yes on Union.
In 2009 he joined Zoso. The band dissolved in 2011.
KevinJS
Lunatic Member
5. Bill Bruford
William Scott Bruford was born on the 17th May 1949, the third child of Betty and John Bruford. He started drumming aged 13, and was heavily influenced by American jazz drummers. He joined a five piece R&B outfit while still at boarding school in Kent, The Breed. He left the band when it became clear that he could not attend all of their engagements. He spent a short while with Savoy Brown, Paper Blitz Tissue and The Noise. His unhappy departure from The Noise led to him having to hitch hike from Rome with his drum kit.
Back in the UK, he posted an ad in Melody Maker, which was noticed by Jon Anderson of Mabel Greer's Toyshop. Anderson invited Bruford to an audition, with the intention of replacing Bob Hagger, who was leaving the band. Gears clicked and Bruford joined, in spite of having more lucrative offers. With the addition of Peter Banks, who replaced Clive Bailey on guitar and Tony Kaye on keyboards, the new band was complete and changed its name to Yes!
Bruford stayed with Yes for the first five albums; Yes (1969), Time and a Word (1970), The Yes Album (1971), Fragile (1971), and Close to the Edge (1972). He also appears on the 1973 live album, Yessongs. Due to clashes with the other members of the band, he left in 1972 to join King Crimson. He remained with King Crimson until 1974 when the band was dissolved by Robert Fripp, but was also involved in Rick Wakeman's Six Wives of Henry VIII. He appears on the following King Crimson albums:
Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
The Night Watch (1973 live, released 1997)
The Great Deceiver (1973–1974 live, released 1992)
Starless and Bible Black (1974)
Red (1974)
USA (1975, live)
After King Crimson he guested for Chris Squire on Fish Out Of Water, Steve Howe on Beginnings and Roy Harper on HQ.He joined National Health for several performances, but declined a full time position in the band.
Following Peter Gabriel's departure from Genesis, which required Phil Collins to take the front of stage position, Bruford joined Genesis for 6 months, performing on A Trick In The Tail, Seconds Out and Three Sides Live.
In 1977, Bruford formed his own band, simply called Bruford, releasing the albums:
Feels Good to Me (1978)
One of a Kind (1979)
Rock Goes to College (1979 live, released 2006)
The Bruford Tapes (1979 live)
Gradually Going Tornado (1980)
Master Strokes: 1978–1985 (1986, compilation)
After the release of Feels Good To Me, Bruford joined former King Crimson bandmate John Wetton in the band U.K. but was dismissed following arguments with Wetton and Eddie Jobson. He then concentrated on his own band.
Between 1981 and 1988 Bruford rejoined a new iteration of King Crimson, continued work with Bruford and started Earthworks, a jazz band.
Between 1988 and 1993 he joined Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe (ABWH) and then rejoined Yes for the eight-piece Union collaboration.
Between 1994 and 2009 he joined King Crimson yet again and also Earthworks 2.
In 2009, he retired from touring and wrote his autobiography. Following 4 years of study, he was awarded his PhD in Music at the University of Surrey.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Yes.
Bill Bruford's output has been phenomenal. Since this thread is primarily about Yes, I'll leave his discography incomplete. Parts of it will be explored as the new members of the band are introduced in later posts.
William Scott Bruford was born on the 17th May 1949, the third child of Betty and John Bruford. He started drumming aged 13, and was heavily influenced by American jazz drummers. He joined a five piece R&B outfit while still at boarding school in Kent, The Breed. He left the band when it became clear that he could not attend all of their engagements. He spent a short while with Savoy Brown, Paper Blitz Tissue and The Noise. His unhappy departure from The Noise led to him having to hitch hike from Rome with his drum kit.
Back in the UK, he posted an ad in Melody Maker, which was noticed by Jon Anderson of Mabel Greer's Toyshop. Anderson invited Bruford to an audition, with the intention of replacing Bob Hagger, who was leaving the band. Gears clicked and Bruford joined, in spite of having more lucrative offers. With the addition of Peter Banks, who replaced Clive Bailey on guitar and Tony Kaye on keyboards, the new band was complete and changed its name to Yes!
Bruford stayed with Yes for the first five albums; Yes (1969), Time and a Word (1970), The Yes Album (1971), Fragile (1971), and Close to the Edge (1972). He also appears on the 1973 live album, Yessongs. Due to clashes with the other members of the band, he left in 1972 to join King Crimson. He remained with King Crimson until 1974 when the band was dissolved by Robert Fripp, but was also involved in Rick Wakeman's Six Wives of Henry VIII. He appears on the following King Crimson albums:
Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973)
The Night Watch (1973 live, released 1997)
The Great Deceiver (1973–1974 live, released 1992)
Starless and Bible Black (1974)
Red (1974)
USA (1975, live)
After King Crimson he guested for Chris Squire on Fish Out Of Water, Steve Howe on Beginnings and Roy Harper on HQ.He joined National Health for several performances, but declined a full time position in the band.
Following Peter Gabriel's departure from Genesis, which required Phil Collins to take the front of stage position, Bruford joined Genesis for 6 months, performing on A Trick In The Tail, Seconds Out and Three Sides Live.
In 1977, Bruford formed his own band, simply called Bruford, releasing the albums:
Feels Good to Me (1978)
One of a Kind (1979)
Rock Goes to College (1979 live, released 2006)
The Bruford Tapes (1979 live)
Gradually Going Tornado (1980)
Master Strokes: 1978–1985 (1986, compilation)
After the release of Feels Good To Me, Bruford joined former King Crimson bandmate John Wetton in the band U.K. but was dismissed following arguments with Wetton and Eddie Jobson. He then concentrated on his own band.
Between 1981 and 1988 Bruford rejoined a new iteration of King Crimson, continued work with Bruford and started Earthworks, a jazz band.
Between 1988 and 1993 he joined Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe (ABWH) and then rejoined Yes for the eight-piece Union collaboration.
Between 1994 and 2009 he joined King Crimson yet again and also Earthworks 2.
In 2009, he retired from touring and wrote his autobiography. Following 4 years of study, he was awarded his PhD in Music at the University of Surrey.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Yes.
Bill Bruford's output has been phenomenal. Since this thread is primarily about Yes, I'll leave his discography incomplete. Parts of it will be explored as the new members of the band are introduced in later posts.
KevinJS
Lunatic Member
So the first iteration of Yes is complete. Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Peter Banks, Tony Kaye and Bill Bruford were about to embark on the start of what would become one of the world's most influential rock bands. The year was 1968. The first album was released the following year. My next post will give the details of that album.