27 April 2016
YesTour 2016 / UK & European Tour
By: Gary "Uncle G" Brown
American Correspondent For ClassicRockRadio.co.uk
Twitter @GBrown0816
Yes kicks off their 2016 Spring UK & European Tour tonight starting off in Glasgow Scotland. The band is said to be excited, as are the fans who plan on seeing them. According to Yes' bass player Billy Sherwood's official Facebook page, the group is well rehearsed and ready to go. Twenty five dates total, with the group finishing up on June 1st, in Vicenza Italy.
Yes Personal 2016 (brief history)
Founded in 1968, and releasing their first album in 1969 (self titled), we find in 2016 that no actual original Yes members are left in the group. Chris Squire who passed away last year, was the last remaining of the original five players to stay with the band. Still, the iconic progressive rock group still has within it's ranks, vital players that been around since the early days.
The one with the most seniority, is guitarist Steve Howe. He joined Yes after their second album, Time And A Word (1970). Not that he was with the group all this time. In and out of the band more than once, he's been Yes' guitarist for the longest amount of time. An outstanding musician whose abilities are admired around the globe, be it for his work with Yes, or any other of his achievements in professional music over the years.
Drummer Alan White came on board, right after the bands fifth album came out. The mega success, Close To The Edge (1973). Friends with then Yes Producer, Eddie Offord. Alan's been with the group over four decades now, and on paper has more consecutive time in with Yes, than any other player.
Keyboardist Geoff Downes came after a major personal shake up in the late nineteen seventies. Yes' third official keyboardist, he replaced Rick Wakeman, a favorite of fans. His Yes album debut was an album called; Drama (1980). Yes' tenth studio album. For a long period of time that would be the only Yes album Geoff would appear on. Until 2011, when he was back in the line up, participating on Yes' first studio album in a decade; Fly From Here. With the group ever since, he divides his time being keyboardist for Yes, and another mega successful rock band; Asia. An original member along with already mentioned Yes guitarist Steve Howe, who retired from Asia after leaving and coming back into the fold, three years ago.
American singer Jon Davison replaced Canadian singer Benoit David (Fly From Here), who was a replacement for another YesFan favorite, original Yes vocalist Jon Anderson. Before Yes, Jon Davison was best known for being lead vocalist for progressive rock band, Glass Hammer.
Bass player Billy Sherwood came on board after the unfortunate death of original Yes bass player, Chris Squire (1948 - 2015). Personally picked out to be his replacement by Chris, after being diagnosed with Acute Erythroid Leukemia, a rare form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Billy has worked on and off with Yes, be it behind the scenes or on stage since Yes' thirteenth studio album; Union (1991). Away from Yes, a multi-instrumentalist , and studio wizard, Billy is a founding member of Circa:, along with original keyboardist for Yes, Mr. Tony Kaye.
For those who will be lucky enough to see Yes on this tour, several treats are in store. For one, the band will be playing in it's entirety, all of 1980's Drama album. Joining them for two very special dates (Oxford / London) will be Yes - Drama vocalist, Trevor Horn. For myself, a long time YesFan, this is very exciting. And since I'm in America and cannot go, am hoping the shows will be professionally recorded, and released at the conclusion of the tour. What a stocking stuffer at Christmas that would be.
Yes will also be performing all of their 1972 studio album; Fragile. This is the one that contains YesHits; Roundabout, Long Distance Runaround, and Heart Of The Sunrise. I witnessed the band do this back on their 2014 tour. Blew me away!
Tickets I imagine are on sale right now for the various locations Yes will perform on this leg of their 2016 tour. A trip to America will follow. I'll try to catch at least one show myself. Am certain I won't be disappointed.
For additional information, please consult Yes' official website; www.YesWorld.com
YesTour 2016 Spring UK & European Tour Dates / Locations. Note the two dates with YesAlumni Trevor Horn are marked with asterisk.
27 April @ Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, United Kingdom
29 April @ Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle, United Kingdom
30 April @ Apollo, Manchester, United Kingdom
02 May, @ Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, United Kingdom
03 May, @ City Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom
04 May, @ Colston Hall, Bristol, United Kingdom
06 May, @ Symphony Hall, Birmingham, United Kingdom
07 May, @ Brighton Centre, Brighton, United Kingdom
09 May, @ New Theatre, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom *
10 May, @ Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom *
13 May, @ L'Olympia, Paris, France
14 May, @ Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
15 May, @ Tivoli De Helling, Utrecht, Netherlands
17 May @ Mehr Theater, Hamburg, Germany
19 May @ Alte Oper Hall, Frankfurt, Germany
20 May @ Haus Auensee, Leipzig, Germany
21 May @ Admiralspalast, Berlin, Germany
23 May @ Beethovenhalle, Bonn, Germany
24 May @ Liederhalle Hegel-Saal, Stuttgart, Germany
25 May @ Circus Krone, Munich, Germany
27 May @ Volkshaus, Zurich, Switzerland
28 May @ Barclays Teatro Nazionale, Milan, Italy
29 May @ Gran Teatro, Padova, Italy
31 May @ Obihall, Florence, Italy
01 June @ Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza, Italy
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