I've been a Yes fan since 1975 although the last time I saw Yes play live was in 2003 in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. The lineup at that time consisted of the bands original singer and original bass player plus the first ever replacement Guitarist, Keyboardist and Drummer. The so-called "Classic" version of Yes. In reality this was the lineup that achieved the most popularity, played the most shows and created the bigger slice of the bands 'Main Sequence' repetoire. Songs that continue to be played by the band 30-40 years since they were written.
Yes continued touring into 2004 before taking some well deserved time off. Anderson and Wakeman were exhausted and Jons voice had been torn to shreds by the rigours of repetitive Arena tours across America. In fact those two, Anderson and Wakeman, decided that for health and sanity's sake they didn't want to tour as a full powered rock band any longer, preferring to strip things down to an acoustic level playing less, irregular shows to protect Jon's voice.
Now that Yes were essentially on hiatus Jon went about touring solo; touring with a Childrens youth orchestra and as a duo with Wakeman. In all cases he was playing re-arranged Yes material but wasn't interested in returning to play _with_ Yes. This prompted the remaining members of Yes, ie Howe, Squire and White to initially pursue other ventures like the reformed Syn, White, Steve Howe trio and the Original Asia reunion (Howe and Downes). This subsequently led them to conceive of a Yes themed tour, 'The More Drama' tour, where they would tour with The Syn (which at the time included Squire and White), White (which at the time included White and Downes), Howe solo and they would all play together as a fusion type version of Yes and do some Drama era Yes songs to finish off the night. This tour was cancelled and fell apart when Howe couldn't get visas.... although another possibility is Steve Nardellis (vocalist with the Syn) reluctance to be seen as 'the new Jon Anderson'.
Following this the band members continued with solo and other work and fandom waited for the next attempt by Yes to restart things.
Things were quiet on the Yes front until the announcement that the band (along with Anderson) would be doing a new Yes tour in 2008 called the 'Close to the Edge and back again' tour. Rumours were rampant in fan circles that Anderson was only persuaded to return for a greater share of the tour takings although this hasn't been confirmed officially. In interviews, Anderson claimed that the CTTE&BA tour would feature 4 new large scale pieces a la "Tales from Topographic Oceans" that he had brought to Yes. Again, there has been no evidence of this (although Anderson recently released a large scale piece called "Open" in late 2011)
The tour would also see Ricks son, Oliver Wakeman, taking his fathers role at the keyboard as Rick was too unwell at the time and still had no desire for large scale, intensive touring. Arrangements were proceeding well and then Jon Anderson suffered a near fatal respiratory illness (and further subsequent health issues/surgeries) which caused the cancellation of the tour. According to reports, Jon died and was resuscitated. Thus began a long slow recovery for Jon during which he heard very little from his former bandmates.
So... here we were in mid 2008 with three key members of Yes (plus Oliver Wakeman) having essentially waited for four years for Anderson to return and be willing to embark on another Yes tour and Jon almost dies.
Obviously the tour had to be cancelled, which it was. The second Yes tour in a row to be cancelled. What to do next?
Howe Squire and White decided to look at different singers who could stand in for Jon. One of these was Benoit David who's Yes tribute band, Close to the Edge, had put clips on youtube. Links to these were sent by a friend to Chris Squire and the band subsequently auditioned Benoit. Obviously that went well because in no time the band had arranged a tour billed as "Howe, Squire and White of Yes... featuring Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman". Obviously, the 3 senior members of the band didn't initially intend this to actually _be_ Yes but venues and promoters billed the band as Yes in publicity material which caused an outcry amongst fans that Jon had been replaced by the lead singer from a Yes tribute band (Benoit was also the lead singer of Canadian prog-metal band Mystery btw). This tour, called the "In the present " tour kicked off in early November 2008 and continued into mid December 2008. A 2nd leg started in Mexico in Feb 2009 and was due to run into March but the rest of the tour was cancelled after the first show when Squire became ill.
04Nov08 - 17Dec08 In the Present Tour - North America
05Feb09 - 03Mar09 In the Present - Mexico (06Feb09 onwards cancelled)
26Jun09 - 02Aug09 North American tour w. Asia. Squire declares "This is Yes"
29Oct09 - 12Dec09 European tour
02Feb10 - 28Feb10 US Winter tour
08Jun10 - 15July10 North American tour w. Peter Frampton
17Nov10 - 04Dec10 South American tour
06Mar11 - 04Apr11 North America - Rite of Spring tour
28May11 - 30May11 Mexico w. Asia
04July11 - 04Aug11 North Amrican tour w Styx (Geoff Downes replaces Oliver Wakeman on keyboards)
03Nov11 - 15Dec11 European tour (last 3 shows cancelled due to Benoit being sick)
In the last six months the new lineup of Benoit David, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White and Geoff Downes have released a new album, 'Fly from here', produced by Trevor Horn as well as a live album "Live from Lyon" (recorded on 2009 European tour). I'm currently enjoying both albums as well as the accompanying video extra discs that have come with both releases.
Even in late 2011- early 2012, Yes fandom is still divided on whether HSW should have continued without Jon. He continues to release new material, to tour as a solo act, as a duo with Rick Wakeman and occasional special events. His voice has reportedly grown stronger and he is much improved on where he was in 2008. A good thing.
Despite these improvements to his health I know that many fans wouldn't want to see him return to a Yes that is touring the world so extensively, thereby risking another health scare.
What options does that leave Yes?
If HSW's choice is that they would rather tour as a Rock band, then having Jon as their lead singer isn't, and shouldn't be, an option. Which means they need another singer. ie Benoit. Or someone else.
In the past three years the most common criticisms (online) against Benoit have been:-
1. that he tends to crack on many of the high notes inducing many cringe-worthy moments.
2. He is inconsistent and variable in the quality of his delivery.
3. He isn't a writer.
4. He twirls and dances around and looks silly.
There's lots of evidence of 1, 2 and 4 on youtube. How ironic would that be if youtube was his downfall considering that was how he was "noticed" by HSW in the begining.
In regards to point 3. He has now contributed to a very good Yes album (produced by Trevor Horn) and has also written material for Mystery. That should be good enough, shouldn't it?
Ah but there's the rub. Yes fans, particularly the vocal long time fans (some are called superiors on alt.music.yes newsgroup) are indeed divided. Some are No Jon = No Yes. Others...particularly those who like the 1980 Drama album (featuring Trevor Horn on vocals can you believe)... are embracing the new lineup for being new and producing the first new Yes album since Yes released "Magnification" (which was released in America on September 11th, 2001). Many others have mixed emotions. Many "new" fans are turning up to Yes shows.
Personally, I was initially on the fence in regards to whether I'd rate the post-2008 as an authentic version of Yes. My criteria used to be 'can they astound and wow me with their live performance. Can they transport me with their playing and the music to that "other" Yes space? With numerous bootleg shows now in my collection... after watching lots of youtube clips (some good, some bad and some plain ugly)... after really enjoying the new studio album... after being thrilled by the musicianmanship on the new live album... and after having in my possession a third row centre ticket to see them play here in Auckland, New Zealand for the first time ever in the bands 44 year history on April 1st 2012 do I embrace this version of Yes.... I'd say that the answer has to be Yes.
