YES

Where are they now? - former Yes members

Jon Anderson

Anderson news is on its own page.

Bill Bruford Official website for Bill Bruford and Earthworks; News; MySpace page

In a Nov 2007 interview, Bruford reflects on his future plans and the possibility of taking a sabbatical. He also re-affirms his commitment to jazz: "My interest in laying down a big beat ended with the last millennium. Happily jazz exists. Everyone hates 'jazz' but it's the only word to describe a musician who wants to say something fresh and react to what others are doing around him."

pianocircus with Bill Bruford
Bruford has been working with composer Colin Riley (MySpace page; Brunel Univ. page) and keyboard collective pianocircus (MySpace page; have worked with Brian Eno, Yumi Hara Cawkwell). Bruford and Riley met in the latter half of 2006. Their first public output was a show (described by Riley as more like an "open rehearsal") on 21 Sep 2007 in London. After an opening set by pianocircus, Bruford and pianocircus (4/6 of the usual group, performing on keyboards) performed 6 pieces by Riley (with some improvised parts), who conducted. There were about 50 people in the audience. Further warm-up gigs and a short tour this year are planned. The pair are also working on an album for release on Winterfold later this year. Audio samples can be heard at their MySpace page. Riley describes the work: "[it] will not only continue the sparse delicacy of recent electronic works, but also explore high-energy groove-based territory." In a Mar 2008 blog entry, Bruford described an "experimental day" with Riley, recording engineer Chris Lewis, and musician/digital technologist David Plans Casal (Brunel Univ. page). In a Jun entry, he said:

Work continuing slowly on an album for composer Colin Riley and PianoCircus. We were back using the facilities at Brunel University this week. With all parameters up for grabs – when you’re making one of those albums which tries to offer fresh views of what is or is not appropriate for the drums to be doing, when chance and random acts may be as profitable as written parts, it’s going to take a while, but no-one’s in a hurry. We’ll see where it leads us.

Read my new interview with Colin Riley about the collaboration here.

With Michiel Borstlap
Bruford's main live activity is currently his improvisational duo with Michiel Borstlap (piano, Fender Rhodes). They have played occasional European dates in the summer (2 UK shows in May, and one in Italy in Jun), but a Jul date in Spain was rained out. Next will be a show in the Netherlands on 30 Aug. In 2007, they did a French show in Oct and a UK and a Hungarian appearance in Nov. A Mar 2007 Newcastle show was mainly improvised, but with a few jazz standards (including Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" and Miles Davis' "All Blues"). The Bruford-Borstlap album, In Two Minds (BBSF019), recorded live on 2007 dates, is out on Summerfold; tracks: "Kinship", "In Two Minds", "From the Source, We Tumble Headlong", "Flirt", "Low Tide, Camber Sands", "The Art of Conversation", "Conference of the Bees ", "Sheer Reckless Abandon", "Duplicity", "Shadow Dance", "The Odd One Out", "All Blues" (Miles Davis cover).

Bill Bruford's Earthworks
After a 18-month hiatus, Earthworks returned for a short residency at Ronnie Scott's in London in Jul. The line-up was as in 2006/7: Bruford (drums, percussion), Tim Garland (Chick Corea, Dean Street Underground Orchestra) on saxophones, Gwilym Simcock (Acoustic Triangle) on piano and French horn, and Laurence "Laurie" Cottle (ex-Tim Garland Quartet, ex-Eric Clapton, ex-Brian Eno) on electric bass and trombone.

In the aforementioned Nov 2007 interview, Bruford described the band thus: "It's parked up, refuelling. The key is still in the car and I can drive it any time but I do think you do need a clear idea of what you're doing when you play a concert." On his website timeline (perhaps written in Feb 2008), Bruford says of 2005: "Earthworks drifts artistically, as Bill remains uncertain as to its future development. Offers of concerts in far off places continue to arrive, but the band functions mostly on repertoire, and breaks little new ground." Of 2007, he says, "With Earthworks parked and re-fuelling at the twenty year mark".

Two DVDs, "Video Anthology Volume 1 - the 2000s" (BBSF016DVD; 14 tracks, 11 previously unavailable on video; dur. 1 hour 55 min.s) and "Volume 2 - the 1990s" (BBSF017DVD; all material previously unavailable on video; dur. 1 hour 25 min.s), both on Summerfold, are now out. Both releases are Region 0, NTSC encoded. All the material has been selected by Bruford. They are taken from shows in Tokyo, Japan in 1991, Stuttgart, Germany in 1991, Sofia, Bulgaria in 1999, New York, US in 2001, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2002, and Paderborn, Germany in 2005. It appears that six numbers come from the last of these dates, including three new pieces; this will be the first release by a line-up with Simcock or Cottle. Volume 1 tracks: "Triplicity", "Original Sin", "Cloud Cuckoo Land", "Revel Without a Pause", "Bajo del Sol", "Tramontana", "Beelzebub", "Footloose and Fancy Free", "Libreville", "Highland Games", "Youth", "Song", "White Knuckle Wedding", "The Wooden Man Sings, and the Stone Woman Dances". Volume 2 tracks: "Up North", "All Heaven Broke Loose", "Psalm", "Old Song", "Stromboli Kicks", "Bridge of Inhibition", "Emotional Shirt", "Candles Still Flicker in Romania's Dark", "Nerve", "Pigalle", "Never the Same Way Once", "Some Shiver While He Cavorts", "Bridge of Inhibition". The 1990s volume mainly features the band with Django Bates and Iain Ballamy.

Clinics & other performances
In early Jul, Bruford performed with Tim Garland (Earthworks; saxophones), Dave "Fuse" Fiuczynski (MySpace page; Screaming Headless Torsos; guitar), Andrei Kondakov (piano, keys) and Andrei Svetlov (bass) at the Hermitage Music Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia.

In May, Bruford hosted a rehearsal with Nicholas Meier (guitar) and Pat Bettison (bass).

Bruford played with jazz pianist Will Butterworth (MySpace page) in London on 2 Apr. On his website, Bruford described the gig beforehand as "of the research and development variety, which, translated, means it'll be well outside by comfort zone." After the show, he described it as "all improv, very loose, lot of fun". Chris Squire, Steve Hackett and Paul Stacey were all in the audience.

In Nov 2007, Bruford did a drum clinic tour of the eastern US and Canada. The clinics included Bruford playing, to backing tracks, extracts from: "Hell's Bells", "If You Can't Stand the Heat", "If Summer had Its Ghosts", "Beelzebub", "Indiscipline", "Footloose and Fancy Free", "B'BOOM", "Presto Vivace/In the Dead of Night". The New York clinic had an attendance of 600, the venue's most successful drum clinic ever. Bruford said in the aforementioned Apr 2007 webchat that he is giving "serious consideration" to doing a DVD of the clinics. In an 11 Jun 2008 blog post, Bruford said he had no clinics planned at present.

In the 11 Jun 2008 blog post, Bruford also said he has no plans to tour the US, saying:

no immediate plans to tour the US. This is mostly economic – it’s financially unviable [...] My US friends are consistently surprised at the knock-on effects of post- 9/11 fortress America. Getting a work visa is rough work; assuming you’ve correctly completed the form asking for, amongst other things, details of every country you’ve visited in the last ten years (you can imagine how much musicians enjoy that one), and you’ve turned up to wait in line at the Embassy in Grosvenor Square for an indefinite length of time for the interview and retinal scan etc, then the legal fees for producing the visa on time will be approx 1000 USD per travelling musician. Additionally, our currencies have gone the wrong way [...] Europe has gone the other way, in terms of fees and ease of access, so that’s where I’ll be for the time being. I’ve enjoyed playing in the US so much for my whole career, and these things change, but sadly I cannot in all honesty plan a tour till things change. And things always change!

Re-issues and archival releases
In his 15 Jul 2008 blog, Bruford said: "I think Voiceprint is about to release a live Gong album from the short time I was with them, but you’d have to check their website". As yet, there has been no announcement from Voiceprint on this. Bruford played with Gong for a few months in late 1974. An example set from Dec 1974 went: "Invocation", "Master Builder", "A Perfect Mystery", "Never Glid Before", "White Christmas", "Solar Musik Suite", "Flute Salad", "Oily Way", "Inner Temple", "Outer Temple", "Sprinkling of Clouds".

Voiceprint are re-releasing "Bruford and the Beat", his 1982 instructional video, on to DVD for the first time; duration: 30 minutes.

A sampler DVD with a lengthy interview with Bruford (done by Jon Kirkman) is now available. The DVD includes samples from releases by Bruford, Earthworks, Bruford-Borstlap and the World Drummer's Ensemble. 2000 copies of the DVD are available for free. To obtain a copy, while stocks last, e-mail bruforddvdoffer@googlemail.com with your full postal address. The sampler will also be included with the DVD release of Earthworks' "Footloose in NYC" (BBSF 020DVD) and can be viewed on Voiceprint's YouTube page.

"Footloose in NYC" was previously available as a companion to the 2CD Footloose and Fancy Free, but has now had an independent release. Extra features include behind the scenes footage and interviews.

Now out is the 43-minute DVD "Rock Goes to College" (produced by Bill Bruford; Winterfold BBWF008DVD; Region 0) of the Bruford band's 1979 BBC TV performance featuring Dave Stewart (keys), Jeff Berlin (bass), Allan Holdsworth (guitar), Annette Peacock (vocals; this being one of only two shows Peacock did with the group) and Bill Bruford (drums). Tracks: "Sample and Hold", "Beelzebub", "The Sahara of Snow (Part One)", "The Sahara of Snow (Part Two)", "Forever Until Sunday", "Back to the Beginning", "Adios a la Pasada (Goodbye to the Past)", "5G". The release was the fastest selling in Voiceprint's history. A CD of the show (BBWF009CD) followed.

The New Percussion Group of Amsterdam's 1986 Go Between (BBSF018CD), featuring Bruford and Keiko Abe, is out on Summerfold. Tracks: "Go Between", "Redbone", "Marimba Spiritual", "Maenaden". Bruford plays acoustic drums and percussion just on the 14-minute eponymous opener, composed by Rudd Wiener of the NPG. Wiener, Peter Prommel and Herman Rieken also perform on that track, all three playing xylophone, vibraphone, marimba and bass marimba. Abe just plays on "Marimba Spiritual".

Previously, Winterfold releases have generally come with a Summerfold sampler, and vice versa. However, this practice has ended. An Introduction to Summerfold and An Introduction to Winterfold are available for free (postage and packaging only) from Bruford's online shop. (Voiceprint are still selling them for £4.99).

As for future bonus tracks, in the May 2004 interview, Bruford says, "I have one or two strange bits and pieces up my sleeve and a fair amount of recorded live stuff. [...] I do have some very exciting playing from the Bruford group". In a Dec 2003 interview with Voiceprint radio, Bruford is asked whether he has any unreleased material in the archives for Winterforld. He replies:

Somewhat. The bands I'm in always tended to be playing new material, which [...] was likely to be recorded for some upcoming album. If that album never got made, then you find that that album is available in stocks... the material is available in some live concert. For example, the Stewart/Berlin/Holdsworth or John Clark group was working on a fourth studio album after Gradually Going Tornado, but it never got made. So there are some demos from rehearsal rooms and things which are just great and several tunes played live that were also very interesting. However, the only minor fly in the ointment back then of course is that the recording... bootleg recordings were pretty low quality. There's usually some guy just sticking up a cassette in a venue somewhere and not terribly great. And we didn't spend a lot of money recording things live all the time. Now, of course, with portable recording systems, everybody records everything. You record the rehearsal room. You record walking in to the rehearsal room. One of the nightmates in King Crimson was that everything was always recorded [...] The opposite problem occurred in the mid-seventies with Bruford, which was that almost nothing was recorded. So a lot of material went past, but we can, sure, find things and I'm sure you'll find the remastered and re-packaged material will come with interesting tunes of one sort of another or out-takes or some of that, I think.

Voiceprint (but not Summer/Winterfold) will be re-releasing the Bruford Levin Upper Extremities albums (Upper Extremities and BLUE Nights).

The 1976 album Absolute Elsewhere, on which Bruford drums, is being released in Japan in a 'mini-LP' sleeve format.

Chris Squire's solo album Fish Out of Water, on which Bruford plays, has been re-released by Squire—see under Squire for details. Bruford also appears on some of Patrick Moraz' solo albums, now remastered and re-released—see under Moraz.

Phil Manzanera's website had described a possible archival collection entitled Rare Two including material with Bruford, but news of the release was withdrawn. In Apr 2003, bassist Bill MacCormick answered a question about the relevant sessions on the Phil Manzanera/Roxy Music forum saying:

Some of the early sessions for the Listen Now album [...] involved Bill Bruford + Phil, [Brian] Eno and me (not sure about Eddie [Jobson] though he certainly played on other sessions).  These tracks were never used though I believe Phil still has the 24-track masters somewhere.  Every now and then we talk about what we might do with them.  We haven't come up with an answer yet.

King Crimson
In the Q Classic prog special (Jul 2005), asked whether he would ever rejoin Yes or King Crimson, Bruford answered: "With Yes, it's a definite no. That's never going to happen. But with Robert [Fripp]... if I could think of anything I could play for one minute that would bring happiness to his face, I probably would."

King Crimson Collectors' Club releases, consisting of varied archival Crimson material, are available via the DGM Shop. #36 was Live in Kassel, April 1, 1974 and features Bruford. #37 is Live at the Pier, NYC - August 2, 1982 and #38 is Live in Philadelphia, PA, August 26, 1996; both feature Bruford and Levin. Various archival King Crimson (and ProjeKct) shows are available to buy for download through DGM Live. The current line-up of King Crimson, without Bruford but with Levin, continues to play material co-written by both from the 1980s and 1990s line-ups and some tracks from the 1972-4 line-up with Bruford.

Bruford is on a number of King Crimson compilations. The (eventually 8CD) 21st Century Guide to King Crimson is a sort of replacement for the 1991 Frame by Frame compilation. Vol. One: 1969 to 1974 (DGM 0403) contains 4 CDs; Bruford is on the latter two discs: CD3 In The Studio: 1972-1974—"Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part I" (abridged, from Larks' Tongues in Aspic), "Book of Saturday" (Larks' Tongues...), "Easy Money" (Larks' Tongues...), "Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part II" (Larks' Tongues...), "The Night Watch" (Starless & Bible Black), "The Great Deceiver" (Starless & Bible Black), "Fracture" (Starless & Bible Black), "Starless" (abridged, from Red), "Red" (Red), "Fallen Angel" (Red), "One More Red Nightmare" (Red); CD4 Live: 1972-1974—"Asbury Park" (USA), "The Talking Drum" (The Great Deceiver), "Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part II" (USA), "Lament" (USA), "We'll Let You Know" (Starless & Bible Black), "Improv: Augsburg" (previously unreleased, concatenated with preceding track so does not show up as a separate CD track), "Exiles" (abridged, from USA), "Easy Money" (USA), "Providence" (The Great Deceiver), "Starless & Bible Black" (The Night Watch), "21st Century Schizoid Man" (USA), "Trio" (The Night Watch). Bruford also appears on DGM's new 2CD The Condensed 21st Century Guide to King Crimson (1969-2003). DGM are planning to release a DVD compilation of archive video footage of King Crimson, including previously unreleased footage.

Dust is a collection of rarities from Adrian Belew. While once planned as a boxset, instead the collection of 85 tracks is being released as a series of downloads ("Dust particles") available from StoreBelew. Some of these features Bruford and Levin, including "Dust" (unreleased 1983 King Crimson song from sessions for Three of a Perfect Pair) and "Manhattan/Neurotica" (recorded by Belew/Bruford/Levin in 1982). At one stage, it was announced that the set would include an early version of "Heartbeat" and other outtakes from Beat.

Paul Amlehn's forthcoming feature film "The Tears of Eros" will use music from several Crimson and related projects, including THRaKaTTaK and the ProjeKcts. Shooting was due to begin in 2006.

A cover of King Crimson's "Starless" by Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy and Randy George is due as a bonus track on Morse's next release. Bruford describes the version as "brilliant".

UK
Out in Japan is Live in Boston (Universal), a mini-LP sleeve, limited edition release. This is a remaster of Concert Classics Vol. 4, the 1999 album on Renaissance that was withdrawn very soon after its release following legal action. The album features the original UK line-up, including Bruford. Tracks: "Alaska", "Time to Kill", "Only Thing She Needs", "Carrying No Cross", "Thirty Years", "Presto Vivace—In the Dead of Night", "Caesar's Palace Blues".

UK, also with Bruford on drums, as well as Danger Money and Night After Night from after Bruford's departure, were also to be re-released in Japan, although they now appear to be indefinitely postponed. These have been remastered by Mark Powell, who has done remastered series for bands including Caravan, Camel, Van der Graaf Generator, Steve Hillage and Steve Hackett. Eddie Jobson has been critical of these releases—more details here.

Other news
Bruford guests on Returning to the Dark Side of the Moon, a forthcoming tribute album to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, organised by Billy Sherwood (and a follow-up to his Back Against the Wall)—details here.

Bruford has done a library of loops etc. for Esoundz' Studio ProFiles. In a Jun blog entry, Bruford referred to doing some solo drum stock tracks for TV.

Bruford blogged in Apr 2008 that he has started writing an autobiography. He has been in touch with possible publishers and the book is reportedly expected in late 2008 or early 2009.

Bruford has contributed to the new and official Genesis biography "Genesis: Chapter and Verse", now out. (Bruford drummed with the band on their 1976 tour.)

Bruford is doing some teaching at the Academy of Contemporary Music (Guildford) and Kingston University.

Tony Kaye MySpace page

Since Back Against the Wall, Kaye has been working on multiple projects with Billy Sherwood that also include further Yesmen and so are covered here. These chiefly include CIRCA:, a new band project also with Jay Schellen and Jimmy Haun; their debut album is out and the band hope to be touring in the latter half of 2007 and into 2008. Kaye also guests on a post-Conspiracy album by Sherwood and Schellen. Kaye also played on Return to the Dark Side of the Moon, a tribute album to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, and its predecessor Back Against the Wall, as well as Led Box: The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin and a forthcoming Beatles tribute album, all organised by Sherwood—details here.

On 24 May 2007, Kaye said on his MySpace blog that he has "been working on [a] project called End Of Inocence that is an orchestral interpretation of 9-11-2001." In an interview published Mar 2008, Kaye talks further about the project, saying:

I’m working on an instrumental album based on the events of 9/11. My wife co-wrote and sings on one of the songs. It’s mostly orchestral and I’d like to have an actual orchestra perform it, but they are very expensive.

Kaye's wife is singer Daniela Torchia (MySpace page). Her debut album Have No Fear was executive produced by Kaye, and produced by Brian Yaskulka and George Alayon. Kaye also plays keys on the song "I Promise You". Also appearing are Robin LeMesurier (ex-Rod Stewart; guitar), Cole Coleman (MySpace page; Davison/Coleman, worked with Circa:; guitar), Kevin Holmes (guitar), Joe Jewell (guitar), Jeff Hawley (guitar, bass), Willard Lozano (Flamenco guitar), Mike Bennett (drums), Morris Goldberg (sax), Glen Sobel (drums), JJ Kleutgens (bass). There is a Spanish-language version of the album entitled Sin Miedo. See Yescography for details.

On his MySpace page, drummer Paul Cassarino (stage production for CIRCA:) says he is, "Currently, working along side Tony Kaye [...] and his wife Daniela Torchia's solo project." I am unclear whether this is the 9/11 project, another album from Torchia or something else.

Kaye is also executive producing several new artists. He was playing piano, Hammond and synths in The Neil Deal, a tribute band for Neil Young and Crazy Horse based in Los Angeles, CA, but seems to have left in 2007. The rest of the band are Dennis Neil (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica), Jim Altman (ex-Steve Vai, ex-Eric Burdon; guitar, backing vocals), Bruce Spiegel (bass, backing vocals), Bert Wolf (drums). The band play regularly in California. Their live set included "After the Gold Rush", "Alabama", "Barstool Blues", "Cinnamon Girl", "Cortez the Killer", "Cowgirl in the Sand", "Down by the River", "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere", "Harvest Moon", "Heart of Gold", "Helpless", "Hey Hey My My", "Hurricane", "The Loner", "Long May You Run Mr. Soul", "Mansion on the Hill", "Needle and the Damage Done", "Ohio", "Old Man (Look at My Life)", "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", "Out on the Weekend", "Over & Over", "Powderfinger", "Rockin' in the Free World", "Sedan Delivery", "Southern Man", "Sugar Mountain", "Tell Me Why", "Walk On", "Welfare Mothers", "When You Dance I Can Really Love", "After the Garden". The band were recording a studio album; it is unclear whether Kaye will be on this.

Peter Banks Peter Banks Home; MySpace page

Harmony in Diversity and Self-Contained
Harmony in Diversity is an improvisational trio with Peter Banks (guitar, MIDI guitar), Nick Cottam (Pulse Engine; bass) and Dave Speight (a.k.a. Jick; drums). Speight replaced Andrew Booker (Pulse Engine, Tim Bowness, Improvizone; MIDI drums, drums), who left the band in Jun 2006. The band's debut release is Trying, available only from their website; it features Banks, Cottam and Booker and largely consists of material recorded in late 2004, save for the last track recorded live in Jun 2005—details in Yescography. The new trio are compiling an album: Banks blogged in Apr 2008 about "the Harmony In Diversity project I have and the tracks are being worked on and assembled by H.I.D bassist Nick Cottam , who has done an outstanding job and continues to work on this up coming release." Sound samples from Trying and from recent shows with the new line-up can be heard at their website.

Since 2007, Banks has had a call for collaborators on his MySpace blog. It currently reads (note corrected phone number):

 Diligence, tenacity, precision, a driven confidence, iconoclastic lateral thinking and er....stuff.

Pete Banks is looking to hear from musicians who like breaking rules, for his HARMONY IN DIVERSITY project. The gigs will be 80% improvised, no prisoners will be taken. If you're interested in playing between the lines, if you are in the London area I would like to hear from you.

Call today!
44-776-694-2372

Banks and Booker (without Cottam) recorded a set of studio improvisations, to be released as a Harmony in Diversity album entitled What is This?, recorded in 2005. A piece from the album can be heard at Banks' MySpace page.

Harmony in Diversity played various European shows in 2007. A Feb 2007 show in Budapest, Hungary was recorded, either for a separate live release or material from it will be used on their forthcoming album. In Mar 2007, they played in Newport, Wales, courtesy of Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club. (Streaming video from this show is now up on Banks' MySpace page.) The new line-up's debut was two English shows in Oct 2006 supported by Whimwise (led by Nick May, ex-The Enid). While the band's live performances were initially entirely improvised, they have introduced a prepared piece, an arrangement of a piece from The Two Sides of Peter Banks.

Banks is collaborating on a number of projects with Gonzalo Carrera (dB-Infusion, Whimwise, Karnataka, Wild Turkey; keys). They have been planning live work in London: they initially talked about a duo, Harmony in Diversity II, with the same improvisational ethos as its namesake. The pair are also planning live work as Self-Contained, playing rock instrumental material composed by Banks. In Apr 2007, Banks said he, Carrera and Dave Wagstaffe (Landmarq, Oliver Wakeman; drums) were planning some London gigs of composed material. Banks has also talked of wanting to assemble an instrumental band to play material from his 1990s solo albums: in a Nov 2006 interview, he said, "I'd like to put an instrumental band together and go and play my stuff, and do some covers of different songs and pieces, instrumentally, and put a whole different spin on it." In Apr 2007, Banks joined dB-Infusion (with Carrera) plus John Etheridge (guitar) for the last two pieces of their London show. In the audience were Wagstaffe, Chris Welch (author of "Yes—Close to the Edge") and Nick May.

Yes & related collaborations
Banks guested on Return to the Dark Side of the Moon, a tribute album to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon organised by Billy Sherwood—details here. In an interview for Guitar Player (Sep 2006 publication date, but conducted in the first half of the year), Banks says, "I may be doing something with former King Crimson violinist David Cross, and there are two potential projects involving former Yes personnel that I'm sworn to secrecy about for now." One of these Yes-related projects was probably a reference to early ideas around what became CIRCA: (with Sherwood, Tony Kaye and Alan White), but Banks ultimately was not involved with this. The other may have been writing with Jon Anderson.

Banks and Jon Anderson are writing some new material together—details also on main page. In Oct 2007, former Flash road manager George 'TheMiz' Mizer reported that "Pete [Banks] has givin up on a FLASH reunion [see next paragraph] at this time as he wants to be part of the YES 40th Anniversary in 2008". See main page for more on Banks and Yes. On the other hand, in an interview in Record Collector (circa Oct 2006), Banks said, "It's been suggested to me to do an album of Yes pieces, but why? I don't want to repeat something I did 200 years ago."

Flash
Banks and former Flash road manager George 'TheMiz' Mizer, through their production company AdequateSounds, are trying to arrange a release entitled In Public, an archival 16-track recording of a complete 1973 Flash concert recorded by the Record Plant. Banks blogged in Apr 2008 about the album, describing it as "a forth coming CD called FLASH "In Public" we have had many offers for a JAPAN release but this is worth a wider release. So we shall see what comes ." An edited version of one track ("There No More", a.k.a. "Room with a View", originally 18 min.s long) can be heard on Banks' MySpace page.

Syn
Banks left The Syn reunion: in an interview in Record Collector (circa Oct 2006), he says, "That was a bitter experience [...] the singer [...] was impossible."

Other news
Banks has been planning a project with singer Reggie King (ex-The Action). In a Nov 2006 interview, Banks talks of producing King and assembling a backing band: "I'm hoping to put a special band together, can't say too much about it because I've not spoken to Reggie about it. [...] I'm hoping to tempt him into the studio. It would involved people who played the Marquee in the late 60s, like Phil Collins, Chris Squire, Stevie Winwood, this kind of thing. But we're still discussing things."

Banks will be guesting on a number of tracks on the next studio album by Yesterdays, due spring 2008. (Banks' Harmony in Diversity were supported by Yesterdays at MiniProg Festival in Budapest in Feb 2007.)

In an interview in Record Collector (circa Oct 2006), Banks says, "I have almost enough material for a solo album too, but I'm not sure I want to release one, as I burned myself out on the previous one. If I did, it'd be live-in-the-studio with my wish-list of players. It's been suggested to me to do an album of Yes pieces, but why? I don't want to repeat something I did 200 years ago."

[Support this website by buying Return to the Dark Side of the Moon and other releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]

Some while back, Banks recorded parts for three tracks on Ant-Bee's planned album Electronic Church Muzik (as Billy James, Ant-Bee co-wrote Banks' autobiography "Beyond and Before"). Other guests include Daevid Allen (Gong), Gilli Smyth (Gong), Jan Akkerman, Napoleon Murphy Brock (ex-Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention; vocals), Don Preston (ex-Mothers), Bunk Gardner (ex-Mothers), Rockette Morton (ex-Capt Beefheart's Magic Band), Zoot Horn Rollo (ex-Capt Beefheart's Magic Band), Moogy Klingman (ex-Todd Rundgren; keys), Roger Powell (ex-Todd Rundgren; keys) and members of the the Alice Cooper Group. At last report, Ant-Bee (a.k.a. Billy James) is still working on the album.

Banks was interviewed (circa Nov 2006) for a documentary about Pink Floyd's Meddle album. He said in the aforementioned Nov 2006 interview that he wanted to write another book: "not a biography, about music in general and the way I view it now and the way it was. I'm pretty opinionated and want to get it out of my system."

Peter Banks has a MySpace page. This may feature some archival recordings Banks has, including The Syn live in the 1960s.

Rick Wakeman

Wakeman news is on its own page.

Patrick Moraz Official website

Around May 2007, Moraz recorded a solo show for XM Radio, with a set including new material written for this show. The recording was being mixed in May, with broadcast to follow in Jun on XM Fine Tuning (channel 76). In an Oct 2006 interview with the Francophone Yes fanclub, Nous Sommes Du Soleil, Moraz talked about possible live work in the US, Japan, UK and the Netherlands. In a Feb 2007 interview, Moraz talked of his desire to play live with a band and that he was rehearsing for live performances, but he did not seem to have any specific plans for shows. Moraz had said that Vega Music, a Japanese label who are re-releasing Moraz's solo album Resonance there (see below), would like to bring him to Japan for both some piano and electronic concerts. In a interview for Innerviews published in May 2007, Moraz talked about what material he might play live, describing delving deep into his back catalogue with material from Mainhorse, Refugee ("like "Papillon" or a bit of "Credo.""), The Story of i, Out in the Sun, Future Memories, and "even" Timecode. He adds, "Perhaps I'll play some Moraz-Bruford pieces like "Children's Concerto" as well" and that he "might consider playing something from Yes like "Soon"".

Moraz has done music for a forthcoming DVD release called "Transmuteo" by Jean-Luc Bozzoli; trailers featuring Moraz' music are now online. In his interview for Innerviews, Moraz expands:

it’s a story made up entirely of visuals and music, with no story or words. [...] The music will have a very symphonic approach and some of the pieces are very emotional.

He also seems to be working on further film scores. In the Innerviews interview, Moraz says he is "generally not interested in doing cameos", but gives one exception:

My friend Ahmin Bhatia just asked me if I would participate on one of his projects celebrating 60 years of analog synthesis. He’s going to recreate a huge piece by Ravel and is inviting several keyboardists to take part. I said if I have time, I will do it. However, my time is currently being spent in Los Angeles working on film scores and it’s very satisfying.

Moraz has been working on a CD with himself on piano and electronic keyboards and drummer Jacob Armen (ex-Prince). Moraz also appears on one piece on Armen's forthcoming solo album: called "Cachaca II", it is an arrangement for piano and drums of Moraz's "Cachaca" on The Story of i. In the 2007 Innerviews interview, Moraz says, "It features the piano base of the original track which you can't really hear on my album, in addition to the original chord structure from the middle of the piece. The rest of it is quite different—almost a different tune." The duo have played a small number of live dates and further shows, possibly with the addition of a bass player, are under consideration. They performed together at Keyboard magazine's 30th anniversary party at the 2005 NAMM convention. The duo improvise, play their new material and pieces from Armen's and Moraz' individual back catalogues, including from The Story of i (all of side 1), Patrick Moraz III and both Moraz/Bruford albums.

Moraz and Ronnie Ciago (percussion) have been working on an album together. Moraz has also been recording with drummer John Wackerman (Chad Wackerman's brother, ex-Kazumi Watanabe).

Moraz played on sessions for bassist Dave LaRue (The Dixie Dregs, John Petrucci) for a second solo album which has yet to appear.

Longer term plans
Moraz has talked of multiple further projects, but many of these appear to be some way from producing any output. He has plans for a third "Future Memories" show, which he discusses in a new interview on a forthcoming DVD release of the first two "Future Memories" TV programmes (see below).

For some years, Moraz has been working on an "electro-ethnic" solo album, A Way to Freedom. In an interview circa May 06 (Notes from the Edge #299), Moraz said:

A WAY TO FREEDOM seems to be taking a long time to come out. It's not the lack of material, but more about the inherent inertia which has surrounded the project from the beginning. I have lots and lots of recorded material already, but I never seem to be able to put the finishing touch to the production as a whole. Especially now that I have all these [re] releases [...] coming out [see below] [...] It is still a work in progress and I cannot announce its release yet. But it will come out in the not-too-distant future.

Moraz has also been working on an album with Michel Sanchez (Deep Forest) for some time. A report circa Feb 2005 said that Moraz has two electronic albums close to completion, one of which seems to be the one with Sanchez. It is unclear whether the other is A Way to Freedom, with Armen or some other project.

Moraz has expanded "Modular Symphony (1st Movement)" from his 1987 Human Interface album into an entire piano conerto, which he intends to release at some point according to a Mar 2005 interview.

Although he has no immediate plans, in his Mar 2005 interview, Moraz talked of his willingness to do a video or film project based on his solo album The Story of i. In his NftE interview (Jan 2001), he said, "I've also been writing and researching some stories. I'd like to do a movie of THE STORY OF I either in 3-D computer graphics, an animated version, or the real thing. I have also written a couple of other movie scripts; one is a science fiction story and the other is about the life and times of a composer who lived three hundred years ago." In an earlier interview (Oct 2000), he said: "I have just about 30 other projects that I have already composed, I've composed hundreds of pieces of music in the last 9 years. [...] I have also, maybe, studying to get a commission for a symphony orchestra perhaps in europe for next year [2001]." At some point, he has been planning to do a charity Christmas album.

In the 2005 interview, Moraz mentioned too his desire to do some live shows with flautist Syrinx to play music from their album Coexistence/Libertate, although again there are no specific plans at present. Moraz has said he may collaborate with Annie Haslam in the future.

Re-releases and previously unreleased archival material
Voiceprint are releasing remasters of much of Moraz' back catalogue through their and Moraz' new TimeWave label. The first two albums in the series were the eponymous releases by Mainhorse (IDVP001CD) and Refugee (IDVP001CD). These were followed by Moraz' solo albums:

• Story of I (IDVP003CD; bonus tracks "Cachaca Variations" and "Cachaca's Children's Voices")

• Out in the Sun (IDVP004CD; bonus track "Batucada")

• Patrick Moraz III (IDVP005CD; bonus track "Excerpt from Museeka Mageeka")

• Coexistence/Libertate (with Syrinx; IDVP006CD; bonus track "Working Jam with Patrick Moraz and Syrinx")

• Timecode (IDVP007CD; bonus tracks "No Sleep Tonight Remix" and "Black Brains of Positronic Africa Remix")

• Future Memories Live on TV (IDVP008CD; bonus track "Paris in a Bottle")
  Future Memories II (IDVP009CD; bonus tracks "A Moment in New York" and single version of "How Basic Can You Get")

• Human Interface (IDVP011CD)

• Future Memories I & II (IDVP010CD; bonus track "Here Comes Christmas Again (Et Revoici Noel)"; alternate version of "More Tea, Vicar")

Expected are Windows of Time (IDVP012CD), Resonance (IDVP014CD; see note below) and ESP (IDVP015CD). All the remastering was done from the original master tapes by Moraz and Jean Ristori (ex-Mainhorse, worked with Yes), who was engineer on many of the original recordings; Moraz has also overseen packaging. Most of the albums include bonus tracks, with the exception of Mainhorse, Refugee,Windows of Time, ESP and Resonance. Voiceprint have also released a Patrick Moraz compilation in their Sixty Minutes With... series (VP6007CD). Most of the albums have also been made available through iTunes. The Resonance remaster is first re-released by Vega Music in Japan, before release in the rest of the world later on Voiceprint. There are promotional activities in support of the releases.

"Live in Princeton" (VPDVD31) is a remastered DVD, now out; tracks: "Aural Contact I/Sacrifices", "Soul Eternal", "Aural Contact II/Initiation", "Lost Way", "Cachaça", "Isle of View", "Oral Contact: Shout!", "Talisman" (including "Caravan" theme by Duke Ellington), "Caprice of the Gods", "Blue Monk" (originally by Thelonius Monk), "Intro/The Best Years of Our Lives", "The Story of i" (1975 promo film). Also now out is "Future Memories Live on TV", a DVD of the TV programmes "Future Memories" (now in stereo as opposed to the original mono broadcast) and "Future Memories II". Tracks: from "Future Memories I" (recorded 1979)—"Black Silk", "Eastern Sundays", "Metamorpheses"; from "Future Memories II" (recorded 1982)—"Flippers", "Heroic Fantasy", "Satellite", "Pilots' Games", "Navigators", "Video-Games (How Basic Can You Get?)", "Chess", "After the Year After"; interview with Jon Kirkman (dur. 41:58). The "Future Memories I" TV programme realisation was by François Jaquenod, from a scenario by Moraz and Jaquenod; sound engineer: Jean Ristori. "Future Memories II" was recorded by Barry Radman and Ristori, except "Video-Games" by Gregg Jackman (worked with Yes and  Chris Squire); TV-play by Moraz and Jaquenod.

In 1989, Moraz was working on a follow-up to Human Interface for Cinema Records. At the same time, he was renting his studio out to guitarist Kazumi Watanabe, who was recording his solo album Kilowatt with Bunny Brunel (bass), John Wackerman (drums), Wayne Shorter (ex-Miles Davis, ex-Weather Report; sax) and others. Many of these musicians played on sessions for Moraz' album, while Moraz also played on Kilowatt. The deal with Cinema Records fell through, but, according to his 2007 interview for Innerviews, these sessions "will form the basis of [an] album that will come out soon." Moraz refers to recording with Watanabe, Brunel, Wackerman and Alex Ligertwood (ex-Santana, ex-Brian Auger; vocals), while in a Mar 2005 interview, he had also talked about Shorter being on the recordings.

In an Oct 2006 interview with the Francophone Yes fanclub, Nous Sommes Du Soleil, Moraz was asked whether there might one day be a release of a Dec 1987 live-in-the-studio performance in support of Human Interface. Moraz replied yes:

Oui, celui-là j’en ai le master sur DAT et je vais le mastériser avec Jean Ristori dans les semaines à venir. Bien que la partie électronique de la musique soit très similaire à l’album de studio de « Human Interface », ayant tout joué « live » en direct,  avec l’aide d’ordinateurs et de « midi » cependant, le son lui, est plus « urgent », peut-être un peu moins sophistiqué que sur l’album de studio, et les tempi sont dans certains cas plus rapides ! Et puis les lignes improvisées sont évidemment différentes de celles de l’album de studio. [...] J’ai retrouvé des enregistrements inédits de pièces pour pianos préparés que j’avais enregistrés ultérieurement et que j’ai mis en bonus sur le CD.

The set ended with a medley of Beatles tunes.

In separate developments, Chris Squire's solo album Fish Out of Water, on which Moraz and Bruford play, was re-released by Wounded Bird Records and is being re-released with bonus material by Squire's Stone Ghost Records—see under Chris Squire.

[Support this website by buying the Moraz remasters and other releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]

Refugee
Refugee consisted of Moraz (keys), Lee Jackson (The Nice, ex-Jackson Heights; bass, vocals) and Brian Davison (The Nice; drums). Voiceprint, within their series of Moraz releases, have re-released the band's only contemporary album, Refugee (IDVP001CD), plus the live Refugee CD, Live in Concert - Newcastle City Hall 1974 (VP421CD), one of the band's earliest concerts, sourced from tapes held by Davison and fully endorsed by the band. The set was mainly drawn from the album, but with some further pieces played: "Outro - Ritt Mickley", "One Left Handed Peter Pan" (previously unreleased Refugee original), "The Diamond Hard Blues Apples of the Moon" (originally by The Nice), "Someday", "Papillon", "She Belongs to Me" (originally by The Nice), "Grand Canyon Suite", "Refugee Jam" (previously unreleased original). The CD booklet includes several photos from the gig and liner notes by Martyn Hanson.

In his 2007 interview for Innerviews, Moraz says that he is "not ruling out regrouping Refugee either. I'm in touch with Lee Jackson and Brian Davison every few weeks and we're talking about maybe doing a couple of reunion shows in Europe." However, sadly Davison died on 15 Apr 2008.

Trevor Horn Official site; SPZ website; ZTT Records website
The Producers Official site; MySpace page
The Producers consists of, as the name suggests, various producers: Trevor Horn (bass, vocals), Steve Lipson (worked with Grace Jones, S Club 7, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Annie Lennox, Will Young; guitar), Lol Crème (Art of Noise, ex-10cc; guitar, vocals), Chris Braide (Malmo, written for Glenn Tilbrook, Clay Aiken, Will Young, Kylie Minogue, S Club 7; keys, vocals) and Ashley 'Ash' Soan (Rick Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble, Enrique Iglesias, ex-Del Amitri, ex-Squeeze; drums). Braide is the main vocalist, but Horn and Crème sing lead on some songs. The band began recording their debut album in Dec 2006 at Hook End Studios. In Mar 2008, the band announced they had finished mixing it and that release under the title Studio 1 would follow on Stiff Records (a sister label to ZTT). However, by Jun, the band were back recording and the album is now entitled Watching You Out There and will be released on a different label. The debut single was "Barking Up the Right Tree" (3:21; Crème on lead vocals, Horn on double bass), backed with "Freeway" (5:55; Braide on lead vocals; originally announced as the debut single), out on CD (Stiff Records, CDBUY270). Both songs can be heard on their their MySpace page and at the Stiff Records website. There is also a video for "Barking...", a hand-drawn animation by Crème. (A teaser video for "Barking Up the Right Tree" and "Freeway", produced by Lol's son, Lalo Crème, can be seen at Braide's MySpace page here.) The band is managed by Luke Mitzman (Lipson's stepson).

The single was co-written and co-produced by all five of the band. Album tracks: "Freeway", "Waiting for the Right Time", "Watching You Out There", "Your Life" (Horn on lead vocals), "Barking Up the Right Tree", "You and I", "Stay Elaine", "Man on the Moon" (Braide on lead vocals), "Music From BelAir" (inspired by Horn's time as a homeowner in California). A song entitled "Seven" (in 7 time about an escort agency, with Horn on Vocoder) was played live; I presume it is included under some other name. Gary Langan (ex-Art of Noise, worked with Yes) is mixed and engineered. "Barking Up the Right Tree" is also included on the 4CD The Big Stiff Box Set (SALVOBX402).

The band have played two recent London dates in Apr and May 2008 (as support for Zucchero). A 5-date UK tour was planned for Oct 2007, but, according to one report, it was cancelled save for the opening London night. The set then was: "Two Tribes" (instrumental, originally by Frankie Goes to Hollywood), "Invisible" (originally by Braide), "Waiting for the Right Time" (from Studio 1; Braide on acoustic guitar and lead vocals), "Rubber Bullets" (originally by 10cc; Crème on lead vocals), "Music from Bel Air" (from Studio 1; Horn on acoustic guitar and lead vocals), "Freeway" (from Studio 1, which Horn introduced under its original title of "Driving"), "Into the Great Wide Open" (originally by Tom Petty; Horn on lead vocals), "Your Life" (from Studio 1; Horn on lead vocals), "Barking Up the Right Tree" (from Studio 1), "Man on the Moon" (from Studio 1; Braide on lead vocals and keys), "Seven" (from Studio 1; Horn on lead vocals and Vocoder, including Soan drum solo), "I'm Not in Love" (originally by 10cc; Braide on lead vocals and keys, Crème on keys), "Video Killed the Radio Star" (originally by The Buggles; with comedy bossa nova intro), "Watching You Out There" (from Studio 1; live debut), medley: "Space Oddity/Highway 61/Everybody Wants to Rule the World". "You & I" (from Studio 1) was also played, but I forget where it came in the set list. An encore of "Get Back" (originally by The Beatles) was planned, but not played due to lack of time. In an interview in Apr 2007, published in the Jul issue of Future Music, Horn said they might do more Buggles numbers at a future show, including "Living in the Plastic Age".

Pet Shop Boys
Horn produced the Pet Shop Boys' Fundamental (Parlophone); tracks—all written by Tennant/Lowe unless otherwise stated: "Psychological", "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show", "I Made My Excuses and Left", "Minimal", "Numb" (written by Diane Warren, originally intended for the PopArt compilation but not used), "God Willing", "Luna Park", "I'm with Stupid", "Casanova in Hell", "Twentieth Century", "Indefinite Leave to Remain", "Integral". See details in Yescography. A special edition version includes a second disc (Fundamentalism) with 8 remixes: "Fugitive (Richard X extended mix)", "Sodom (Trentmoller remix)", "Psychological (Alter Ego remix)", "Flamboyant (Michael Mayer remix)", "I'm with Stupid (Melnyk mix)", "In Private (Stuart Crichton club mix)", "Minimal (Lobe remix)", "Gomorrah (Dettinger remix)". Various alternate mixes and versions of the songs appeared on different formats. The album went Gold in the UK where it peaked at #5 (#1 on the album dance chart). It also made the top ten in Denmark and Switzerland, and the top twently in Sweden and Finland. It made the US electronic chart's top five. Singles from the album were "I'm with Stupid", "Minimal" and "Numb", the last of those in an edit with new production by Horn. B-sides on various formats include a new dance mix of "Psychological" by Ewan Pearson and a live version of "West End Girls" from Concrete on which Horn plays (see next paragraph).

Concrete (Parlophone/EMI) is a 2CD live album out in the UK (no US release planned). It is a recording of an exclusive London show on 22 May 2006 by the Pet Shop Boys with the BBC Concert Orchestra (conducted by Nick Ingman) with Horn (bass, musical director), Dudley (keys, piano), Phil Palmer (ex-Tina Turner; acoustic guitar), Steve Lipson (The Producers, ex-Grace Jones, ex-Frankie Goes to Hollywood; guitar), Paul Robinson (ex-Buggles;drums), Lol Crème (The Producers, Art of Noise, ex-10cc; backing vocals), Andy Caine (backing vocals), Lucinda Barry (backing vocals), Sylvia Mason-James (ex-Robbie Williams, ex-Chicane; backing vocals), Sally Bradshaw (opera singing), Pete Gleadall (programming) and guest vocalists. Tracks: "Left to My Own Devices", "Rent", "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk", "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show", "Casanova in Hell" (with Rufus Wainwright), "After All", "Friendly Fire" (with Frances Barber), "Integral", "Numb", "It's Alright", "Luna Park", "Nothing has been Proved", "Jealousy" (with Robbie Williams), "Dreaming of the Queen", "It's a Sin", "Indefinite Leave to Remain", "West End Girls". The album made #61 in the UK.

The Pet Shop Boys' Disco Four, now out, includes "Integral (PSB Perfect Immaculate mix)" and "I'm with Stupid (PSB Maxi-mix)". In conjunction, "Integral" was released as a download single (making #197 in the UK chart), with a physical version released only as a promo. Ewan Pearson's re-mix of "Psychological" is included on his album Piece Work, also out.

Further production and solo work
Trevor Horn did a film score in 2007 for the forthcoming drama/comedy "Kids in America" from Universal Pictures, but said in a May 2008 interview that he wasn't particularly interested in doing many more films.

Horn produced Set the Mood, the debut album from David Jordan for ZTT/Mercury Records, now out. Tracks: "On the Money", "Place in My Heart", "Sun Goes Down", "Set the Mood", "Love Song", "Move On", "Sweet Prince", "If I'm in Love", "Glorious Day", "Only Living Soul" (co-written with Chris Braide (The Producers)), "Fight the World". The album peaked at #8 in the UK and #60 in Switzerland. "Place in My Heart" was the lead single, with remixes by Joey Negro and StoneBridge; there is also a music video. While it failed to chart, the second single, "Sun Goes Down", peaked at #4 the UK, #20 in Ireland, #34 in Italy and #42 in Switzerland. The third single is "Move One", including new track "Ghost Train" as a b-side, also charted in the UK. Musical director for David Jordan's band is Paul Sayer (also guitar), while also working on the album have been Braide, Steve Lipson (The Producers), Louis Read (ProTools) and, on "Sun Goes Down", Piers Gibbon (Jew's harp). Drums are probably by Ollie Boorman.

In May 2008, Horn said he was working with Israeli artist Aviv Geffen (MySpace page; Blackfield) on his forthcoming, first English-language album. Recording at Sarm Studios in London with players including Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree, Blackfield) and Mike Garson (ex-David Bowie, ex-Smashing Pumpkins).

Horn is also producing the debut album (rumoured to be called Maladies) from singer/songwriter Kid Harpoon (a.k.a. Tom Hull; MySpace page), with summer recording sessions in Los Angeles, CA planned. Tracks are expected to include a re-working of his own song "Riverside" plus new material.

Due 28 Oct is Evolver, the 11-track album from Grammy award-winning R&B singer John Legend. Horn produced the final song on the album, "If You're Out There". Others working on Evolver include Andre 3000 (Outkast), Kanye West, Estelle, will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas) and The Neptunes.

Vocalist Fiona Renshaw (worked with Lisa Stansfield, Kubb, Mr. Scruff) has recently recorded some vocal sessions with Horn and Lol Crème (The Producers, Art of Noise, ex-10cc), although for what project is unknown: presumably her own forthcoming album. She's also signed to Horn's publishing company Perfect Songs.

This is Hazelville (EMI) is the debut album from Captain (MySpace page) and produced by Horn. The band are Rik Flynn (vocals, guitar), Clare Szembek (vocals, piano, percussion), Mario Athanasiou (guitar), Reuben Humphries (drums, piano) and Alex Yeoman (bass). Another new band with links to Captain and The Delays (who have worked with Horn) is Ghosts and they have signed to Perfect Songs, Horn's publishing company.

Horn has been working with Enrique Iglesias on an album, at one point expected in Nov 2005, but delayed. Geoff Downes has played on two tracks of the project, including a cover of Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight".

In a Yahoo chat in Oct 1999, Horn wrote: "I'm writing a musical [...] about Robots." In an Apr 07 interview, lead singer/guitarist Dan Gillespie-Sells of The Feeling said: "I'm a big fan of his [Trevor Horn], and he's not doing the album with us, but he's doing a track with us. I don't want to commit to a producer for an album, but I do certainly want to do a track with Trevor. We're working with him as soon as we get back to London, just really to experiment and have some fun and see what he comes up with." However, in a Feb 2008 interview, Gillespie-Sells explained, "We know Trevor and had wanted to work with him but once we got going we knew we wanted to do it ourselves." Note also that the band released a cover of "Video Killed the Radio Star" as a b-side to the single "Rosé" in Feb 2007, and performed the song on ITV1's Guilty Pleasures in Mar 2008.

[Support this website by buying This is Hazelville and other releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]

Produced by Trevor Horn: 25^th anniversary celebration
Produced by Trevor Horn was a celebration of Horn's career on the 25th anniversary of The Buggles' The Age of Plastic, his first major release, encompassing a charity concert recorded for DVD and a compilation album (see in Yescography). The live concert was held in Nov 2004 in aid of The Prince's Trust charity. The line-up consisted of artists who have been produced by Horn and both Yes and The Buggles appeared. The show was recorded (and overdubs done, it seems) for a DVD release. A Region 2 release came in Japan first as "Produced By Trevor Horn: The Best 25 Years of Pop" (Geneon Entertainment). A US release under that title was announced (Clear Channel Entertainment Home Video 00110-7, distributed through Ventura Distribution; dur. 2 hours 40 minutes), with bonus material to include backstage footage, interviews and "Frankie Say Reform" (the documentary about Frankie Goes to Hollywood's search for a new singer), but did not appear and its status is unclear. The show was broadcast on HDNet (US TV). A 2-hour UK release through ZTT is now available under the name of "Slaves to the Rhythm". The Japanese release has songs out of order compared to the evening's perfomances and seems to omit Dollar's "Mirror Mirror" entirely, whereas the UK release is complete.

There was a 'house band' for much of the evening, which varied somewhat, but included Horn (bass, backing vocals), Dudley (Art of Noise; keys), Geoff Downes (keys), Jamie Muhoberac (ex-Seal; keys), Lipson (electric guitar), Robinson (ex-Buggles; drums), Alan White (drums), Lol Creme (The Producers, Art of Noise, ex-10cc; acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Palmer (ex-Tina Turner; acoustic guitar), Luis Jardim (ex-Asia;percussion), Bruce Woolley (ex-Buggles, ex-Grace Jones; backing vocals, guitar), Tessa Niles (worked with The Buggles; backing vocals), Barry (backing vocals), Debi Doss (worked with The Buggles, The Kinks, Pet Shop Boys; backing vocals), Linda Allan (worked with The Buggles; backing vocals), Andy Caine (backing vocals) and an orchestra (conducted by Nick Ingman (worked with Jon Anderson), string leader Gavyn Wright, horn leader Steve Sidwell). Tim Weidner (produced Magnification) was also in attendance, while orchestral sound was by Greg Jackman (worked with Chris Squire, Steve Howe). The acts were:

• The Buggles: "Video Killed the Radio Star", "Living in the Plastic Age"

• Dollar (with house band): "Mirror Mirror", "Give Me Back My Heart"

• Belle & Sebastian: "I am a Cuckoo", "Come Into My Office, Baby"

• Grace Jones (with house band): "Slave to the Rhythm"

• Art of Noise (including Horn, White, Dudley): "Close (to the Edit)"

• Propaganda (Claudia Brücken/Michael Mertens/Ralf Dörper/Susanne Freytag with house band): "Das Testament des Dr Mabuse"

• ABC (with Dudley): "Poison Arrow", "All of My Heart", "The Look of Love"

• Yes (Chris Squire—bass, White—drums, Trevor Rabin—guitar, vocals, Steve Howe—guitar, Downes—keys, Horn et al.—backing vocals): "Cinema" (Downes on Keytar), "Make It Easy" intro/"Owner of a Lonely Heart" [Squire, White and Downes were seemingly involved in mixing "Owner of a Lonely Heart" for the DVD]

— intermission —

• Pet Shop Boys (with Sally Bradshaw): "Left to My Own Devices", "It's Alright"

• Lisa Stansfield (with house band): "Takes a Woman to Know"

• t.A.T.u. (with house band—Horn and Creme both on bass): "All the Things She Said"

• Seal (with house band): "Killer", "Kiss from a Rose" (new arrangement), "Crazy"

• Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Ped Gill—drums, Mark O'Toole—bass, Paul Rutherford—vocals, Jed O'Toole—electric guitar, Ryan Malloy—lead vocals, with Steve Lipson—electric guitar, Luis Jardim—percussion et al.): "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" (with Howe—lap steel), "Two Tribes", "Relax" (with Horn—backing vocals).

The Buggles
Horn and Downes were discussing the possibility of reforming the Buggles. In his blog for 20 Jun 2005, Downes wrote, "I was supposed to have a meeting with Trevor Horn and Jill in London today, but [...] we did it remotely. [...] It's just about a new Buggles album we've been talking about for some time and maybe to coincide with the 25th year anniversary next year of MTV." As well as appearing at the Produced by Trevor Horn show in Nov 2004, thought has also been given to further live work. An article in Jul 2004 in The Independent (UK newspaper) reported that "The idea for reforming Buggles for a belated tour emerged when [Horn] performed "Video Killed the Radio Star" at a Belle and Sebastian concert in Los Angeles last year [2003] and the audience went wild. [...] no decision has yet been made on a full tour because of the cost, leaving the Wembley concert [of 2004] as possibly the only option for older pop fans to see Buggles perform live." At the Produced by Trevor Horn concert, Horn said his original idea had been a low-key Buggles tour. Downes also previously hinted at the possibility of live Buggles work, saying in an interview in early 2004: "The Buggles was much more a studio environment idea, which we never actually took on the road. Things may change though - watch this space later this year [2004]!"

ZTT were promising a remastered release of the second Buggles album, Adventures in Modern Recording, in 2005 including all the original b-sides and a new interview with Horn, but this has not appeared.

The reunited Asia, including Downes, are playing The Buggles' [SPOILERS—highlight to read] "Video Killed the Radio Star" in their set—see details here.

Art of Noise
In the Apr interview for Future Music, asked about whether the Art of Noise will be doing anything new, Horn said, "We keep talking about it." He also describes how they worked on a "visual sampler" before The Seduction of Claude Debussy: "So when you hit a note, you get a picture as well as sound. [...] there's about a 20 minute video that Lol Creme did, and I'm going to put it on DVD."

Now out, And What Have You Done With My Body, God? (ZTT) is a 4CD box set about the early Art of Noise. The set includes a 36-page booklet with track-by-track commentary by Horn and the other four original members, Anne Dudley (ex-ABC), Gary Langan (worked on 90125), JJ Jeczalik (worked on 90125), Paul Morley. One track is entitled "Close to the Edge" in reference to the Yes song of the same name on which this piece was loosely modelled; Alan White plays drums. Disc 1-3 consists of previously unreleased material, including from the original Who's Afraid... demo tapes, and Anne Dudley has collated fragments into a set of finished pieces (including "It's Not Fair" and "It Stopped"). Disc 4 consists of the full 'Into Battle with the Art of Noise' EP and 'Close (to the Edit)' and 'Moments in Love' cassingles, released on CD for the first time.

ZTT have also produced a new, limited edition, promo-only sampler CD (ZTT202CD) in unique slip-case artwork taken from the box set, shipped free with orders over £10 placed at the ZTT shop. It has 12-tracks, including "Once Upon a Lime" and "Close to the Edge".

Other news
Due Sep 2008 from Salvo Music (an imprint of Union Square Music) is a 3CD/1DVD box set compilation of 25 years of ZTT Records. The set is expected to include both hits and rarities from artists including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Grace Jones, Propaganda, Art of Noise, Seal, Shane MacGowan, 808 State, Bjork, Kirsty MacColl, Shades of Rhythm, Tom Jones, Adamski and The Frames, plus remixes from Brian Eno, The Orb and William Orbit. The DVD will be over 1 hour long, consisting of music videos. The box is being compiled by ZTT's archivist Ian Peel, who is also penning a 70-page booklet. This will also include contributions from Horn and Paul Morley.

ZTT are planning an anniversary Frankie Goes to Hollywood release with rarities. Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax" (produced by Horn) is included on the 2CD collection North By North West: Liverpool & Manchester from Punk to Post-Punk & Beyond 1976-1984 (Korova), compiled by Paul Morley (Art of Noise). (A 3CD limited edition version is also available.) The Best is a new compilation from t.A.T.u. including work produced by Horn from their first English-language album, 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane. The Barry Manilow compilation Greatest Songs of the Seventies (Arista) includes a Trevor Horn dance mix of "Could It Be Magic". I presume this is from the 1993 re-recording of the song that Horn produced (see in Yescography).

A Jul 2004 article in The Independent (UK newspaper) reported Horn as saying "that he knows he will have to give up producing some day because the hours are "just crazy"." The article goes on to quote Horn directly: "It's a tough game being a record producer. I've always worked very hard and very intensively. I've never left anything to chance." In a May 2008 interview, Horn said that his children and running the business (since his wife's accident) takes up most of his time, but that he still likes making records.

Horn's music business concerns are complex, but there is SPZ Holdings Ltd., which then owns Sarm Studios (who operate recording studios and manage record producers and engineers), Perfect Songs (music publishing company) and ZTT Records Ltd. (record label; MySpace page).

Horn was made a Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (Lipa) Companion on 25 Jul, along side actor John Hurt, songwriter Cathy Dennis, lawyer Ann Harrison, composer/performer Nitin Sawhney and choreographer Lea Anderson.

Geoff Downes Official site; Official online store; MySpace page

Asia
The Four Original Members of Asia
The original Asia line-up—namely Downes (keys), Steve Howe (guitar), John Wetton (ex-King Crimson, ex-UK; bass) and Carl Palmer (ex-Emerson, Lake & Palmer; drums)—have re-united, are on a world tour and have a new album, Phoenix, now out. Details are on the Asia page.

Icon
The Wetton/Downes collaboration Icon (after the name of their first album) is continuing in parallel to their work together in Asia. (In a Mar 2006 interview, Downes said, "It's important to point out [...] that the Icon stuff is quite a different approach [...] So this is Icon, this is Asia. There are really two quite different styles we address to each one.") The pair have been writing together and will be recording the collaboration's third album in Sep, with live dates planned for early 2009. The new line-up, in the studio and live, will be with Hugh McDowell (ex-ELO) on 'cello, who has worked with Asia and Icon previously, plus Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters, ex-John Wetton, ex-Qango, ex-Keith Emerson; guitar) and Pete Riley (Dave Kilminster, ex-Keith Emerson; drums).

Icon's planned European tour in Nov 2007 was cancelled due to Wetton's health problems—details under Asia. With Asia touring the next month, Icon were going to not play anything from the first two Asia albums (which constitute the bulk of Asia's current setlist). Instead, they were going to play Icon material plus songs from Yes (particularly Drama), UK and King Crimson. The live band was to include Christey, Mitchell and McDowell (cello).

Their second album, Icon II: Rubicon (Frontiers Records, FR CD 309), is out in Europe, Japan (on Marquee/Avalon Records) and the US (on Renaissance Records, RMED-0802). Tracks: "The Die is Cast", "Finger on the Trigger", "Reflections (Of My Life)", "To Catch a Thief", "Tears of Joy", "Shannon", "The Hanging Tree", "The Glory of Winning", "Whirlpool", "Rubicon". The album was recorded with familiar Wetton/Downes collaborators, Steve Christey (John Wetton Band, Jadis; drums), John Mitchell (Frost*, John Wetton Band, Arena, Kino; guitars) and Hugh McDowell (ex-ELO). Guests include Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering; vocals) and Katie Jacoby (Paul Green's School of Rock All-Stars; violin). "Tears of Joy" is co-credited to Eddie Jobson as it is based on "[t]he last song EJ and I were working on , many years ago," explained Wetton. See Yescography for details.

Never in a Million Years (Frontiers Records, FR CD 306; duration: 60:27) is a live album, on Marquee/Avalon Records in Japan and Renaissance Records in the US. The album was taken from live touring in 2006. It appears that the content comes from more than one show; tracks include "Pane Bruno", "The Heat Goes On", "Only Time will Tell", "Voice of America", "I Lay Down", "Days Like These", "Bolero", "Meet Me at Midnight", "Never in a Million Years", "We Move as One", "Paradox/Let Me Go", "Don't Cry", "Open Your Eyes", "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" (recorded at a Roland Virtual Icon show in Germany with pre-recorded contributions from Hugh McDowell on cello).

[Support this website by buying Icon releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]

Solo projects & other collaborations
In a Dec 2006 interview, Downes indicated he was continuing with solo projects, but, in reference to plans with Asia and Icon, said "I'm trying to find time for the solo stuff, but there's a very busy year ahead!" He is working towards the next New Dance Orchestra album, which he plans to include some visual material. The official geoffdownes.net shop has a free solo piece, "New Solo", available for download.

In his Jan and Feb 2007 blog entries, Downes describes a project of "short pop-songs" with his friend, long-time collaborator and lyricist Ben Woolfenden. They "are looking for a few killer vocalists to do this work justice (hopefully) and finish it all off."

Again in his Feb 2007 blog, Downes describes a new project also involving Tony Levin (bass), Michael Holmes (IQ), Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard, ex-Genesis), Thomas Lang (ex-John Wetton; drums), Rob Aubrey (worked with Wetton/Downes; engineer). Downes writes:

[In Feb] We [Downes, Holmes & Aubrey] were working on a few tracks that they have been putting together at their respective studios. At the moment it's what you might call a 'virtual' project, with people sending in their stuff/parts from all over the World. [...] It's a fairly interesting but low-key kind of project, and the material - quite different and unusual, but at the moment is still very much a kind of 'work-in-progress' type of thing. Any of you prog-heads out there will probably love it all and lap it up

Downes joined Alan White's band project, White. He played on their debut album and did play live with the band once, but has not done so since becoming busy with the Asia reunion and appears effectively to have left the band now. Details under Alan White.

[Support this website by buying The Bridge and other releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]

Other news
The Buggles appeared at the Produced by Trevor Horn show in Nov 2004. As well as playing in the Buggles, Downes was in the 'house band' for much of the evening, performing with many of the other acts. A DVD is out. More details and other Buggles news under Horn. Downes also plays on an Enrique Iglesias project being produced by Horn—details under Horn.

Downes appears on a number of projects headed by Billy Sherwood: a tribute album to Pink Floyd's The Wall; another for Led Zeppelin; a forthcoming Beatles tribute album; and a post-Conspiracy album—details here.

Downes appears on a new project from band Lizzy Borden. In his Jan 2007 blog, he describes doing a session for a project called Jerusalem, produced by Rob Aubrey and consisting of "a couple of blokes from Salisbury".

Downes sometimes plays with the Loco All-Stars, also with Hugh McDowell (Wetton/Downes, ex-ELO; cello), Paul Martinez (ex-Paice Ashton & Lord, ex-Robert Plant Band; bass), Ian Luther (guitar), Nicky Hopkins (ex-Robert Plant Band; drums). The band, who have a fluid line-up, were recording a CD to be sold at live shows; Downes is on six tracks including "How Long", "Keep on Rocking", "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Superstition".

News about Asia Featuring John Payne and associated releases is on the new Asia page.

Trevor Rabin Homepage; News

Film scores etc.
Rabin was a speaker at the Fimucité (Festival Internacional de Música de Cine de Tenerife/Tenerife International Film Music Festival) in Jun in Tenerife, Spain. The festival included a performance of Rabin's film music by the Tenerife Film Orchestra & Choir, a 90-piece orchestra and 60-member choir; set (conducted by Joel McNeely): "Gettysburg/Virginia" (from "Remember the Titans"), "Closing Cards (Overture)" (from "The Great Raid"), "Launch" (from "Armageddon"), "Aftermath" (from "Deep Blue Sea"), "Ben" (from "National Treasure"), "The Game" (from "Remember the Titans").

Rabin scored "Get Smart: The Movie". A 20-track release, Get Smart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande, 302 066 904 2), is out in the US; tracks: "Smart Dreams", "Get Smart Theme", "Cake Factory", "Theme (Look One)", "Max Denied", "Max Takes a Bow", "Dropping Like Flies", "Theme (Look Two)", "Agent 23", "Max Ejects", "Skydiving", "Laser Hallway", "Entering Moscow", "Rooftop Fight", "Max Calls 99", "Theme (Look Three)", "The Big Chase", "Wish We Had More Time", "Smart Exit", "Theme (Look Four)". The album includes several re-interpretations of the original TV show's theme, which was by Irving Szathmary, in different styles. The score was performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony in Jan, conducted and orchestrated by regular Rabin collaborator Gordon Goodwin, as well as using electronic elements, guitar and percussion. The score incorporates Irving Szathmary's title theme from the original television series. The score was produced by Paul Linford and mixed by Steve Kempster, with Greg Dennen as the score recordist and ProTools by Larry Mah. Music executives for Warner Bros. are Debi Streeter and Carter Armstrong. The film opened in the US in Jun and was #1 at the box office there. A sequel is planned with Rabin to do the music again.

Rabin continues to be busy with soundtracks for films. He did the score for "Hot Rod", out now, and a score album has been released on Sony Legacy with 9 tracks by Rabin, music by other performers and dialogue. Additional music was by frequent collaborator Paul Linford. The score was recorded and mixed by two more frequent collaborators, Steve Kempster and Paul Linford, and produced by Rabin.

He worked on "National Treasure 2: The Book of Secrets". It was the 12th highest grossing film of 2007 in the US (despite only opening 21 Dec). The score is available on digital download and Rabin was given a BMI award for his work. Rabin previously worked on the original "National Treasure".

Rabin's "Closing Titles" from the score for "The Great Raid" and "Heroes" from the score for "Flyboys" are included on the new 4CD compilation Varèse Sarabande: A 30th Anniversary Celebration (Varèse Sarabande). His "Titan's Spirit" (from "Remember the Titans") was used at the end of Barack Obama's acceptance speech to the Democratic National Convention in Aug 2008.

[Support this website by buying Snakes on a Plane: The Album and other releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]

Solo projects & collaborations
Rabin has often spoken of how he misses playing live, but his film work keeps him too busy. In Jan 2008, Rabin announced that he had been approached about touring with Yes, but that he is too busy this year—see details on main page. In an interview published Mar 2008, Kaye said, "I think [Rabin i]s working on a jazz album. [...] I think he's doing all the instruments himself." During CIRCA: dates in Jan, Kaye reportedly said Rabin would love to play in a band but for his schedule. An Oct 2006 report quoted Alan White as saying that Rabin was keen to move on from soundtrack work and return to band work.

Rabin has been writing with Jon Anderson. Anderson has also talked about the possibility of tour playing YesWest music—see details on main page.

In the Oct 2005 interview, Rabin said, "I also hope to do a solo album soon." He's talked before about a solo project: talking to Innerviews in late 2003, Rabin said he hoped to record a new solo album soon. "But if I get a call from someone I'm excited about working with, it's very difficult to turn down." He continues "I've got quite a lot of material together that I'm happy with. When I get enough together I'll start to do an album." Back in an Aug 2002 interview for Notes from the Edge, he said:

I've got enough material for about half an album at least, [...] and I just haven't got time to get around to it.

I've decided that from now on, I'm going to slow down, not do as many scores and try [...] to focus on doing an album, because I'm ready for it. I don't think I was ready for it before, so it's half the excuse of just the procrastination and the workload I had lead to me not doing anything, but now there's a desire, which there wasn't before, to do an album.

In his Innerviews interview, Rabin also talks about the possible format of a new album. He wants to use an orchestra and also suggests it will not be a singer-songwriter album:

I think I'd sing on it, but it would be far more instrumental. The previous solo albums were very much singer-songwriter efforts with me delivering a lyric and performing as a guitar player [...] Now, I think it would be a little more eclectic and a lot more natural maybe. It wouldn't stick to a certain genre. I wouldn't do what I'm expected to do. I think it would be a lot freer.

In an e-mail in Jul 2004, Rabin spoke of his focus on writing for orchestra, both in his film scores and a next solo album, rather than the traditional rock line-up. He said that when he does an album, it will be different to anything he has done before as a solo artist or in a band. He also said that he misses playing live.

Guest appearances & other news
Rabin guests on Dream and Variations (LuminAria Records), now out from composer/conductor Don Harper's Oceana Orchestra; Harper has worked on several soundtrack projects with Rabin. Tracks: "Dream and Variations", "Where Do We Go from Here?", "End of Days", "Morning in Montana (Heartland Prelude #1)", "Shades of Grace (Heartland Prelude #2)", "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (Heartland Prelude #3)", "Blackwater Run (Heartland Prelude #4)", "Her Touch", "When You Close Your Eyes", "Dream and Variations (full version)". The album was recorded by Harper's 70-piece Oceana Orchestra (save three of the "Heartland Preludes" that were recorded by a chamber group), with solo vocals and a choir added later. Lyricist Tom Child also worked on the project, while musicians include Rabin (guitar on "Where Do We Go from Here?" and a second track), Dan Higgins (soprano sax, flute, featured on "Dream and Variations"), Lisbeth Scott (vocals, on "End of Days"), Tim Davis (vocals, on "When You Close Your Eyes"), Karen Harper (vocals, on "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"), Russell Ferrante (The Yellowjackets; piano), Dave Stone (upright bass), Sid Page (violin), Steve Erody (cello), Brian Kilgore (Jonathan Elias; percussion), Gregg Bissonette (ex-David Lee Roth, ex-Toto, ex-Santana, worked with Billy Sherwood; drums), Grant Geissman (guitars), Dean Parks (guitars), Fred Selden (ethnic woodwinds). The album is engineered by Steve Kempster, another regular collaborator of Rabin's.

Two tracks on CIRCA:'s debut album, CIRCA: 2007, are co-written by Rabin, being based on material Billy Sherwood and Rabin worked on in 1995 after the Talk tour—see details here.

Rabin is interviewed in the documentary film "Finding Kraftland" about Richard Kraft, who heads Kraft-Engel Management, the agency to which Rabin is signed.

Rabin joined Squire, Howe and White for a one-off Yes performance at Produced by Trevor Horn in Nov 2004. He played guitar and sang lead vocals for a performance of "Cinema" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart". There is a DVD release—details under Horn.

Rabin has employed Jesse White (Alan's son) as a ProTools operator.

Archival releases
Two Rabbitt albums have been re-released on CD in South Africa by Fresh Music. The band's second album A Croak and a Grunt in the Night comes with the bonus track "Morning Light", while their first, Boys will be Boys, comes with "Brand New Love" and "Auld Lang Syne". Voiceprint have released a Trevor Rabin compilation in their Sixty Minutes With... series (VP6019CD).

Billy Sherwood Homepage; Homepage for solo projects; MySpace page

Projects with multiple Yesmen
Billy Sherwood is the nexus for a number of projects involving other Yesmen, both current and former band members (particularly Tony Kaye and Alan White), which are covered on their own page. In summary, there is:

• CIRCA:, a new band with Sherwood, Tony Kaye, Jay Schellen (GPS, ex-Asia, ex-Hurricane, ex-Lita Ford, ex-Badfinger, ex-Peter Banks; drums, percussion) and Jimmy Haun (played on Union, worked with Jonathan Elias, ex-Chris Squire Experiment, ex-The Key; guitars), and previously Alan White—see here.

• Sherwood has been working on Psy-op, a spin-off from Conspiracy with Schellen, but without Chris Squire. This project includes appearances by Kaye and Geoff Downes. (As a preview, a song from the album, "Gone All the Way" (2:12), has been made available for download on Sherwood's website.) See here.

• Sherwood has a series of tribute albums including appearances by Yes men. See here.

Sherwood has also been working regularly with various other musicians, including Schellen and guitarists Gary Green (ex-Gentle Giant) and Robby Krieger (ex-The Doors, Riders on the Storm)—see news about a post-Conspiracy album and various tribute albums. The Table below gives a summary of Sherwood's projects and some of his regular collaborators:
 

Solo work, including At the Speed of Life...
Sherwood has released his third solo album, At the Speed of Life..., exclusively available through his website. He said, "It's in the vibe of "The Big Peace" but taken to a new level. It is truly a solo work as I played everything on it. I am very proud of the outcome". In an Apr 2008 interview, Sherwood said:

It is extremely proggy [...] the whole album is a reflection basically on time and life, you know, how precious it is. How we all as people do what we have to do every day to get through this life but really the key to life is living it, enjoying it and realising that every minute is precious. So it is kind of, as I get older and now I am a father I guess these thoughts are in my head. [...] A lot of cool bass stuff on there because I’m back into playing bass a lot [...] [It] will be sold in the same manner that Circa: and Headsets is. Doing it ourselves, distributing it ourselves

[...] It’s like 50 minutes plus, very deep, there is a lot of great lyrics and vocals and harmonies on there and just a lot of muso stuff.

Tracks: "In the Maze of the Garden", "In Memory of...", "Face the Dawn", "Alive and Wondering", "At the Speed of Life...", "Seeing Through the Walls"; written, produced, and all instruments performed by Billy Sherwood. Audio samples are available at Sherwood's MySpace page. The album has a certain lyrical unity around "life and time and how it should be cherished", as Sherwood discusses in an interview circa Sep 2008.

Rights to Sherwood's first two solo albums have reverted to him and he is intending to re-release them through his website, probably in 2009, he said in Aug 2008.

In an Apr 2008 interview, Sherwood talked about writing "about 8" Xmas songs for MasterSource Music Catalog and, more generally, that he writes "a lot" for them. Over Xmas 2007, he put a set of Xmas songs on his MySpace page: "Peace and Love Xmas", "Bring It on Santa", "Xmas Time is Here", "Swingin' Xmas" and "The Santa Letter". These were originally written for film and TV work, presumably the same company, and are entirely performed by Sherwood, except lead vocal on "Swingin' Xmas" by Pat Tezilino.

Jim Ladd's Headsets (MySpace page)
Sherwood is working with radio DJ Jim Ladd on a series of albums based on Ladd's Headsets freeform radio shows of the same name. The improvised radio show adds effects and spoken word material to other artists' songs, but the first Headsets release was planned out and uses mostly original material. Now out, Chapter 1: Alone Out Here is on the theme of space, tracks are given below; the lyrics and speeches were written by Ladd (with Sherwood), save for two poems, while the music was largely written and performed by Sherwood. The album largely consists of songs sung by Sherwood and tracks of an ambient nature backing speech by Ladd.

1. Remnants of Creation (Part I)—spoken by Ladd; 30s. duration

2. The Launch—with spoken word fragments by DJ Pat "Paraquat" Kelly, DJ Joe Reiling, Damian Bragdon, John Densmore (ex-The Doors) and Sherwood; 22s. dur.

3. We are Sailors—sung by Sherwood

4. Reaching for the Stars—spoken by Ladd, intro to next track

5. Sons of Our Suns—sung by B. Sherwood, with additional voice work by his young son, Ethan

6. The Mission—spoken by Ladd

7. The Lonesome Trail (re-make of Chris Squire Experiment/Conspiracy song)—sung by Sherwood with some additional spoken word fragments by Ladd

8. Finding Our Way—poem written and spoken by Helene Hodge, with drum solo by John Densmore

9. Universal Garden (re-make of Yes song)—sung by Sherwood

10. The Family Business—spoken by Ladd

11. Alone Out Here—spoken by Ladd in a segue from previous track; Schellen on drums

12. Systems Failure—spoken by Ladd

13. Reflections—sung by Sherwood

14. Message from Home—poem written and spoken by Victoria Cyr over music by Sherwood

15. 2,000 Light Years From Home (re-make of The Rolling Stones song)—Billy Bob Thornton + his band

16. Perspective—spoken by Ladd

17. Melancholy Deity——sung by Sherwood; Schellen on drums

18. Remnants of Creation (Part II)—spoken by Ladd

19. One World Going Round (re-make of World Trade song)—sung by Sherwood

A live production and DVD is planned: in a Nov 2007 interview for Notes from the Edge, Sherwood said, "we have plans to make a live production out of it and include perhaps special guests and friends who, between Jim and I and the people we know, put together a unique kind of show, and just make an event out of the whole thing [...] hopefully early in the first quarter perhaps of next year [2008] somewhere we actually bring this to a live setting and film it and record it and create a live DVD of the experience". The live production would not tour: rather it seems a series of local dates is under consideration. The live band would probably be CIRCA: plus special guests. In mid-Jul 2008, Sherwood said, "There is interest in a "Headsets Live" production."

The pair plan on doing further chapters, although their themes are yet to be determined. In the NftE interview, Sherwood said: "we plan on doing as many as we like [...] so in the same way that, for me CIRCA: is doing its thing, and naturally taken on a life of its own, that's what's going kind of happen in this case as well with HEADSETS, so there will be multiple records as years roll by I'm sure." Future chapters may also have live productions too and will probably not re-use as much material.

However, that's not the end of the story. There is something of a mystery here because an alternate first, space-themed, Headsets album was released earlier in 2007 as From Here to Infinity (duration 42:09) by Jim Ladd's headsets, on Purple Pyramid (Cleopatra). It was released digitally through distributor The Orchard (including on emusic.com and Rhapsody), but appears not to have had a physical release. The album includes covers of well-known songs, including "Starship Trooper" with several Yes members. With many of the same people involved, it is unclear whether there is any overlap in content between the releases. Tracks:

1. "From Here to Infinity (Part 1)" (1:54)—Sherwood, Ladd, Bragdon, Reiling, Densmore, Kelley

2. "Sea of Stars" (1:34)—Malcolm McDowell (narration over the same musical theme as "Have You Seen the Stars Tonight")

3. "Have You Seen the Stars Tonight?" (1:59, originally by Jefferson Starship)—Sherwood; the very end of this track is missing on at least some digital versions

4. "Space Oddity" (4:51, originally by David Bowie)—John Waite

5. "Starship Trooper" (8:34, originally by Yes)—Sherwood (bass, backing vocals), Rick Wakeman, Tony Kaye, Steve Howe, Alan White, Mickey Thomas (Starship; lead vocals)

6. "Aviators and Privateers" (0:49)—Ladd (narration over the musical theme of "Gypsy")

7. "Gypsy" (3:33, originally by Fleetwood Mac)—James "JY" Young (Styx), Slash (Velvet Revolver, ex-Guns N'Roses), Tommy Shaw (Styx)

8. "The Endless Voyage" (2:03)—Sherwood, Ladd

9. "Looking Back" (3:03)—Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)

10. "From Here to Infinity (Part 2)" (0:57)—Ladd

11. "Across the Universe" (4:36, originally by The Beatles)—Jackson Browne, Robby Krieger (ex-The Doors, Riders on the Storm)

12. "Montague" (1:58)—McDowell

13. "From Here to Infinity (Part 3)" (0:41)—Ladd (continues from "Aviators and Privateers")

14. "Epilogue" (1:22)—Sherwood, Ladd

15. "Purple People Eater" (4:15)—George Thorogood

This was then re-released later in 2007, still digitally only, as Rock Infinity (and without the Headsets name) with a bonus track of "More Than a Feeling" performed by Sherwood, White and Kaye, presumably the track previously released on Cleopatra's '70s Box: The Sound of a Decade.

In Aug 2007, Sherwood described to Yesfans.com the cover of "Starship Trooper", saying, "That song was for a record that was dereailed mid way through.... record comapny snafu." He later continued, "Let's just say there was a major SNAFU that madse us back up and re-look at the project. I will explain more when the dust settles."

Tribute albums
Return to the Dark Side of the Moon, based on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, and Back Against the Wall, based on The Wall, were two projects led by Sherwood: details on the CIRCA: page due to the panoply of Yes men involved (Howe, White, Wakeman, Bruford, Kaye, Banks, Downes, Levin and Squire). More recently has come Led Box: The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin, including White, Wakeman, Kaye and Downes, and he is now working on a 13-track Beatles tribute, with guests including White, Downes and Kaye: details here.

In an Apr 2008 interview, Sherwood said he is working on a tribute to The Police, saying, "I was planning on kind of inviting just like great guitar players to come on and play some great solos and play over the top of the stuff and keep the music kind of pure."

An All-Star Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd (Deadline (Cleopatra)), out in the US, was assembled, produced, engineered and mixed by Sherwood. He also performs on the album (acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, piano, keys, bass, horn, background vocals), supporting various Southern rock acts. Schellen and Lou Molino III (ex-Trevor Rabin) also appear on drums. Tracks:

1. "Free Bird" (10:41) by Molly Hatchet with Charlie Daniels (vocals)

2. "Sweet Home Alabama" (4:44) by The Outlaws feat. Hughie Thomasson (vocals, guitar) with Sherwood, Schellen

3. "Double Trouble" (3:19) by Artimus Pyle (drums), Ed King (slide guitar) & The Original Honkettes (Leslie Hawkins-John & Jo Jo Billinsgley-White; backing vocals) (all ex-Lynyrd Skynyrd) with Thane Shearon (Cold Truth; vocals), Lee Bogan, Stevie Ray Anderson, Jim Kirby

4. "Saturday Night Special" (4:22) by Great White

5. "That Smell" (5:00) by Canned Heat

6. "Seasons" (4:25) by Blackfoot feat. Rickey Medlocke (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

7. "Gimme Three Steps" (4:43) by Walter Trout

8. "What's Your Name" (3:30) by Jim Dandy's Black Oak Arkansas with Hal McCormack (guitar)

9. "Gimme Back My Bullets" (4:18) by Pat Travers

10. "Simple Man" (6:32) by Dangerous Toys with Jason McMaster (vocals)

11. "Call Me the Breeze" (5:08) by Atlanta Rhythm Section

12. "You Got That Right" (3:50) by Rick Derringer

13. "Swamp Music" (3:31) by Sky Saxon (The Seeds) & Joey Covington (Jefferson Airplane, ex-Hot Tuna; drums)

Sherwood said in Jun 2007 to the Progressive Ears forum: "I am not a big Skynrd fan myself but as a working producing I took the gig hehe... I actually did gain a deeper appreciation of the music as a result of having to study it to re produce it. Ever since I made "Paul Rodgers Muddy Water Blues" the tribute projects have been on going... a gig is a gig !"

Sherwood, Molino and Schellen also worked on another tribute project on Deadline, released last year: An '80s Metal Tribute to Journey (CLP 1635-2). Sherwood (guitars, bass, keys and backing vocals), with Molino (4 tracks) or Schellen (2 tracks) drumming, provide the backing band for the first six tracks: "Don't Stop Believin'" (sung by Mickey Thomas), "Who's Crying Now" (Bobby Kimball (Toto)), "Send Her My Love" (Kip Winger), "Open Arms" (Tommy Shaw), "Any Way You Want It" (Jack Russell), "Faithfully" (Robin McAuley). Another 7 tracks have a backing band consisting of Kyle Kyle (bass), Tracy Swider (guitars), Danny Wagner (keys), Danny Parker (drums, backing vocals) and Kelly Hansen (Unruly Child, ex-Hurricane; backing vocals). Again on Cleopatra, Flying High Again: The World's Greatest Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne (CLP-CD-1585) includes "Hellraiser" covered by Sherwood, Joe Lynn Turner, Steve Lukather, Jay Schellen and Paul Taylor.

[Support this website by buying Return to the Dark Side of the Moon, Back Against the Wall and other releases through Amazon (US or UK): go to the Where Are They Now? Amazon listings page.]

Other news
In Sep 2007, Sherwood was reported to be producing "a number of bands". In a Mar 2008 interview, he said of his home studio, "I do a lot of production work here. I do a lot of writing for Japanese anime' cartoons. I also work for Master Source, which is a large music library. They're featuring me as their artist of the month on their website, which is quite an honor."

The Future is the 10-track, debut solo album from Air Supply's Graham Russell. Sherwood, who worked with the band in the 1990s, has co-written two of the songs: "Let Yourself Go" (written by Russell/Jonni Lightfoot/Stina/Sherwood) and "Our Love" (Russell/Mike Zerbe/Lightfoot/Jed Moss/Jeff Allman/Stina/Louis Clarke/Sherwood). He also mixed three tracks. Stina, Lightfoot, Moss and Zerbe perform on the album.

Released 18 Apr was the second album from Julia Francis. With 11 tracks and entitled Lucky Penny, it has additional engineering and production from Sherwood and Ted Stockwell (Treason, ex-White). The album was co-produced by Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes) and Mike Hoffmann (EIEIO); players include Vinnie Colaiuta (ex-Frank Zappa, ex-Asia, worked with Sherwood; drums), Ben Smith (ex-Heart, ex-Cyndi Lauper; drums), Andy Stoller (ex-Tracy Chapman; bass) and Jeff Fielder (Sera Cahoone; bass). The record was mastered by Joe Gastwirt (worked with Yes). (This is presumably the project that Stockwell referred to in Dec 2006.)

Sherwood and Bob Kulick head up Fearless Music West, a spin-off from Jamie Lamm's New York-based Fearless Music, doing music for commercials.

Sherwood has been working with Bob Cesca (cover art for Yes and Conspiracy) and his production studio Camp Chaos. Sherwood composed the theme song for Camp Chaos's anime series "Kung Fu Jimmy Chow" (for Heavy.com; lyrics by Cesca) and for their series "Superficial Friends" (also for Heavy.com). In an Apr 2008 interview, he said he had "recently completed" another.

On his MySpace blog in May 2007, Sherwood recounted how he met Malcom McDowell prior to recording Back Against the Wall: "I met Malcolm while doing a session for him and Brian Johnson {acdc singer} BJ wrote a broadway play which he had cast MM in. I did the session". Sherwood's role in this session or any further details are unknown.

Work began late in 2003 on a new World Trade album. In a Jun 2004 interview, Schellen says, "We [Sherwood and Schellen] have recently begun a new World Trade record with Bruce [Gowdy], it truly sounds amazing. [...] [Gowdy] sounds better than ever. The sound is more powerful and explosive than before, with all the hallmark vocals and melodic lead guitars. The partnership is strong and this record is going to be a monster!" It appears the project stalled. In a Jan 2006 interview, Sherwood is asked whether World Trade is now defunct and replies, "It lives on in my mind and in Bruce Gowdy's mind and in Jay Schellen's mind. We talk about it, but life gets busy and it just doesn't seem like it's something we ever focus on. Two of the tracks on the new Conspiracy project [now to be released under another name—see CIRCA: page for details] were written by Bruce and me with the idea that maybe we would start working on a new World Trade record. But Bruce got really swamped, and so did I, and it fell on the back burner. But those two tracks blend in perfectly, so there's a World Trade flavor to the new Conspiracy record." In Jun 2007, Sherwood said, "Bruce and Jay and I always speak of doing another record so, you never know."

The original incarnation of The Key—Sherwood, Jimmy Haun (CIRCA:; guitar), Mark T. Williams (drums)—recorded an album in 1991, Delta Sierra Juliet, which was never released. Sherwood has said they hope to release it one day, although on 7 May 2007, Sherwood wrote on his MySpace blog that, "The original "Key" record with myself, Jimmy haun, Mark Williams won't be released, it was on Impact/MCA a now defunct record comapny."

Igor Khoroshev Homepage

Khoroshev has been working with Holly Knight (worked with Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Heart).

MAO Inhibitor was the name for a collaboration between Khoroshev (keys, bass, percussion, world instruments) and Carl Jacobson (guitar/stringed instruments, synth, percussion, world instruments); the pair discussed the album in an interview on the website. Some years back, their first album Culture of One was announced to be shortly available for order from Khoroshev.com, but the album has yet to be finished, delayed by Khoroshev's film work. Some music the duo worked on was used in the score for the film "Greenmail" score, directed by Jonathan Heap.

On to Others associated with the band
Return to Where are they now? front page
Return to alt.music.yes FAQ
 

Yes

Proglegendene

Yes  ble dannet i London i 1968. Til tross for mange utskiftninger blant medlemmene, har bandet klart å overleve i over 30 år, og har fremdeles en stor internasjonal skare med tilhengere. Bandet ble dannet av Jon Anderson og Chris Squire, og disse to blir regnet som kjernen i bandet siden Squire har deltatt på alle utgivelsene og Anderson har vært med på alle unntatt ett. Rick Wakeman har på sin side gått ut og inn av bandet minst fire ganger.

Originalbesetningen bestod av Jon Anderson (vokal), Chris Squire (bass), Peter Banks (gitar), Bill Bruford (trommer) og Tony Kaye (keyboard). Denne besetningen utga debutalbumet «Yes» i 1969 og den mindre suksessrike oppfølgeren «Time and a word» i 1970. Begge solgte dårlig, og bandet fikk beskjed av plateselskapet Atlantic Records at platekontrakten ville bli avlsluttet hvis ikke det tredje albumet solgte. Lederen i bandet, Jon Anderson, med tilnavnet «Napoleon», sparket da ut Peter Banks og erstattet ham med Steve Howe, som kom fra bandet Tomorrow og som hadde en hit med låta «My white bicycle» i 1968.

Denne besetningen utga bandets tredje album, «The Yes album», i 1971. Dette albumet innleder bandets storhetstid og inneholder mange av klassikerne som er blitt obligatoriske i live-repertoaret. Anderson og Howe fant tonen, og duoen ble bandets viktigste låtskrivere.

Suksessen var sikret. Anderson var imidlertid ikke fornøyd, fordi han hadde oppdaget studiomusiker og Strawbs-keyboardist Rick Wakeman, som kan stå som oppfinneren av «racket». Han spilte på svært mange tangentinstrumenter på en gang og ordnet dette ved å stable flere instrumenter oppå hverandre, samt å stå inni en ring av instrumenter. Anderson var fast bestemt på at han trengte Rick Wakeman for å realisere bandets fulle potensial. Tony Kaye ble derfor hjulpet til å danne et nytt band, som fikk navnet Badger.

Wakeman hadde på sin side blitt mektig imponert over Yes, og han takket ja da han ble invitert på en jam session. Det ble fullklaff fra første tone - og i løpet av sesjonen var de allerede kommet et godt stykke nærmere det som skulle bli deres første album med Rick Wakeman, «Fragile» fra 1972. Som forgjengeren inneholder også dette albumet mange av bandets største klassikere.

Musikalsk var de nær toppen. De kom dit samme år med albumet «Close to the edge», en tittel som ofte brukes som betegnelse på progrocken generelt og som definitivt markerer et av dens høydepunkter. Albumet består av tre kutt, som klarer det kunststykke å være lange og komplekse, med klassiskinspirert struktur, samtidig som de faktisk «rocker».

Albumets komplekse struktur ble imidlertid litt i overkant for trommeslager Bill Bruford, som var med å fullføre albumet men som sørget for å komme seg ut da det var ferdig. Dette – kombinert med personlige motsetninger mellom ham og Chris Squire, gjorde at han sluttet i bandet. Han hadde dessuten møtt Robert Fripp og ønsket seg over til King Crimson. Bill Bruford var viktig for soundet til Yes, ved at han spilte jazztrommer i et rockeband. Bruford ble erstattet av Alan White, som bl.a. hadde spilt sammen med John Lennon. White var en mer typisk rocketrommis med enklere og mer kontant spillestil.

Anderson hadde i mellomtiden kastet sine øyne på noen hinduistiske tekster som han ble svært fascinert av. Han delte denne fascinasjonen med Steve Howe, og sammen satt de på hotellrom rundt om i verden mens de var på turné og skrev på materialet til bandets neste album, «Tales from topographic oceans» fra 1973. Dette endte opp som et dobbeltalbum med et kutt per side. Utrolig nok ble dette albumet en enorm kommersiell suksess. Dette er et album fansen strides om. Det har sine klare tilhengere, som regner det som et høydepunkt, mens andre slakter det og betegner det som en overpretensiøs kalkun. Det inneholder mye klassisk Yes av høy klasse - men som Anderson selv har sagt i ettertid, hadde de akkurat litt for lite musikk til dette albumet. De hadde for mye til en enkel men for lite til en dobbel LP.

Som Bruford fikk også Wakeman nok av disse lange komposisjonene som krevde ekstremt nitidig studioarbeid. Han koblet av med å opptre på albumet «Sabbath Bloody Sabbath» med Black Sabbath i 1974. I tillegg hadde han med albumet «The Six Wives of Henry VIII» innledet en solokarriere (som i løpet av 90-årene førte til at han må regnes som den artisten i verden som har utgitt flest album). Derfor var Wakeman bare måtelig interessert i «Tales From Topographic Oceans» og sørget for å komme seg ut av bandet da innspillingene var ferdige. Da kunne han vie seg til sine mesterverk solo, nemlig «Journey to the centre of the earth» fra 1974 og «The myths and legends of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table» fra 1975.

Sveitseren Patrick Moraz overtok tangentene og ble med på det mest eksperimentelle av alle Yes-album, nemlig «Relayer» fra 1974. Her går de et skritt videre og lager nok et album fansen er delt i synet på. Noen mener dette albumet er genialt, nettopp fordi de her tok skrittet fullt ut, mens andre mener at de her snarere har havnet «over the edge»...

Patrick Moraz forsvant ut igjen, og Yes tok en pause, som ble brukt til diverse soloprosjekter som kom i 1975/76. I 1977 ble imidlertid en skeptisk Rick Wakeman på ny innkalt til å komme og spille på et nytt album. Han ble imidlertid med under forutsetning av at han bare skulle opptre som studiomusiker. Da han hørte materialet bandet jobbet med, ble han imidlertid overbevist medlem av bandet igjen. Dette materialet endte til slutt opp som albumet «Going for the one», som utvilsomt er regnet som et av bandets sterkeste album. Det kom ut midt under punkens store periode, men gikk likevel som tittelen skulle tilsi rett til første plass. Yes var mer populære enn noensinne – og fikk sin største hit i England noensinne med singelen «Wonderous stories». Yes var på toppen og trengte bare å lage nok et knallalbum for å overleve punkens angrep på progrocken uten å ta skade av det.

Albumet «Tormato» fra 1978 skulle ikke leve opp til disse forventningene. Det er ikke regnet som dårlig, men det var likevel en klar nedtur etter «Going for the one». Dermed fikk punkbølgen tak og kunne begynne å skylle bort Yes på linje med andre progrockband. Resultatet ble at Wakeman sluttet igjen – og det samme gjorde også frontfigur Jon Anderson. Dette virket som en krise bandet ikke kunne overleve.

I mellomtiden hadde imidlertid duoen The Buggles, bestående av sanger og bassist Trevor Horn og keyboardist Geoffrey Downes en hit med låta «Video killed the radio star» (den første låta som noensinne ble spilt på MTV). Til Yes-fansens store sjokk ble disse invitert inn i Yes. Denne besetningen lagde så et sterkt underkjent album som fikk navnet «Drama» i 1980. Problemet var derimot ikke albumet, men den påfølgende turneen ble en katastrofe. Fansen møtte opp for å demonstrere mot vokalist Trevor Horn og rope taktfast «We want Jon!» Turneen måtte avbrytes, og Trevor Horn sluttet i bandet. Steve Howe og Geoffrey Downes slo seg sammen med Carl Palmer fra Emerson, Lake & Palmer, samt John Wetton, fra bl.a. King Crimson, og dannet bandet Asia.

Yes var i praksis oppløst. Kun Chris Squire og Alan White var igjen. De slo seg sammen med Jimmy Page (gitarist) fra Led Zeppelin, som nettopp var blitt oppløst da trommeslager John Bonham døde. Robert Plant (vokal) skulle også være med i bandet, som fikk navnet XYZ (som skulle bety Ex Yes og Zeppelin). Squire, White og Page spilte inn en del musikk sammen, og det hele virket lovende inntil Robert Plant dukket opp og mente at musikken var altfor komplisert. Da falt dette bandet fra hverandre, og Page og Plant sluttet.

Squire og White traff imidlertid en artist fra Sør-Afrika ved navn Trevor Rabin, som nettopp hadde kommet til England. Sammen dannet de bandet Cinema, med Rabin som vokalist og gitarist (samt tidvis keyboardist). De fikk inn igjen Trevor Kaye fra originalbesetningen, som brakte med seg sitt gamle hammondorgel inn på 80-tallet (mens Rabin tok seg av moderne synthesizere). Cinema var klare til å spille inn sitt første album da plateselskapet foreslo at de fikk med Jon Anderson igjen. Han ble kontaktet og var villig til å stille, på den betingelsen at bandet fortsatt skulle hete Yes og skulle låte som Yes. Resultatet forelå i 1983, nemlig albumet «90125», som inneholdt bandets andre store singelhit, «Owner of a lonely heart».

Andersons ultimatum til tross ble soundet kraftig modernisert for å tilpasses lydbildet på 80-tallet, samtidig som visse klassiske Yes-elementer ble bevart. Nye Yes var et faktum og det som kan kalles Trevor Rabin-perioden var innledet. Denne perioden er også sterkt omdiskutert blant fansen. Noen mener det var bra at de ble mer moderne og at de viste at de kunne fornye seg. Andre mener Rabinperioden fjernet bandet for mye fra soundet i gullalderen og misliker Rabinperioden sterkt. Saken var at Yes på linje med de fleste 70-tallsband tilpasset seg et nytt sound på 80-tallet, noe som nødvendigvis måtte innebære et brudd med fortiden. Det samme gjorde f.eks. Genesis, i minst like stor grad. Trevor Rabin har blitt syndebukken, på samme måte som Phil Collins i Genesis. Denne besetningen utga også det noe svakere «Big Generator» i 1987.

Deretter oppstod en underlig situasjon, der Yes fikk to parallelle besetninger. Den ene bestod av Squire, White, Rabin og Kaye, mens andre bestod av Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman og Howe. Sistnevnte kvartett utga det selvtitulerte albumet «Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe» i 1989. Dette var et overraskende sterkt album, som virkelig viste at noe var på vei. Tony Levin fra King Crimson spilte bass. Albumet innebar en tilbakevending til soundet rundt «Going for the one», men likevel tilpasset et nytt tiår.

Anderson oppdaget at den øvrige besetningen (som i sin tid het Cinema) også arbeidet med et nytt album. Da oppstod ideen om å bringe de to delene sammen til et åttemannsband. Resultatet ble et svakt album, kalt «Union», samt en knakende vellykket turné som åttemannsband.

Etter denne turneen ble det vedtatt at besetningen fra Trevor Rabin-perioden skulle videreføres, så Howe, Bruford og Wakeman ble kastet ut. Dette endte opp som en middels vellykket album i 1994, kalt «Talk». Albumet ble en flopp og Rabin og Kaye sluttet mens Steve Howe og Rick Wakeman ble invitert inn igjen i bandet. De dro på turne og utga to doble livealbum, samt noe nytt studiomateriale, på de to doble platene «Keys to Ascension» fra 1996 og «Keys to Ascension II» fra 1997. Disse platene viser et band som koser seg på scenen og som har funnet frem til alt det klassiske materialet fra 70-tallet igjen.

Men så sluttet Wakeman – igjen. Inn kom Billy Sherwood (gitar og keyboard) og Igor Khoroshev (keyboard). Denne besetningen utga to album, først det rimelig svake «Open your eyes» i 1997, som opprinnelig var ment å være et soloalbum med Chris Squire, og deretter det meget solide «The Ladder» i 1999. Tittelkuttet «Homeworld: The Ladder» var musikk til dataspillet Homeworld.

Personlige motsetninger gjorde at Sherwood og Khoroshev forsvant ut av bandet, og de utga i 2001 sitt foreløpig siste album, for første gang med orkester istedenfor keyboard. Dette fungerer som bare det og albumet «Magnification» viste Yes i god form. Kort tid etter kom Wakeman inn igjen i bandet og har blitt værende der siden.

Medlemmer

Jon Anderson – vokal (1968–79, 1983–i dag)

Chris Squire – bass/vokal (1968–i dag)

Steve Howe – guitar/vokal (1970–80, 1991–92 og 1996–i dag)

Rick Wakeman – keyboard (1971–74, 1977–79, 1991–92, 1996 og 2002–i dag)

Alan White – trommer (1972–i dag)

Konserter i Norge

Ekeberghallen - 11. november 1977

Drammenshallen - 16. juni 1984

Skedsmohallen - 9. november 1989 (Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman & Howe)

Yoke Shire

Mask Of Shadows

Yoke Shire produces an album that touches upon virtually every possible music style that the 70's produced. Ranging from the power-chords of Deep Purple, the Latin feel of Santana, the vocal harmonies of Yes, the folkyness of Jethro Tull, the psychedelica of early Floyd and the subtle multi-layer keyboard harmonies of Camel (OK, 90's Camel).

The sound of the songs on this album is rather rich in instrumentation and it is quite amazing that only three people are responsible for it, especially since all sounds are genererated using "real" instruments (being a keyboard player myself I dislike people claiming that keys are no real instument, I prefer to call it "original" instruments). Apparently, they can be seen performing live each playing two or three instruments at a time. That must be quite a sight! The artwork is rather weird: I couldn't really see a connection between the metal/gothic-like artwork and logo and the melodic content of the album. But then, I didn't go to deep into the lyrics, so who knows what I missed...;-)

The album opens with a harmonica of some sort playing a medieval melody. This is a theme that pops up now and again on the album. Apparently there is some kind of structure between the songs, a concept, but although I realise it is there, I cannot tell you what it exactly is. Seems to be something medieval, though. The next song, Black Tower is a bit of a macho thing in the Deep Purple (In Rock) style, but influenced by Santana. Cool cat.
Shape Of A Dancer continues this style, with a great slapped bass line under it and it varies nicely. Magic Circle has some medieval or even Middle Eastern style to it. Just a banjo-like instrument with keys and vocal harmonies playing this mystical tune, just to enter into a happy dancing song, with handclapping and flute.

A deep slap bass beats the rhythm in the powerful opening of Maiden Voyage, bit Threshold-like, though not as full. The middle section is a bit Yes-like. Loads of echo/reverb on the vocals here, a bit overdone in my opinion. This song craves for an even more bombastic performance than it has received on the album, maybe a bigger keyboard tapistry was in order (but this is just minor critisism). The last minute sees an interesting change and a violently soaring guitar sets in.

And then it's time for the absolute highlight of the album, the very reason why it will get a high rating: The Brook, The Mirror And The Maiden. Starting with only vocal harmonies, but really superbly done, it immediately grips attention. Well, there is no other way I can describe them except in terms of waveforms on keyboards: while some voices use a sine-wave setting (sounding "smooth"), the bass voice is "sawtooth" (sharp) giving a great effect. Then a Yes-like part follows, with marimba, vocal chanting and guitar. Slowly this climaxes and becomes more powerful, but still a calm mood is present. Then, after 5 minutes it dies away and a lonely flute, like a howling wolve, is played. This enters into one of the most beautiful melodic structures I have heard recently. Weaving sounds into each other, a Camel-like part, with the power, yet calmness of their latest release Rayaz is reached. The song ends with a keyboard tapistry that should be enjoyed with the hifi-set at maximum volume. This flows into Return Voyage, a short psychedelic experiment, but after a minute a powerful rock-theme is played. I know this theme somehow, just can't come up with title or band. Frustrating.

The exact same theme as Maiden Voyage returns in the last minute, complete with slap bass.

Ghost Notes is another short psychedelic experiment, with diverse creepy sounds. The last minute has guitars that sound like the begintune of the Formula 1 racing events on television (hey, everybody is allowed to have his abberations ;-). Mask of Shadows is a nice power-prog song with varied guitar work. Magic Dust is a nice little piano ballad that tops it off.

In summary: tremendously varied album, combining the best of all worlds.

Personally, I thought the first couple of tracks were not too interesting. But the epic and the fore- and afterplay to it are high quality. The last part of The Brook ... has a melody that stuck in my mind for days and really moved me. And that should always be the criterium to judge music: it should move people (yes I know, I am a hopeless romantic). Yoke Shire succeeds in doing that in the second half of the album.

Tracklist: The Three Welcomes (0:59), Black Tower (5:40), Shape Of A Dancer (4:52), Magic Circle (3:44), Maiden Voyage (5:10), The Brook, The Mirror And The Maiden (9:21), Return Voyage (2:11), Ghost Notes (2:13), Masque Of Shadows (6:41), Magic Dust (1:29)

Yezda Urfa

Sacred Baboon (1975)



Pick an unusual name for a band and you’ll attract a lot of interest. Right? Wrong! Yezda Urfa for want of a much better band name was amongst many that came and went with nary a whisper. Typical of so many dedicated and capable musicians of the early to mid 1970’s, Yezda Urfa struggled to garner sufficient attention from any of the major record labels. A minor breakthrough occurred in 1976 when Dharma Records agreed to release an album, however, the deal broke down and Yezda Urfa were left to finance their own future.

While neither totally derivative of anyone in particular, there are similarities to Gentle Giant due to the constant and frenetic time changes and some Yes influences, particularly on the track, “Boris” as the singer reminds of Jon Anderson. Some pleasant passages with flute and recorder on the 2nd track are slightly reminiscent of Gryphon although not as medieval sounding. Yezda Urfa would be in similar company to bands such as Ethos, Fireballet and Cathedral who also fell victim to the slow demise of progressive music due to a general lack of promotion and interest from the public. While Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant and the like kept writing material that the public were prepared to lap up, any other band that had not served their apprenticeship by 1975 would find the going tough. Musically, however, Yezda Urfa was certainly a pretty dynamic band with a slightly frivolous outlook on life and music in general as their lyrics are quite insane. Check out the words on “(My Doc Told Me I Had) Doggie Head” to fully appreciate the vocal meanderings of the singer.

“Sacred Baboon” is best described as very busy, intensely chaotic and very clever, played by a group of 5 guys whose arsenal of instruments would have most people green with envy. To have to finance the acquisition of so many wonderful instruments without ever hitting the big time would be a double blow to any normal musician and it was only through the re-release of their music through Syn-Phonic that their brilliance would become evident to those who took the plunge. With the advent of the CD now firmly entrenched as a musical medium of choice, the re-release of material such as this means that so many more listeners can appreciate the wonder of the brilliant music written decades ago without having to pay outrageous amounts for the vinyl. Hats off to Syn-Phonic for uncovering another minor gem that could have remained lost forever.

Ynkelige Sony

Ynkelige forsøk fra Sony på å ordne opp, endte med å slukke brann med bensin.

HAR IKKE KOMMENTERT ENNÅ: Verken Sony-sjefen Andy Lack eller noen andre i Sony BMG har kommentert den nye og skandaløse programvaren de har laget.
Foto: Scanpix

 FARLIG FOR MASKINEN: Amerikanske cd-er med blant andre Celine Dion åpnet deler av pc-en din. Nå åpner avinstallasjonsprogrammet hele maskinen.

Først ble piratsikringen en kjemperisiko for kundene. Men når musikkgiganten ville ordne opp, gikk det fullstendig galt.

Musikkgiganten Sony BMG Music Entertainment kan ha åpnet sine kunders PCer helt for angrep utenifra i et forsøk på å redde seg ut av sikkerhetsproblemene de skapte med piratsikringen på en rekke musikk-CDer.

Trøbbelet startet da de la inn et kopibeskyttelsesprogram på et 20-talls CD-utgivelser, blant annet av Van Zant, The Bad Plus, Neil Diamond og Celine Dion.

Beskyttelsesprogrammet viste seg å utgjøre en sikkerhetsrisiko på kundenes PCer. Ikke bare overvåket det kundenes musikkbibliotek, men ethvert forsøk på å avinstallere programmet kunne medføre at PCens CD-rom sluttet å virke.

Videre gjorde programmet det lett for virusmakere å kamuflere såkalte «trojanske hester» på datamaskinene.

Senest sist uke dukket slike virus opp i Sonys kopibeskyttelsesdrakt - designet for å ta kontroll over kundenes datamaskiner og tappe dem for personlig informasjon.

Bensin på bålet
Kopibeskyttelsesprogrammet ble raskt gjenstand for stor ståhei, og plateselskapet ble saksøkt av flere kunder i USA.

I et forsøk på å rette opp fadesen laget de et avinstalleringsprogram som nå ligger nedlastbart på Sony BMGs hjemmesider på internett.

Nå viser det seg at dette programmet kan utgjøre en langt større trussel for kundene enn kopibeskyttelsesprogrammet den skal fjerne.

- Dette er en overraskende dårlig design ut i fra et sikkerhetsmessig ståsted. Den utsetter brukeren for stor fare på mange måter, sier imformatikkprofessor Ed Felten ved Princeton University til nyhetsbyrået AP.

Avinstallasjonsprogrammet gjør nemlig at PCen åpner seg for å tillate at nettsteder på egen hånd laster ned og installerer programmer på maskinen.

- Konsekvensene av dette sikkerhetshullet kan bli svært alvorlige. Den tillater enhver webside du besøker å laste ned, installere, og å kjøre hvilken som helst kode på din datamaskin. Det betyr at hvilken som helst nettside kan overta kontrollen av din datamaskin. Det er så galt som det kan bli, sier Felten.

- Ikke i Norge
Stein Vegusdal i Sony BMG Norge sier den aktuelle kopibeskyttelsen bare er brukt på CDer i det amerikanske markedet, og forsikrer at problemene ikke rammer norske musikkunder.

- Jeg har ikke kjennskap til disse nye problemene, men disse CDene er ikke solgt i Europa, sier han til Dagbladet.no.

Musikkgigantens ledelse i USA har foreløpig ikke uttalt seg om den nye risikoen oppdaget i avinstalleringsprogrammet.

Sony har nå gjort det klart at kopibeskyttelsesprogramvaren på musikk-CDene vil fjernes inntil videre, og at CDene som alt er solgt vil tilbakekalles.