Here is the press release regarding the tour cancellation:
NEW YORK, NY, JUNE 4, 2008 - Legendary rock band Yes announced today
that the group will unfortunately be canceling their 2008 40th
Anniversary Tour. The 26-city tour was scheduled to kick off in
Quebec next month and run through the summer.
Said Jon Anderson, In the wake of my recent respiratory attack,
doctors have advised me to spend the coming months resting and
recovering. Unfortunately, this means I won’t be able to tour with
Yes this summer as originally planned. I’d like everyone know how
deeply disappointed I am by this turn of events. I was looking
forward to celebrating our music with the amazing family of Yes fans
once again; but as we all know, health must come before anything
else. Wishing you all the very best…
Said Chris Squire, We were all looking forward to performing for our
fans after a prolonged leave of absence from touring. I am especially
regretful of the fact that I know many of our fans and friends have
probably laid out non-refundable airfares and hotels, etc. in order
to enjoy the Yes shows this summer. Please join me in wishing Jon a
speedy return to health, which at this point in time is our main
concern.
Yes frontman and founding member Jon Anderson was admitted to the
hospital last month after suffering a severe asthma attack. He has
now been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and was told by
doctors this weekend that he needs to rest and not work for a period
of at least six months or suffer further health complications. Upon
receiving this news the band has determined that their tour plans
need to be put on hold.
Ticket refunds will be available at the point of purchase.
“The first progressive rock artists exploded out of England during the period from 1966-1970. In this era, such groups as Pink Floyd, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Genesis appeared. During this fertile time, rock guitar technique took a quantum leap forward, seeing such players as Yes’ Steve Howe and King Crimson’s Robert Fripp eschewing the blues-based Hendrix/Clapton approach and instead inventing very novel ways of playing that were often as cerebral as they were visceral.”
The article continues to go through the history of Prog Rock Guitar, including Steve Howe, Greg Lake, Steve Hackett, Robert Fripp, David Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, and Martin Barre.
“Throughout much of last year, e-mails and phone calls were held between Jon, Chris, Steve, Alan and myself as to where we all felt the future for YES lay, and of course, there were conflicting views in many areas! (Nothing new there, but very healthy of course). My major concern was that of over-touring, which I felt YES had done since 2002 with far too many shows, especially in America which for me diminished the “specialness” of the band. I also was concerned for the health of the band, both as a whole and as individuals. It’s a matter of public record for instance, that Jon in particular really suffered during the last weeks of the previous YES tour which was extremely worrying for us all.
Over the years, I have had my fair share of “narrow escapes” when it comes to health and I felt that I simply could not do months and months of touring each year anymore and I expressed this to the other guys from the outset. I’m absolutely fine at the moment, but want to stay that way, so I suggested to the new management that we perhaps limited the shows we would do and make each show something special, but this was rejected with the management feeling that lengthy touring was the answer for the band.
It was therefore with an extremely heavy heart that I had to say to the guys that I could not be part of a massive long term touring schedule as I did not feel it right for the band musically and also for the band member’s health. We are a democratic band and I accept that I was a sole voice in this thinking.
Chris and I met up a few times and spoke about who I felt would be able to do a good job in the keyboard department and I put forward just two names, my two eldest sons Adam and Oliver. Adam, to be truthful, was not really a “contender” because he is fully committed to Ozzy and is touring constantly. Oliver has worked with Steve of course on various recordings and so there was already a rapport there. I was therefore very happy when Oliver told me that Steve had called him.
I am sad of course not to be walking on stage with the guys on the upcoming tour, but like each member of YES, I have developed a deep inner spiritual feeling that takes over your whole life, and sadly witnessing too many friends around my age, (both musicians and people connected with the business), either departing this world or having serious illness, has played an enormous part in the very difficult decision I had to make.
I truly hope that this is not the end of the Classic Line-Up and that something very special may happen in the not too distant future. In the meantime, I wish the guys, good health, great music and much happiness.”
While on vacation on Hutchinson Island in Florida, one of the ways we relaxed and chilled out was by listening to one of Steve Hackett’s classical albums, Metamorpheus.Released: 28th March 2005
‘Metamorpheus’ is the natural successor to Steve’s previous orchestral album, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The album is a musical expression of the legend of Orpheus and his passage through the Underworld, combining nylon guitar with orchestra, seamlessly linking the small and large musical forces.
“A subject as broad and far reaching as life and death is a challenging one for any artist, in any medium,
and the story of Orpheus is exactly that; an examination of the themes of life and death asking the eternal questions
“Why are we here”? And “Why do we have to die”? This album contemplates those questions and
the Orpheus story itself in a broad canvas of musical vignettes.”
“Steve set himself no easy task with this album. Contemplating the eternal verities, even if through
the extended metaphor of myth, is no easy task. He brings no answers to the table, for there are none.
The answers to the questions asked here are for each of us to find for ourselves in our own lives.
What you do have here, however, is an artist who is prepared to ask those questions, and present those
questions and observations in a musical way, which will set the listener to thinking about them themselves.
Can any work of art truly reflect life? I don’t honestly know, but there is more of life in this album than
can be easily described - bravo maestro!”
Steve Hackett has earned the reputation of being one of Britain’s finest composers and guitarists.
He joined Genesis in 1970 and his complex and distinctive playing contributed heavily to their early success,
developing an elegance and sophistication which have become his trademark. Steve has since achieved consistent
solo success internationally and, uniquely amongst rock players, has discovered an equal talent for composing
for the classical guitar.
Steve tours with both electric and acoustic set ups.
You can go to Amazon, listen to audio clips, and purchase this amazing CD by clicking on this link for Steve Hackett = Metamorpheus
Asia is pleased to announce that they have committed to an April 2008 tour of America. They plan to re-visit some venues while adding new venues and territories to their itinerary. In this internet age, there may well be individual venue leaks in advance of the full official itinerary. Please keep in mind that no dates are considered official until the band confirms them here on their official website.
Here’s part of a BlogCritics Music Review of the latest (August 28th, just three weeks ago) YES/ABWH DVD release, “Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe — An Evening of YES Music Plus“:
By 1980 the classic Yes lineup had begun to splinter, led by the departures of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman. Veteran musicians Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn were brought in as replacements and the Drama album and tour soon followed, but the band eventually split up in 1981. Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White continued working together and in 1983 they recruited South African guitarist Trevor Rabin for a new group that would be dubbed Cinema. Later that year Jon Anderson was invited to join the band and the decision was eventually made to simply call it Yes.
Rabin, along with producer Trevor Horn, proceeded to significantly overhaul Yes’ beloved classic progressive-rock sound with a more modern, radio-friendly, pop-rock sound that came to fruition on this new lineup’s first album, 90125. The album won over millions of new Yes fans, even producing their first #1 single with “Owner Of A Lonely Heart,” and made the band more popular than ever. Another hit album of the same formula, and a couple of hugely successful tours followed, but longtime Yes fans and especially Jon Anderson began to grow weary of this new musical direction. They eagerly wanted a return to the classic Yes sound.
Following the 1988 Big Generator tour, Anderson began working with former Yes members Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, and Bill Bruford on what was probably originally planned as an Anderson solo album, but eventually turned into a band effort. Legally, the Yes name still belonged to the current members of the band, Chris Squire, Alan White, Trevor Rabin, Tony Kaye, and Anderson (still), so they would have to come up with something new. After floating around some interesting names, the best one probably being “No”, they eventually decided upon Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe, or simply ABWH.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 1989, and blended the classic Yes sound with some obvious world music influences. Later that year the band, including bassist Tony Levin, keyboardist Julian Colbeck, and guitarist Milton McDonald, embarked on a massive world tour, having legally secured the right to promote the tour as “An Evening Of Yes Music Plus.” Jeff Berlin filled in for Levin who was too ill to perform at this show. This amazing tour was captured on video and was initially released as a CD and VHS in 1994. This year a limited addition, two-DVD edition of the video, and more recently a single disk edition, minus any bonus features, was finally released.
An Evening Of Yes Music Plus was recorded Sept. 9, 1989 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountainview, California. This performance is sure to please any fan of the ABWH album, and especially fans of the classic Bruford era of the band, since it focused mainly on The Yes Album, Fragile, and Close To The Edge albums. I know those are my three favorites. The ABWH album is also solidly represented by five songs - and fairly long ones at that.
For the rest of the full review and the article, click on the link below:
–we were looking at it Sunday night on eBay
–Daniel just went ahead and did the Buy It Now
–supposed to be in perfect condition
–ALL ANALOG = IT’S ONE OF THE LAST PIECES OF GEAR WE NEED
–road case, RAM card, CD-ROM disc
–SUPER BOO-FUCKIN’ WAH!!!!!!!!!
–CAN’T WAIT TO GET HOME AND HAVE SOME FUN!!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
ALESIS and SUPER FUN DAY.
Playing music is supposed to be just that, play.
One can’t just work all the time composing, arranging, and recording.
Sometimes you just have to take the day, listen to some great music,
play around with your equipment, and have some freakin’ fun!
That’s what we did on Sunday, September 9th.
We totally had fun.
Discussions:
–EQ Magazine, Porcupine Tree, and Rush.
–Vocals on “SSVW”?
–Are we going to have any vocals at all on this album?
Instruments and Gear:
We got out, plugged in, hooked up, and had HOURS of fun with our new
That was just way too much fun.
We kept trying to get serious and get some work done, but we were just having so much fun,
it was impossible.
Daniel was also his usual “peeling” self, playing his
“Wine Red” Gibson Les Paul Classic = nice, long, sustained tones,
playing through his Vox Valvetronix Tonelab tabletop Guitar Amp modeling box thing.
Listening: UK = the album/CD “Danger Money” = these guys are awesome! Emerson, Lake, and Palmer = “Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970″ = only the second time these guys had ever played together in public = unbelievable Steve Hackett = “Spectral Mornings” = amazing, beautiful, and great
Listening to other music is always educational and motivational.
Our intention is to produce music that is inspiring and uplifting.
We’ll get back to work next rehearsal.
We both really needed to relax and have some fun today.
Thank you.
Dr. Andrew Colyer and “English Gentleman” Daniel Aggers Indra’s Net
“Progressive Classical Music for Progressive Rock Fans”
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