August 23 - the Reading Festival day in Yes history

[BrianD]

Not as exciting as yesterday but it was on this day 30 years ago in 1975 that Yes headlined at the Reading Festival on a card that also included Supertramp and Thin Lizzy amongst others. It was also the first time that Yes played 'Leaves of Green' as a stand alone song.

Yes also played concerts in 1968, 1969, 1977, 1984, 1989 (ABWH) & 2002

[Martin Riley]

I was there!!!!

Although my memories of it are unfortunately quite dim ( just like me!!!)

I seem to remember Hawkwind being on the bill that year as well,but that may have been a different day.

I do remember that I was in a rather 'distressed' state and ended up toppling into the sh*t pit. I had to go and wash myself off in the river. Oh dear.

[BrianD]

Martin - its anecdotes like this that have made you a Yesfans Legend!

[Martin Riley]

I do my best.

I thought I'd just like to add a little 'colour' to the events of the day

Unfortunately the colour was a rather drab brown

[gitsy]

I was just getting into yes at this stage having seen them in may at QPR (can't remember was this before or after Reading?). I seem to remember some press coverage in the daily newspapers as Yes were late on an played after the curfew hour of midnight. Consequently they were fined many pounds.

[Martin Riley]

It was after QPR,as you say QPR was May, this was August.

I saw them at Stoke, QPR and Reading that year, and I think they are the only times I've seen Yes outdoors.

[weebl]

I was there!!!!

So was my daddy.

Whoo READING!

[muff]

Amazeing, I also was at the Reading Festival all those years ago,

Yes came on a little late about 20 minutes or so, it was pouring down with rain as they began their set, I danced around to the music with my 5 year old son on my shoulders,
Yes should have stopped playing at 12 midnight some clause for the music to stop but Yes carried on playing till about 12.20am from memory and they paid a fine of several thousand pounds to the council so as not to leave the fans with a shortened set, :D

I was also at Stoke, Martin, I think the support was Sensational Alex Harvy Band, if my memory is right

Sensational Alex Harvy Band also played Reading Festival, but for some reason they played under a different name, also I remeber the DJ playing the Bay City Rollers, Bye, Bye Baby, over the sound system to a chorus of boo,s from the crowd

:lmao:

[True Believer]

I was there in 1974 - just missed Genesis the year before, missed Yes the next year! Talk about bad timing!

[Martin Riley]

I was also at Stoke, Martin, I think the support was Sensational Alex Harvy Band, if my memory is right

:lmao:

Yes SAHB were support at Stoke, it was the same day that England beat Scotland 5-1 at football so there was a bit of trouble in the crowd but Alex sorted it all out by threatening to thump any troublemakers!!

Yes's set at Stoke was curtailed by bad weather, they promised to play there again but I'm still waiting

[True Believer]

I used to LOVE the SAHB - saw them in Glasgow many times. Whaever happened to Alex Harvey?

[Martin Riley]

Alex died of a heart attack on a ferry to Belgium, 1981 I think, although it may have been a year or two later.


Sadly missed, I never missed the opportunity to see SAHB whenever they played in the North East.

[True Believer]

I think I did hear this many years ago, Martin. I used to love the Vambo show - did you see this one?

[Martin Riley]

Yes, I saw probably every tour by SAHB from '73 onwards.

Even saw him on his last solo tour after SAHB broke up. That was a bit sad.

But in his prime it was the very best of shows, I always eagerly scanned the Melody Maker, Sounds or NME for upcoming dates. That was pre-internet of course when that was the only source of information.

[brumdave]

Yep I shared the magic too!

It seemed to me more like an hour after Supertramp finished before Yes came on (the rain having affected Yes' set-up it was reported) but you maybe right Muff 20 minutes to wait to see Yes may have seemed longer to an excited teenager (me!)

My enduring memories are of the different stage set to that at QPR. The rainstorm during the gig and how when the lasers shot out from the stage during 'soon' they picked out a million falling raindrops. Quite beautiful.

There was also some early evidence of Awaken - in a far jazzier form - that is on the boot and quite a lot different to the Eastern Number on the Rhino reissue of GFTO.

It was an astonishing concert. I waited with bated breath for Melody Maker to come out the following week. Guess who was on the front cover? Steve Howe with full 'rock guitarist' grimace caught during 'GoD'. On his article on the festival inside, Chris Welch said Yes took away 'top honours' for their performance.

BTW in 1975 I saw Rick (on ice), Yes at QPR/Reading, Led Zep 24 May at Earls Court and Pink Floyd at Knebworth. Yes outplayed them all, even Zep at the height of their powers IMHO.

[jimtim45]

SAHAB were one of the best live bands I have ever seen.I saw them at Reading in 73 ? Genesis also played that festival.Did anyone see SAHAB supporting The Who at Parkhead Football staduim in June 76 ?Both bands were brilliant that day.

[Martin Riley]

.Did anyone see SAHAB supporting The Who at Parkhead Football staduim in June 76 ?Both bands were brilliant that day.

No, but I saw them at Charlton, with The Outlaws & Streetwalkers as I remember