Who is the most underrated and underapreciated yes member? [Archive]

Tanbar

07-10-2002, 05:55 PM

obviously.

alan is one of the nicest guys i have ever met. my mum and i go to see him play with his other bands in the seattle area all the time and always manage to chat with him a little afterward. (last time he said we'd be good roadies. heh) and gigi, his wife, is really cool too.

as far as my buddy tom is concerned... heh heh heh. you don't get to see as much of him in the DVD as i would like, but there is some great footage of the kid nonetheless. and while technically, as everyone tells me, he wasn't actually a "yesman" he did play a big part and made a few fans on the yestour. please tell me what you thought of tom on the DVD when you get it, illusion, i may be able to pass it on if you like. (being president of the fan club has its perks!)

sooner,
*tink*

illusion

08-08-2002, 07:21 PM

Hi Tanbar! The DVD was cool. Theres a bit in it where Tom and Chris are facing each other, I can't remember which song it is, but it's really cool.

Tom seems low in the mix, to make way for the orchestra. But he does the job fine. I said after the gig that I thought it would be cool if he joined as a permanent member - inject some new, young talent into the band. And judging by your very enthusiastic response to Tom, maybe even attract a few female fans along the way! I'm glad that Rick's joined again though.

You get to see Alan live all the time? Not fair:crybby:! I think Alan is the key member of Yes - had it not been for him I think they would have split up long ago. And he co-wrote "Turn Of The Century" too, which is the best song ever written, apart from possibly "Cinema Show" by Genesis. Theres an Alan interview on www.twistedradio.com , I'm not sure if you have heard it.

I like your Tom Brislin page too, by the way (especially the drawing at the homepage) - does he have any of his CD's out in the UK?

ycantibu

08-09-2002, 05:36 AM

What, no Trevor Rabin? :crybby:

Flo

08-09-2002, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by ycantibu
What, no Trevor Rabin? :crybby:

Because he's not underrated ! Everybody admits he's a multi talented musician.

Joedude

08-10-2002, 04:35 PM

Alan White, definitely. Yes needs not just a drummer who can play 4/4 but a musical drummer who can keep varied times. And play more than drums, too.

OB1kenOB

08-11-2002, 09:54 AM

Originally posted by Rabin105
In my years of liking Yes I have noticed there are many people who credit Wakeman with Starship trooper and Steve Howe with Sweet dreams though neither of them had any thing to do with either song so the question is who didn't get the credit and recognition the deserved.

the most underrated and underapreciated YES member is obviously Trevor..e

Trevor Horn
Drama is a most excellent YES album centered mostly around Mr. Squire, but Horn's work on this album at the microphone and otherwise is solid as it gets.

Horn took center stage on the Drama tour and did a damn fine job, and to this day he gets bad-rapped not for what he "was" but for what he "wasn't".

Big Generator is an underrated Album with some great tracks, and Horn's work on BG is probably it's saving grace.

runner-up for most underrated and underapreciated ...
Geoff Downes,
another great musician, he had less influence, and gets less flack.

NP: YES/Big Generator/Final Eyes

ycantibu

08-11-2002, 09:57 AM

I'm not sure about that. The band says Big generator was taken out of Horn's hands very early on and that he had little to do with it, but legally he had to some receive credit.

Neverthirst

08-11-2002, 10:13 AM

i'm with ycantibu on this topic ....

Rabin105

08-11-2002, 11:43 AM

but vocally i think he did a stunning job on the classic's especially And You And I. I have a boot from this tour and Love listening to it time and time again

Rabin105

08-11-2002, 11:46 AM

I also have to say Tom's solo on Owner is very odd and after 2 day's of owning the dvd I'm still not use to the Keyboardest playing the guitar solo and i probably never will be. though he is still underated but has anyone else notice a destinctive Geoff Downes way about him the way he sings and play's keyboards it just has a downes style

Dale Cleary

08-11-2002, 04:37 PM

One guy that never gets a mention in discussions about drummers is Allan. This is very unfair. What other member of the band recorded with two of The Beatles?
Following in Bills footsteps wasn't an easy job and Allan has done a fantastic job. When I saw him play on the Keys.... and symphonic shows I thought he was playing better than ever.
Not only is he a wonderful player on the epics but he is also one of the best "pop" style players around. His playing on the 90125 album was flawless.
He plays a variety of styles very well and I only wish I lived near him so I could take lessons !
The guy's first class.
IMHO
Dale

jcostello

08-15-2002, 05:12 PM

... because their last names were spelled incorrectly. Honorable mention to Billy, because his last name wasn't spelled with a capital "S."

Actually, I'd vote for Rick Wakeman. So many people were saying that they didn't think he should rejoin for this tour, now so many people are happy that he did.

Peace, Love, and I Think He Should Title His Next Album, "Wakey, Wakey, Eggs and Bacey,"

John C.

Yesfloyd

08-23-2002, 01:02 AM

ithought tom did some extra kick ass stuff on Starship Trooper off the symphonic dvd. their was some part during the wurm, i think the conclusion of the keyboard solo, where everything is slowing down and the keyboard sounds like some weird video game. It was awesome and i havent seen it for a while so that is the impression i get of it from my memory

I also agree that Alan seems underated, he really is an incredible drummer and im sure he is capable of playing more notes than he does, his style is just more groooooove. If you doubt his powers of drumming one needs only give relayer a peep.

yarstruly

08-27-2002, 02:21 PM

I voted for Alan & Tony....

Alan White is not only an underrated & unappreciated Yes member, but simply the most underrated drummer in all of rock. The man has chops beyond belief. I also don't understand those who say he can't play in odd meters. He certainly can! Listen to the drumming on Changes (for example) and get a clue.

And Tony? I he on the level of Wakeman or Moraz? No, but very few are. Is he a damn good keyboardist, especially on the Hammond? Hell yeah! He contributed so much to those 1st 3 Yes albums as well as the Yes West era (Yeah, i know Rabin played keys on the albums to a large extent, but Kaye played well live).

The thing about Yes is that the level of musicianship is so high, that players who would have been the stand out player in other bands get lost in the shuffle in Yes.

Dale Cleary

08-27-2002, 04:00 PM

As for Tony, well he's a good player.
Who on Earth says Allan can't play odd meters? That is silly in the extreme.
Allan has loads of chops, the reason that perhaps they don't get noticed as much is because not only does he have these in abundance, but he has something far more important.
Good taste.
There are after all only 26 drum rudiments. There are however some people who feel they have to include them all in the one song.
You don't get a gig with John Lennon or George Harrison if you do though.
Drumming is not about "Chops" as such, it is about "Time". That is the only reason the instrument was invented in the first place.
Not drum fills.

yesiam

11-14-2002, 03:43 PM

Alan - he really does seem like a very kind person to me and I just love watching him play. He is always into it with all he's got and then some.

Nautilus

11-17-2002, 08:55 AM

Chris.

...

no, just kidding. The most underrated member is probably Banks.

jcostello

11-18-2002, 04:31 PM

... I would vote for Chris as the most under-rested member.

Peace, Love, and He Sounded Like He Needed a Nap Really Badly,

John Crazed Yesfan

yesrocks

11-18-2002, 04:43 PM

alan white, he plays his bottom off<< he needs more solo's

Scott Free

11-18-2002, 06:48 PM

I have always really enjoyed the Drama album and felt that the vocals were very Yes-like even though Trevor Horn has less vocal range than Jon Anderson. Even though fans who do not enjoy the album always say Trevor Horn does not fill Jon's shoes well, I have noticed time and time again that non-fans and casual listeners cannot tell the difference. What this says to me is that Trevor H did a remarkable job, along with Chris Squire singing backup, of preserving the "Yes sound", vocally that is.

jcostello

11-18-2002, 06:51 PM

I like Trevor's vocals on the "Drama" album, too, as well as his work with The Buggles.

Peace, Love, and the Guy Isn't Too Shabby as a Producer, Either,

John Crazed Yesfan

Jackaranda

11-18-2002, 07:35 PM

I voted for the greatest rock drummer ever, Mr. Alan White.

Thirty years of total dedication and incredible musicianship and there are still people who want Bruford. Bill is a wonderful drummer, but what Alan brought to Yes in his early days (just listen to Yessongs--that's the greatest drumming I've ever heard) was amazing. Then on Tales, his first studio album with the band, he again was brilliant almost beyond belief. Then on Relayer he was even better!!! And today, in his mid 50's, he can still play as good as great drummers half his age.

Alan's complete dedication to his band, through all the changes and turmoil over the years, cannot be overstated. But to this day, he remains the most underrated member of the band.

And he's a really good guy......Jack.

jcostello

11-18-2002, 07:41 PM

... even though Alan was just waking up in Nevada when I interviewed him the second time, he was STILL a more lively interview than Chris, who was on the East Coast and at a later time, therefore having less of a valid excuse for be a sleepy Squire.

Peace, Love, and Alan Is a Class Act All the Way,

John Crazed Yesfan

Jackaranda

11-18-2002, 08:05 PM

Very cool John!!!

Dale Cleary

11-19-2002, 10:54 AM

Allan is a drummer after all :D All drummers are good blokes !!

I don't think Chris is underrated, I have been checking out bass websites and his name always gets mentioned in groups of great players. Bass players look up to him in a big way.
I as a drummer also look up to him. He has a very unique way of playing, he seems to get his basslines to sound like liquid to me. I often imagine a river when I hear him. This is not to say that the One is lost or anything, it isn't. I always hear his one at the beginning of the bar. Like I said, he's unique.
As a drummer, I just love him !! He's great and I don't care how long he spent in the bath ! :lmao:

upbgirl

06-28-2003, 04:23 PM

alan..
but he doesnt even care, i think!
he just wants to PLAY!!
[and after listening to a few more audience recordings, i am even more certain he IS the heartbeat of Yes..]

Rabin105

06-28-2003, 06:34 PM

alan is one of the most flexiable players (meaning he'll play just about any yes tune even If he didn't play on it) and he has contributed majorly to a lot of the classics as well as trying to throw a lot of 70's sound with 80's yes (for those of you who are wpndering how alan did do the Ping pong effect on Big generator)

stevie

07-01-2003, 06:05 PM

I can't talk about the music as teechnically as some of you and he's not on the list above.
But I liked Relayer, GOD, Sound Chaser, To Be Over.
Considering he was taking over from a legend, I'd like to give Pat Moraz my vote.

Rabin105

07-02-2003, 09:57 AM

There are a lot of moraz fans who say he is the best thereforth he is not underrated nor underapreciated

Dances w/PURPLE

07-02-2003, 10:43 AM

or Travis from Blink 182 are the only drummers...well maybe Tommy Lee, who get little if any attention. Seem to forget it's the drummers that hold the bottom together.

ranyart

07-07-2003, 02:21 PM

I vote for Vangelis ha!

Mr. Holland

07-24-2003, 08:36 AM

I'm going with the odd one out here: Igor!

I know actually know he was great during the OYE and the Ladder tour, as I attended both of those tours and from what I understand he was brilliant on the masterworks tour. I mean think about it, on those tours the man dared to play some real epic classics! This guy played keys on Awaken, on RSOG, on Ritual, on Gates, those are some tough jobs to take on when you have not been the original player on those songs and then to pull them of, like he did, I think that deserves a hell of a lot of respect and credit, far more then he is getting!!

yessongs72

07-24-2003, 09:30 AM

I picked Alan White. Remember he stepped in after Bruford left the band in the middle of the CTTE tour and picked right up and has been a big contributor of Yes music since.I will admit he's not the best drummer of all time,but he's done a heck of a job for Yes for the last thirty-one years.He's also on heck of a nice guy and when you talk with him, it's like he's know you forever.Now Steve,Jon,Chris and Rick need no extra recognition they are well know and that's why I vote for Alan.

Rabin105

07-24-2003, 10:47 AM

Trevor Horn did do a great job even on the classics (his vocals were superb on AYAI)

relayer_1

09-17-2003, 03:07 PM

I would have included PATRICK MORAZ...
This guy only had one Yes studio album to shine on ( briefly appears in Yesshows ) and sure did an amazing job, specially having a hard act to follow after Rick left in '74 and hardly anyone noticed him. He got a lot more exposure with The Moody Blues than with YES but never did make it beyond the foreground which is a shame. His "Story of i" was by far in my books THE Best of the solo LPs after Olias of course.
If a Yesman has been underrated, it sure has to be MORAZ.

relayer ( the only studio album with Patrick ).

Rabin105

09-17-2003, 04:05 PM

Originally posted by relayer_1
I would have included PATRICK MORAZ...
This guy only had one Yes studio album to shine on ( briefly appears in Yesshows ) and sure did an amazing job, specially having a hard act to follow after Rick left in '74 and hardly anyone noticed him. He got a lot more exposure with The Moody Blues than with YES but never did make it beyond the foreground which is a shame. His "Story of i" was by far in my books THE Best of the solo LPs after Olias of course.
If a Yesman has been underrated, it sure has to be MORAZ.

relayer ( the only studio album with Patrick ).
9 times out of ten peolple top two favorites or Rick and patrick. so how cvan he be underated. when was the last time someone said Tony kaye is my favorite keyboardest in yes. Just once i'd at least like to see him in people's top 3 (igor being the third) it is a shame. That is why he is not on this list because he is definantl;y not underrated

YESYOUANDI

09-18-2003, 06:11 PM

STEVE HOWE--- the sound of REAL YES.

The man who saved YES (the yes album)

Bit of info.---Steve is playing at Music Live Birmingham NEC
this year in November.
If you like guitar /music shows (I go every year) then this is a must.
Cheers fans.

Rabin105

09-19-2003, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by YESYOUANDI
STEVE HOWE--- the sound of REAL YES.

The man who saved YES (the yes album)

Bit of info.---Steve is playing at Music Live Birmingham NEC
this year in November.
If you like guitar /music shows (I go every year) then this is a must.
Cheers fans.
uhm he not undereated if anything trevor rabin is because he lives in Steve's shadow.

YESYOUANDI

09-20-2003, 06:21 AM

Think I can smell a "wind-up" rabin 105.

No one can ever replace Steve--rabin failed--even Hendrix(god) would have also failed.

You see, it's just not YES without steve, it becomes some other band and I one, just don't like it.

Cheers fans.

Rabin105

09-20-2003, 12:33 PM

Originally posted by YESYOUANDI
Think I can smell a "wind-up" rabin 105.

No one can ever replace Steve--rabin failed--even Hendrix(god) would have also failed.

You see, it's just not YES without steve, it becomes some other band and I one, just don't like it.

Cheers fans.
really billy did a good job as did trevor and peter. and if iluck will have it and i become the 5th yes guitarest i will do a marvelous job. if you want to hear me play e-mail me or pm me and i'll get the music to you

Bo Locks

03-31-2004, 07:01 AM

Alan as a current and constant (30 year) member does get, shall we say, enough credit.

Tony in his 2 stints/8 albums with the band gets barely enough credit, but he's doing ok in this poll. Anyone listen to The Prophet recently? Superb!

Peter however get short shrift from both band and fans alike. I think his contributions were invaluable at a time when the band was an experiment, as indeed his playing itself was experimental. Surely as a founder member he cannot be cast aside?

... with a wave of his hand said, 'Goodbye...'

Mr. Holland

03-31-2004, 09:19 AM

About The Round

03-31-2004, 01:25 PM

Alan is not so much underated as sometimes under apreceated, I feel.

It really anoys me whenever I read somebody writing about "the Real Yes" and then meaning the ABWHS line-up. Ofcourse everybody is entitled to their opnion. Bill has only been a drummer in Yes for something like 6 1/2 years ('68-'73 en '91-'92) en allthough his contributions to the first 5 albums are major, Alan has played all those classics many more a time then Bill ever did, making them his own. Alan was the drummer on TFTO and Relayer!!!!! Is there a better point to make for him then that?!
What I also dislike about Bill these days is the fact then whenever he talks about Yes now, it is mostley in a negative way, witch in my opinion has probably got something to do with the fact that he has never been able to equal the succes he had with Yes, with any other project.

Here you must make a difference between musically and commercially success. Bill Bruford has made school out of his drumming both from the things he did in Yes and King Crimson. With his solo albums and Earthworks he has made a career of himself -something that are rare among drummers. On the albums Fragile and Close to the Edge he introduced a light and imaginative style that interacted superbly with what the other musicans did. Musically speaking, he has had a lot of succes and is still going strong. His negative speaking of Yes, he has in common with most journalists in the music press and most jazzmen when talking about rock. He is more a man for the moment than polishing arranged pieces of music. And one can not oversee a haughty way of humour!

No, to me, the real Yes drummer is Alan White. He has been contributing to this fantastic band for over 30 years now. He never is reluctant to play anything out of the Yes catalogue and his powerfull playing is one the most important driving forces behind Yes music. Bill is a great drummer, no doubt about it and I do admire a lot of the work he has done with Eartworks, but if it comes to Yes (and I'll probably get slaughtered for saying this), Bill is not even worthy of standing in Alan's shadow!

Yes, Alan should get his rewards from us. But we don't have to soil Bruford to get White to shine.

jcostello

03-31-2004, 05:42 PM

Here you must make a difference between musically and commercially success. Bill Bruford has made school out of his drumming both from the things he did in Yes and King Crimson. With his solo albums and Earthworks he has made a career of himself -something that are rare among drummers. On the albums Fragile and Close to the Edge he introduced a light and imaginative style that interacted superbly with what the other musicans did. Musically speaking, he has had a lot of succes and is still going strong. His negative speaking of Yes, he has in common with most journalists in the music press and most jazzmen when talking about rock. He is more a man for the moment than polishing arranged pieces of music. And one can not oversee a haughty way of humour!

Yes, Alan should get his rewards from us. But we don't have to soil Bruford to get White to shine.

Rather than the success thing, it sounds like Bill is still upset over the ordeal he went through recording "Close to the Edge." He should get over it, it's been 30 years, and if he hasn't caught up on his sleep yet, he has only himself to blame.

The neverending debate between who is better, Bill or Alan, will never be resolved. You're talking about two quite different approaches to drumming/percussion and drumming/percussion styles. From what I've observed, Bill is the better overall drummer/percussionist, and Alan is the better rock drummer, but it's only an opinion. How do you quantify the quality of someone's drumming? Skillwise, they're two of the best drummers in rock music history, and in the present.

I wish that Bruford could have stayed beyond the "Union" tour, because I think that if they'd continued working together, they could have come up with much more interesting music than the simple duet they played on the "Union" tour.

The "real" Yes would be the current lineup. Everyone else is a memory, although the CDs are real enough.

As for journalists (and I am one), you can certainly doubt their credibility when they vote Bob Seger into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and not Yes.

John Crazed Yesfan

About The Round

04-01-2004, 01:28 AM

The neverending debate between who is better, Bill or Alan, will never be resolved. You're talking about two quite different approaches to drumming/percussion and drumming/percussion styles. From what I've observed, Bill is the better overall drummer/percussionist, and Alan is the better rock drummer, but it's only an opinion. How do you quantify the quality of someone's drumming? Skillwise, they're two of the best drummers in rock music history, and in the present.

In progressive rock I believe a pompous attitude (in ones playing )is the easiest flaw you can do. Next is -not to play in a musically manner – not attending to the temperature, direction or other ways of showing that the actual music is not understood.

Bruford and White are of course far from beeing so.

Rabin105

04-01-2004, 02:43 PM

Both Alan and Bill are amazing drummers and the only "Real" yes is every single lineup why "Because it was the musicans who were there at the time had the privledge of making yes music" rick wakeman said that and I agree with Him Even Trevor Horn and Geoff downes are important. I'm a "real" yes fan I like all the lineups and don't get caught up in "well it can't be yes because Jon anderson isn't singing or because Steve howe Isn't on it" I listen to each Lineup and each studio album with an open mind and 9/10th of the time I will think wow this is great Yes music who wuold of guessed they'd still be going strong in 2004. and at the concert I usually think Wow Steve sounds Awesome on Owner of a lonely Heart. I know a lot of yes fans may not like it but usually it is because they go into it with a closed mind. Chris Squire is a smart man I'd doubt he would get a bad guitarest or a bad singer. He never did and He never will now when he leaves I'll get a little worried.

then breath a sigh of relief when Billy Sherwood becomes the new Bassist.

Mac

umgekehrt

11-03-2004, 10:14 AM

Well if you can't even spell his name right, I say you not only underrate and underappreciate him, you also underrespect him: Igor Khoroshev

Bo Locks

11-24-2004, 04:59 AM

Peter Banks!!!

Is it just me or has he been already marginalised on the Original Syn project???

Scooty

11-24-2004, 05:04 AM

Chris Squire is a smart man I'd doubt he would get a bad guitarest or a bad singer. He never did and He never will now when he leaves I'll get a little worried.

then breath a sigh of relief when Billy Sherwood becomes the new Bassist.

Mac

Bite your frigin' tounge...Blasphemer!!!!

;)

Scooty

11-25-2004, 04:07 AM

I voted Peter Banks. He is a great player and his solo stuff and Flash was good music. Very few guitarists are going to compare favorably to Steve Howe or Trevor Rabin, yet that's what he's up against. On his own merits, he's a good, heartfelt musician.

I'm surprised Alan is getting the most votes. I didn't know he was underrated. Yes tends to appeal to musicians and people who are into more progressive stuff, and anybody who fits that description knows that Alan is a fantastic drummer and all around musician. He's played with two Beatles. You don't get that job if you suck. He's the guy who played on Tales and Relayer. There is some amazing percussion on those albums. I never knew a Yes fan who lamented the exit of Bill to any great extent. I'm not saying they don't exist, I just don't know them. Between what Bill did with Crimson and what Alan did with Yes, I think everybody wins, particularly us as listeners.

YesBassist

11-25-2004, 01:53 PM

I voted Alan, though a shy guy, once you talk to him hes one of the nicest people youll ever meet, but i dont think he gets the recognition he deserves, maybe he should move his drum kit a little more out front hes always in the back!!! show your face every once in a while Alan!!!

YesBassist

11-25-2004, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Rabin105
Chris Squire is a smart man I'd doubt he would get a bad guitarest or a bad singer. He never did and He never will now when he leaves I'll get a little worried.

then breath a sigh of relief when Billy Sherwood becomes the new Bassist.

Mac

What are you smoking???? no offense intended but no way!!!! when Billy becomes the new bassist is the day Pink Floyd will tour with Roger Waters again not to menchen ill be wondering what the F#&! is going on