Drama - the Tour - your thoughts on it

[Mr. Holland]

For the last two weeks I have been listening to a boot from the Drama tour, recorded at LA Memorial Sports Arena, 3rd of october 1980.

I had never heard anything from the Drama tour before, but I think it was a great tour. If I have to discribe the Drama line-up in two words it is: Raw Energy!
That's how I allready felt after getting to know the studio album, and I think that feeling is only being more justified by the live recording. The Drama songs sound great and I love the two new songs on it. Can you imagine that from Yes nowadays? Having a tour where they play 4 songs from a new album and then present the audience with two even newer songs, just written?

Also I think they really chose the classics that were most fitting to this line-up. Songs like CTTE or RSOG or Ritual would probably have been messed up by this line-up, but YIND, Starship Trooper, AYAI and Roundabout sound great (to bad they dropped Parallels on the night I have the boot from, would have loved to hear that). In all honesty I think they could have given Trevor even a better chance on performing those classics the best he could if they would have played the songs in a key more fitting to his voice. Now there are small parts in the classics that seem to be a bit on the high side to suit his voice. The hamony parts however still sound great.
And as said, I think the playing form the band is supurb, I don't think they have ever played with that much raw energy ever again, with most likely has something to do with age, but I think it has also got something to do with the fact they really wanted to proove to the world that their could be a great sounding Yes without Rick and Jon and in my opinion they past that "test"with only A's on their lists!!

So, your thoughts please!

[Faceintheplace]

I have a two cd show from Hartford from this tour. I think they all did an excellent job. I like the new arrangement of YIND they came up with, Alan's military drumming thing. A lot of Trevor's problems weren't really his fault. If the rest of the band were willing to lower some of the songs to his range, his voice would have had a better chance of lasting the length of tour. A lot of people make the misconception that Trevor sounds like Jon or at least was trying to. Trevor can only sing like Trevor (although his voice reminds me a lot of Chris's at times), its not really his fault his voice sometimes cracked when he tried to sing beyond his means.

Hartford is a good show on this front though. I think he only cracks once or twice. And no offense to Jon but its one of the only times all the song intros made real sense. Chris' solo is stunning and Alan plays like a man possesed. Its a real shame the Drama line up never properly recorded "Go Through This" or "We Can Fly For Here". They are amazing songs, and had the Drama line-up done a second album, they might have had success similar to what 90125 released well staying truer to Yes roots. (People often forget that "Drama" actually didn't fair too badly on the album charts, its just that it didn't have the big single Atlantic wanted. They should have promoted "Run Through The Light" more. I think its the Yes hit that never was.)

I also have a more hi-fi show form NYC, but I think Trevor sings better on Hartford and the band plays with more power.

[yessongs72]

[QUOTE=Mr. Holland]So, your thoughts please!
If I have to discribe the Drama line-up in two words it is: [SIZE=3][B]Raw Energy![/ :dog: I can't stop laughing,whewwww! Trauma,was definately "RAW'' :dog: down boy! Let's just be thankfull we have the Classic Crew back!

[Mr. Holland]

[QUOTE=Mr. Holland]So, your thoughts please!
If I have to discribe the Drama line-up in two words it is: [SIZE=3][B]Raw Energy![/ :dog: I can't stop laughing,whewwww! Trauma,was definately "RAW'' :dog: down boy! Let's just be thankfull we have the Classic Crew back!

So I gather you either visited a concert during the tour or have heard live recordings of that tour, on which you base your judgement? I'm asking that because I know your opinion about the Drama album (and respect it), but this is about the tour.......and then there is still that difference between liking or not liking certain compositions of a line-up and whether they were playing well or not.......

[Thoughtbecontact]

I was fortunate enough to see this lineup in Chicago in 1980, giving me the chance to see a rare lineup performing--and making some individuals a little envious :popcorn: They did open up my show with Parallels, and had me hooked in right from the beginning as that was the very first Yes song I ever heard live in 1977. Trevor Horn did a great job on Parallels. But you are right Mr. Holland, I do think he would have benefitted from having the songs reworked in a key more suitable to his vocal range. I also have the Hartford show, as well as one from Houston and on those discs, there are times when I can hear him straining and feel sorry for him. Bringing the songs down to fit him would have been perfectly fine--after all, the buys did it for Jon on GFTO a few years back--but I guess when you're young and brash, you have to do things the way they're written, no matter what.

Still, all in all, you're right, there is incredible energy on those boots, particularly from the Drama songs. Drama is one of the albums that I only have on vinyl, so I haven't heard it in a long time, so when I play the boots, it's a joy to hear those songs again. I'm going to have to dig them out soon again.

[ANTIOCH]

The 'Drama' tour was a GREAT experience for a Yes fan.
Any YES is (was) better than no YES and this tour was no exception. Trevor and Geoff did a magnificent job under the circumstances. The material wasn't too shabby either.

[Faceintheplace]

I can't wait to see what Rhino puts on the remaster. I hope its not one of the ones with few bonus cuts. I hope they load it up with stuff from the '79/'80 Atlanta rehersals before the Buggles came in. The recordings I have of that period are stellar but a bit faded.

[yessongs72]

So I gather you either visited a concert during the tour or have heard live recordings of that tour, on which you base your judgement? I'm asking that because I know your opinion about the Drama album (and respect it), but this is about the tour.......and then there is still that difference between liking or not liking certain compositions of a line-up and whether they were playing well or not.......

Honestly Mr Holland, this was a Yes album and tour that isn't Yes,IMHO.I bought the album twenty-three years ago and hated it after three or four listening's. Just recently I painfully listened to the Complete Drama boot show two time's and this still isn't Yes. Yeah, it carrie's the Yes name,but still not Yes,someone was missing,hmmm...I really wish this group would have used a different name.I know this doesn't sit well with most but just my opinion.
But Mr Holland I am happy to inform you and all my look at Yes West now,I always liked 90125,now like Talk,but BG,nahhh,lol.This is a big step for a Trooper.

[Mr. Holland]

But Mr Holland I am happy to inform you and all my look at Yes West now,I always liked 90125,now like Talk,but BG,nahhh,lol.This is a big step for a Trooper.

Wow, that is something Yessongs72, when I think of your comments up till 1/2 year ago, way to go.....I bet ya in another 1/2 years you'll be wanting Trevor Rabin back in the line-up..... :sofunny: ......

[Thoughtbecontact]

OMG, Yessongs72 likes Talk! I think I'm going to fall over!

[bandit1200]

I went to the Southampton Drama gig in 1980, I'll be diplomatic........... for me it just was not Yes, didn't like it at all, to be honest I thought the Yeggles line up was a joke !

[stevie]

The reception to the Drama tour in the UK was very mixed to say the least. I went to the Manchester Appollo concert and it just wasn't Yes. There wasn't the same anticipation and excitement of a typical Yes concert. It could almost have been any band. They may well have played 4 new songs and 2 even newer songs I can't really remember. I was almost bored I'm afraid to say. I and I think the majority of the fans really wanted to hear CTTE, GOD etc. I think the Buggles fans enjoyed the show.

[soleil7]

Drama was an EXCELLENT show !! Chris was on fire and stole the show, as per usual !! the only thing missed were jon's vocals...but i consider myself lucky to have experienced this line up live !!!

[ANTIOCH]

I respect everyone's opinion, but it's funny how we decide who YES are and are not. I can visualize Peter and Tony alongside Bill, Chris and Jon on stage and hearing people who supposedly are YES fans saying "yeah, but it's just not YES" ??

[soundchaser722]

From what i can remember of that show-it was very good. Allthough i have to admit i had a real hard time watching trevor try to "be" jon- forget about it (there is only ONE Jon)!! He just looked silly. But, musically the band smoked!!

[yessongs72]

Wow, that is something Yessongs72, when I think of your comments up till 1/2 year ago, way to go.....I bet ya in another 1/2 years you'll be wanting Trevor Rabin back in the line-up..... :sofunny: ......

Actually after seeing the Union Tour show,Trevor pushes Steve and you can see it in Steves playing. But I actually don't think it improved Trevor's play. Now Trevor has talent I will agree, but Steve is the guitarist for Yes,he took playing to three or four levels higher after replacing Banks,and he also is a good guitarist. Now Tony,well he can continue playing his organ and Rick can stay on the keys. But I remain a Trooper!

[bandit1200]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, doesn't make them any less a Yes fan (I've been following them for 30 years), for me Yes without Jon is like Queen without Freddie........

[soundchaser722]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, doesn't make them any less a Yes fan (I've been following them for 30 years), for me Yes without Jon is like Queen without Freddie........ I agree!!

[Faceintheplace]

I know what you mean, yessongs72. Check out the start of YIND on the UNION DVD, Trevor plays a VanHalen type solo in the intro and Steve's like "We'll just see about that!" and runs over to turn up his amp before his solo.

[electricfreedom]

I've always been an advocate of the Drama album and tour. I think it was something that that both Yes and its audience needed as far as a change of pace was concerned. Granted the set list comprised of mostly 10-11 minutes tracks instead of the epic pieces, this lineup gave the songs some raw emotions and the occasional flat vocal (hehe). And I agree that if the songs were rearranged in certain keys, then Trevor would've went down better than he did. Plus, as I had mentioned in another thread, the aid of pre-recorded vocals would've helped out Trevor quite a bit, especially on songs like Parallels.

[Mr. Holland]

I know what you mean, yessongs72. Check out the start of YIND on the UNION DVD, Trevor plays a VanHalen type solo in the intro and Steve's like "We'll just see about that!" and runs over to turn up his amp before his solo.

On the boot I have it is Steve doing the first long solo, after about 6 minutes into the song, then followed by a long solo from Trevor, which, and I'm sorry to have to day this, is blowing Steve's solo away........

[Thoughtbecontact]

There's quite a lot to comment on here.....

"I respect everyone's opinion, but it's funny how we decide who YES are and are not. I can visualize Peter and Tony alongside Bill, Chris and Jon on stage and hearing people who supposedly are YES fans saying "yeah, but it's just not YES" ??"--No kidding. I'm in agreement here. A total of 14 inidviduals have been members of the band we love. Whether you like it or not, all of them have the right to call themselves Yesmen.

From what i can remember of that show-it was very good. Allthough i have to admit i had a real hard time watching trevor try to "be" jon- forget about it (there is only ONE Jon)!! He just looked silly. But, musically the band smoked!!
--Ditto, for this. I have respect for what Trevor Horn,, tried to accomplish, but there is one and only one Jon. Too bad the boys weren't a little more aept at thinking about rearranging the songs performed or using pre-recorded vocals to help out Trevor.

As for the Steve vs. Trevor thing, we can debate that until we are blue in the face, and I don't think we want to do that anymore. Yes definitely wouldn't have achieved its success in the 70s without Steve as his addition was such an incredible leap in talent. Similarly, in the 80s, Yes wouldn't have survived without Trevor Rabin. IMHO, Steve remains a better guitarist technically, but not by a wide margin. Trevor is equal to him in talent, although his talent is based more in layering and keyboards, so it is a different talent.

What I see happening with Steve is that he reached his talent very early and then didn't expand it for quite some time. I see him starting to make some new moves now--little flourishes on Mag, a lot of great work on his new solo album. Trevor kept expanding his talent through the 80s and 90s, albeit, most of it was not guitarwork.

Regarding the Union version of YIND--that's an absolutely incredible version of the piece. I recently changed my workout routine, and that's one of my favorites to run to while on the treadmill as it makes the time fly! It's quite a pity that the recent tour versions of YIND just don't have the same pop. I've heard several from the 2002-2003 tour, and most have disappointed me, except for the Las Vegas 2002 show where Steve is dueling with Chris in the middle. That's an excellent piece of live work. However, the other rare times when they played it, YIND was rather flat--except for Steve. I have one version where Steve just wails on it--and the rest of the band, including Jon, sound BORED to be playing it. It's a pity, just a pity!

[Mr. Holland]

Allthough i have to admit i had a real hard time watching trevor try to "be" jon- forget about it (there is only ONE Jon)!! He just looked silly.

Personally I think that this is were a lot of people are wrong. From what I've read about it, it wasn't Trevor trying to "be" Jon, as much as that the three "old" yesmembers more or less expected him to sing like Jon, which is even more clear due to their refusal to lower some songs to suit the vocal range of Trevor.

The main problem(according to Chris Welch's book) seemed to have been that the 1980's tour was allready sold out, before it was clear that Jon and Rick had left and that Trevor and Geoff had come on board. So a lot of fans were pretty much disappointed when Yes got on stage and there were no Jon and Rick (not as much in the U.S. as in the U.K., in the U.S. the audience seemed more apreciative of the change). There is the mention of Steve talking to Trevor, when they got the U.K., and after some really hard nights, saying:"Just imagine that this is your dream come true-playing and singing in Yes. Just go on and enjoy yourself." and Trevor replied:"Don't you think I've tried everything to make it work for those people out there?!" And in the book Steve says:"It wasn't that Trevor had any shortcomings. He was an amazingly talented writer,producer, singer and bassplayer. But when you put people under undue pressure like that......replacing Jon Anderson, writing all the lyrics for an album, virtually producing it, because Eddie Offord only did the backing tracks-the guy had lead boots on."............I think Maestro Howe is totally right. I don't think Trevor can be blamed for anything, he did everything he possibly could and it's only a shame that some audiences where that unkind to Trevor......

[MindDrive]

I was at the Drama show in Toronto. It was the worst Yes has ever been.

Trevor's troubles with the vocals were apparent early and often. After the second song which he was terribly flat on, he commented, "Boy, it sure is hot in here!" Then after the next non-Drama song he made the same excuse while wiping his face with a towel. Personally I think he had the sweats from something other than heat! The others didn't look at all bothered by the temperature.

When Steve came to his solo, on his first note --accompanied by dramatic downward movement of the guitar-- NOTHING. He looked around perplexed. Roadies giving the thumbs up and shaking their heads. Strum, strum. Nothing. Then realisation. He'd pulled the mic cord out of the guitar when he trod on it!!

And so it went all night. Chris's solo was as full of anger as I've ever seen. He knew that they were poor and it was as though he was challenging the fans there to deny him his just applause. He got it but the night was one drenched in sourness, finished off by the mechanicals overhead that were activated for the finale of ST, only half working the other arms just wouldn't move.

Not one their better shows let's say! ^u^

I've seen the line-ups with Jon have lesser nights, but never amounting to the same kind of downcast fans that I saw leaving the arena that night.

[Soul Dreamer]

For me, the 'Drama' tour was very entertaining. Sure, it wasn't Jon (but Trevor did as fine a job as anybody could have) and the band was on fire.
Without the success of this line-up, would Yes have even considered continuing as Yes when Cinema was in it's infancy ?