Resolved: Is YES the best rock band ever.

[Insidious Grip]

Yes did what they did as well as anyone and what they did, it could be argued, was more difficult to achieve than any other major band. On the basis of performance, arrangement and composition I believe this to be true.

[Gilly Goodness]

Gee whizz mate. That's a bit controversial. To baldly state that. On a YES chat forum. Of all places. Not gonna say anythin'. Just gonna grab my popcorn. 😉

[Ash Armstrong]

There is no 'best'.

[soundchaser09]

Genesis and Yes for me

[Homemade Parachute]

Yes is and was the best Yes ever. Beyond that, though…

[Enlighten]

They were the best progressive rock band from 1970 to 1980. They kinda lost the plot after that.

[alex peters]

They were the best progressive rock band from 1970 to 1980. They kinda lost the plot after that.

Yes

[kkleinschmidt]

I have always thought Yes was special due to a combination of factors including their songs, which are clearly unique for any genre of music, and their ability to play but what really strikes me as their most amazing facet is their vocal abilities and especially their awesome three part harmonies which are really tough to get right with people coming and going like they have. Jon was obviously a huge part of this but the foundation was Chris which is clear with his work on Drama and Cinema with the two Trevors.

[luvyesmusic]

My latest band hasn’t even had one practice yet. Come on! Give us a chance! :-)

[Homemade Parachute]

Yes

[Oldie on the Goldie]

of course the answer is YES if the question refers to the classic Yes lineups of the 70s as well as more recent approximations such as ABWH who were fantastic live.

[Roundabob]

The Beatles were the greatest rock band of all time in my opinion. Yes is my favorite rock band of all time. I think that Yes (and damned near everyone else) was heavily influenced by the Beatles. They took what the Beatles created, and forged ahead with their own ideas, and superior instrumentation, to create something new and interesting.

[Insidious Grip]

They were the best progressive rock band from 1970 to 1980. They kinda lost the plot after that.

The Renaissance 1978 album "A Song for all Seasons" was strong competition for "Tormato" for some listeners.

[patrickq]

The Beatles were the greatest rock band of all time in my opinion. Yes is my favorite rock band of all time. I think that Yes (and damned near everyone else) was heavily influenced by the Beatles. They took what the Beatles created, and forged ahead with their own ideas, and superior instrumentation, to create something new and interesting.

what he said… and the Beatles took what Chuck Berry did, forged ahead with better songwriting and musicianship… and Chuck Berry merged what he called “white” “hillbilly “ music with “black” blues music (plus the distorted electric guitar bit). So, argue all the Bill Haleys and Jerry Lee Lewises you want, but I say it goes back to Berry.

[Oldie on the Goldie]

And Yes took the late Beatles stuff a few steps further.