What was Your First Yes Experience?

[cjreyes]

Have we done this on the New Site yet? If so, pardon me. Anyway, what was your experience? I'll write mine down later.

[madbear]

If you mean live it was the QPR gig drifting in the air over my parents back garden in West London... If you mean proper then i queued up all night with friends for the wembley 1977 gigs, front row for four nights.

[Enlighten]

Yes, do you mean live or actual first exposure to Yes?

My first exposure was in 1977 when I heard Roundabout for the first time. Squire totally hooked me with that bass. It was totally glorious to discover the rest of their catalogue after that and it was an absolute wonder to hear Drama when it first came out in 1980. I didn’t start seeing live concerts until I was 17 (which was 1982), so 90125 was my first tour.

[pianozach]

Way back when I was a teen, I was over at a friend's house, and he said something to the effect of "You have to listen to this", and dropped the needle on Roundabout.

My jaw hit the floor.

It hit the floor again when Wakeman's Hammond solo hit.

[jagp20]

I was fifteen. Year 1978. It was Don't kill the whale. I bought a friend Tormato and Going for the one. Later, Tales and Relayer. Until now...
Only six Yes shows.

[Kevin W]

My older brother brin going a copy of 90125 home. Funnily enough, he never went on to become a Yes fan, though he does like the Rabin era, whereas for me it was the start of a lifelong passion!!

[Gilly Goodness]

Was woken one fine and frosty mornin' by the young milkman whistlin' as he dropped 2 gold tops onto our front step.


The young milkman was named Jon. 😉

[rePete]

Yes, do you mean live or actual first exposure to Yes?

My first exposure was in 1977 when I heard Roundabout for the first time. Squire totally hooked me with that bass. It was totally glorious to discover the rest of their catalogue after that and it was an absolute wonder to hear Drama when it first came out in 1980. I didn’t start seeing live concerts until I was 17 (which was 1982), so 90125 was my first tour.

My experience was almost identical to yours, Jay - except the year was 1984, replace Roundabout with Your Move (on a ghetto blaster at a bust stop). When the radio DJ said what it was after the song ended, I went stright to the record store to get the album. That led to exploring the catalog, which really changed my perspective on music completely. As you say, glorious. 90125 was my first concert ever.

I didn't clue into Drama until some time after, when I heard what I later found out was Into the Lens on the radio- I recognized the sound of Squire's bass immediately.

[Ash Armstrong]

Summer 1973: I bought Close to the Edge because I liked the cover, especially the inner-gatefold image.

November 1973: Tales tour, Leicester.

[Susanne]

A friend lent me GFTO, and I was almost commanded to listen to it over and over, until I liked it. Fortunately, it worked: I became a Yes fan.

[RelayerI]

First experience - going back to friends houses in the lunchbreak at school and hearing Relayer, Tormato and Yessongs. Still absolute favourites.

Live ? Drama tour, Birmingham Odeon.

[Enlighten]

My experience was almost identical to yours, Jay - except the year was 1984, replace Roundabout with Your Move (on a ghetto blaster at a bust stop). When the radio DJ said what it was after the song ended, I went stright to the record store to get the album. That led to exploring the catalog, which really changed my perspective on music completely. As you say, glorious. 90125 was my first concert ever.

I didn't clue into Drama until some time after, when I heard what I later found out was Into the Lens on the radio- I recognized the sound of Squire's bass immediately.

Why am I not surprised, brother Pete.😊

[soundchaser09]

First time i heard em, 35th anniversary compilation CD in 2009, First live concert Birmingham 2011.

[TerryTT]

Roundabout played on 98ROCK in Baltimore when I was a teen. That was followed up with the entire Fragile lp over a friend's sister's house.

Live was the Masterworks tour July 2000 Camden, NJ. Only live show I've ever seen outside of Maryland.

[josuev80]

When Jon Anderson visited my family on Planet Zongo.