Will YES survive the eventual retirement of Alan White and Steve Howe?

[Mr. Holland]

You do realize promoters want a yes to play all of 90125 right? so at the very least it can last one more tour

Wanted....as in simple past......

[PeterCologne]

I think it's likely that those who like the Rabin-era Yes wish to believe there are many like them who like it too in their territory, and those who do not, like me, like to believe the opposite is true.
However, I have to say that I can't bring to mind, from all my friends in the real world who like Yes and are my contemporaries, any who have any interest in Rabin-era Yes.

It's not an, either.. or... here. Over the decades here both ways of Yes of course were loved as just Yes.

In fact on the one hand I don't know anyone here who wouldn't have rather a different Yes-official. But on the other hand I must add though, that The Quest here perhaps reached the highest chart-position with #7or at least one of the highest... and german Rolling Stone - very unusual - even had a big article about Yes and the Return Of Prog.

Edit: I must add of course, that even at least one unbeliever bought The Quest as well, and even on vinyl,

[Ash Armstrong]

Continental europe though wants to have it as well... that Yes of 90125, BG and Talk had many and still has admirers here :-) And YesF is/was seen even seen by many at least in germany as THE Yes in their time being, including the biggest prog-magazine. But anyway it won't happen, I guess... a pity.

I think it's likely that those who like the Rabin-era Yes wish to believe there are many like them who like it too in their territory, and those who do not, like me, like to believe the opposite is true.
However, I have to say that I can't bring to mind, from all my friends in the real world who like Yes and are my contemporaries, any who have any interest in Rabin-era Yes.

[PeterCologne]

I suspect the appeal of something of that sort would be confined to North America, possibly South America as well, which is fine with me. There's a reason why the Big Generator and Talk tour didn't come to the UK.

Continental europe though wants to have it as well... that Yes of 90125, BG and Talk had many and still has admirers here :-) And YesF is/was seen even seen by many at least in germany as THE Yes in their time being, including the biggest prog-magazine. But anyway it won't happen, I guess... a pity.

[Ash Armstrong]

Dan (Rabin105) is right about promoters at one point in the last decade or so requesting that Yes to do a complete album 90125 tour. I think two different members of the band mentioned it. Obviously, the band turned them down back then.

Of course, the questions are: Does that still apply today, and would that still apply to a Yes lineup without Howe and White? I'm not sure of the answer to either of those questions. I just know it was at one time requested of either this lineup or the one previous to it (Before Chris Squire passed away). The promoters weren't even mentioned as requesting that the band bring back Trevor Rabin as part of those proposals, although realistically Yes probably would have had to have hired an extra touring guitarist/vocalist to pull it off well (If the proposal came when Chris Squire was still alive, that could have actually hypothetically been Billy Sherwood!).

As far as whether it still applies today, I think complete album tours in general aren't as hotly in demand as they used to be. Off the top of my head, I know Styx, Kansas, Rush, and Roger Gilmour (of Pink Floyd), all did them within a few year span (I want to include Peter Gabriel on that list but my memory is too hazy on that point to say it authoritatively- he may not have done one), but anecdotally I don't remember hearing much about that sort of thing immediately before Covid or in the time since. That doesn't mean there's no demand, it just means I'm not sure what the environment would be for it. 2023 is the 40th anniversary of 90125, though- which could be a marketable year to do that type of tour surrounding that album, but it'd mean Howe was out of the lineup by then (Which seems unlikely, but impossible), because the odds of him agreeing to do that tour are extremely low.

One thing a new lineup of Yes without the 70s guys would have to be careful of if they did a 90125 tour out of the box as their first tour with the new lineup is not losing the 70s-centric fans who may not have formed an opinion yet on the band continuing on in that form and would see a big change in the balance of the type of music thy play right out of the box if they did that type of tour. Maybe they would be well served, if they go that route, to also prominently advertise that the setlist will contain a bunch of 70s songs as well.

I'd love to see a 90125 tour and live album (I'm low income and high risk for Covid, so I won't say I'd definitely be there, but I'd definitely get the live album and would try for the tour if the Covid situation changes for the better and there's any way to scape up the money. That is the one album they could do that hasn't been done yet that I'd most want to see- and I'd want to support the band continuing on with my money if I could. I know that first tour or two without the 70s guys would be important in determining the future of the band.), but, realistically, I'm not expecting it. I do think a post-Howe band would be likely to immediately bring back "Owner of a Lonely Heart", which, really, they never should have taken out of their setlist. Eventually, they might do a couple more YesWest era songs and become more of a "whole Yes" type band. However, they would be likely to only make a few minor changes like that to what the band has been doing setlist wise (at least for a while) so as not to rock the boat and in order to see what their touring and earning potential is continuing on in the vein they have been.

I'd also love to see a quick studio album or two out of the box to establish the lineup. It'd be great to have a next era of Yes with albums on a regular basis.

I suspect the appeal of something of that sort would be confined to North America, possibly South America as well, which is fine with me. There's a reason why the Big Generator and Talk tour didn't come to the UK.
I think the best you can realistically hope for is one of the many tribute bands deciding to work up that album in its entirety in 2023, although from what I've seen on YouTube, most of the tribute bands, certainly in the US, focus their efforts mainly on non-Rabin Yes material, albeit with the odd gesture thrown in, such as Owner or Rhythm of Love. Understandable: it can't be that interesting to play.

[downbyariver]

In your dreams only, I'm afraid.

Dan (Rabin105) is right about promoters at one point in the last decade or so requesting that Yes to do a complete album 90125 tour. I think two different members of the band mentioned it. Obviously, the band turned them down back then.

Of course, the questions are: Does that still apply today, and would that still apply to a Yes lineup without Howe and White? I'm not sure of the answer to either of those questions. I just know it was at one time requested of either this lineup or the one previous to it (Before Chris Squire passed away). The promoters weren't even mentioned as requesting that the band bring back Trevor Rabin as part of those proposals, although realistically Yes probably would have had to have hired an extra touring guitarist/vocalist to pull it off well (If the proposal came when Chris Squire was still alive, that could have actually hypothetically been Billy Sherwood!).

As far as whether it still applies today, I think complete album tours in general aren't as hotly in demand as they used to be. Off the top of my head, I know Styx, Kansas, Rush, and Roger Gilmour (of Pink Floyd), all did them within a few year span (I want to include Peter Gabriel on that list but my memory is too hazy on that point to say it authoritatively- he may not have done one), but anecdotally I don't remember hearing much about that sort of thing immediately before Covid or in the time since. That doesn't mean there's no demand, it just means I'm not sure what the environment would be for it. 2023 is the 40th anniversary of 90125, though- which could be a marketable year to do that type of tour surrounding that album, but it'd mean Howe was out of the lineup by then (Which seems unlikely, but not impossible), because the odds of him agreeing to do that tour are extremely low.

One thing a new lineup of Yes without the 70s guys would have to be careful of if they did a 90125 tour out of the box as their first tour with the new lineup is not losing the 70s-centric fans who may not have formed an opinion yet on the band continuing on in that form and who might see a big change in the balance of the type of music they play right out of the box as a negative if they did that type of tour. Maybe they would be well served, if they go that route, to also prominently advertise that the setlist will contain a bunch of 70s songs as well.

I'd love to see a 90125 tour and live album (I'm low income and high risk for Covid, so I won't say I'd definitely be there, but I'd definitely get the live album and would try for the tour if the Covid situation changes for the better and there's any way to scape up the money. That is the one album they could do that hasn't been done yet that I'd most want to see- and I'd want to support the band continuing on with my money if I could. I know that first tour or two without the 70s guys would be important in determining the future of the band.), but, realistically, I'm not expecting it. I do think a post-Howe band would be likely to immediately bring back "Owner of a Lonely Heart", which, really, they never should have taken out of their setlist. Eventually, they might do a couple more YesWest era songs and become more of a "whole Yes" type band. However, they would be likely to only make a few minor changes like that to what the band has been doing setlist wise (at least for a while) so as not to rock the boat and in order to see what their touring and earning potential is continuing on in the vein they have been.

I'd also love to see a quick studio album or two out of the box to establish the lineup. It'd be great to have a next era of Yes with albums on a regular basis.

[Ash Armstrong]

Rabin is unlikely to do it, especially under the Yes banner.

I don't think so either. I suppose it's possible that at some point he could put his own band together for a tour, and play some of that material, and he made three (I think) albums with his own band before Yes, as well as whatever he's written since. I wonder if playing some of his film music live might appeal to him? Who knows? It's not something he needs to do, I wouldn't have thought? It's down to whether he wants to, it seems to me. Good luck to him either way. It has no appeal to me.

[josuev80]

Yes Surived pastAnders Squire... And Schellen is already doing most of the heavy lifting bringing in Trevor Rabin and doing all of 90125 it could work.

Rabin is unlikely to do it, especially under the Yes banner.

[rabin105]

In your dreams only, I'm afraid.

Yes Survived past Anderson Squire... And Schellen is already doing most of the heavy lifting bringing in Trevor Rabin and doing all of 90125 it could work.

[Ash Armstrong]

You do realize promoters want a yes to play all of 90125 right? so at the very least it can last one more tour

In your dreams only, I'm afraid.

[rabin105]

That would take a crystal ball....unlike what will happen to Yes when both Steve and Alan retire, which only takes common sense...

You do realize promoters want a yes to play all of 90125 right? so at the very least it can last one more tour

[Mr. Holland]

Can you let me know next weeks lotto numbers?

That would take a crystal ball....unlike what will happen to Yes when both Steve and Alan retire, which only takes common sense...

[rabin105]

No, Yes won't.

Can you let me know next weeks lotto numbers?

[luna65]

I’d have no interest in that.

And neither does he, so not to worry.

[bondegezou]

Are there enough offspring of Yes members that are musicians that we could put together to make a totally new Yes? That way, at least the last names are the same. Well, unless names changed because of marriage or something else. Ok, never mind. Seemed like an idea at first.

There are several Yes kid musicians, but most of them aren't making Yes-like music. Ryan Rabin and Aaron Horn are both successful now, but doing modern styles. Dylan Howe has played in Yes, but his own work is largely jazz. Other Yes kids have had more limited music careers, but again are working in other styles (Damion, Deborah and Jade Anderson, Jemma Wakeman, Alex Bruford). Oliver and Adam Wakeman are probably closest in style to Yes.

Aaron Horn co-wrote and co-produced this from Doja Cat's Grammy-nominated album Planet Her: