Comments on: Jon Anderson Slams Yes’ Decision To Tour With Tribute Singer

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 02:51:05 +0000

Things change guys, don’t knock it until you go see the concert.
John Anderson is obviously as big a part of YES as anyone, his vocals and talents are incredible. But he is not part of the current line up, remember when Steve Howe was replaced by Trevor Rabin ? The fans all bitched but once the band hit the road it became obvious that he added a new, and needed, dimension to the band.
Narrow minded thinking will keep you from enjoying what is a great concert.

By: Marcus

Marcus — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:41:03 +0000

Saw them this summer and they were fantastic. They are a different yes but a good yes. The rhythm section was perfect and Alan’s drumming was forceful. I think some of Benoit’s stuff with Mystery is great Prog. They are being challenged though not by sour fans and ex members with brazen opinions but by bands like Mogwai. I think when Yes is challenged they sometimes settle for the pop aspect of their music and their instrumental toolkit and do not honour what got them there. Their sense of the dramatic. Jon loves the epics, Rick hates them. Sounds like a marriage to me. If they take a page from bands like Mogwai they have a chance to do something special again but they seem to be doing Yes as an excel spreadsheet rather than turn over some new soil. With 2 fresh faces they could really write another decent chapter of their Viking Quest like saga.

By: Brenton

Brenton — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:35:35 +0000

Jon Anderson IS Yes! I love and respect all of the members that have come and gone within the group, but, HONESTLY, how could you replace Jon?! Where is the compassion and understanding? I am seriously at a loss for words… I would have never thought this of the group of individuals who decided to do this. I wish the best to you, Jon!

By: Lauren Reardon

Lauren Reardon — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:15:41 +0000

I can’t believe it. I’m seeing “Yes” next week on June 25, 2010. I just discovered on the Yes website that Jon is not touring with them. He’s right that people have purchased tickets thinking he is on the tour. why wouldn’t we? jon IS yes – to me, anyway. i have been ripped off, plain and simple. i’m so angry and disappointed that i can’t see straight. good thing the tickets were cheap. i was cheated by yes and live nation. too bad i’m not close to the stage – i would bring a bag of rotten tomatoes with me. these guys don’t have the guts to tour without the yes name. they disrespected not only jon but yes fans so therefore i have no respect for them. the end of a beautiful friendship. just say no to yes.

By: dave jones

dave jones — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:26:57 +0000

i think its awful that YES is touring without jon anderson.its certainly not fair to the fans.
i bought expensive tickets to see them this friday night however i had no idea jon wasnt gonna be there.i just found out about his absence.
it shows that money rules all and the other members should BE ASHAMED of themselves.at least call the band YES WITHOUT JON ANDERSON so the fans know what they are paying for.
i love YES music -but to be 110% honest-I AM PISSED.
feel better jon and get well soon,and know the real YES fans love you and would NEVER pay to see another singer.jon you are YES.
GOD BLESS,dave jones

By: tom M

tom M — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:38:22 +0000

How can a clone reach the notes of jon, His voice is one of rocks best and as i have been a fan from the year dot i feel that seeing the currant line is very disrespectful to jon and i really not going to spend my hard earned cash on a tribute band. Tom M.

By: Frank M

Frank M — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:26:27 +0000

Funny watching how worked up the die-hard fans are getting over this. I agree with John McMillan. Life is short and the band wants to play. Jon was not well for a very long time, and Chris, Steve and Alan want to play. (I doubt it was about ‘needing the money that badly,’ as some have said, but even if it was – who cares?)

I saw the new band a few nights ago in Northampton, Massachusetts and they were terrific. Given the choice, would I have preferred to see the classic line-up? Of course, but I wasn’t given the choice. It was this band or the sofa. Many Yes fans it seems would choose the sofa over this band. That’s a shame. I’ve been Yes fan for about 30 years, but I guess I’m a casual, easy-going Yes fan compared to some of you. I’m a simple guy. I will choose seeing Steve Howe play guitar over the couch every time, under any imaginable circumstances. Steve never disappoints. And sadly, he’s a finite commodity. He won’t be around forever.

And he did not disappoint. Neither did the others, including Benoit, whose voice is outstanding. The show was wonderful. I agree with some of what Dave Meuser said; it certainly wasn’t the best Yes show I have ever seen. But once again – so what? I gave up seeking perfection years ago. I’ll settle for excellence. And the Yes show I saw a few nights ago was excellent. Steve’s jam in Yours is No Disgrace was a religious experience. The guitar-keyboard duel between Steve and Oliver during South Side of the Sky was extraordinary. I’ll remember it always.

Life is short. You guys should lighten up and enjoy the band. Before they’re dead and gone.

By: Dave Meuser

Dave Meuser — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:17:40 +0000

I’ve been a massive Yes fan for 35 years, and just saw the latest tour last night with Benoit and Oliver. I had thought they would compensate for Jon and Rick’s absence with a renewed musical tightness, richness and clarity: a ‘player’s’ show. Instead, they were actually doing tunes a bit slow, and not entirely all on the same beat! For me, it quickly became not a problem of substitute musicians, but that the core sound was actually sagging a bit! When I saw the classic line-up not long ago, they were more on tempo, tighter, and with better sound! Certainly, there were some truly excellent musical moments, and I could not have greater reverence for any musicians than Steve, Chris, and Alan. And, my mind was open to trusting in their choice to go forward with Benoit and Oliver, for what I thought would be just one tour while Jon recuperated. But, I cannot accept this arrangement as permanent. The concert was NOWHERE NEAR as powerful, expressive and moving as when Jon sings. He is the poet that conceived of the band and its unique lyrical artistry and vision, and it has been a real treasure to hear him in person on tour with YES in recent years. I can accept some substitute folks for an agreed-to temporary arrangement. But, if YES is now what I saw last night, well… I know I don’t need to hear again what I heard last night. Bring back Jon (Rick, your choice about Oliver; BTW, he was great.)

By: Camille

Camille — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:22:09 +0000

I agree with Jon 100%, it is disrespectful for them to tour without Jon. Back in the day I went to every YES concert which came to town. Jon Anderson’s presence of front man for the band was always the pinnacle of the experience….as well as the music. I will not be going to see this YES, especially hearing they had a choice and as far as I am concerned, made the wrong one. Loyalty is dead…it’s all about the buck anymore, but I can guarantee you they would have filled venues if they would have had Jon with them. Too bad for them and us..Yes’s loyal fans.

By: John McMillan

John McMillan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:32:03 +0000

There is enough YES here to matter. It’s tough to come to grips with one’s own mortality but next time it might be another member not able to make it. Will that then not be YES? Jon’s not as his best and i won’t hold any of his comments against him but i believe even he is accepting of the situation now. Squire is the only member that could be missing and you could justifiably say it’s not YES, since he’s the ONLY common component in all their incarnations.

With their varied history, it should be just viewed as another chapter in their storied and wonderful history. And Jon should be more gracious towards Benoit. I hope to see them, Squire lost a wheel right before i was to see them in Dallas last time.

Chris, you really need to hit the gym buddy ;D