Jon Anderson out of Yes, replaced by tribute-band singer

Veteran proggers rockers Yes have gone the Journey and Judas Priest route and selected a tribute-band singer as their new frontman.

Yes’s iconic singer Jon Anderson is suffering from reactive airway disease, a condition akin to asthma, and is unable to tour or record at present.

The new guy in Yes is Benoit David from Canadian Yes tribute band Close To The Edge.

Benoit is also the singer in Mystery – check out their track on the prog CD we gave away free with Classic Rock issue No.122.

Bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Alan White are arranging a new line-up of Yes with Oliver Wakeman (keyboards) and Benoit on vocals.

The band plan to tour North America towards the end of this year, with a break in early 2009 given Howe’s prior commitments to Asia, and then further Yes touring in other countries.

Here is Benoit David singing with Close To The Edge on YouTube.