Yes, one of the biggest progressive music rock bands of the 1970s, is hitting the road on March 6 for a tour of 17 dates in the United States.
Deprived of lead singer Jon Anderson in 2007 after he suffered a nodule on his vocal cords, the U.K. band searched for a replacement. Bassist Chris Squire discovered Montrealer Benoit David on YouTube in video performances with his Yes tribute band, Close to the Edge. Invited to replace Jon Anderson, by 2009 David had become a full member of the group.
The brief tour begins in Houston, Texas on March 6, and ends in Washington on April 4. It’s hoped that the group will cross into Canada, since Yes has always had a strong fan base here, particularly in Quebec. The current lineup for the band is Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), Alan White (drums), Oliver Wakeman (son of original keyboard player Rick Wakeman) and Benoit David (vocals).
Last fall, the band began recording a new album in Los Angeles with producer and previous bandmate Trevor Horn. Scheduled for additional studio work last month, it is the first new Yes album in a decade – with an anticipated release before summer.