Jon Anderson’s on-again, off-again recording project with fellow Yes alums Rick Wakeman and Trevor Rabin is apparently back on again. The three are passing around demos, and even contemplating a tour together.
Anderson was a co-founding member of Yes, singing on 19 band projects between 1969-78 and 1983-2001. Anderson last appeared on stage with Yes in 2004, and officially departed four years later. He has since recorded a studio effort and live album with Rick Wakeman, who actually had five separate stints with Yes — in 1971-1974; 1976-1980, 1991-1992; 1995-1997 and 2002-2008.
Trevor Rabin joined Yes just before 1983’s 90125, a project that he led into platinum success on the strength of Yes’ lone No. 1 hit single “Owner of the Lonely Heart.” He remained with Yes through 1994’s Talk, developing a growing creative relationship with Anderson. Rabin never worked with Wakeman on a studio project while with Yes, however, though they duo did tour together as part of the eight-man concert series in support of the 1991 album Union. He later was a guest on Wakeman’s 1999 concept album Return to the Centre of the Earth.
[SOMETHING ELSE! INTERVIEW: Former Yes member Trevor Rabin examines his own legacy within one of prog rock’s most celebrated band, and goes in-depth on his long-awaited 2012 solo release.]
Each has gone on to separate solo projects while talk of a new collaboration continued. Anderson completed a new epic-length composition called “Open,” while Rabin issued Jacaranda, his first non-soundtrack solo effort since 1989. Wakeman is the focus of a new live project called In the Nick of Time, recorded with the New English Rock Ensemble in 2003 before never before released.
Anderson, in a new talk with CBS affiliate WZLX, says the trio has finally gotten to work on this long-awaited tandem effort. “Rick’s recording as we speak,” Anderson said. “He said he’d send me some music this month or next month. And then I would send it to Trevor. We’d actually written a couple of songs, me and Trevor, and me and Rick have written a couple.”
Anderson also said that he’s also warming to an Anderson-Wakeman-Rabin tour, though he’d like the setlist to focus on their new songs — rather than simply reiterate past triumphs with Yes.
“If we make music that we really like, and we put it out there, we’ve got a good fan base who wants to see us do new music … I don’t think we’d want to go out just doing old music, I don’t see the point. I’d rather go out there and do some new music. Of course, you’d do old stuff that people want to hear — but you don’t rely on that as your show. You want to take some new music out there and have an adventure.”
- Michael Attias, “Avrils” from ‘Quartet Music Vol. II- Kardamon Fall’ (2024): Streaming premiere - October 11, 2024
- Bryn Roberts, “Aloft” from ‘Aloft’ (2024): Video Premiere - September 20, 2024
- Five Moments From the Unlucky ‘Chicago 13’ That Weren’t Completely Terrible - August 14, 2024
This sounds so promising that I think it ought to be a matter of course that they’d play their new music! That goes without saying…
I’m delighted, enthusiastic and expectant!!
Sincerely
Teuvo