YES Announces 50th-Anniversary Tour

The year 2018 marks half a century since the formation of the legendary group YES, one of the biggest bands in prog-rock history and true pioneers of the genre. To celebrate this remarkable milestone YES will embark on a European tour next March — #YES50.

On this not-to-be-missed tour, YES — Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood — will feature not only many of the band’s classic hits but performances of sides 1 and 4 and an excerpt from Side 3 of their 1973 album “Tales From Topographic Oceans”, which was the first YES album to top the U.K. album chart.

The final weekend of the U.K. tour at the London Palladium on March 24 and March 25 will include a fiftieth-anniversary fan convention. Roger Dean (whose fantastical landscapes have become synonymous with the band’s albums) will unveil new “Close To The Edge” paintings at the Palladium on March 25.

YES, deservedly inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2017, will release “Topographic Drama – Live Across America”, a new live album, planned for later in the year, recorded during their U.S. 2016/17 tours.

Talking about YES‘s fiftieth anniversary, Steve Howe said: “We want to mark this anniversary with a tour that encompasses some of our best-loved work. We want to play things we enjoy, maybe songs we haven’t done in a while.” Geoff Downes adds: “I feel enormously privileged be a part of the legacy of the incredible and unique line of musicians in YES. The band has always remained fresh and inventive throughout its fifty-year history, and created an amazing catalogue of music that has inspired millions from all generations.”

Alan White says: “Reflecting on the past forty-six years that I’ve devoted my life to playing YES music, it’s been an interesting journey and a true labour of love. I’ve always believed in the power of music and the band’s recent induction to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and our Grammy awarded in 1985 are testament to the longevity of influence our music has had through the years. I’m extremely grateful to continue to be performing on stages for our dedicated fans and look forward to our fiftieth anniversary performing together in 2018. It’s been a great ride!!”

2018 tour dates:

March 13 – Bristol, UK @ Colston Hall
March 14 – Sheffield, UK @ City Hall
March 16 – Glasgow, UK @ SEC Armadillo
March 17 – Manchester, UK @ Bridgewater Hall
March 18 – Gateshead, UK @ Sage
March 20 – Birmingham, UK @ Symphony Hall
March 21 – Brighton, UK @ Centre
March 23 – Liverpool, UK @ Philharmonic Hall
March 24 – London, UK @ Palladium
March 25 – London, UK @ Palladium
March 27 – Tilburg, NETH @ 013
March 28 – Antwerp, BEL @ De Roma
March 30 – Paris, FRA @ Olympia

YES is:

* Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals (1970-1981, 1990-1992, 1995-present)
* Alan White: drums, percussion (1972-present)
* Geoff Downes: keyboards (1980-1981, 2011-present)
* Billy Sherwood: guitar, backing vocals ((1994, 1997-2000), bass guitar, backing vocals (2015-present)
* Jon Davison: lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2012-present)

Founded in 1968 by the late and much-missed Chris Squire and Jon Anderson, Grammy Award-winning recording artist YES has created some of the most important and influential music in rock history, including iconic pieces such as “Roundabout”, “Close To The Edge”, “I’ve Seen All Good People”, “Starship Trooper” and countless others. The band’s albums, including “Fragile”, “Close To The Edge”, “Tales From Topographic Oceans”, “Relayer”, “Going For The One” and “90125”, have been certified multi-platinum, double-platinum, platinum, and more by the RIAA, selling over fifty million records during the band’s long and successful career that has so far spanned six decades.

There are two simultaneous YES tours right now, with YES‘s best-known past members, singer Jon Anderson, guitarist Trevor Rabin, and keyboardist Rick Wakeman, currently on the road as YES Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman. The trio initially called itself ANDERSON, RABIN AND WAKEMAN, or ARW, when it launched its tour, but in early 2017, it changed its name.