YES to Release:
Imagine
From Forthcoming Album
“The Royal Affair Live in Las Vegas”

To mark what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday, YES release Imagine as a single through BMG Records today – 2nd October. The track was recorded at the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas during the encore on the final night of their 2019 US Royal Affair Tour and will be included on The Royal Affair Tour Live From Las Vegas album due for release on 30th October 2020.
Listen to Imagine HERE.
John Lennon would have celebrated his 80th birthday on 9th October 2020. As one of the creative forces in The Beatles, John Lennon remains one of the most influential musicians of all time and Imagine is one his best-loved songs. It was recorded in May 1971, after The Beatles’ split, in Lennon’s studio at his home in Berkshire and featured soon-to-be YES drummer Alan White who was a member of Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band ensemble.
YES first covered a Beatles track on their eponymous debut album and chose to include Imagine in their set for the Royal Affair Tour in recognition of Alan White’s part in this iconic recording, almost 50 years before. As YES played Imagine, a film was shown behind the band of John Lennon recording the song in his studio with George Harrison, Klaus Voormann and a very youthful Alan White. “They put a special film together with footage from that time. We played Imagine on the Yes tour, and they’d run it behind me. The first time I saw it, I turned around and went, ‘Who the hell is that guy?!’” Alan laughed.
YES are Steve Howe (guitar), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), vocalist Jon Davison and Billy Sherwood (bass/vocals) with additional drums by Jay Schellen. For the final night of the Royal Affair Tour, YES were joined by John Lodge of The Moody Blues for the encore of Imagine, the recorded version, on which he shared the vocals with Jon Davison.
Recorded live at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel, Friday 26th July 2019, The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas was mixed by Billy Sherwood and is released by BMG Records. Customers who order via the YES Store will receive their albums on 2nd October with the album on general release from 30th October.
For customers purchasing a download or physical copy of The Royal Affair Tour Live From Las Vegas album from 2nd October Imagine is available to download and stream.
The Royal Affair Tour – Live From Las Vegas track listing:
- No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed
- Tempus Fugit
- Going For The One
- I’ve Seen All Good People
- Siberian Khatru
- Onward
- America
- Imagine
- Roundabout
- Starship Trooper
About Yes
For half a century YES have been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history and consistently at the fore-front of the progressive rock movement. Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late, and much-missed, Chris Squire, their 1970s albums The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, the triple live album set Yessongs, Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer and Going For The One were ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YES albums.
With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017.
Pre-order the album from Amazon HERE
www.yesworld.com
www.facebook.com/yestheband
www.twitter.com/yesofficial
www.youtube.com/user/yesofficial
www.instagram.com/yesofficial
soundcloud.com/yesofficial
YES to Release: The Royal Affair Tour Live From Las Vegas on 30th October
Available to Order Here
Following the outstanding success of their 2019 American tour, YES are to release The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas through BMG Records on 30th October. Eager fans will be able to get hold of the PHYSICAL formats from 2nd October if ordered exclusively through the YES Store. Formats are: CD digi sleeve with 12 page booklet; 2LP gatefold with 12” booklet and digital. Pre-Order the album here: https://YesBand.lnk.to/RoyalAffairPR
All YES concert tours are special events for their legions of fans and The Royal Affair Tour was no exception, conceived as a wonderful celebration of the best of British progressive music. Guests on the tour were Asia (with YES keyboardist Geoff Downes and a special appearance by Steve Howe), John Lodge of The Moody Blues and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy featuring Arthur Brown.
Of The Royal Affair Tour album, Alan White says: “The Royal Affair tour album, being released in October, is a welcome new chapter in the wide expanse of YES live recordings. I hope you enjoy it.”
Steve Howe adds: “Having the opportunity to bring together the band members in the development of a well refined set of songs that captures the bands true potential is simply an honour for me.”
The show features many classic tracks across the period 1970 – 1980. The set opened with No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed, the Richie Havens cover from YES’ second album Time And A Word(1970). Tempus Fugit was taken from Drama (1980), Geoff Downes’ first as a member of YES, while Going For The One, I’ve Seen All Good People and Siberian Khatru are from some of YES’ iconic mid-70s albums. The set included a rare live performance of YES’ cover of Paul Simon’s America and John Lodge shared vocals on YES’ cover of John Lennon’s Imagine. Soon-to-be YES drummer Alan White played on the original studio recording.
The Royal Affair Tour live set and album, recorded at the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, in July 2019, reaches a climax with two of the best-loved YES tracks Roundabout and Starship Trooper, always a high note on which to close the set.
YES are Steve Howe (guitar) who joined in 1970, Alan White, drums since 1972, Geoff Downes (keyboards) who first joined in 1980, vocalist since 2011 Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood, who played guitar/keyboards in the 1990s and was the late Chris Squire’s choice to take over bass/vocals in 2015 also played with Asia on this tour. Jay Schellen played additional drums.
The Royal Affair Tour also featured an exhibition of original art by Roger Dean whose artwork is synonymous having designed the iconic YES logo and the band’s best-loved album covers. Roger Dean recently painted The Royal Affair Tour album artwork live on Facebook while also fielding questions from fans.
The 26-date The Royal Affair Tour and YES’ performances were critically acclaimed:
“Yes proved again that they are, after all these years, still the kings of progressive rock.” (Vintage Rock)
“It was a unique night of rock music history that has endured for half a century.” (Grateful Web)
As always, YES put on a magical show and took the crowd on a journey through their hits (Music Connection Magazine)
The band sounded great and had brilliant visuals to accompany the songs. Sherwood’s bass playing is perfectly suited to capture the essence of the late Chris Squire while Geoff Downes and Steve Howe are still at the top of their games. Vocalist Jon Davison… looks extremely comfortable on stage, hitting each note with ease. (the progreport.com)
The Royal Affair Tour – Live in Las Vegas track listing:
- No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed
- Tempus Fugit
- Going For The One
- I’ve Seen All Good People
- Siberian Khatru
- Onward
- America
- Imagine
- Roundabout
- Starship Trooper
Recorded live at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel, Friday 26th July 2019, The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas was mixed by Billy Sherwood and is released by BMG Records. Customers
who order via the YES Store will receive their albums on 2nd October with the album on general release from 30th October.
About Yes
For half a century YES have been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history and consistently at the fore-front of the progressive rock movement. Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late, and much-missed, Chris Squire, their 1970s albums The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, the triple live album set Yessongs, Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer and Going For The One were ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YESalbums.
With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, where they performed Roundabout from the album Fragile and the FM radio-friendly Owner Of A Lonely Heart from the 1985 album 90125.
Pre-order the album from Amazon here: https://YesBand.lnk.to/RoyalAffairPR
www.yesworld.com
www.facebook.com/yestheband
www.twitter.com/yesofficial
www.youtube.com/user/yesofficial
www.instagram.com/yesofficial
soundcloud.com/yesofficial
YES announce re-scheduled UK and IE dates, due to the coronavirus pandemic, for The Album Series 2021 Tour. The tour was originally scheduled to kick off this month in Liverpool – it will now begin on 16th May 2021in Manchester. The show will feature their 1974 Relayer album in its entirety together with a selection of other classic YES favourites. YES recently announced the re-scheduled European dates and are looking forward to returning to live shows.
“Many things have changed in the world these past few months. My appreciation for the freedoms we’ve enjoyed in the past has grown along with my gratitude for all the people caring for humanity throughout the world.”
“I can’t wait to be on stage again in front of real audiences playing ‘YES’ music. I’m hoping we can bring some joy and positivity back into our lives.”
“Please take care and stay safe, we want to see our many fans and friends again in 2021!”
Sincerely, Alan White
The tour line-up features Steve Howe (guitars), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Jay Schellen (additional drums and percussion).
The show will comprise two sets by the band with full production and a high definition video wall. The first will feature favourite classic tracks from YES’ extensive catalogue. The second will feature
Relayer, the seventh studio album by YES, and one of the band’s most distinctive. Relayer marked a slight change in direction as Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman on keyboards bringing an edgier, avant-garde feel to the album. This was perfect for the opening track Gates Of Delirium, almost 22 minutes in length, with its battle scene featuring the keyboard of Moraz and Steve
Howe’s guitar. The battle gives way to the beautiful closing ballad Soon, a prayer for peace and hope.
The album continues with Sound Chaser, a prog-rock-jazz fusion experiment heavily influenced by Moraz’s style and To Be Over, a calm and gentle conclusion to the album, based on a melody by Steve Howe.
Released in late 1974 on Atlantic Records, Relayer continued YES’ success reaching number 4 in the UK album chart and number 5 in the US Billboard char
Re-Scheduled UK and IE Dates for 2021
THE ALBUM SERIES RELAYER Tour are:
Sun 16th May |
Manchester |
Bridgewater Hall |
Mon 17th May |
Birmingham |
Symphony Hall |
Wed 19th May |
York |
Barbican |
Thurs 20th May |
Gateshead |
Sage |
Sat 22nd May |
Liverpool |
Philharmonic Hall |
Sun 23rd May |
Nottingham |
Royal Concert Hall |
Mon 24th May |
London |
Royal Albert Hall |
Wed 25th May |
Dublin |
Vicar St. |
Fri 28th May |
Glasgow |
Royal Concert Hall |
All tickets remain valid for the re-scheduled shows.
For full details and to book tickets for all shows
Please go to bookingsdirect.com for UK
aikenpromotion.com for IE, or yesworld.com for all dates and meet & Greets with the band.
About YES
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals (1970 –1981, 1990–1992, 1995–present)
Alan White: drums, percussion (1972 – present)
Geoff Downes: keyboards (1980–1981, 2011–present)
Jon Davison: lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2012–present)
Billy Sherwood: guitar, backing vocals ((1994, 1997–2000), bass guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late, and much-missed, Chris Squire, YES have been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history. Their 1970s albums The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, Yessongs (a triple live album set), Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer and Going For The Onewere ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YES albums.
With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 where they performed Roundabout from the album Fragile and the FM radio-friendly Owner Of A Lonely Heart from the 1985 album 90125.
UK www.yesworld.com
www.facebook.com/yestheband
www.twitter.com/yesofficial
www.youtube.com/user/yesofficial
www.instagram.com/yesofficial
soundcloud.com/yesofficial
A Message from YES – rescheduled dates
We hope that our fans are keeping healthy during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
We’re really looking forward finally to performing Relayer and other YES classics for our fans in 2021. As promised, we can now announce all of the re-scheduled mainland European dates for The Album Series 2021 Tour. News of the re-scheduled UK and Eire dates will come imminently.
All tickets are valid for the new shows. Please check full details on yesworld.com
Stay safe and well and we’ll see you soon.
YES, one of the most innovative of all prog-rock bands, and true legends of the genre, recently announced an 8 date UK tour for May and June of 2020. YES will take the tour to Europe for another 24 dates (see full list below). The Album Series 2020 Tour will feature their 1974 Relayer album in its entirety together with a selection of other classic YES favourites.
This tour follows their 2018 highly successful #YES50 Anniversary tour and again features the line-up of Steve Howe (guitars), Alan White (drums), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals), Jon Davison (vocals) and Jay Schellen (additional drums and percussion).
The show will comprise two sets by the band with full production and a high definition video wall. The first will feature favourite classic tracks from YES’ extensive catalogue. The second will feature
Relayer, the seventh studio album by YES, and one of the band’s most distinctive. Relayer marked a slight change in direction as Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman on keyboards bringing an edgier, avant-garde feel to the album. This was perfect for the opening track Gates Of Delirium, almost 22 minutes in length, with its battle scene featuring the keyboard of Moraz and Steve Howe’s guitar. The battle gives way to the beautiful closing ballad Soon, a prayer for peace and hope.
The album continues with Sound Chaser, a prog-rock-jazz fusion experiment heavily influenced by Moraz’s style and To Be Over, a calm and gentle conclusion to the album, based on a melody by Steve Howe.
Released in late 1974 on Atlantic Records, Relayer continued YES’ success reaching number 4 in the UK album chart and number 5 in the US Billboard chart.
“We are really looking forward to playing ALL of the Relayer album” says Steve Howe. “Having premiered The Gates Of Delirium this year, we continue by expanding our Album Series with all the tracks: The Gates Of Delirium, Sound Chaser and To Be Over.” Howe goes on to say: “During the first half of the evening we’ll be performing a refined selection from Yes’ enormous 50 year + repertoire.” See you there!”
Alan White comments: “I always enjoy coming home to England so I’m especially looking forward to Yes’ upcoming “Album Series 2020” tour. “Relayer” I believe, is one of the most creative and interesting musical compilations in the bands repertoire. Challenging and extremely enjoyable to play, I’m happy to be bringing this music back to live stages throughout Europe. I hope all who attend our shows will enjoy these cuts as much as we like performing them for our audiences.”
European Dates are:
Friday 24 April Portugal Lisbon Campo Pequeno TBC
Saturday 25 April Spain Madrid Box Vistalegre
Sunday 26 April Spain Barcelona Razzmatazz 1
Tuesday 28 April Italy Milan Teatro Dal Verme
Wednesday 29 April Italy Rome Santa Cecilia-Parco Della Musica
Thursday 30 April Italy Padova Teatro Geox
Saturday 2 May Switzerland Zurich Komplex
Monday 4 May Austria Vienna Arena
Tuesday 5 May Czech Republic Prague Forum Karlin
Thursday 7 May Germany Halle/Saale Stewintorvariete
Friday 8 May Germany Berlin Theatre am Potsdamer Platz
Saturday 9 May Poland Wroclaw Narodowe Forum Muzyki
Monday 11 May Estonia Tallinn Alexela Concert Hall
Tuesday 12 May Finland Helsinki Circus
Thursday 14 May Sweden Stockholm Circus
Friday 15 May Norway Oslo Sentrum Scene
Saturday 16 May Denmark Helsingor Kulturvaerftet
Monday 18 May Denmark Aarhus Train
Tuesday 19 May Germany Monchengladbach Red Box
Wednesday 20 May Luxembourg Esch-sur-Alzette Rockhal
Friday 22 May France Paris Olympia
Saturday 23 May Netherlands Utrecht Tivolivredenburg
Sunday 24 May Belgium Leuven Het Depot
Tuesday 26 May Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Wednesday 27 May Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Friday 29 May York Barbican
Saturday 30 May Gateshead The Sage
Sunday 31 May Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Tuesday 2 June Birmingham Symphony Hall
Wednesday 3 June Manchester Bridgewater Hall
Friday 5 June London Royal Albert Hall
Sunday 7th June Dublin Vicar Street
Tickets for UK shows are available from: 24hr Ticket Hotline: 0844 249 2222 bookingsdirect.com Meet & Greet packages available, for info go to yesworld.com Showtime is 8pm. For European shows please go to yesworld.com or the venue website.
Roger Dean will attend every show on the UK and European dates, and will have an exhibition of his iconic art, will be available to chat with fans front of house and sign merch, plus will be in the VIP meet and greets.
YES has returned to the recordings made in late 2010 to mix the four completed tracks as new content for a miniature five piece box set of recordings from that era.
The box features two booklets and three discs containing the four studio tracks and Live From Lyon 2009, all of which were recorded by the line-up of Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman:
- To The Moment (6:09)
- Words on a Page (6:18)
- From the Turn of a Card (3:24)
- The Gift of Love (9:52)
Oliver Wakeman has personally overseen the preparation of the previously unreleased recordings which were mixed by Karl Groom and mastered by Mike Pietrini.
The box and one of the booklets features new artwork by Roger Dean, and the graphic design was undertaken by Oliver Wakeman, plus the set also includes his newly written liner notes about his time in the band.
The double CD album Live From Lyon was first released in 2010 and this edition restores “Second Initial” which was previously a Japanese only bonus track. The booklet for Live From Lyon has been re-designed and expanded.
Steve Howe described the project as “Good music never goes away or lays down to the commercial pressures that exist. Oliver’s compositions, “To the Moment”, “Words on a Page” and “From the Turn of a Card” demonstrate his musicality and talents, while “The Gift of Love” explores the collaborative essence of Yes, pooling ideas and then working together on its arrangement, whilst utilising all of its many themes and variations. Karl Groom and Roger Dean both contributed their skills towards making this a worthy further ‘page’ in Yes’ long and diverse musical adventures.”
Oliver Wakeman says: “Following Chris Squire’s passing, I felt that the new music we’d created, but not released, should be heard and not sit unfinished on a shelf. And with Steve, Alan and Benoit’s enthusiasm for the project, I am proud to know that this music will get to see the light of day and, hopefully, be enjoyed by YES fans as a piece of previously hidden Yes history.”
Alan White added: “I’m pleased to see a gem of YES history coming to fruition in the form of this mini box set. New songs from the past and I’m hoping we can find even more music in the archives for future releases.”
The set is IN STOCK NOW and exclusively available from the band’s own Burning Shed store and it cannot be bought in the shops or on Amazon.
The mini-box set and a vinyl release of the new songs are exclusively available here:
https://burningshed.com/store/yes