Yes to tour w/ "Jon understudy"

[kirk]

It's official, Benoit David of Toronto Yes Trib band
"Close to the Edge" will be touring w/ Yes-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3BFuxBayxg

Thoughts ? or

Kirk

[Dark Side]

[kirk]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7609952.stm

I'm going to wait for some input before weighing in,
but personally, I'm not doing handstands and huzzahs...

K

[cribguy]

Sounds like Jon, but...

[PFD]

Yeah, he's a good stand in; but that's just it. It's not the real thing. Would be cheaper to just go see the dude's cover band instead.

[progzealot]

I hope fans don't heckle the guy and chant "WE WANT JON".

[AAAball]

that would suck..

[dangerboy]

Originally Posted by PFD

Yeah, he's a good stand in; but that's just it. It's not the real thing. Would be cheaper to just go see the dude's cover band instead.

Nice avatar

That's a good point. I think I'd rather keep my money in my pocket. But, on the other hand, Yes is a band that's changed out quite a few members over the years

[Thor]

How about they tour as NO and call it a day.
I agree to see with this singer at $20 as a tribute band at would be better than spending $120 to hear him with Yes

[Yesspaz]

I don't care for clone singers (see Journey's attempts to find a new Steve Perry). When you change drummers or keyboardists, you don't expect them to be clones. Why no just look for the best singer, period?

That said, I hope they don't recycle the hits. We all know the reason no Drama is played is Jon won't sing it.

Other than that, I'm all for the idea. Why whine that Jon is gone? At the end of the day, Jon is a musician. He's not irreplacable. Yes has had many line-ups. The more the merrier.

My real gripe is Oliver Wakeman. They should get Geoff Downes.

[kirk]

Originally Posted by Yesspaz

I don't care for clone singers (see Journey's attempts to find a new Steve Perry). When you change drummers or keyboardists, you don't expect them to be clones. Why no just look for the best singer, period?

That said, I hope they don't recycle the hits. We all know the reason no Drama is played is Jon won't sing it.

Other than that, I'm all for the idea. Why whine that Jon is gone? At the end of the day, Jon is a musician. He's not irreplacable. Yes has had many line-ups. The more the merrier.

My real gripe is Oliver Wakeman. They should get Geoff Downes.

My objection is the use of a "Jon clone", a tribute singer.
The question comes to mind, "who's next to be trib-traded out?"
Will this eventually evolve into the "official tribute band", the one
that flies the Dean logo ?

I think this non-artistic direction leads to casinos and State Fairs
ala the Beach Boys for arguably the greatest Progressive rock band ever.

I would've loved and supported an effort to merge some existing talent
in the way that even the Syn has bounced back w/ Francis Dunnery,
Tom Brislin, Brett Kull (touring band, production).

Imagine a new "Drama" concept w/ say, Neal and Ryu joining C,S,A
in a new Yes...

K

[TheFish]

Not particularily excited about this change of things. For Chris to base an offer on a grainy poor sound quality you tube video is scary. I smell contractual obligation (for the tour) and this is a lazy way to complete the tour contract. Hell, what am I saying? I'm too much of a fanatic, I'll be there.

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Well I think the vocalist sounds pretty damn good, and the rest of the band is decent but obviously not the match of Howe/Squire/etc. Shows how overrated Jon is. He has the perfect voice for Yes, but if there's a match, well, I think a Yes tour with this guy would still be darn good. Just my opinion...

I think "but he's not Jon" is simply idol worship, and whilst valid if you feel that way, I don't, personally...

[Rick and Roll]

It's not my place to tell anyone who should be in what band. It is my place to react and plan accordingly.

I agree with Jim about the Idol worship comment, and definitely spaz and kirk about not getting a clone. Saga did the same thing with some guy that sounds like he's from Survivor.

I guess anything's better than Queen with Paul Rodgers.

If they put a record out I will listen. But to see them on tour, I'll pass. Be interesting to see if they charge less than the last tour prices.

After seeing them at Wolf Trap in 2001 years back nothing will top that. So I'm not concerned, whatever they do is ok with me. I'm enthusiastically indifferent.

[kirk]

From Variety online:
http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlis...y=chris+squire
"For the second time in the last 20-odd years Yes is not Yes, using the names of the musicians in the band for a North American tour that begins Nov. 4 in Hamilton, Ontario. Dates are still being booked so no tour route yet.
Billed as Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes - try putting that on a marquee - the band will head out on its "In The Present" tour with the son of Rick Wakeman on keyboards and a singer from a Yes tribute band handling lead vocals.
Singer Benoit David, a native of Montreal, is understudying for Jon Anderson whose health issues are keeping him home through the end of the year. To not suggest that Anderson is out of the band, the man who founded the act with the singer, bassist Squire, they are not using the name Yes. "

Good move, says I .

K

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by kirk

From Variety online:
http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlis...y=chris+squire
"For the second time in the last 20-odd years Yes is not Yes, using the names of the musicians in the band for a North American tour that begins Nov. 4 in Hamilton, Ontario. Dates are still being booked so no tour route yet.
Billed as Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes - try putting that on a marquee - the band will head out on its "In The Present" tour with the son of Rick Wakeman on keyboards and a singer from a Yes tribute band handling lead vocals.
Singer Benoit David, a native of Montreal, is understudying for Jon Anderson whose health issues are keeping him home through the end of the year. To not suggest that Anderson is out of the band, the man who founded the act with the singer, bassist Squire, they are not using the name Yes. "

Good move, says I .

K

Just marketing, that's all. Unnecessarily cumbersome, says I.

How about "three virtuosos + two scrubs"?

Understudy lol - guy's probably well into his 40's.

[kirk]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

Just marketing, that's all. Unnecessarily cumbersome, says I.

How about "three virtuosos + two scrubs"?

Understudy lol - guy's probably well into his 40's.

Good self preservation move, in the way that
Plant and Page didn't include JPJ, making it a Zep reunion...imo.

If it bombs, then the Yes franchise is still intact.

K

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by kirk

Good self preservation move, in the way that
Plant and Page didn't include JPJ, making it a Zep reunion...imo.

If it bombs, then the Yes franchise is still intact.

K

Good point. And still less cumbersome tha the law firm of "Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe".

The songs will still be great though and I'm sure it will be a pleasure to hear.

Bring it on!!!

[Giloeada]

In addition to prog, I also love classical music. Since we no longer have Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc. with us to conduct the music the way they intended, we get to hear the different interpretations of their masterpieces by various conductors, soloists and orchestras. That is part of the joy of listening - contrasting and comparing different versions.

I see no difference in the prog world, and I greatly anticipate hearing a new interpretation of the Yes classics. You know that Rick Wakeman said long ago that he believed that Yes would be like a symphony orchestra and go on into the future. Why should we be deprived of this beauty simply because the original artists are no longer able to perform?