Steve Howe of Yes tells a few tales from topographic oceans

Steve Howe talks to us from the old house and studio in Devon where they rehearsed ‘The Yes Album’ in 1970. He’s been recording there for 54 years and is part of the current line-up about to set out around Europe. He looks back here on what he’s learnt from 60 years onstage and mentions …  

… the effect of seeing Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins and The Animals in 1964.

… playing old Shadows tunes at the Barnsbury Boys School in Holloway, aged 14.

… how Yes songs evolved and the cover versions they used to play (America by Paul Simon, Something’s Coming from West Side Story).

… “the dark 1968 that followed the rainbow 1967”.

... Duane Eddy, Hank Marvin, Chet Atkins, Alison Krauss and the Big Three.

… how Sgt Pepper – and blues, jazz and classical music - lit prog’s blue touchpaper.

… the value of “homework” and the hours of painstaking rehearsal that allowed them to play Fragile onstage.

… how Iron Butterfly helped transform the Yes stage show.

… Starship Trooper, Roundabout and other songs they’re guaranteed to play.

… old memories of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe.

… and the road ahead: “I’ll keep going while I can still do the twiddly bits”.

Yes tour dates: https://www.yesworld.com/

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