Met Jon Anderson after a Yes show that Kansas opened for them . There was a Bar Area backstage. He just walked up to me & my friend & he started talking to us . Freaking nice guy ! Asked us about the show etc & then a crowd started forming around him & he left .
While I didn't get to meet any of the band members, our band in Phoenix got the gig to open on a large side stage to a concert for Yes and Kansas and then another concert for just Yes. It was unbelievable. The stage was at the entrance of the venue where everyone passed by getting to their seats. They had huge speakers, a full mixing panel and we had our own dressing rooms. We were performing songs I had written so it was one of the highs of my musical history. During the main concert we got into the back area where we interacted with the band road crews.
Progressive-Rock will be my favorite genre because it includes many different styles. In Progressive-Rock I hear Classical, Jazz, Folk, Fusion, Ambient ~~~~~~~~
Well, its the only rock genre that is lighter on the blues roots. Now rock and roll, in general, would never have come to be without the blues, but prog is the only subgenre that could almost survive without those roots. Yes were one of the first British bands to publicly state that they had no blues influence whatsoever
Had the greatest pleasure of my life by seeing Chris Squire and Alan White 36 times from 75 to 2015, including the tour with Brislin. GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH ✨️🎶🙏🎶✨️
Saw Jon Anderson a few days ago. Such a pro. Steve Howe should not be allowed to carry the YES name. He's playing mostly songs no one knows. Jon's voice was so on point. If you closed your eyes and just listened to the songs they were playing, you would say to yourself "oh yea, i'm at a YES concert". I hope Jon and the very talented Band Geeks stay on the road. See this legend of a singer while you still can. None of us are getting younger.
I thought Tom Brislin was the future for YES. As enamored as people are with Rick Wakeman, and I am a huge fan, I thought Brislin was a perfect fit. I'm glad he found a home!
Yes will always be my desert island band, but it was so cool to hear Joe Deninzon give Spock’s Beard a nod. I found those guys 25 years after I should have, and almost 50 years after I found Yes. Highly underrated and overlooked.
That's funny, because in Kerry Livgren's autobiography, the man who FOUNDED Kansas, when he mentions all the rock music that influenced him, he specifically states that Yes was not one of them. Whenever he was told about Yes, he was told they would be everything he liked, and was disappointed that they weren't. In fact, he thought their lyrics were corny. But he was all about Gentle Giant and King Crimson!
Yep, I don't really hear Yes at all in Livgren's oeuvre. I think Genesis was most obvious during the Leftoverture period (Wind and Wuthering shares some aspects, though it turns out that Genesis were probably listening to Kansas when that was made). Phil Ehart said in one interview that Livgren was more into KC and Van der Graaf Generator. I never really heard those influences in Kansas but if you listen to Proto-Kaw (the earlier Kansas band) it's really obvious (wild sax player, young Hammill sounding vocals, etc)
Wow, what 2 songs to do a demo on for Yes, uh "Close To The Edge" and Gates Of Delirium", that's what I would have done. If you can play them, you can play any Yes song.
I was at that same concert and had the exact same thoughts of Jon"s voice. Otherworldly and angelic. What I call nowadays... Elf N Magic. Someday when he passes away, some 130 or 40 some odd years from now. Scientists will discover that he was indeed... A leprechaun!
I'm mostly familiar with the 70s Kansas but I hear both ELO and of course YES in their music. Some of the complexity of their music I liken to RUSH, who started at about the same time.
Interesting choice of photo for "Yes" as it is actually from a photo shoot for a band that was technically not Yes, but a much celebrated, by me, off shoot group called Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford and Howe from 1989.
I’d like to hear the guys talk about the time they were on the same bill as The Doors. This at The Warehouse in New Orleans in December of 1970. Coincidentally the last gig The Doors ever played with Morrison.
Jon A never sang falsetto, but his voice is angelic. Steve Howe is one of the best if not the best guitarist. Rick Wakeman is phenomenal. I have seen all three within the last year. I do love Kansas though.
Tom Brislin clearly had the most to share relative to YES and plus I enjoyed his vibe also especially because I saw the great unique MAG tour and I did see Kansas open for YES once. But it's amazing how YES overshadows even the most popular bands as headliners like Dream Theater too who opened for YES. Those final 8 years of YES on tour with Jon with the mostly classic lineup was a Godsent because we knew it wouldn't last forever and it was a special gift to relive the YES of the 70's for one more short span of time!
I saw Yes several times in their prime in the 1970s. I remember reading a music magazine article(of that time) and it listed Jon Anderson as having a SOPRANO singing range. The difference is that Jon Anderson is a soprano with BALLS(Laughs!) Think of those high points in their classic songs -- it's hard work to sing like that.
I've heard Kansas mentioned when progressive rock fans talk about Gentle Giant, as well --- because of the Rock backbone along with ehw violin and keyboards, along with the vocals and vocal harmonies.
I never knew I was a progger, but I'm proud to wear that badge. I grew up with Yes, PF, Jethro and Genesis and when Kansas came on the scene, there was a natural attraction. In 1970 something, I had a choice between seeing Genesis with the guys (No Peter Gabriel then) or seeing Kansas with the girls... (I liked being with the guys more.). But I chose Kansas and it was a fantastic concert!!!
Kerry Livgren was not a huge Yes fan. He had stated, "They were a band that should have been everything to me and yet were not." I am paraphasing, but there was some reference to Jon Anderson's lyrics that were just too trippy to get into. I think Kerry was more inspired by Gentle Giant. Kansas differed quite a bit more than Yes in their sound palette. Most of the English prog at that time was organ, Mellotron, some simulated harpsichord, and maybe a monosynth. Of course, latter on the keyboard stack grew considerably. Everyone back then had to suffer playing live with pianos that really sounded nothing like a real grand piano.In the studio, they used real pianos.But the logistics of lugging real pianos around was a pain. Plus, acoustic pianos need to be re-tuned every time they are moved. Kansas had a recognized wall of sound. The way they layered the organ and Arp string synths, with Robbie's violin on top as a lead instrument, gave them that sound we all love. Live, Kerry played all piano parts and a good portion of the synth leads. Steve did all the organ, vibe, and most of the early synth solos. He used an Arp pro soloist. Yes, as a band was never as heavy sounding on the guitar work. Steve Howe is an excellent guitarist, but he never really had a good, heavy sound. He was more dazzling on his acoustic classical/country style stuff. You did hear the bass more prominently on the Yes material. Yes, it was also a huge band for intricate vocal harmonies. I think this made up for whatever Jon Anderson lacked in Steve Walsh's power. The lack of Mellotrons on the USA prog music was probably more due to a legal decision based on the patent issue with the instrument. That's actually a pretty interesting story but too long to get into here.
I loved the original Kansas. Saw them many times around KC. However, they are nothing but a good cover band now (No Kerry, Dave, Robbie, Steve). Need to retire. Ronnie Platt... Give me a break!
No they do not need to retire. I know you will disagree, but they actually have more talent now. Joe Deninzon is better on Violin than Robby, Tom is better on key boards than either Kerry or Steve. Zac is the equal or even better than either Rich or Kerry on Guitar. What this line up is missing is the song writing chops of Kerry Livgren. But how many people are there on this planet who can write like Kerry? That and Phil is hard to replace on drums, he is a force of nature. Yes, Ronnie is no Steve, but he does a great job! The bottom line is that Kansas sounds absolutely amazing to this day. No need to reply and tell me how wrong I am.
HUGE fan of Both (but have always looked at "Rush" & Kansas, "lyrically" speaking for the everyday man. Peart & Livgren were equally men of prolific prose). But funny enough; co-founder of Kansas Kerry Livgren, in his book "Seeds of Change" thought Yes was too (I believed he used the word) "Corny" by way of their lyrics. But he respected their musicianship, but he also mentions "Gentle Giant" and quotes a "mission statement" from their album "Acquiring the Taste". But hey, "Jon Anderson" had/and still has a voice of an Angel, and "Steve Walsh" had a POWERFUL voice all the way up to "In the Spirit of Things" (and his solo album "Glossolalia"). They are probably 2 of my favorite vocalists in any genre. "Monolith" is my FAVE Kansas album, and one that people don't mention much is "Freak of Nature", maybe their heaviest album and some great drumming by Phil Ehart. But their were 2 things that changed my life . . . Star Wars in the Summer of 1977, as a kid that drew Hot Rods, was now exposed to Sci-Fi/Fantasy and wanted to be a Conceptual Designer as a career. Then it was receiving for my Birthday "Kansas - Point of Know Return" (with 3 other albums). The album that opened my mind to what Music could be, beyond my imagination, who was just getting into AOR and FM Radio, but it was the Deep Cuts as a 14 year old that blew me away, and I still listen to the album and tracks often. . . . From there, I was slowly getting into Progressive Rock and classic bands (including the new). It continues to be my favorite genre of music (including Prog Metal).
Met Jon Anderson after a Yes show that Kansas opened for them .
There was a Bar Area backstage. He just walked up to me & my friend & he started talking to us . Freaking nice guy ! Asked us about the show etc & then a crowd started forming around him & he left .
While I didn't get to meet any of the band members, our band in Phoenix got the gig to open on a large side stage to a concert for Yes and Kansas and then another concert for just Yes. It was unbelievable. The stage was at the entrance of the venue where everyone passed by getting to their seats. They had huge speakers, a full mixing panel and we had our own dressing rooms. We were performing songs I had written so it was one of the highs of my musical history. During the main concert we got into the back area where we interacted with the band road crews.
Progressive-Rock will be my favorite genre because it includes many different styles.
In Progressive-Rock I hear Classical, Jazz, Folk, Fusion, Ambient ~~~~~~~~
Well, its the only rock genre that is lighter on the blues roots. Now rock and roll, in general, would never have come to be without the blues, but prog is the only subgenre that could almost survive without those roots. Yes were one of the first British bands to publicly state that they had no blues influence whatsoever
Saw Kansas open for Yes in Chicago 2000.
Man I saw Kansas open up for Yes in 1975 in Indy in 1975. We were blown away of course.
Had the greatest pleasure of my life by seeing Chris Squire and Alan White 36 times from 75 to 2015, including the tour with Brislin. GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
✨️🎶🙏🎶✨️
Saw Jon Anderson a few days ago. Such a pro. Steve Howe should not be allowed to carry the YES name. He's playing mostly songs no one knows. Jon's voice was so on point. If you closed your eyes and just listened to the songs they were playing, you would say to yourself "oh yea, i'm at a YES concert". I hope Jon and the very talented Band Geeks stay on the road. See this legend of a singer while you still can. None of us are getting younger.
Steve Howe was and is the magic straw that turns Yes from being great to being the best prog band ever
I thought Tom Brislin was the future for YES. As enamored as people are with Rick Wakeman, and I am a huge fan, I thought Brislin was a perfect fit. I'm glad he found a home!
He loved playing his part with flair and enthusiasm
totally agree!
Yes will always be my desert island band, but it was so cool to hear Joe Deninzon give Spock’s Beard a nod. I found those guys 25 years after I should have, and almost 50 years after I found Yes. Highly underrated and overlooked.
I’ve seen YES several times
At TSONGAS arena, House of Blues Boston, plus with ASIA.
They were wonderful to see.
Tim Brislin was brilliant playing South Side of the Sky in a Band Geeks video a few years ago. No surprise of course.
I Saw cheap trick open for Kansas in LA... Then years later , saw Kansas open for Yes in decor CA... 😊 love Kansas ....😊😊 and of course yes..😊
John Anderson and the Band Geeks!
They certainly are not talking about the current lineup of yes! 😂. All jokes aside, I saw Kansas open for yes many times and those shows kicked ass
Tom is a perfect fir for Kansas. He has attention to detail and recreates not only all the parts but the sounds are accurate.
That's funny, because in Kerry Livgren's autobiography, the man who FOUNDED Kansas, when he mentions all the rock music that influenced him, he specifically states that Yes was not one of them. Whenever he was told about Yes, he was told they would be everything he liked, and was disappointed that they weren't. In fact, he thought their lyrics were corny. But he was all about Gentle Giant and King Crimson!
@@impalaman9707 Seen video where Phil Ehart didn't want them to be considered influenced by YES, either
Yep, I don't really hear Yes at all in Livgren's oeuvre. I think Genesis was most obvious during the Leftoverture period (Wind and Wuthering shares some aspects, though it turns out that Genesis were probably listening to Kansas when that was made). Phil Ehart said in one interview that Livgren was more into KC and Van der Graaf Generator. I never really heard those influences in Kansas but if you listen to Proto-Kaw (the earlier Kansas band) it's really obvious (wild sax player, young Hammill sounding vocals, etc)
I guess people read the same "Book" I read! You are the 2nd person to mention this and just wrote almost the same in my comment.
Great interviews and some interesting insights and history. Thanks for doing this and sharing it.
Kerry Livgren has expressed admiration for Gentle Giant
Haha! I JUST wrote that in my comment :D.
I like the albums from 1977 to 1982.
Yes 👍 is another prog band I like 👍
Wow, what 2 songs to do a demo on for Yes, uh "Close To The Edge" and Gates Of Delirium", that's what I would have done. If you can play them, you can play any Yes song.
If it’s PROGRESSIVE it’s for me a 60 Y/O classic rock guy…another great video 👏🤘
I was at that same concert and had the exact same thoughts of Jon"s voice. Otherworldly and angelic. What I call nowadays... Elf N Magic. Someday when he passes away, some 130 or 40 some odd years from now. Scientists will discover that he was indeed... A leprechaun!
I'm mostly familiar with the 70s Kansas but I hear both ELO and of course YES in their music. Some of the complexity of their music I liken to RUSH, who started at about the same time.
Interesting choice of photo for "Yes" as it is actually from a photo shoot for a band that was technically not Yes, but a much celebrated, by me, off shoot group called Anderson, Wakeman, Bruford and Howe from 1989.
I’d like to hear the guys talk about the time they were on the same bill as The Doors. This at The Warehouse in New Orleans in December of 1970. Coincidentally the last gig The Doors ever played with Morrison.
YES!!! 🏆
Jon A never sang falsetto, but his voice is angelic. Steve Howe is one of the best if not the best guitarist. Rick Wakeman is phenomenal. I have seen all three within the last year. I do love Kansas though.
i like yes & kansas i got all 1970s albums. jon Anderson cool guy.
Another great video - love Kansas and Yes
Tom Brislin clearly had the most to share relative to YES and plus I enjoyed his vibe also especially because I saw the great unique MAG tour and I did see Kansas open for YES once. But it's amazing how YES overshadows even the most popular bands as headliners like Dream Theater too who opened for YES. Those final 8 years of YES on tour with Jon with the mostly classic lineup was a Godsent because we knew it wouldn't last forever and it was a special gift to relive the YES of the 70's for one more short span of time!
I saw Yes several times in their prime in the 1970s. I remember reading a music magazine article(of that time) and it listed Jon Anderson as having a SOPRANO singing range. The difference is that Jon Anderson is a soprano with BALLS(Laughs!) Think of those high points in their classic songs -- it's hard work to sing like that.
I've heard Kansas mentioned when progressive rock fans talk about Gentle Giant, as well --- because of the Rock backbone along with ehw violin and keyboards, along with the vocals and vocal harmonies.
I never knew I was a progger, but I'm proud to wear that badge. I grew up with Yes, PF, Jethro and Genesis and when Kansas came on the scene, there was a natural attraction. In 1970 something, I had a choice between seeing Genesis with the guys (No Peter Gabriel then) or seeing Kansas with the girls... (I liked being with the guys more.). But I chose Kansas and it was a fantastic concert!!!
I already knew Kansas,was way into YES !
Kerry Livgren was not a huge Yes fan. He had stated, "They were a band that should have been everything to me and yet were not." I am paraphasing, but there was some reference to Jon Anderson's lyrics that were just too trippy to get into. I think Kerry was more inspired by Gentle Giant.
Kansas differed quite a bit more than Yes in their sound palette. Most of the English prog at that time was organ, Mellotron, some simulated harpsichord, and maybe a monosynth. Of course, latter on the keyboard stack grew considerably.
Everyone back then had to suffer playing live with pianos that really sounded nothing like a real grand piano.In the studio, they used real pianos.But the logistics of lugging real pianos around was a pain. Plus, acoustic pianos need to be re-tuned every time they are moved.
Kansas had a recognized wall of sound. The way they layered the organ and Arp string synths, with Robbie's violin on top as a lead instrument, gave them that sound we all love. Live, Kerry played all piano parts and a good portion of the synth leads. Steve did all the organ, vibe, and most of the early synth solos. He used an Arp pro soloist. Yes, as a band was never as heavy sounding on the guitar work. Steve Howe is an excellent guitarist, but he never really had a good, heavy sound. He was more dazzling on his acoustic classical/country style stuff.
You did hear the bass more prominently on the Yes material. Yes, it was also a huge band for intricate vocal harmonies. I think this made up for whatever Jon Anderson lacked in Steve Walsh's power. The lack of Mellotrons on the USA prog music was probably more due to a legal decision based on the patent issue with the instrument. That's actually a pretty interesting story but too long to get into here.
If you listen to Kansas, some songs you might get mixed up with Boston. 😆 lol. They sound so much alike.
You obviously haven't listened to enough Kansas. Kansas was heavier on the prog, and Boston was heavier on the metal
Tom Brislin;s hands are scary...
Zappa beats them all.
Certainly for his puerile childish lyrics.
I don't think Zappa even considers his music to be rock!
Styx journey Boston
And Rush
And of course Anderson wrote most of the lyrics…
NO !!!!
I loved the original Kansas. Saw them many times around KC. However, they are nothing but a good cover band now (No Kerry, Dave, Robbie, Steve). Need to retire. Ronnie Platt... Give me a break!
@@tebo1958 sad, but true
No they do not need to retire. I know you will disagree, but they actually have more talent now. Joe Deninzon is better on Violin than Robby, Tom is better on key boards than either Kerry or Steve. Zac is the equal or even better than either Rich or Kerry on Guitar. What this line up is missing is the song writing chops of Kerry Livgren. But how many people are there on this planet who can write like Kerry? That and Phil is hard to replace on drums, he is a force of nature. Yes, Ronnie is no Steve, but he does a great job! The bottom line is that Kansas sounds absolutely amazing to this day. No need to reply and tell me how wrong I am.
@@tebo1958 I guess with Bach, or Beethoven, orchestras are just glorified cover bands as well?
To me Kansas was always a lame pale imitation of Yes. There's just no comparison
HUGE fan of Both (but have always looked at "Rush" & Kansas, "lyrically" speaking for the everyday man. Peart & Livgren were equally men of prolific prose). But funny enough; co-founder of Kansas Kerry Livgren, in his book "Seeds of Change" thought Yes was too (I believed he used the word) "Corny" by way of their lyrics. But he respected their musicianship, but he also mentions "Gentle Giant" and quotes a "mission statement" from their album "Acquiring the Taste". But hey, "Jon Anderson" had/and still has a voice of an Angel, and "Steve Walsh" had a POWERFUL voice all the way up to "In the Spirit of Things" (and his solo album "Glossolalia"). They are probably 2 of my favorite vocalists in any genre.
"Monolith" is my FAVE Kansas album, and one that people don't mention much is "Freak of Nature", maybe their heaviest album and some great drumming by Phil Ehart. But their were 2 things that changed my life . . .
Star Wars in the Summer of 1977, as a kid that drew Hot Rods, was now exposed to Sci-Fi/Fantasy and wanted to be a Conceptual Designer as a career. Then it was receiving for my Birthday "Kansas - Point of Know Return" (with 3 other albums). The album that opened my mind to what Music could be, beyond my imagination, who was just getting into AOR and FM Radio, but it was the Deep Cuts as a 14 year old that blew me away, and I still listen to the album and tracks often.
. . . From there, I was slowly getting into Progressive Rock and classic bands (including the new). It continues to be my favorite genre of music (including Prog Metal).