Topics

·        New Yes and Yes solo releases

·        Yes news on the web

·        Sydney YesFANZ Social Events

·        YesFANZ Members Music

·        Roger Dean

·        YesFANZ Inc Office Bearers and Contacts

Yes planning a WORLD tour!                                       Ý

It is finally official – Yes are back together and plan a WORLD tour but at this point precise dates and tour schedule have yet to be announced. Jon was interviewed on radio in early March and made a number of interesting statements – Yes were touring North America for 6 weeks in July/August, Oliver Wakeman is playing keyboards and has been sent the setlist to learn, the School of Rock is opening for them, and that the School of Rock would play on stage with Yes on Awaken and Close to the Edge. Now how much of this is correct is difficult to say. Of course the fan response to this has been a mix of irritation because the SOR may appear on stage with Yes and that Rick isn’t touring to relief that a tour now seems to be happening. An advertisement for a Boston concert on July 23 was pulled off the web within days of appearing but it does seem that a tour starting in mid July on the east coast is the most likely scenario. It is less likely that Yes will tour Europe this year – it seems more likely that this will happen in 2009. As for Australia and the Asia-Pacific – who knows but we will continue to make our case as best we can (see next item below) but I am heartened by their use of the word ‘world’!

Mike Tiano from Yesworld has announced that ‘changes will be coming there soon’ and these have started to happen with the brief announcement.

Probably the best source of information on the proposed reformation is Henry Potts website.

YesFANZ working for another Australian Yes tour  Ý

In February we had two YesFANZ meetings in Glebe and came up with a plan of action. Our mission is "to ensure that if there is another tour by Yes then an Australian concert is added to the agenda".

We discussed the ways that we could lure Yes to return to Australia. We are aware that a number of Yes members have ties to Australia and others might be tempted to come back due to other attractions here. We should not forget how well the last tour went and that is always in our favour.

Some YesFANZ members have connections with some band members and we will discreetly make contact with them in that way too. For the 2003 tour our efforts were made a lot easier by our contacts with the band’s management. At this point it is unclear who is managing Yes but we decided that Bob Forbes would make some enquiries to find out and then to attempt to speak with them.

In the early days of petitioning Yes to tour in 2003 we had to find a promoter that would be interested – once Michael Chugg took up the challenge our job became much easier. Through our various contacts with the entertainment industry – especially Franky Valentyn – we shall try to interest a promoter again. We were also mindful that Yes were unlikely to tour Australia unless a tour of Japan was organised too and so we are keen to find contacts in Japan that might influence this.

Invitation

We decided that another invitation similar to the one we prepared in 2002 was a good idea. We now have more resources and publishing a small run of a booklet is now much easier than 5 years ago. Roger Clark (our "Production Manager") will work with a YesFANZ volunteer to get this done (We need someone to volunteer for this – contact Roger on podo@bigpond.com

We discussed whether a printed "hard copy" is required in this digital age. Consensus was that it may not be needed, but it would be nice to do. It could be in the form of a poster rather than a book.

YesFANZ website

Steve Black has been re-vamping the YesFANZ website so it is new and exciting. The main page is less cluttered. Steve has added a demand petition on Eventful to request Yes tour Australia again. If you haven’t voted already you can vote here. So far 35 have made the request. You can also find links to our MySpace and Facebook initiatives that are described below.

YouTube  

Lew Keilar had some visionary ideas about producing a promotional video that could act as another type of invitation to the group by tempting them to return down under. Lew described his vision in this way:

‘This is to produce a short 3-4 minute Youtube ‘YES, please come back’ video. set to YES of course. I'm thinking of using a drawing technique for this similar to what I used on my latest bit of rollerblading footage. The link is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSaHyi9bebc

Go to the end bit and you’ll see some speeded up drawing of mine. For the Yes Youtube my first thought was to draw the classic YES logo floating over Australia on a simple globe. This might be the first image then a title ‘YES- all is forgiven please come back’ (I’m joking about that title) then a dissolve into some shots of the YesFANZ as a group (maybe at the beach with a YES logo in the sand). Then maybe another drawing or still shots from 2003 etc. At this point can anyone think of some simple uncomplicated but powerful images to draw, maybe powerful FUNNY.

I’m thinking our video could have a touch of ‘the Goodies’ about it to remind the band we aren’t a bunch of stuffed shirts or pompous, over-the top fans but the fans that put on a memorable laid-back reception for the band in 2003.) The beach scene for instance could be slightly speeded up for a few laughs. Really it could funny in one part; serious and arty in another. Who knows. But anyway I’m open to suggestions.’

Lew has agreed to oversight this one but we need some volunteers to assist him. Contact Lew on lewkeilar@iinet.net.au if you are interested.

MySpace

Many YesFANZ members have a presence here and so it was decided to open a MySpace page to encourage an Australian Yes tour. So there is now a Yestour Australia MySpace page – have a look. There are already 25 ‘friends’ including Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Circa:, Yes, and Yesfans.com. IMPORTANT - to get things stirred up please visit this site regularly and if you have a myspace site ask to be added as a friend. Tell everyone about it - spread the word! Unlike Facebook, you don't have to be a member of MySpace just to visit and look at pages (although you do to become a ‘friend’.)

Facebook

Louise Steer has set up a Yesfanz group on Facebook. So far there are 14 members. As with MySpace the intention is to spread the word about getting a Yes tour – if you are on Facebook you must join the Yesfanz group. You will find photos and links to various Yes-related videos. There is also a discussion board so contribute!

Yesfans.com

Many of us are members of Yesfans where there has long been a YesFANZ chapter. I started a thread about our efforts to get Yes back to Australia – there are also threads about our MySpace and Facebook initiatives. The intention here is the same as elsewhere – create a momentum for a tour.

Promotional event

Some years ago we had a night where we watched Yessymphonic on a large screen at the Toxteth Hotel. We could do something like this again. Yessymphonic is the most striking video for people who haven't really got into Yes. Discussion generally agreed Yessymphonic is the outstanding concert video. Maybe we should do this after confirmation of tour?

Sydney Festival

A wild card idea was discussed - could Yes be part of the Sydney Festival and have their final concert tour filmed at the Opera House ("its still there!"). Now wouldn’t that be a splendid idea – before the last tour we talked about Yes at the Opera House and discussed getting Roger Dean’s Yes logo projected onto the Opera House sails. Does anyone have any connection with the Festival organisers?

OK lets swing into action! The YesFANZ A Team is on the case! If you have any ideas to help us, please let us know – every little bit helps!

Yes solo and collaboration concerts/tours 2008      Ý

Jon Anderson - Canada in March, US ‘School of Rock’ tour March-April 2008

Jon has a 12 concert solo ‘Workshop Tour’ mainly in Quebec, Canada commencing on March 14 in Joliette, Quebec and finishing on March 30 in Belleville Ontario.

He will also be appearing with Paul Green’s ‘School of Rock’ for 6 US east coast dates from March 4 in Philadelphia to March 10 in New York City and then 4 west coast dates from April 6 in San Diego to April 10 in Agoura Hills, California.

Circa:

Circa: are headlining at RoSfest, the progressive rock festival in Philadelphia, on May 3 2008 and it is reported that they will play the Yes medley again.

They will also be playing at Night of the Prog Festival III on Saturday 19^th July 2008 at Loreley in Germany. This three day festival has an incredible array of talent playing including Tangerine Dream, Flower Kings, Roger Hodgson, Lisa Gerrard and many more.

Asia World Tour, March to May 2008

Asia commences their 50-concert 2008 World tour on March 1 in the UK.  They then tour the US in April/May, followed by Japan and Europe later in the month. Unfortunately, Australia has missed out again.  More details can be found at the official Asia reunion website.

Rick Wakeman – UK, April – May 2008

Rick will be doing a 24-date UK tour of his ‘Grumpy Old Picture Show’ commencing on April 15 in Cheltenham and finishing on May 18 in Epsom.

New Yes and Yes solo releases                                   Ý

Asia

Asia’s forthcoming studio album ‘Phoenix’ is due for release by Frontier Records in April. Roger Dean has again done an impressive cover and Sound Bytes are available too of the following tracks – ‘Never Again’, ‘Nothing’s Forever’, ‘Shadow of a Doubt’, and ‘An Extraordinary Life’. The titles sound rather gloomy!

Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Old Picture Show DVD that was recorded live on tour in 2007 is available from 14^th April 2008. Excerpts can be found here on Rick’s website.

Circa:

The Circa: Live DVD is now available from the Circa: website. The set list is:

Cut the Ties, Don’t Let Go, Together We Are, Information Overload, Trust in Something, Keeper of the Flame, Life Going By, Look Inside, Brotherhood of Man, Chronological Journey (YES Medley), The More We Live, *Bonus Footage.

Four clips of the DVD can be seen here. These include two from the Yes medley.

Yes news on the web                                                    Ý     

March is Yes Month on Planet Rock so join in the festivities – but don’t bother to enter the competition as it is only open to residents of the UK!

There is a series of Yes specials – I have converted the UK times on the website to Australian East Coast times

Jon Anderson - Wednesday 5^th 10am

Steve Howe - Monday 3rd (5am) repeated Friday 7th (10am)

Yes Live Special - Monday 10th (5am) repeated Friday 14th (10am)

Wakeman & Anderson Monday 17th (5am) repeated Friday 21st (10am)

Yesterdays: Yes Story Pt 1 - Monday 17th (6am) repeated Saturday 29th (5am)

Bill Bruford - Monday 24th (5am) repeated Friday 28th (10am)

Yesterdays: Yes Story Pt 2 - Monday 31st (6am)

I can’t believe the number of Yes-related clips on YouTube these days – here are the ones that have come to my attention this month. Louise Steer found this YouTube page by Randall Craig who describes his page as a ‘One Stop Complete Yes YouTube Collection’. It is certainly an impressive array of complete shows that he has available on his playlist – some of which of course are copyrighted performances so might be removed from display sooner or later:

For Jon Anderson fans, the strangely named vzqk50 channel on YouTube has put together really interesting visual representations of Olias of Sunhillow and Toltec as well as some Yes videos too. He uses a lot of Dean images and photos. Here are the links to the individual Olias tracks in album order

Ocean Song/Meeting/Dance of Ranyart

Qoquac En Transic/Flight of the Moorglade                Solid Space            

Moon Ra/Chords               Song of Search/To the Runner

And for the Toltec tracks in order
The Book Opens                         Quick Words           Shall we play the Game

Semati Siyonpme                       Good day morning

Leap into the inconceivable          Song of Home        Building Bridges

Sound and Colour                      Longwalker Speaks

Maaz Maazo                      Enter ye the Mystery School         Ave verum

Some of the interesting Yes tracks include Angkor Wat         I’m Running

Hearts as well as Blossomtime by Esquire       

Here is one of Jon’s songs that I haven’t seen before though its been around for over 20 years – Do you want to be a hero? from the Biggles film. And this one called Waterfall is new to me.

There isn’t really anything new on this next web page from the Super Seventies Rocksite! but I haven’t seen it before – ‘Anderson and Squire – in their own words’

An interesting January 2008 interview on Electronic Musician TV from Alan White mentions Circa: and Yes plans including possible recording.

For Rick Wakeman fans and geeks in general, here is one person’s models of Rick Wakeman’s gear from the early 70s.

Sydney YesFANZ Social Events                                   Ý

In February we had our birthday celebrations at the Nags Head Hotel in Glebe with a large turn out of around 20 members as the interest hots up for another possible Yes tour. Here are some pictures from the night.

Our next night out will be at Pinnochio’s Restaurant at The Spot, 35 Perouse Road, Randwick – highly recommended by Franky Valentyn – on Wednesday 12^th  March from 6.30 pm, dinner booked for 7.00pm. If you are going please let Franky Valentyn know frankyv@bigpond.net.au ASAP.

Then in April, to celebrate the Porcupine Tree tour (this is one all Yes fans should go to – April 25 in Melbourne, April 26 in Sydney & April 27 in Brisbane), there are three functions as Timmo from Yesfans.com will be visiting to see the tour. On Sunday April 20 we will be having a late afternoon –early evening BBQ at the north end of Coogee Beach from 2pm – if you attended the one we had in October when Earl & Lisa were here you’ll know where I mean. Then on Wednesday April 23, by which time Steve Mahoney from Kiwiland will also be here, we are having a night out at a location yet to be determined. There will also be a night out on Saturday May 3 just before Timmo returns to the US. We will circulate details for these last two nights in late March or early April. Contact Anne Corris corrisa@willis.com in early April if you plan to attend either of them so we have an idea of numbers.

YesFANZ Members Music                                             Ý

Roger Clark, Steve Black and I have completed our selections for the compilation CD ‘South Side of the Sky’. The next step is to get the tracks mastered and we are very thankful that Steve Layton with the assistance of Bob Forbes has agreed to take this on.

Tramtracks debut album See had a good review on the Evolution of Media website – well done guys!

Franky Valentyn’s gigs for March are as follows

Weds 12th BALMAIN LEAGUES 5.30-8.30

Fri 14th COLLAROY BEACH SERVICES 5-8 (Piano)

Weds 19th BALMAIN LEAGUES 5.30-8.30

Fri 21st CREST HOTEL Sylvania 7-10.30

Sat 22nd COOGEE LEGION CLUB 8-11.30

Sun 23rd MALABAR RSL 6-10 (Trio)

Weds 26th MALABAR RSL 12-3 LADIES DAY

Weds 26th BALMAIN LEAGUES 5.30-8.30

Fri 28th MAROUBRA RSL 7.30-11.00

Roger Dean                                                                   Ý      

After a long period of little information from Roger about current projects, this interesting interview on the Classic Rock Revisited website from February 2008 certainly shows that he is very busy and possibly will be involved with the forthcoming Yes tour.

YesFANZ Inc. Office Bearers and Contacts          Ý

President:                           Bob Forbes yes@robert-forbes.com

Vice President                    Roger Clark podo@bigpond.com

Secretary                          Anne Corris  corrisa@willis.com

Treasurer                          Ian Joyner  i.joyner@acm.org

Public Officer                     Louise Steer louise@futuresoftware.com.au

Newsletter editor                Brian Draper b.d.draper@bigpond.com

Membership                     John McInerney yesfanz2003@hotmail.com

Webmaster                        Steve Black cbassoc@optusnet.com.au

The following YESFANZ members represent each of the States and Territories of Australia and New Zealand.

New South Wales:               Bob Forbes yes@robert-forbes.com

Victoria:                             Mark Hawes  molymajordidge@bigpond.com

Queensland:                      Douglas Hills  Phone: 07 3285 1910
Tasmania:                         Steve Davis stdavis74@yahoo.com

South Australia:                 Craig Moore craigfm@bigpond.net.au

Northern Territory:             Glen Dooley glen.dooley@naalas.org.au 

ACT:                                 Reidar Jorgensen  reidar@jorgensen.com

Western Australia:             John McInerney  yesfanz2003@hotmail.com Phone: 08 9275 2129

New Zealand:                   Paul Rogers paul.rogers@aut.ac.nz

If you still haven’t provided us with updated information regarding your contact details, please email John McInerney at yesfanz2003@hotmail.com or me at B.D.Draper@bigpond.com with the following information:

Name, Postal Address, Daytime phone, AH phone

Email address for newsletter (if it is different from current one)

By sending this information you will also be confirming that you wish to remain a member of YesFanz Inc.

To assist in the production of this Newsletter, I would like your contributions. Any Yes related items, particularly with an Australian or New Zealand angle, will be used so long as it doesn’t breach copyright or is potentially libellous.