YES is excited to announce that drummer Alan White, who had to sit out the band's recent U.S. summer tour due to back surgery, will officially rejoin his band mates Steve Howe (guitar), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass) and Geoff Downes (keyboard) on their Japanese tour this November. Jay Schellen, the band's good friend who sat behind the kit all summer, will also travel to Japan and sit in until White is fully healed.
"Greatly looking forward to getting back on stage with my band mates to play YES music once again for our devoted audiences," shares White.
The 6-date trek, beginning November 21 in Tokyo, will feature YES performing the 1973 album YESSONGS, the band's first live album, as well as sides one and four of 1973's double album TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS, which received rave reviews throughout their 28-date U.S. outing this summer. Of the Tales portion of the show, Chicago Tribune Community Contributor Raymond Britt raved, "The pieces were nothing short of a tour de force of musical ambition, complexity and remarkable synchronicity. It sounded outstanding." Britt also added, "This version of Yes seems to play at a higher level, a more powerful level, like they've been together a decade or more. These guys are on no nostalgia tour. They play it like they mean business, with little intention of slowing down" (8/31/16). For their upcoming Japan tour, YES will perform at the Tokyo Orchard Hall on November 21, 22, 28 and 29, the Osaka Orix Theater on November 24 and Zepp Nagoya on November 25.
An expanded version of TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS featuring Steven Wilson Remixes was recently released October 7 via 1 BluRay & 3 CDs or 2 DVDs & 2 CDs (each set is available at Amazon.com). The fifth in a series of expended YES editions includes 5.1 surround mixes, new stereo mixes and high-resolution stereo mixes of the original music as well as extra material. Both editions feature restored artwork overseen and approved by Roger Dean, with an expanded booklet containing new sleeve-notes, photos and archive material.
In early 2017, YES will once again host and headline the 4th annual CRUISE TO THE EDGE. Set for February 7-11, the ultimate Prog Rock experience at sea will set sail out of Tampa, Florida aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of The Seas visiting Cozumel, Mexico and featuring over 20 artist performances including YES (with White fully on drums), Kansas, Steve Hackett, Mike Portnoy, John Wetton, Patrick Moraz, Bad Dreams, and many more. A limited number of cabins remain; go to www.cruisetotheedge.com to book a spot and to access additional information, including the full lineup, itinerary, pricing and ship details.
