A Week In The Life Of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (ABWH/Yes)

Downloaded this video from yessongs.nl, and noticed no-one had uploaded it here. Recorded sometime (possibly late october-ish?) in 1989 by Julian Colbeck.

[@GonzoMusicTV]

I restored it!!!

[@PetersPianoShoppe]

Great to see Tony Levin in this! He's 77 now and still touring with Peter Gabriel. What a legend.

[@tedhunter5285]

Just like to add...the band rehearsed at Whitley Bay ice rink for the tour ...the last night if rehearsal was opened to the public for a tenner...free for unemployed....full show....amazing...

[@georgewilliams4258]

I saw the dress rehearsal for the Tormato tour might have been 20-30 people there.

[@Geordiepete211]

I went there. Took my Dad, too, paid for his ticket.

[@davidwatkinson1226]

Thanks a lot. Having just spotted myself there chatting about a photo pass 30 years ago. Wow.😀😀 Thank you so much.

[@motonorcal9938]

When I watch these entertaining videos of Yes personnel backstage, it occurs to me that the biggest difference between my bands and these guys is simply the number of people that show up. it's encouraging and discouraging at the same time. Yes are not only great musicians but seem like a fun group of people to be around. That's success. Even seeing the "regular people" version of them backstage, I am still in awe of their accomplishments.

[@juliancolbeck2148]

Well, I venture to suggest that there may be a reason why more people turn up to these gigs than yours... talent and, heaped upon which thereafter for sure, money. In answer to your 'fun people' observation, some were, others weren't!

[@motonorcal9938]

@@juliancolbeck2148 Wow, what an incredibly cynical and negative take on what I thought was a pretty positive post. I suggest if you are so bitter about the music of these particular musicians you could find better ways to spend your time than trolling their KZbin comments. And of course they are more talented than I am, being some of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century.

[@robinwatson4282]

You know things are going downhill fast when a post starts with 'Well...' ​@@motonorcal9938

[@theresa42213]

lts lovely to see Carolyn, with Bill after all those years! They were married in '71 and are to this day! Both boys are grown.

[@jamesfarrell8339]

Greetings too all of the Yes fans from around the world. I still think that Yes is the best.

[@TheValore]

Me too!

[@johncase2408]

How many bands have worked this hard for their fans; five decades?

[@mannygrossman]

Even their soundcheck was amazing. I was lucky to see this tour at MSG in 1989. Wore the T shirt until it fell apart.

[@jamesfarrell8339]

A very special tour. Those days are gone forever. Great memories. RIP Chris Squire. Greetings from Atlantic City New Jersey USA

[@isaacnewton6930]

Levin was playing bass btw, not Squire.

[@kimberlyblood46]

James Farrell are you originally from Barrington/Haddon Heights area?

[@Daneel56]

These four men are four Gods of the Music.

[@jonwallace9142]

Don't forget the bass player, Tony Levin... Look him up, some great pedigree!!

[@Lakeplanner]

I was fortunate enough to have seen both Yes, Big Generator Tour on 2/12/88 at the Omni in Atlanta and ABWH at Chastain Park in Atlanta on 7/30/89. I was trippin balls on blotter at the 1988 show, while the 1989 Chastain Park show was more of a yuppie fest (i.e. mummy please pass the Grey Poupon).

[@josephkunkel127]

Incredible....a very special time and place in YesHistory! Thanks for posting it!

[@rtwice93555]

I was so fortunate to see ABWH perform at the Greek theater in Los Angeles in 1989. This was a perfect venue as the Greek is an outdoor theater with no bad seating. My sister and I had perfect viewing from the grassy knoll just behind the general audience. This peculiar ensemble was such a relief for me as I was not a big fan of the 90125/Big Generator lineup that I often refer to as Rabin's Yes. Although Rabin's Yes produced two commercially successful albums, it was not the sound most Yes fans were familiar with. Even the Drama lineup without Anderson in 1980 sounded enough like Yes to whet my appetite. When I heard ABWH was working on an album and tour without Chris Squire, I was a little hesitant. But after listening to the album I was ready to see them live. They made it work without Chris. This was close enough to that original sound I had come to love about Yes. Sadly, it didn't last long. Just two years later this lineup merged with Rabin's Yes in what I call one of the biggest mistakes in the band's history. Some might argue the 1991 Union album and tour was one of their greatest, I disagree. Some ideas might sound like a good plan, but don't work in reality. I will leave it at that

[@autk]

Union was a terrible idea and history showed the same.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

The ALBUM is garbage. The TOUR was astonishing, and ONCE IN A FOREVER event! The very idea that you'd have 8 MEMBERS OF YES on stage for the tour, is NUTSO! The idea that we'd get to see BRUFORD and ALAN WHITE do a DRUM DUET is nuts! The idea that wed' get to see HOWE and RABIN duet is nuts! That they let WAKEMAN solo on...."OWNER" is radical! NO ONE ELSE EVER DID THAT before or since. The footage on YT of that tour CONFIRMS to this day that it was one of the most unique tours EVER!

[@georgewilliams4258]

The kicker is Rabin wasn't joining Yes.He was starting a band with Squire and White called Cinema when Tony Kaye joined and with Anderson joining it pretty much had to be called Yes.

[@aeropilot4419]

I was there 👏🏼🙂 … for both incarnations

[@jimsimpson1006]

Union is what I would describe as a classic example of "Too many cooks spoil the broth".

[@gfhrtshergheghegewgewgew1730]

that guy climbing that ladder without a harness, OSHA sure was lax back in those days

[@MalquiLans]

ABWH played with Tony Levin. Lucky guys

[@JoinTheProgress]

This is just amazing, thanks for the upload. Can't possibly get enough of the early Yes/etc footage from this era and before. I loved-loved this tour, saw them five times on it in the northeast US, in support of a fantastic album and line-up.

[@astraltraveler257]

very cool. then... Chris Squire took base to a whole new level. Spectrum in Philadelphia, 75 or 76, for me. also had the privilege of interviewing Jon in 2009. we discussed Roger Dean's album covers. Yes is still my go-to on road trips. phenomenal.

[@brianimig]

WOW ... Thank you so much for this! What a pleasure.

[@holladaycummings7884]

Due diligence, contingency and plans is an amazing way to operate.

[@tomthefunky]

I can watch stuff like this for hours

[@sandrobassi]

Great footage. Thanks for sharing it!

[@trilingual]

Thank you so much for this! I saw a show from this tour in Toronto--fantastic!

[@robertward1513]

This was a real YES album!!!

[@amazingsnow]

Thank you for posting this. It felt like I was one of the band hanging out on stage .

[@chrisbounds7994]

Same here... pretty cool

[@giantessmaria]

fantastic footage. so grateful!

[@robert74sorensen]

raj lippy ,

[@progman965]

Some amazin music with exciting new Yes sons. The Yesmen free of Rabin and the stress looked to be a rebounding and refreshed group. Saw them in Mountain View, Ca. that summer, one of best I've ever seen of them.

[@gazbert88]

Prog Man Then back to Rabin not long after. Was an awesome album, it was Yes but with something different about them. Wonder when the AWR or is it ARW album will surface?

[@progman965]

I wouldn't hold out much hope for a studio recording by ARW. More likely a live album from their last two tours.

[@davidbranin969]

Not a big fan of Rabin Yes but he kept them in the game.

[@parker11965]

@@davidbranin969 Rabin is a good musician

[@TheProfessorWilliam]

Real musicians always sound so incredible. Today we have so many BS Artiest . I will miss the days. Thank you YES.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

What's an artiest?

[@serginho240259]

the best band of progressive rock in all times....!!!!!!

[@davidrobertson3633]

This video ties in with great memories of this tour and album. The BBC being at the gig to record. The show, "In Concert" played highlights of the Birmingham show on Radio 1. I taped it. Still have the cassette.

[@douggottlieb]

What tour!!!! Thank you for sharing this Julian!

[@juliancolbeck2148]

You're welcome ;)

[@user-hx8vv9hk4p]

Saw them in concert in Atlanta GA

[@starshiptrooper7670]

Caught the tour in Memphis, Tn. Great line up, show & album!

[@garycarter961]

I saw them in Memphis on the Tormato tour and one other time I think. They had some sound issues on one song as I remember with a loud buzzing for a while. Was that the one you went to?

[@josephgurzynski1053]

Great post!!! Really enjoyed it. Very well put together.

[@BluesLicks101]

Steve plays and looks like a middle earth elf - fantastic skill!

[@vrlord7949]

I always thought Hugo Weaving copied Steve in looks

[@nadiaagbi]

i love yes, it's fun seeing them then - now!

[@Kinger172]

Oooh I was at this show in Birmingham. What a great video.

[@thesaneparty4079]

"There is no bigger fan of Bill BUford and Steve HoweLL than I am" - Jim Ladd.

[@DavidJones-lz4io]

Goodness, this is the show I went to. Fascinating!

[@JHasselroth]

We saw them on this tour at Poplar Creek in Chicagoland. Also talked to them after the show in the VIP Club.

[@johnbarrett9134]

Saw the tour in Edinburgh,thanks for the memories.

[@weitzen]

So did I , both nights......great stuff!!

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Thank you for the amazing post. I miss these eras of music. This the closest we will ever see to an emergence of Yes and King Crimson. Lol An amazing tour and Tony was a fantastic choice for bass guitar services.

[@rohanroll]

Aside from Chris, he was, obviously. Half of those early 80s King Crimson is part of this amazing band. I always wondered why they didn't call themselves Anderson Bruford Levin Wakeman & Howe, to be fair. The man is a beast!

[@davidgarione2206]

28 years ago. Amazing.

[@chevken1831]

Makes me sad.

[@evelynstroem8205]

Excellent,thank you !!!

[@fernandotor3266]

Thanks. Fantastic😮😮😢

[@gwensciora8516]

thrilled to be there when they were inducted into the RRHOF .. Barclay Center Brooklyn NY !

[@bertbecker7532]

Wakeman sure ruined that moment.

[@papunAlicea]

Thanks for share...great...

[@zenonyaremko8316]

You guys ROCK!!!

[@ReneAlexisPenalozaMunoz]

Queen was one of the few band that until the end, shared a common space. The prog rock people each had a separate room travelled with their own manager, lawyer, accountant and personal hangers on. Lol

[@deanbagdasarian5017]

I've seen Yes live 42 times through the years starting in 75. Only time I've seen them without Jon was the Drama tour .Going in a few weeks to see them in Conn. Bummer Jon isn't with them . When I saw the ABWH tour ,one of the highlites was seeing Tony Levin playing Heart of the Sunrise , with the funk fingers . Freaking fantastic I'll never forget that.

[@linneasaoirse]

Dean Bagdasarian You should see ARW too they're amazing!!!!

[@vooides]

@@linneasaoirse No, Anderson and Wakeman are, not Rabin 😜

[@georgeford3687]

I could deal with 90125 cause it was fresh. Big Generator to me was a disaster ( I'm Running holds up well) ABWH came out when I had given up on YES. Like many say it was a YES album without Chris unfortunately.

[@scivalesmusicbooks1977]

Numeri Uno, assoluti!

[@kevinmanning3753]

I saw yes in 1977 going for the one tour cant remember a thing about it!

[@beekay5914]

me too!

[@hudentdw2]

wonderful footage Flesh My Icon Bill Bruford is there but I wish He had stuck with acoustic Drums for the show instead of electronic ones but it is just me I have a preference for acoustic ones and He sounded amazing playing them also!

[@linneasaoirse]

Oh how I love this.....

[@charlesnolan7602]

Birmingham NEC ? That was a great tour- so this is October, 1989, John's birthday ? I saw ABWH, IN Philadelphia August 1989, and then March, 1990.... and then...UNION!

[@designerlarry]

CHARLES NOLAN saw both of them in Philly as well. Both phenomenal shows!

[@charlesnolan7602]

+Larry Fulmer Larry- it was great to see a revitalized Almost YES line up, with the great Tony Levin on bass. For that March 1990 Spectrum ABWH show, a friend of mine knew one of the PRISM camera men ( Prism sports, who also filmed the Yes June 1979 YES In the round show ), so our seats were the same seat locations where the Flyers and opposers benches are located during hockey games! The Flyers organization controled those seats 365 days a year, and if you knew someone in Snyder's organizations, you had a shot at complimentary seats!

[@154Slappy]

CHARLES NOLAN I saw them both times in Philly, too. The first show was BEYOND phenomenal and the second was very flat, in my opinion. Did Jeff Berlin play bass for the second Philly show?

[@joelgoldman5790]

John's birthday is October 25. Same as mine.

[@claudio130]

Monstruos!

[@migouelsanchez5148]

The meeting of our loves.

[@mikef9464]

It's great to restore old footage. I love Yes. But even if I didn't, I love locking in all old footage. Who knows who will love it in the future, besides close family. If you have old footage that needs digital transfers, contact a restorer. Or me. I am no pro and this is no ad. But there are ways. Google it. Don't let old footage die ... magnetic tapes only last a few decades.

[@patrickjaroch5084]

ABWH should have been ABWHL tony levin is the man

[@einarabelc5]

You don't just replace Howe with Levin, NO WAY I'm choosing....

[@lekoos]

JoseitoEdlVodao you mean Squire?

[@BluesLicks101]

Jeff Berlin was in there too.

[@debbybills7613]

Tony Levin is amazing,a badass!!Love these glimpses of this tour!

[@beekay5914]

Yes!

[@robertward1513]

BIRTHRIGHT and the MEETNG true YES classics!!

[@monicadonnelly4991]

Steve about to make me cry ❤

[@lisad2461]

All time excellence.

[@maryellenfinch310]

great stuff

[@chrisbounds7994]

Damn!! I had 3rd row center seats in Dallas. Tony Levin got sick in Houston and they cancelled. I of course always loved the earliest albums but at that time after the hiatus I was blown away by ABWH... I still have dreams about the YES/ABWH 3rd row center seats that never happened. Karma I guess.

[@saucyjk6453]

claire bros audio...rehearsal soundstage...i was there for a rehearsal....ABWHL and like 5 of us watching....

[@elitestarquake3597]

Accrington Stanley cake! That’s well ace! (I’m from Accrington too.)

[@BrianBaggett306]

With Tony Levin on this, it would have been before Aug 29, 1989. Tony fell ill in Houston and was later replaced with Jeff Berlin on the rest of the tour. I was supposed to attend the Dallas show on the 29th...first show to cancel!

[@davidrobertson3633]

Tony did fall ill and was replaced by Jeff Berlin. However, Tony returned after a while. He was certainly there for the Edinburgh show.

[@BrianBaggett306]

OK. I always thought Tony sat out the rest of that tour.

[@davebellamy4867]

11:13 Was the BBC radio broadcast from Birmingham? It was if I recall correctly.

[@theresa42213]

WoW! l've never seen this before, and l love it!! So cool seen Bill wife Carolyn and is son Alex too! l was at this show in '89 and was _really_ surprised to see Levin there! Should have been called ABWH and Levin/Berlin!

[@courtbeall7768]

Who were the auxillary keyboard and guitarist in the Levin row?

[@markorendas1790]

MOST OF TIME SPENT SOUNDCHECKING AND PROMPTS AND SPOTTING AND PRE PREP AND SUCH BUT THATS THE WAY IT IS... !!!

[@evanjazzista]

Zeus bless Julian Colbeck! Great musician, cooking chef and Zappa expert! Worked with Steve Hackett as well, but left him mid-tour when he realised they had all become too old to hit a stage (that line-up also featured Chester Thompson, Ian McDonald and John Wetton). That's pretty sad but that was his opinion/choice. Note that Julian didn't play on the ABWH album, but the great synth wiz/arranger Matt Clifford did (and couldn't do the tour because he joined Mick Jagger if I'm not mistaken).

[@juliancolbeck2148]

Actually, Julian left the Steve Hackett tour at the very end of it, like everyone else. Just decided to go other places and do other things. Steve and Julian remain good friends, should anyone be curious.

[@GonzoMusicTV]

yes if you look at the end you will see it is copyright gonzo multimedia who paid for it to be recovered.

[@steverobertsmusic8019]

'Here Comes The Feeling' at 16.02 :)

[@relayerdan]

Awesome

[@ChrisHardyWorld]

Did I just see Tony Levin in there? Cool...

[@frankortolano5886]

the best of the best

[@mwmann]

That's me just outside the door listening in.

[@craigezell4261]

I can dig Tony Levin on bass but why the heck do you need a backup keyboardist for Wakeman & backup guitarist for Howe?These two can definitely hold their own.

[@glennhendrickson7993]

I wondered the same thing

[@mancuniancandidatem]

It just helps to play the songs closer to the record. It means they can add parts that might have been overdubbed that one keyboard player or guitarist couldn't perform alone. I would also bet that these two auxiliary musicians can sing and added backing vocals. Somebody had to sing Chris's parts. I would also bet that the second keys player might have been triggering backing vocal samples. Also, these musicians backed Jon for his solo spot.

[@klepetar]

they went through many personel changes in the 80's...

[@AD65]

klepetar ABWH ?

[@MegaJohnhammond]

man, I knew these guys were old, but they go back before color film?

[@vrlord7949]

😂

[@johnwhite5216]

So who are the two dudes playing with Jon on Time & A Word?

[@rebeccalynn1961]

Presumably that's Julian Colbeck on keys, although I have no idea what he looks (looked) like. Acoustic guitar is Milton McDonald, who's been with Jeff Lynne's ELO since 2014 (among many other things).

[@skinner5334]

Great share thx!⚡️

[@firecatfly]

Unfortunately age stepped in and stopped everything. Look at Yes now.

[@holydiver73]

Great footage not only of the band, but of the old style Birmingham NEC Arena, before it went all pretentious and space age and renamed itself the 'gentings' arena. So so many bands there. Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Dio, Alice Cooper, Gary Moore, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Scorpions and of course Yes.

[@starshiptrooper7670]

Is this in Britain?

[@holydiver73]

Starship Trooper yes. Birmingham NEC Arena. Birmingham, West Midlands UK, not Birmingham Alabama.

[@starshiptrooper7670]

Thank you!

[@holydiver73]

Starship Trooper over the last 30 years, it's been like my second home. 😂😂😂

[@starshiptrooper7670]

Looks like you've seen some mighty fine shows there. Stones or Dylan ever make a stop?

[@h.christiansen6512]

Nice

[@el-el6012]

....Besides the extra guitar player, who is that extra keyboard player?

[@harrisgoodman1564]

Julian Colbeck (who filmed this, according to the description) was the additional keyboard player for the tour. He used to work with Steve Hackett and Alan Parsons. But if you’re referring to the gentleman standing next to Rick Wakeman during the sound check, that’s probably Rick’s keyboard tech. Sorry, I don’t know his name. ✌🏻

[@philgorner9836]

Rick's keyboard tech at the time was Stuart Sawney

[@einarabelc5]

Tony Levin FTW!!!

[@el-el6012]

Who was the extra guitar player I see? I know Tony Levin is playing bass but who is the other person playing electric guitar? Thank you in advance, and yes rules!!!✌️🎼🕉😉

[@martinusdegrootste]

Milton McDonald

[@nicklundbech6255]

Quite possibly the last time Steve Howe smiled.

[@filer.4367]

Tony Levin played bass!?

[@deanhibler3117]

Yes he was brought in to play on the album and the tour at the suggestion of Bill Bruford with whom he had played with in King Crimson. There was a part of the tour where Jeff Berlin played bass (as Tony had fallen seriously ill). Once again brought in by Bill as they had also played together quite extensively.

[@mattekudasai8249]

yeah, he's a bassist...

[@glennhendrickson7993]

He also played a chapmen stick

[@jameskennedy721]

Not the classic line-up of YES . But close .

[@leechild4655]

somehow i got delayed to see the show but finally got in and saw maybe two and a half songs and it was over. lol anyway, when watching I thought okay i can hear that yes magic but, i also hear that one missing thing, whatever could that be....of course. No Chris on bass. It was good but not having the full compliment of the original lineup is distracting overall.

[@mattekudasai8249]

9:16 I SAID THERE'S SOMETHING IN THIS CASE, jULiAn

[@youngchool]

Oh, is this the Team Bruford's suite? I wonder if the lady is 'CAROLYN' from San Diego and boys are also Brufords? Bill sounds like he's got a cold and he is pretty chatty and funny. Dr. Bill has been and is my favorite drummer! BTW is this Julian Mr. COLBECK? And finally, are you one incredible Tony Levin??? If so I met you once (along with Bill) at Yoshi's, Oakland CA, took a pic together. Thanks for the memory and of course, wonderful music you created!

[@mattekudasai8249]

@@youngchool not actually tony levin lol, just a big fan

[@MarkAhrens-HeritageFilms]

Was that Tony Levin?

[@ednewton4455]

Mark Ahrens yep

[@lekoos]

No. It was G. Gordon Liddy.

[@chac65]

@@lekoos Oh god Levin does look like G. Gordon Liddy.

[@stevensavoca7605]

I toured with many bands I would to do a tour with them

[@donutcookiepie]

ABWH/NotYes. Cool footage tho.