Peter Banks - In Memory of a Prog Rock Hero and Friend 1947-2013 - YES FLASH

[@windchaser8771]

Great tribute to Pete. I went to school with him - Elizabeth Allen Secondary, Barnet, North London. We used to go back to his house for guitar practice. There ought to be a blue plaque on the wall at 37 Alston Road! I remember him as a modest, gentle and thoughtful friend. We both couldn't wait to leave school. So many regrets that we never caught up with each other in his later years, after all his great successes...etc. I was shocked to hear he died at 65 in 2013. RIP Pete.

[@johncase2408]

It's very thoughtful for you to share such precious memories of Peter. Thanks!

[@nicbeat]

I simply loved Peter. "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". He deserved better in life. That's why it hurts so much. Nice comments. : )

[@jonsilence]

Thank you for this wonderful, heartfelt tribute. Peter was a rare & exceptional talent. I had the pleasure of seeing him live a number of times with Flash, then in later years interviewed him for a radio program in Los Angeles. He was a self-deprecating gentleman who had no equal on the guitar.

[@danielblanchet7577]

A great musician, we miss you Peter. Rest In Peace Mister Banks, thank you for such great music through all those years.

[@felixfelix7447]

Pete gave me one of the most memorable moments of any concert I've seen. During a solo he threw his cherry red guitar straight up in the air. High... And he set it spinning at the same time... before catching it and continuing perfectly with a smile. ... brilliant 😎

[@charlesnolan7602]

I met Pete a few times at YES conventions in the 1990's. He was engaging, funny, self depricating, honest, and entertaining!

[@bobdeakin3938]

I lived at 50A Munster Road in 71/72 as Pete was working really hard to get Flash up and running. He and Jeannie were really nice people. Pete didn't have a lot of good things to say about one or two Yes members but he was trying to get on with life. Jeannie from Hoboken was always very kind and I wonder what happened to her? Gayle Blanchflower was living there at the same time. I was really sad to hear of Pete's death.

[@stephensnelling3664]

Pete was a great friend of mine to there are two photos on this video that i took,was proud to have known Pete Banks.

[@CaseyVan]

It's sad that the orchestra drowned out Pete Banks in Time and a Word. I wish they could do a re-mix of that album without the strings sort of a Time and a Word naked, and boost his guitar up so we can hear it.

[@56dinosaur]

The multitracks for the "Time and a Word" album DO exist, but remixer Steven Wilson(who would be willing to do such a remix) has stated that such a release would not earn back its' cost.

[@topographic1973ify]

Hi, Nic. I started collecting Yes because of Peter Banks. He got a raw deal, I think.

[@raynegron1914]

R.I.P. Peter Banks been listening to your music for 41 years.

[@earlthornton5689]

Thank you for this thoughtful composition. Much appreciated. I trust that, at some level, Peter knew how many folks he touched with his music, and his love.

[@alfalangusto]

Thank you very much for the wonderful movie.It´s still hard to realize that Peter is dead.... RIP peter Rolf

[@johnfrnj]

Thanks for great memories Pete. I still have your albums.

[@isispaul1]

Tremendous guitarist

[@Jackapoo1]

Rest in peace to an amazing musician and true innovator..

[@Raelspark]

First member of Yes to pass away. His erratic career in rock should be a lesson to anyone who wants to do this full time. He had the talent to be in a super group. Or he simply just should have formed The Peter Banks Band, gotten some good players who would respect him, and he would be in clubs like BB Kings. R.I.P.

[@samme0]

He really was a giant Talent. Seems like he was a great human too. RIP

[@saintolias]

So well done, Nic. You are the right guy to do this.

Little memory to great progressive rock hero... TODAY, 68 YEARS AFTER when PETER W. BROCKBANKS (July 15, 1947- March 7, 2013 was born... He was a British guitarist.

[@CStack2Ci]

R.I.P., Peter....one year ago today, you left us for a better place! Thanks for all the music & memories!

[@nicbeat]

@Rene, the name of the tune is "Fade to Blue" from his REDUCTION CD.

[@garrettlane9245]

what a blessing God has given us through you!!

[@zappatx]

He'll never be forgotten

[@stratdave1]

Great homage! RIP! Peter Banks.

[@BarrySanchez]

Great post Nic, miss you my brother, Barry

[@CStack2Ci]

Thank you for the wonderful visions and dreams, Peter! Rest in Peace, friend... Nic, this was fantastic, thanks for putting it together for all of us!

[@BluesLicks101]

I remember hearing the Instinct album and just wondering how even MORE amazing YES would have been had they kept doors open for Peter AND Steve as guitarists.

[@astonrum1212]

Saddened to hear that Peter B had gone. Like yesterday I recall the excitement of the first Yes album, and equally Time & a Word. I loved Yes,and it was PB who made it the band it was. Yea Steve Howe is a great guitarist, but the vaccuous noodling that they descended into could never compare with the cutting and jazz edged quality of the first albums. I confess to liking Close to the Edge, but nothing will compare to the early stuff, and catching them at Plumpton festival in 69... How I recall being mesmorised that anyone could play that well, and wafting from the second stage I could just catch In the Court of the Crimson King .... Halcyon days. I still play those first albums at least once a month, and it just doesn't age....unlike me! RIP you deserved so much better from your original band mates... mind you Anderson knows how it feels now as well!!

[@alhudson]

My thoughts exactly. I saw Yes many times in their early years and you are right, Pete clearly helped define that "Yes sound". I lost them when Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman (my old school chum) joined and saw Flash play an early gig at the Marquee and was very impressed.

[@johncase2408]

What a great tribute!

[@fabrikk60]

Great tribute to a great artist. Thank you!

[@mnbv990]

Excellent tribute, well done.

[@jeronroberts]

Nice made video, damm this makes me sad to find this out. One of my most prized possessions (as a guitarist) is a signed copy of "Instinct" I bought from you over 20 years ago when I was a kid.........one of my favorite guitarists ever.

[@ybrix101]

i got to see and meet mr. banks at the yestival in '98. he signed my yesyears boxset as well as signed for a lot of other fans. he sat for an interveiw and also preformed w/geoff downs. thanks for posting nicbeat!

[@joellee7645]

the guitar on lifetime off flash in the can is like off the charts...turn that up and enjoy

[@camerakate]

Well done. RIP Peter.

[@CaseyVan]

pete banks guitar work was very significant to the early Yes live sound, but it was not captured on recordings as good as it could have been. Time and a Word without strings in the mix ?

[@simonbarrowuk]

It shows. Wonderful and worthy tribute, Nic. And also fine of you and George, along with fans, to help sort out the difficulty with Pete's funeral. Sorry I didn't find out in time to contribute.

[@walterceuppens6988]

By the time I had saved enough money the first eponymous Yes album was no longer available. After Peter Banks and Bill bruford had left Yes descended into kitsch. They were jazzy, Howe was a folkie.

[@oldsynner]

Thank you, though this is such sad news.

[@larxley]

And now that Yes will likely enter the R&RHOF, I am at once happy and sad. Happy that band who pushed the boundaries of rock music (in the broadest sense) will finally get their just due, but naturally, sad that Peter will not be around to join the physical celebration. I hope he is celebrating somewhere, and getting his just due that he should've gotten in this life. Thanks for uploading the video!

[@paulingamells1316]

Great guitarist

[@ksjoyjespeace]

God Bless , very nice tribute for a SUPERBLY TALENTED Musician's Musician indeed ! Sympathies to the Banks' Families everywhere . "Beyond The Loneliest Sea"& "Sky At Night"are tied for my FAVE tracks , but I like "Get Out Of My Fridge" too !!

[@kinnear8]

very nice collage of music, images and thoughts.

[@larxley]

Sorry I didn't find your video sooner. Wonderful tribute. So many great photos I've never seen before. He was a great player, an original if ever there was one, and yes, he certainly did deserve better! You were fortunate to have known him. I felt lucky enough that he even befriended me on Facebook and got a reply from him on his MySpace page. I know he read his fanmail, and I told him how I was looking forward to seeing him and his band do the Yes songs shows in the NYC area.

[@jpirard]

You and I differ on so many things. But you did a good thing here. Good job.

[@carrietide]

Rest in Peace with the angels Peter .

[@flashbackfoley]

THANK YOU pEACE

[@MarkoneOnly]

Nice Job Nick

[@suzandouglass5241]

May he Rest in Peace...

[@Majnun74]

I have The Syn vinyl (reissue) and I never knew Peter Banks was the guitarist.

[@bobstar76]

RIP PB

[@mikerobespierre7765]

Nice job, Nic...

[@timothymarazita4725]

Fade to Blue

[@Mynamesalexa]

Blue Oyster Cult FLASH Mott The Hoople Phila Spectrum August 1973 Excellent Concert Thought they sounded like YES.

[@craigandnatalia]

RIP Peter

[@geraldgoff245]

nice tribute

[@manuelreyes7460]

Un super guitarrista, hasta ahorita no se porque lo sustituyeron de yes.

[@emlelyes]

che poesia

[@zappatx]

Someone said he was a blend of Pete Townshend and Wes Montgomery - That's pretty accurate but he ads a much more modern approach. He definitely was the innovator of the volume foot pedal guitar work (Im not a guitarist so dont know what it's called). Well we can rest assured he will not be forgotten any time soon.

[@billlong9606]

RIP Pete

[@bobleton2807]

Flash has become one of my top 10 bands the day they released, he did what Yes had should become, for they went a bitta too pompous imo (but i still like them though).

[@markkozak641]

Need to know what 3 plus minute song he did that was posted on this site before. Was a jam with others but forgot the title.

[@bei1016]

Was this in L.A.? I saw the same thing. Wow!

[@paulingamells1316]

So why not put a blue plaque on the wall? He was your school mate, I would have done it if I'd been at school with him. This would be for all of us to see and visit at 37 Alston Road for all of us musicians Pete inspired, it's not too late, never too late. I thought Peter Banks was a very unique guitarist using the Jazz like two note octaves in his solos and his signature Fender volume pedal for the violin sounds he produced. It was said Pete played the guitar solo on Hello by Lionel Richie? Don't know how true that is but it certainly sounds like Pete Banks. A sad fair well to Peter, did any of his old wealthy mates from Yes go to his funeral? I understand there was very little money to pay for it all? WHY? A nice fella will sadly be missed

[@MS-kw8rt]

Such fluency that imho Steve Howe lacked. I felt his style was staccato plinky plinky in places. PB and Trevor Rabin would have been a great match on stage doing an acoustic duet. Brilliant stuff

[@alhudson]

Me too :)

[@carrietide]

OMG..He died on my birthday....... ....

[@PierreGarrabrant]

Yesfest 94 NYC -they didn't want to let him in until they showed him his laminate