The Last Days of 80s YES and WHY they broke up! - Documentary (1987-1988)

[@doctordetroit4339]

The videos made here are more than worth the Patreon......better than a Hollywood documentary for sure. The Rabin-Howe rift was real.....cant wait to watch!!

[@richardhines8622]

1980s, right?

[@GuitarAnthony]

Absolutely. Howe would stare daggers on stage during the Union tour where Rabin would play where no guitars were supposed to be played.

[@RadagastBrown420]

Supposedly Rabin tried to be nice to Howe. Howe was a great guitarist but a cranky jerk much of the time.

[@miguelbass]

This series was epic, JCM. A true documentary with lots of research that brings many previously unpublished/unheard facts organized in context, to write Yes history.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Coming from you a YES Expert i'm honored. Thank YOU for watching Miguel!

[@thespots]

I absolutely love the Rabin lineup of Yes and I will never apologize.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Hell yeah, Trevor Rabin rules!

[@martinreed5964]

you should appologise

[@RadagastBrown420]

Nothing wrong with that. I liked them too, though it was definitely not their best lineup.

[@livemusicjkd7703]

@@martinreed5964 You should apologize for having both a terrible taste in music and a terrible spelling :)

[@djmylesmatisse]

Trevor Rabin RESURRECTED Yes. Their problem that I see was they waited too long between 90215 and Big Generator and Talk. Plus, they should've kept Trevor Horn on board as the sole producer for all 3 albums.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Trevor Rabin deserves so much praise in the Yes World, he doesn't get enough. I agree they took too long. Hope you enjoy this episode which is technically the third installment of my Big Generator Series!

[@zoso73]

Talk is a GREAT album that came out during the height of the Grunge (yuck!) era. Younger listeners were not interested prog-rock in 1994 unless it had the name "Pink Floyd" on it. Talk really didn't stand much of a chance, unfortunately.

[@ChromeDestiny]

@@zoso73 Yeah, a case of bad timing. There was a strong wave of 70's nostalgia all through the 90's, luckily Yes didn't miss out on it entirely and got the main 70's Yes lineup back together in time.

[@colinburroughs9871]

@@zoso73 Undertow, Superunknown, Core, Angel Dust, Sailing the Seas of Cheese... I like Talk, but compared to some of the stronger efforts from the era, it's in a different space- maybe a little nicer and very digital. Better though? Those are some examples of very cool records the grunge people made

[@RickroxxUsa]

Agreed. The climate in ‘86 was still close to ‘84 vibe wise. Had Big Generator come out in late ‘85, ‘86, might have had a different outcome.

[@e.nowbodhi144]

the whole 90125/Big Generator set should be a DVD you are galactically talented in multiple areas, and it's all done with humor, personality and humility thank you

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank You very much. I hope a BIG GENERATOR box set gets released. I'm sure they have the complete Carimate Castle rehearsals on tape....and more!

[@baldyconnolly8577]

Excellent as always. The stories around the making of the Yes albums are almost as fascinating as the music itself!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Glad you like them! Yes has endless chapters of beef, prime beef, you feel you're at a BBQ! haha.

[@bélalugrisi]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories What's a couple of spleens between friends?

[@davidhankins7776]

Thank you JCM! It's obvious from the number of comments that Yes means so much to so many people. I get teary eyed sometimes watching and listening to the songs and videos. I saw Yes at Notre Dame in the late 70's. But wasn't true fan at the time. Plus, I was wasted out of my mind that night. Yes, what a waste! This is unfortunately a story repeated many times with many bands. Such incredible talent. It is such a tragedy to see it end with so much bad will and adversity. But with help from people like you the legend and legacy will always remain. I pray that you continue your journey with more of Yes!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank you David!! I agree with you, YES impacted the lives of millions and their story was troubled, just like the progressive rock nature of their TWISTs AND turns musically speaking. Gotta love this band right? Except their most recent albums...

[@3ggshe11s]

I love how every rock journalist was doing some kind of low-effort play on the word "yes" in their headlines and ledes, and I'm sure they all felt incredibly clever doing it.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Hahaha ....yes. (Pun intended). They had a field day coming up with titles. Much easier than covering Van der Graaf Generator.

[@fernandoprates6367]

Wow. This was amazing, once again. I'm proud to have seen this. Fantastic research. I wouldn't have expected any lesser anyways. Thank you.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

My pleasure Fernando! Thank YOU for watching!

[@ultraviolet9863]

your video/audio editing skills remain unbelievably good. looking forward to whatever you have planned next.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Much appreciated! This episode got me migraines, i'm not kidding hehe. But worth. Always worth doing. Thank YOU very much!

[@oiramsq73]

So many different feelings as I watched this. For one thing - I don't feel like I've been such a good Yes fan all these years as I had ZERO CLUE that there was so much churn going on by the time Big Generator's touring cycle was over! For that I have to tip my hat to you JCM - you do a fantastic job sourcing out this information and knitting it into a great narrative story. The next thing that came to mind was how much I loved "In the City of Angels"... people who are more critical will say "you're just a Jon Anderson Stooge... You'd buy/listen to anything!" Yeah - you're probably right! All his solo stuff, all his collaborations... at one point I had a CD that RAINSONG guitars produced in conjunction with their carbon-fibre guitars! And I loved that too!... the footage of Jon and Bob Weir ... sure! And the NAMM footage of Jon percolating the idea for a super-group called "UZLOT" ("us lot" Northern slang for 'the group of us'). As soon as I could get my ears and eyes on any of that I did - and I loved it all. (What about the fashion models on the TV show: "STAR SEARCH" that used Jon and Kitaro's "Lady of Dreams"...YES YES YES ! Yes to all of it (so to speak.). But once again: JCM found more that I had ZERO idea about. Last was the feeling of optimism that I had when I heard ABWH for the first time. Dang that was powerful! (...the little quote of "Long Distance Run Around" tucked insdie the song "Quartet" was enough to make me think that this could be the real deal... News of the lawsuits made me groan for the first time ("this will be the first of many - I be telling you!") All three of these moments for thought brought to you/me by JCM. MASTERFUL! ...please tell me that "TALK" and "The Keys to Ascension" are on the production schedule! PLEASE?

[@georgebarry8640]

I,too, hope that "Talk" will be celebrated as it does...for me..represent a healed Rabin-era YES. I saw the tour and the playing was fabulous,even though the NY audience wanted 70s YES that night at Jones Beach ampitheatre (I think it was 1994)

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind words! It means a lot to me that you took the time to share your feelings after watching the documentary. I’m especially glad that the narrative revealed aspects of the Big Generator era you hadn’t known about-it's always rewarding to hear that the work resonates with fellow Yes fans in this way. I deeply appreciate your recognition of the research and storytelling effort that goes into these projects. I also loved hearing about your deep connection with Jon Anderson’s solo work and collaborations-In the City of Angels is a gem, and your enthusiasm for his creative ventures really shines through! It’s fans like you who remind me why I love digging into these musical histories, uncovering new layers and sharing them with others who appreciate all the nuances. As for ABWH, I couldn’t agree more-those early moments of optimism, and then the legal battles, really felt like a rollercoaster for Yes fans. I’m glad the documentary was able to bring back those powerful memories for you. Thanks again for your support and for sharing such a great message! Stay tuned for more, and I hope the upcoming episodes continue to bring new discoveries your way. All the best, JCM

[@squareeyedgit]

Ahh yeah, you know he's going for the ABWH/Union era next... looking forward to it! Great video, as always. Thank you. (Invisible Touchyea')

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Invisible Touch Yea! hehe. Oh man...i am really taking my time to determine what is the best and most engaging way to present a potential Union episode hehe.

[@squareeyedgit]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories You'll do great, no doubt. Meanwhile, just for fun I decided to sing the opening lines of every Genesis song in a roughly chronological order, but squeezing in a quick "well" at the beginning the way Phil had a habit of doing on stage (prime example, Land Of Confusion) ... yes even the Gabriel era... it's ridiculous and now Invisible Touch naturally goes "Well Well I've been waiting..." try it next time you've got absolutely nothing better to do.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Union is so dysfunctional i need to get therapy first i think haha. I dig what you did with Genesis, those Phil nuances are so good right?Hehehe i get it 100%

[@danjack-son4871]

I'm looking forward to this one. Cheers

[@geodogg07]

As a Yes fan I learn so much new information from your videos. I remember watching the Atlantic 40th Anniversary broadcast waiting to see Yes (along with Genesis and the Zeppelin reunion). At the time we didn't know about all of the drama behind the scenes when we only had MTV and magazines like Guitar World for band news. Although it's sad watching the fracturing of the band post-90125, little did we know we were on the verge of a Yes revival. The videos for ABWH/Union era are going to be awesome!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Atlantic's 40th has so many musical STORIES behind these performances, it's insane. Gotta love Phil Collins all over the place lol. Yes survived for 20 years...by 1988 they needed a break! Thank YOU for watching!

[@danjack-son4871]

Thank you Jose this was a fantastic documentary on 80's YES.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

You're very welcome Dan! Thanks for stoping by today on the live chat! Good luck on your overtime duties!

[@mattleppard1970]

Thanks for the banner headline - totally agree. Looking forward to this 😊

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Steve Howe religious fans will hate the headline :) Hope you enjoy this. It took A LOT of editing work!

[@doctordetroit4339]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories you put a ton of work into this and it shows!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thanks man! This one for some reason was a deeper rabbit hole than i thought. Kinda like off road 4x4 in a river...sometimes the waters fool you but the journey is worth double time!

[@justinkinkade2063]

This is yet another great doc. I always look forward to your work

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Much appreciated! Thanks so much Justin!

[@markcoledrumteacher]

I really hope that ending is laying groundwork for the next episode.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Mark your sentiment is shared across many comments here, what i can say for now is that i need to make a LOT of coffee first hehe. Thank YOU for watching!

[@Badfinger-m5v]

That female interviewer was trying to start trouble. Good on Jon and Trevor for not falling or it.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Yeah, she was really an Owner of a DRAMATIC heart! The way she asked some questions, i bet they didn't feel Harmonic Convergence!

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

You really did a lot of research on this series. And that is difficult when its an album that is widely panned by the press and then the band moves on and doesn't talk about it anymore. I appreciate all this information. Big Generator was a big part of my 1987 and 1988 and on. I had a lot of change in my life then and the music of that album spoke to me. I saw the tour in Landover MD. I remember it the band being fantastic and John almost being angelic as he was perpetually bathed in white spotlights with his hands up to the heavens. Thanks for helping me relive my memories and understand the band in context at that time.

[@davidhankins7776]

Thank you for responding JCM! It is an honor every time. You are like a rock star to me and to receive a message from a famous, talented and brilliant person like you is incredible. Yes, I agree with your comments. Yes had a sort of hypnotic magic so to speak that just drew you in. Like Led Zeppelin, there are very few songs I don't actually like. That is, until recently..... It Is heartbreaking that several members are still with us, yet they can't or won't collaborate. Such a tragedy! I loved ARW but it was too short lived. I think their 50-year anniversary concert video from the Apollo is one of the greatest live shows by any band. I also hope you do a follow-up on the Talk album and tour in 1994. There is an excellent KZbin video Yes-Definitive Maryland Heights (Bootleg - Live - 1994) [Full Album] from the Talk Tour, that I listen to over and over again. As rough as the Big Generator Tour was, this was amazing. I also personally feel that the best period musically for Yes was from 2000-2004. They had the classic lineup together including Rick Wakeman. They might not have produced any new music, but I feel they were at their peak musicianship wise. The concert video Live at Montreux is considered by the band as their greatest live show ever recorded. I promise to contribute soon to your fund to help in your research. Have to get permission from the wife! Thank you again!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Wow David thank YOU! A rock star not sure, but a dedicated filmmaker i think yes hehe. Man this series was exhausting, this last episode gave me migraines, i kid you not but it's all worth. Your comment certainly puts a smile on my tired face! ARW was too short lived i agree, and for me it was weird see Anderson get along with Rabin lol. You know, their Montreux gig YES, its LEGENDARY, and i love Steve Howe's rendition of TO BE OVER, get out, what A SHOWDOWN! As for your support and contribution i thank you in advance, it definitely helps the channel going and the montly plans to decide what the programming will be. The more funds i get the more options grow to not feel the pressure of views and metrics so much. I really thank you for your words, means a lot! Tell your wife it's for a Harmonic Convergence Foundation :)

[@kerzwhile]

Trevor is simply the reason for Yes' success in the 80's! ❤ oh, and excellent documentary❤

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Couldn't agree more on Trevor, he was a HERO even if Steve Howe still thinks different. Thank YOU very much for watching!

[@CommishTV]

Excellent video AS ALWAYS, Jose. I love how you weave your own thoughts and humor into your informative and well-researched presentations. And I miss the days of $16 (face value) concert tickets!

[@rohan-qd6py]

16?…. $8.00 Brother of mine… 1975 or so…

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I appreciate that! Researching these "forgotten" topics is much more stimulating than doing Close to the Edge you know? I agree concert tickets became a luxury, sad really as many bands use prerecorded tracks....a dirty secret!

[@briangregory6303]

I was young when Yes was in their heyday. I always loved their singles. I really liked 80s Yes as well.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Great news you love 80s Yes, i hope this video makes the world unite in Rabin Appreciation!

[@PlatinumBlack90038]

José, 15:46 When I saw YES perform live in 1984 on their *90125 Tour* in a 20,000-seat sports arena, the concert began with about 20 minutes of Warner Bros. *Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies* cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny, Elmer J. Fudd, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner - all projected to a square film screen in front of the stage. I totally agree with your statement in the chat about Alan White; he really was an insanely precise drummer - he never missed a beat. LOL! Now, I’m going to go and have some of the Lapsang Souchong that arrived today. I like to enjoy this specially blended and flavoured tea during this time of the year. Happy Holidays! ♐🍪☕

[@georgebarry8640]

I think Alan White was criminally underappreciatted. Basil was so great you could forget about what he was doing. No wonder we could focus on the frontmen.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Alan White was like a machine. He was BORN to DELIVER the goods on stage, i can only think of John Bonham next to him!

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

Very entertaining and well thought out and put together.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank YOU for watching Dave! It was very hard rocking tour indeed!

[@Latexhandske]

Thank you my dear friend for this yes show with an evening of gooooooood music ❤

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

My pleasure indeed! Thanks for watching! This series was AN ODYSSEY!

[@WhiteWizzard]

Shoot High Aim Low is the best 80s Yes song they recorded….It’s the perfect song. Has aged like fine wine.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

It is one of their finest 80s moments, agree!!! Thank YOU for watching!

[@familydogg1234]

I know nothing about this Era YES so I will be schooled. I first heard about TREVOR RABIN Wolf LP because him and Ray Davies wrote " Long Island" on that LP around 1982.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Hope you enjoyed the adventure through 1987 and 1988!

[@christheghostwriter]

Are you doing Union (the tour and album) next? I have some anecdotes about the first night of their US summer tour on July 5th, 1991, in Tampa. I worked in live sound and lighting in those days, and I was called to work the show at the very last minute because of some huge production problems. They had just arrived after touring in Europe, and they did not get off to a great start on that US leg of the US summer tour These anecdotes may or may not be useful, but if you think they may be, let me know how to email or message you and I'll give you the details

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Hey Chris! First off, thank YOu for watching! If you worked with the crew on the UNION Tour, that IS useful to say the least. Union is a HARD project because, i am not a fan of the album, BUT....BUT.....the Yes milestone of having everybody up there on stage has always been fascinating. Email me at [e-mail] so we can talk about this, i'd love to hear more about the times, sights and sounds you witnessed first hand!

[@NoShowShattuck]

Another home run. I personally stopped listening to prog for a decade because of the 80’s Pop Prog-era. Bad years for mature artists. But LOVE to watch these docs.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Honored by your comment! While Prog certainly changed, it's fascinating to see how these virtuoso musicians lived the life back then right?

[@NoShowShattuck]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories I like to hear about the fallout and lead up to this kind of album.

[@iancroft1447]

WoW talk about behind-the scenes Intrigue ! Never knew about All That but Hey that’s R&R, right ? U did a great job in uncovering it & Presenting it in a Highly Entertaining manner Jose. Thanx Man !

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Glad you enjoyed it Ian! There was much DRAMA indeed hehe! Yes rocks!

[@pierre-olivierturmel1705]

Hi! I saw that tour, my second Yes concert in Montreal, Quebec. Brings me those memories, I was 17 at the time! Still had that Guitar World magazine mention here. Very nice video! I hope you gonna follow with the ABWH story as well, I was there also in august 1989. I remember that time as The Cure perform the next day at the same venue, the old Forum in Montreal for their Disintegration tour, so 2 days of good music! Very nice video! 😎

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The Cure the next day? Wow that's crazy. What a TIME to be a fan. I will get coffee first before i embark on more YES :)

[@fframunoz]

Great series of videos my friend, waiting for the ABWH and Union !

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Coming soon! Let me just first make more coffee....i need to revisit UNION, not sure i've listened to it all the way thru ever in my life!

[@michaeljones9301]

Big fan Of Jon's City of Angels.... Hold on to Love should have been a top 40 hit.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Yes, this song is CATCHY as hell and that TOTO Feel to it, an 80s classic!

[@michaeljones9301]

@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories I think Hurry Home is the best of the album. Jon has reworked it a few different times, Change we Must, etc. It has a warm feel....go hug another for no reason. YES music has had that message through the Years. Have you Heard TRUE?.....Freaking awesome "YES" Record.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

True? Which one is that? Is it a single? I think there was an industry boicot against old time rockers. The more you look into the script...

[@michaeljones9301]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories Jon's new album. Awesome

[@erik2446]

Great job! Nice cliffhanger. I feel like I'm watching Lost with Trevor Rabin and Chris Squire as the "Others"...

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Hahahahah NICE. LOST the YES version. It does feel like SURVIVOR or something right? So much drama for one band. Thank YOU for watching!

[@erik2446]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories “You know when I used to get high, I'd watch nature programmes on the Beeb. Polar bears are meant to be quite clever, very clever. They're like the Einsteins of the bear community.” - Charlie Pace, Lost, Season 3: Further Instructions

[@zeppearl]

JCM…awesome!!! I think I brought up before as I dropped out of YES 87 era as many of the bands you brought up took my interest and concert cash. I did come back for the ABWH tour though. Really enjoy the series and need to review BG again. Cheers we should talk soon. Take care !!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I can definitely understand you prioritizing other bands Vance, i really do. The market was competitive and they lost concert momentum by 1987. What other shows did you go to around this time? YOU WERE SO LUCKY to GO!

[@efolson]

Hey I love your channel and I have watched almost all of your videos, but here's some creative input. Early Yes is way more interesting than post 70's Yes. Also, please cover King Crimson!!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I hear you. Guess what one of my favorite Yes albums is...their debut! Much to talk about still! Thanks for tuning in man!

[@colinburroughs9871]

Where the band sat in an MTV/culture revolution that took place in peoples home as opposed to swinging London, while high probably has more to do with how media and trends shook out ultimately over the years. Pop culture history through the lenses of Yes.

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Great episode,Jose! 👍

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank YOU for watching Tim! I had migraines going through so many articles hehehe.

[@EHiggins]

I remember watching the 40th Atlantic thing. I thought YES did awesome. The Genesis thing, well it was like a bunch of dads jamming in the basement. I love it for what it is. XD I had City of Angels. I listened to it a lot and enjoyed it. I had it on cassette so I don't remember ever reading the liner notes. I never thought about who it was making the music, I figured he knew people. Thanks for all the effort in this series. I have always loved 90125 and Big Generator. Thanks for all the insight, back then you knew there must have been issues, but finding details was difficult. If you happened to miss a month of "(insert instrument) Monthly" you might not ever have known.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Dads in a basement haha, yeah pretty much sums up that 40th anniversary show. In the City of Angels, definitely looking to get a CD copy of it, but i honestly prefer an 80s album on Cassette, the low end is nicer! Thanks for watching!

[@MyPetFishEric]

Very well done- thank you!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Glad you liked it! Thank YOU for watching!

[@DrTomoculus]

I STILL HAVE THAT GUITAR WORLD ISSUE! ;)

[@georgebarry8640]

Me,too.

[@bertbecker7532]

Do you have the one with Rabin,Squire, and Howe on the cover?

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

That's a hard rocking ISSUE!

[@DrTomoculus]

@@bertbecker7532 That one I do not have! Is that Union era?

[@bertbecker7532]

@ Yes ‘91ish

[@greggildersleeve3484]

I've often wondered who owned the rights to the name Yes. Someone in a Yes fan group years ago thought Chris did, since he was the only constant member. Your video clarifies that all five members were considered owners at this time with the proviso that they couldn't use the Yes name after leaving the band. I wonder if that's still the arrangement today in the post-Squire band. Excellent video, as always! The ending leaves me hanging, though. I hope you will continue the story with ABWH, Union, and, yes, Talk. This band and its multiple side stories are just as addictive as the music.

[@NoShowShattuck]

I’m anxious for “Talk” because so little is commonly known about the background.

[@greggildersleeve3484]

@@NoShowShattuck All the more reason why a video needs to be done. I remember reading an interview with Chris Squire about Talk back in the day, but I've found very little commentary about it. Shame. It's one of my favorite Yes albums.

[@georgebarry8640]

@@NoShowShattuck Me ,too!!!!

[@georgebarry8640]

I try to be knowledgeable about the music business (I am in it)..and as a general principal the last surviving original member DOES usually own the rights to the name. But they can sell/lease it if they choose. This can be forever or temporarily. Little River band is an example of a succeful band where none of the original members have any rights to the name. The Guess Who (of Canada) ..their name is owned by their one-time bassist and he ,for years,leased the name to a cover band who went out and played the shows (the other original members have sued him and the drama continues over this). I think post Tormato Chris DID own the name alone, I suspect...but now in 2024 I suspect it is now in possesion of the Squire estate and maybe it gets leased to Steve Howe's collection of players. I guess we will all have to wait for a proper documentary by Jose to know the true of this. I am just speculating. I hope it happens. These docs are AMAZING. I feel a need to send a donation. Jose..how do I do that??

[@greggildersleeve3484]

@@georgebarry8640 Thanks for your insights! I've followed the LRB and GW legal dramas somewhat. (Don't get me started on Jefferson Airplane/Starship.) It's amazing that when you follow the history of rock music, you learn all sorts of things you never expected. I agree about the videos. JCM is awesome! I understand he has a Patreon account. That's usually a good place for donations.

[@robertschlueter7249]

How many times did Jon quit or get kicked out ? I saw them with Jon in the summer of 2000 . Met Jon after the show for a couple of minutes

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

1979 After the release of Tormato. 1988 he left. 2004 left for a brief period. 2008 got sacked in a very controversial move.

[@garthgundy]

I saw the Milwaukee show and had seats near the stage. Shoot High Aim Low was incredible live. It seemed like the last song anyway but the power went out during I’ve Seen All Good People. I was 15 and likely pretty stoned from the second hand smoke but I remember them finishing the song once ppl calmed down as the arena slowly filled with glow of bic lighters and getting to hear their voices with no mics. It was awesome.

[@AldousHuxleysCat]

I'm going to have to bookmark this and come back later, it really is fascinating but it's kind of making me sad for what could have been

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Good idea! I hope you enjoy the full episode-it’s packed with information that took me 100 coffees to compile, hehe.

[@RickroxxUsa]

Another instant classic. Going to pull out my promo copy of Big Generator right now . Thanks again for another great video . Have you ever done anything for the ELP album in ‘86? “Touch And Go” is a favorite. I also pulled out my Greg Lake album from ‘83, “Manouevers”. This is also making me pull out my 80s Rush albums today .

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

That's the spirit, yeah play your promo copy, you're lucky to have it! You know, i have a special appreciation of ELP's 1986 album but at the same time, i'm not sure how to feel on some of the numbers. Title track I LOVE! Maybe i will talk about them!

[@Zharkov1969A]

I am not generally a fan of Yes but this series has been really interesting, thank you.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Lots of avenues to this story, it has been fun and stressful to make hehe.

[@michelforest6329]

Great series of videos, thank you very much for making these. As I wrote in another comment about your previous video, I attended the show in Montreal on December 8, 1987. All in all, I've seen Yes live 12 times between 1984 and 2004 (including one ABWH show). The Big Tour was by far the worst Yes show I've seen. I absolutely agree with you when you say that the chemistry within the band was off. I was sitting in the 7th row of the orchestra that evening, and I could tell that Jon was in his own universe, he looked bored and the silly makeup he was wearing made him look even more detached from the band. Overall, the energy level was low. The small crowd didn't help. The arena was half-full at best, the newpaper reported around 7,500 tickets sold and the Forum could easily seat 15,000 for concerts. Big Generator was not nearly as popular as 90125, so that could explain the low turnout, but in my opinion, a lot of people in Montreal were simply turned off by Yes' more commercial sound. Montreal fans have always loved progressive rock and I know several people who saw Yes in 1984 and didn't want to go back in 1987 because it was no longer "prog" to them. One friend of mine called them "the new Styx" (and that was NOT a compliment!) The set didn't work for me: not enough songs from 90125 (only 3), five songs from Big Generator and as you say in the video, these didn't sound as good on stage, unlike the material from 90125 that sounded amazing live. The classic songs were kept for the end but that lineup could never play them well: Kaye was the wrong keyboard player for that material. Listen to his playing on Heart of the Sunrise... Ouch! And they cut Roundabout to 5 minutes, something I really hated. All this to say, I don't look back on that show with fond memories. I remember walking out of the Forum saying to my cousin that this could have been the last Yes show I ever saw. I just could not see a way forward with that lineup and that sound. Their appearance at the Atlantic show in May only confirmed this to me. When I heard later that Jon had left the band, I was not surprised one bit. Thanks again for the great video. Very interesting and informative! Cheers!! 😀

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Michel this is a fascinating recollection of events. Can't believe the Forum was half full. damn....now question, why would fans think the 9012Live Setlist was OK in 1984 but not so in 1987? I ask because the set lists were similar, and actually the 90125 had very little references to the past you know? Maybe because they cut some stuff from 90125? I am glad to know we agree on our impressions of the band, the fact YOU WERE THERE, makes it VERY SPECIAL. Thank YOU for sharing and tuning in!

[@michelforest6329]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories I'm glad I could share my impressions as a complement to your excellent video. Yeah, I think that some people who saw the previous tour were disappointed by the changes to the sound. They wanted the "prog" version of Yes. When ABWH came to town two years later, there were a lot more people. And when they came back in 1991 with 8 men lineup, it was full (or close to it.) But as I wrote, let's not forget that BIg Generator was not a big success, it got less airplay so that also explains the low turnout, in my opinion. Personally, I didn't mind the new sound, but I've never been a fan of the BG album. I do love 90125.

[@DrTomoculus]

I've returned after much consideration. Some would blame Yoko. I, in this instance would not. It wasn't Trevor Rabin's fault, that's for sure. I'd lay the blame on : Record company pressure to repeat the success of 90125. Too many people saying we gotta have owner of a lonely heart part 2. Jon Anderson. A man who says the commercial path is not where his spirit is, nor represents his role in Yes, but then goes and does a whole album with Toto backing him, with some of the most commercial sounding songs of his entire career. He's a muddled man. A muddled one. How much solo output did that man issue between 1983 - 1987, absolutely cashing in as much as he could on the success of 90125 WHICH HE CAME LATE TO. He did not throw himself into working with Trevor Rabin more closely. He did not dedicate great hours towards finding a balance between old Yes and new Yes. He was out there making videos and albums, and doing everything he could BUT remain dedicated to Yes and Yes alone. Not saying the others did not disperse, but goddamn. Trevor Horn. A man who felt insecure and overwhelmed as the band's singer, but demanded almost total control in the studio as its producer. And who was there, and who was not. (see Tony Kaye).

[@georgebarry8640]

I have no specific Dog in the fight,.,,but after all the information and music I've consumed. for decades .You said better than anyone could. Very succinct and ON POINT.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Your analysis is EXCELLENT. Compiling Anderson's body of SOLO work for the 80s really shed light on deeper problems than Yes writing songs for sure...i definitely understand what you mean here.

[@DrTomoculus]

@@georgebarry8640 I thank JCM-LZ-S for his excellent research. It truly cemented that opinion about Jon Anderson. Chris Squire getting distracted does not help the situation, but Squire & Rabin were tight. Nothing is going to get off the ground without either of those two.

[@DrTomoculus]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories Your research is excellent. It enabled me to get a better informed opinion about the causes of their falling apart. It is most definitely NOT Trevor Rabin. He dedicated himself to that thing. It honestly should have turned out better for all the work he put into it. He deserved that at least. But I don't think Jon Anderson was willing to give him anything for it.

[@justinparkerthewildwolf6394]

JCM, love your work

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thanks for watching Justin, this was EXHAUSTING to make hahahahha but worth!

[@johnspring5689]

"Talk" is criminally underrated

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Talk is one the hidden prog treasures of the 90s!

[@johnspring5689]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories Agree 100%

[@drummer78]

I live near that critic Brett Milano…great guy and all around huge music fan. He loves weird old garage rock, prog, punk, local bands, noise rock and pretty much everything in between. He’s a very knowledgeable guy.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

You do? Please tell him his reviews were great. His passion for music is present on his writing. Thanks for watching !!!

[@caramanico1]

I agree about the differences between the 1984 and 1987 tours. I saw both DC area shows in '84 and they both were fabulous. I don't remember a lot of specifics, but In '87 things overall just felt... tired.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The 1984 tour was electric! The band was on fire. Every boot from that tour is incredible. While 87-88 rocked too, you can see HEART OF THE SUNRISE just a VOID that absorbed EVERYTHING !!

[@PetersPianoShoppe]

Love the inclusion of Mychael Danna music at 42:00. A perfect underscore for that point in the story, and the closing credits.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The track is Henry Purcell - King Arthur opera Z. 628 ! Thanks for watching!

[@Rockstardust69]

Rabin was a phenomenal guitar player

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Word!!!!

[@a.debree6771]

As promissed now playing Big Generator from regular CD. It could be followed soon by The Word Is Live.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Cheers to great music!!! The Word is Live, i need to check that out!

[@a.debree6771]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories It contains live performances from the early days upto the Big Generator tour.

[@JohnMascola-xr5ds]

You Should make a Yes vs. Yes documentary about the late 80's and early 90's. The story should not end here.

[@colinburroughs9871]

Oh there's interesting bits of info from the era, but the music kind of implies, much like Tormato, the party wasn't happening at that point.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Setting the controls and making coffee first! Thanks for watching John!

[@outernationalstudios]

I love this series-

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@themusicbeat2379]

nicely done you did your homework.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank YOU for watching! Long live YES!

[@MedardKrzisnik]

It is a very well-researched drama within the band YES and in the context of the highly competitive music market in the conservative eighties, with Pink Floyd, Genesis, Roger Waters, and even Mili Vanili at the end of the audio video podcast. Yes, all the members were excellent musicians, very professional and ambitious, and Jon Anderson constantly moved. He worked a lot and had many exciting collaborations. The Big Generator album significantly improved a very persuasive sound and production. Still, with the tour (I would really like Yes or Trevor Rabin to release the whole official live album with all the songs from that tour and also with the TV broadcast of the concert that we can see on YT, although in a deteriorated quality), the trap of capitalist commercialism, its demand for massive profits from the band's sales in tickets, radio songs friendliness, repetitions of the shows started to alienate the members. They were suddenly "at war" with each other. Anderson challenged Trevor Rabin and a group from L.A. with a reasonable dilemma: who is more progressive? We have to go back to our very roots, to progressive rock, to our long compositions, not to the production of more radio hits. And the ABWH project was born, and somehow, they forged this direction, which has been more or less successful until today. This podcast is an excellent analysis of the period of Yes with Trevor Rabin and The Big Generator album also because the author points out that Yes were so ambitious that they couldn't replicate the album live because the technology was still not so up to date at that time (for example they had problems with midi synthesisers on the stage. They were frequently out of order.). Yes, with Rabin, they were on the quest for something more significant, and of course, they almost got it right with the Talk album. Today, they could perform Big Generator well, but sadly, Chris Squire has already died. It's interesting how Rabin viewed the classic material of Yes from the seventies as somehow old, inappropriate to play it for the then time of the eighties. He viewed those songs as the covers. How could we see similarly Pink Floyd's David Gilmour's take on the classic material of Pink Floyd when they were on the road without Roger Waters at the same as Yes with Trevor Rabin?

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Your comment is FANTASTIC. I enjoyed it very much. I think adding my two cents, i absolutely hate fans crap on Rabin but leave RECORD EXECS alone...i mean they pushed these damn metrics and numbers too, and it was BUSINESS. Rabin's refusal to do the old numbers made sense in the 80s....his attitude towards the TALK Tour was certainly different i think!

[@chuckzimmerman3711]

I seen the big generator tour in Bethlehem pa. Great show. Also got to see union tour in Philly

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

December 20, 1987 - Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA, USA You saw A GREAT SHOW there Chuck!

[@weitzen]

Excellent and insightful as always! Now , what about covering that pesky Union album and tour?! Who did and said what to who, and who decided that Peter Banks could not join them for an encore after he had been invited?!?! Unforgivable!!! A 2 parter for sure!!!

[@georgebarry8640]

I hope we hear about the A&R people that were involved (by name).

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Union is a maze...a crazy maze of prog, pop, Jimmy Haun and many many questions!

[@christiancazabonne]

Excelente video! La historia de Yes da como para telenovela de Televisa ya que tiene todos los elementos: Amor, traición, venganza, cieguitas, reencuentros, matrimonios, divorcios, funerales, nacimiento del bebé Rabin... 😂😂😂

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Hahahah Televisa si! Indudablemente. Podría llamarse LOS DÍAS DE ANDERSON o que tal GENERADOR LETAL? Me ha hecho reir este comentario Christian! Muchas gracias por sintonizar. Por cierto, VUELA VUELA ...la canción, siempre me ha parecido que Anderson pudo haber hecho un cover!

[@greggildersleeve3484]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories Hmm, I can see some US soap opera titles as well: "Close to the Edge of Night" (Edge of Night), "Big Generator Hospital" (General Hospital), "Rabin's Hope" (Ryan's Hope) and even a British one: "Yesenders" (Eastenders).

[@christiancazabonne]

​@@JCM-LedZeppelin-StoriesLa de vuela vuela es originalmente francesa y se llama "Voyage voyage" (Viaje viaje) Y para mi era difícil saber si la cantaba un hombre o una mujer, resulta que la canta una mujer quien se siente "Entre los 2 géneros " 🤣🤣 Más o menos así andaba Jon Anderson en los 80's pero entre 2 géneros musicales: Rock progresivo y Pop 🤦 Bueno, Phil Collins también. 🤦 Yo creo que el capítulo más complicado de la telenovela de Yes es entre 1989 y 1994, allí pasó literalmente "Cualquier cosa", como por ejemplo unas declaraciones de Steve Howe "De repente Jon Anderson me dijo que en el próximo álbum yo no iba a estar, ni Bill Bruford ni Rick Wakeman, que él quería reformar el Yes "West", yo dije "Ok", y me fui de gira sólo con mis guitarras. Jon no estaba al corriente de que Rick Wakeman había dejado de nuevo Yes y que Bill prometió más nunca en su vida volver a tocar con Jon Anderson 🤣🤣" El disco fue Talk. Ya Howe había terminado tomando una postura de "Resignación" con respecto a las ideas locas de Jon Anderson. (Éso lo leí en el libro "Close to the Edge" de Chris Welch). Por lo menos le advirtió que le iba a poner los cuernos con el otro guitarrista! 😂😂

[@christiancazabonne]

​@@greggildersleeve3484😂😂😂 Yes & Order: Starship Troopers Victims. 😂😂

[@greggildersleeve3484]

@@christiancazabonne Haha.

[@jeffreyg607]

Personally, my favorite era of Yes were the Rabin years! 90125 & BG, especially ❤❤

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

RIGHT ON! Rabin was KILLER and saved the band! Thank YOU very much for watching!

[@punker-gamer-trucker-guy]

Ive been having a fun time revisiting big generator. The back half gets a little weak, and when theres only 8 songs that really hurts a record.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

At least you are revisiting this! 8 tracks is short but at least it doesn't have Meat Loaf on it right?

[@punker-gamer-trucker-guy]

​@@JCM-LedZeppelin-StoriesI found this CD while cleaning out trade ins at a car dealership. It was under the seat, popped it in and it sounded incredible even in 2007. Had to crank the bass and reduce the treble. This big hip-hop head heard it and said yo what is that!? It's the rhythm of love!

[@bei1016]

I'm Listing to the 1st show of the BG Tour. Yes , in the 70's always Started in Philadelphia. We heard the Songs that got Dropped. Like from Tourmato.We Saw The Relayer Concert, The album wasn't Released yet. Ed Sciaky FM DJ Played a Copy on the air that Jon sent him. So We Knew the New Music.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Philadelphia was YES' home indeed. Great Crowds every time. Lucky!!! Thank YOU for watching!

[@bei1016]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories Hello" I Made Casette Copies of My Master Tape from the FM Relayer World Premier. , With the Interview with Jon Anderson. I Gave Copies to All my Little Yes Friends. We were Not Prepared for The Stage Sets. The Arms on the Crab above Patrick Moraz's kaybords MOVED when Patrick Played the Solo's in Sound Chaser & Roundabout. We Were Flabergasted. And our Teenage voices were Thrashed from All the Screaming & Cheering. In The December 1974 Relayer Philadelphia Show. The Sold Out Spectrum Gave Yes Multiple Standing Ovations. and Yes Needed to Hear That.

[@alexplorer]

The late '80s was always going to be a weird time, and Yes may have had a harder time than others. There was something of a zeitgeist that made it hard for established groups to find their legs. Whereas the early '80s was much more organic and had a DIY (even post-apocalyptic) feel and fashion sense, the latter half of the decade is almost a completely different animal. Early '80s heavy metal became hair metal. What was once literally just guys with long hair suddenly required perms and hairspray and makeup. The music wasn't anywhere near as hard, mostly just pop with guitar solos. The look and the sound had changed. David Bowie wore a suit ironically during the "Let's Dance" period, but a few years later we started seeing musicians copying the "Miami Vice" Versace jacket with a t-shirt underneath. Note how Eric Clapton adopted that style around the "Journeyman" album/tour. (And check out how styled his hair is!) He also went from relatively tight blues bands to having a small orchestra onstage with him. Not jamming as a band. No, they're all performing well-rehearsed solos. You can hear the stark contrast between the collaborative musicians on Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to the much more sterile and precise sounds on "Bad," like every instrument except the distorted guitars came from a sound library. That change in texture is all over albums from that period (e.g., Genesis and even Peter Gabriel, though he was already experimenting with new sounds before "So"). I think sometimes the shift is attributed to lineup changes rather than a larger musical shift. Pink Floyd is the most obvious one. Not only did Roger Waters (their primary songwriter) leave, but like Jackson, their whole sound behind the guitar parts becomes considerably more electronic (and that includes the vocals in the case of oddities like "The New Machine"). Part of that was the development of the technology (e.g., synths were getting cheaper and came with a broader and more maleable range of sounds, and MIDI was at a consumer level instead of just for mad scientists who spent hundreds of hours in the studio), but you can see it in their look during that period: Gilmour did the sports jacket with a t-shirt, and while he had a mullet, it was nothing compared to the one Scott Page, their sax guy, had on tour! Van Halen also changed their sound between the Roth to Hagar transition. Eddie's guitar parts were usually cleaner, sometimes with no distortion at all, and almost everything has some chorus on it, like he switched from satin to gloss. That's what that period is: A mullet. Business in front; party in the back. It looked ridiculous because it tried to straddle two ethos that were in diametric opposition to one another. You are either trying to make a statement or you're trying to blend in. You can't have it both ways. But this period is full of musicians trying to be both artists and businessmen. They wear the sports coat but put on a t-shirt instead of a tie. You have established groups adding more and more backup musicians so they're less a rock band than an orchestra. You still have lead guitar, but now it's backed by state-of-the-art keyboards and even electronic percussion, sometimes drum machines, and always with a click track. The production is slick and polished, but it lacks spontaneity. What used to been created organically now comes across as something off an assembly line. Sidebar: It's notable that a couple albums from that period have been remixed to tone down the elements in the instrumentation that made them so dated: Pink Floyd's "Momentary Lapse of Reason" and David Bowie's "Never Let Me Down," both ironic titles on this point. The latter album was indeed a letdown artistically and financially, and Bowie turned to hiding in plain sight as the lead singer of "Tin Machine," which conspicuously was a 4-piece with no keyboardist. No matter who was in the band when this stylistic shift occurred, Yes would have had to adapt either way, and line-up changes were the most natural way for them to update. In other words, change coming from the outside would have resulted in a slow death from stagnation, whereas change from within the group via new blood with a new set of skills and preferences resulted in them reaching a new and larger audience. Anderson and Squire made the shift, but I doubt Howe could have. However, a band has to look both ahead and to the past. As is highlighted in this documentary, the album means charting new territory and exploring the strengths of the new line-up. But the subsequent touring requires the band to dip into older material. Sometimes the members and/or the set list just don't mesh with the established works, which is what happened here.

[@greggildersleeve3484]

I think you've clarified for me why the music of the '80s became less and less interesting as the decade wore on. From '83-85, especially, things were hopping with the resurgence of heavy metal, Prince's 1999 and Purple Rain albums, and Tina Turner staging an impressive comeback. Rock had regained some of its rebellious spirit, which seemed odd because MTV standardized everything and promoted rock stars who looked like teen actors. I remember '85 as a really good year with "Money for Nothing" from Dire Straits and "Would I Lie to You?" by Eurythmics among other organic rockers becoming hits. After that year, things seemed to become ordinary and boring. Bon Jovi were huge, but I thought they sounded pedestrian. Ditto with The Black Crows, who somehow made Southern rock that sounded trite. Even KISS, who could usually be relied on for high energy badassery, resorted to a typical power ballad, "Forever," to get a hit. I was never a Bowie fan, but I admired the originality of "Let's Dance." "Day In, Day Out" was meh. Thanks for the analysis.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

BOOM, THIS HAS TO BE THE BEST 80s Line i've readh, this is BRILLIANT, may i use it? hehe. That's what that period is: A mullet. Business in front; party in the back. Your comment is one of the best i've ever read here. I think we should also add the fact these guys were in their 40s and they knew it was time to milk it Hard once more (that's what she said). You can see they took chances 1980-1983 but then Reaganism really influenced that televangelist prosperity feel of the late 80s. Add in rumours of the Cold War ending at some point and i think everyone MULLETED themselves for bucks, just like the music biz in the 1950s.

[@graemelightbody1144]

There was a Jon Anderson interview in Q magazine at the time of ABWH inception titled - The band that likes to say Yes - except they can't. Really good interview in how he loves Chris & will work with him again but how he was labeled Little Napoleon in the studio - IE he was demanding more input meaning that - he is 'listening'. Still remember after all these years - gutted yes west were in limbo.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The problem i have with ABWH is the production. It seems NO ONE said NO to anything. THe sounds....damn it....where these the "latest" gadgets they could get? lol

[@graemelightbody1144]

@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories I did buy the album at the time out of sheer curiosity - it's a strange body of work - production is very tin man - very little in the guitar dept

[@mancuniancandidatem]

​@@JCM-LedZeppelin-StoriesI can never understand how people rate the ABWH album highly and slag off Union. I think Union is a far better album if a little bloated. To me the ABWH album is unlistenable. As you say, the sounds suck, but also the writing is so sappy.

[@antonpreacher2900]

Great video ! By the way is there a known good soundboard recording of the Big Generator tours ? I never found one. Are you gonna make a doc on the Talk years ? I’m the lonely guy in the back who loves Talk ^^

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Anton, i share your appreciation of TALK. I do wanna TALK (pun super intended) about the album and Rabin's departure which I still don't understand. (i understand his reasons of course, but i just want to take a closer look). On your BG questions, check out OAKLAND 1988, it's great. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mp2qaoiVfqppaqc also you can type in Yes Big Generator 1987-1988 and there's a very nice compilation someone put together of the best cuts from the tour (mostly 1988 to no surprise).

[@greggildersleeve3484]

As comments throughout this page attest, there quite a lot of fans of Talk (yours truly included).

[@nz1229]

Looking forward to a ABWH and Union analysis if you are thinking of that.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The YES saga has so many angles right? I am making coffee first :) Thanks for watching!

[@stevemora7845]

I remember the ads for those West tone pantera guitars. They looked decent and obviously Trevor fancied them. (endorsement 😉)

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

They look like the kind of guitar that works for Metal like Jacksons. I hope i can try one of these one day! And play BIG GENERATOR!!!

[@gregbryan4716]

I’m Running is one of Yes’s best, possibly the best. No clue as to why it is always overlooked.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I think if they went with an Afrocuban instead of their attempt at Latin style ideas it would have been better. The rest of the song i love! Thanks for watching !!

[@felixmartinez5792]

I saw this tour at the Hollywood Sportatorium Florida.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Nice, you were there January 1988! Legendary venue where Zeppelin played too!

[@felixmartinez5792]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories I body surfed all the way to front row ... Everybody was Kool AF . No one upset I locked eyes and air guitar with Chris 🙏🏼 I met a really cool chick she saw what a fan I was and gave a backstage pass ‼️ All of the sudden I'm underneath the stage where all the Techs were operating. I was led further back . I chilled and later I had the great luck of meeting Allan White. 🙏🏼

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Surfing U.S.A indeed man. Thats one helluva story. You LIVED THE MUSIC!!!

[@roberts.2536]

When you say that "Roundabout" marked the departure of Jon in '79, was it because it was the last song played on the Tormato tour?

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

That is correct! Roundabout was the link! Thanks for watching!

[@Mark-oc4un]

JCM great work as always Zeppelin /Yes/ when will we see the group that was 1/2 of each I just mentioned . RUSH.?

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Mark that's definitely tempting. I will tell you though i am not a Rush expert by any means. My favorite album is probably Grace Under Pressure. What would you like to see that hasn't been discussed on other documentaries?

[@Mark-oc4un]

@ it would be cool the show how Rush was heavy into bot Zeppelin’s and yes music and just highlight the sound a like comparison.But no pressure definitely 74-80 years would be cool.

[@Schimnesthai]

The 1988 show is an important section of the prog cinematic universe.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Absolutely! A vital component of the prog story!

[@charlesbronson4282]

Good show. Good show!!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Thank YOU for watching Charles!

[@marpsr]

I LOLed at the Shirley MacLaine comment. I love Jon but that’s not wrong. 😂

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

That was a SAVAGE BURN, what a comparison right? Anderson was flying too high in Convergence maybe?

[@charlesnolan7602]

Ok Let's go over this. THANKS BTW FOR THIS VIDEO! First - Houston show good audio; Landover, MD full in house video on KZbin. Philadelphia in house PRISM/Spectrum camera feed. Also on youtube here... I was at 2 BG YES shows. The first was November 29, 1987. Philadelphia Spectrum. It was sold through 2 levels. 3rd level some unsold cheap seats remained; My second show was an " ADD ON" show. Stabler Arena Bethlehem, Pa December 20th. I recall on the Stabler stage, a mid sized Lighted Christmas tree was placed on each front corner. Now I REMEMBER a LOT about these two shows, so don't state: " Nobody remembers the BG tour." I bought BG in October 1987. I am Still a YES fan since March ,1971. Philadelphia: At one point Tony Kaye could not recieve a keyboard patch from the keyboard tech underneath; The Song " Big Generator," was just TOO HEAVY for a standard YES song to be played live. You are correct- that song did not work on tour. I really like Trevor Rabin, to this day. Failure: YES did not conyinue with either FINAL EYES or I'm RUNNING. I actually passed on a third BG YES show in Philadelphia , 2-1988. I felt at the YES STABLER arena DECEMBER show that YES sounded VERY tired! I am glad you covered this challenging period on YES' history. BG is not a favorite YES album, but I still attended. Also: HEART OF THE SUNRISE did NOT sound out of place; It was just a different version. I saw 3 TALK shows in 1994 with this line up+Billy Sherwood. They were all excellent.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I am excited to read you remember the BG Tour. Most Yes Fans think otherwise and i've always found that STRANGE. I like challenging music periods, the most famous albums have been discussed to death i believe!

[@carstenlizardschulz3128]

I got the amazing Definitive Oakland '88 bootleg, which has a perfect sound, even better than some of the official ones. I really prefer this over many other official releases. The setlist though was weird, with solo spots rights at the beginning of the set.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Very nice! Is it this one? www.discogs.com/es/release/12158224-Yes-Definitive-Oakland-1988?srsltid=AfmBOoo_-ch4V1SPBPEO0NmWCn8eil80qMVeycUDoQJ9jbWBv4qmUR7J . I agree with you on the set list, it feels like 9012Live Part 2.

[@TedBurke]

Of course the broke up, as those decades of hanging together on long tours and recording studios is enough to drive any group of people apart. Rabin brought to the band something Yes should have done years before, a significant to their sound , beholden to their legacy but a bit more "with it" so far as musical trends were going. They'd been stale for sometime, Anderson's hayseed mysticism was now insufferable, and Rabin gave them back their edge: sharper guitar work, a real sense of melody that appealed to listeners eager for melodic hooks to go along with all the virtuoso party tricks. It seemed a good start to a good future, but it was too late, leaving Yes not a band but a floating crap game of players under contract to a corporate logo.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I agree Rabin helped them do what they should have around 1976. I can't stand most of Yes post 1994 material to be honest! Thank YOU TED for watching!

[@surfgator8294]

I LOVE Big Generator album!

[@thekeysman1]

Interesting views on this. Any band that can last that many years, is bound to change their styles over the years, which Yes did in the 80s era. I was shocked they modernized that much in the 80s, Good material overall, but nothing like their old material. Bands have to change if they want a different or more varied audience.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

At least Yes carried on to make enough money. It's damn surprising to think they never made big dough in album sales in the 70s where their best stuff is. So i don't blame them for 80s Yes, the songs were ELEGANT and well crafted. It's impossible for any artist to keep their 20's intact, they move on and some make money, other's get wasted thinking about the what ifs!

[@danv8717]

I stopped listening to critics years ago.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

I only listen to critics to make fun of their opinions sometimes. Specially when they are not musicians :)

[@frankcostell8928]

Great videos! I don't think there's much comparison between the Yes and Pink Floyd tours, Floyd didn't tour since '77 and that partially explains the demand for multiple nights vs Yes who was just out on 90125 a few years prior.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Yeah Floyd's return is no surprise, but it's definitely incredible the fact they played for 2 YEARS. I feel Waters out made Gilmour go full GILMOURIAN on his desire to MAKE money!

[@GuitarAnthony]

'Rabin joined Yes and Howe left after Drama'. Ironically enough, Rabin did audition for Asia while they were looking for a singer before the record company letting John Wetton do it.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Right, imagine Steve Howe's reaction realizing Trevor scored YES money he never could after replacing Peter Banks. I played a snippet of Rabin's 1981 Rehearsal with ASIA on Episode 1 for the Making of 90125! Thank YOU for watching!

[@GuitarAnthony]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories I'm sure Steve (my favorite guitar player so excuse my bias) was ok after all that Asia money rolled in.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Steve didn't make THAT much money....years go by and trust me, had he been loaded, no way he goes into ABWH just because. GTR also costed him money from his own pocket!

[@TJR-ClassicRockCorner0124]

Jim Yukick also directed Flight of Icarus by Iron Maiden (famous for capturing the studio where Love Beach was recorded at and Nicko McBrain dressed up as a blue Grim Reaper and a cameo by the late Martin Birch) and their concert film Live After Death.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Oh man i didn't know this, FANTASTIC TRIVIA!!! Thanks for watching!

[@vxe6vxe6]

If you create music with a bunch of overdubs and additional musical parts to the song/album and you want to play it live you have to do one of three things - rework the songs for the band you have on stage - Bring in extra musicians - use prerecorded music.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Or call Jimmy Page for him to explain how to replciate multilayers on stage like Achilles Last Stand :) I agree. Preparation is key. Thanks for watching!

[@tonyspada2744]

Talk was the best Rabin/Yes album. ❤

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

It was their most consistent album 100%, Rabin deserves so much praise! Thanks for watching!

[@tonyspada2744]

@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories really enjoyed your work on this. Thank you

[@stevesipos]

JCM FILMS! LOVE IT!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The studio where music doesn't go Steinman!

[@tonyespelage9712]

Unpopular opinion, 90215 is my favorite YES album.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

In my KZbin Channel this is a POPULAR opinion i salute you for it! Thank YOU very much for watching!

[@strettoasino9006]

I remember "TOBIAS" guitars...🎸🤔

[@rohan-qd6py]

277 concerts? Did not know I attended maybe 20 of them…

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The band earned their money. Busted their a$$es on the road indeed! Thank YOU for watching!

[@glenmurschel5939]

Saw them with this lineup in Chicago. Was great, other than heart sunrise, the keys were off a bit.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Oh they were off? out of tune you mean? Nice that you saw them in Chicago, a loud gig i bet?

[@WhiteWizzard]

The reviewers are so off base. 90215 is a masterpiece but so is BG. I think it’s an incredible record that has aged well. Every song is great. I always found BG to have many similarities to 90215 so it’s surprising to see reviewers found it so lesser or different.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Yeah, it's almost as if they were being paid by Guns N Roses label to crap on every classic rock band...I know man, it's like you liked 90125 but BG is bad? Are you LISTENING to the......BAND? hahahahahah

[@stevesipos]

Gotta do ABWH and Jon's tent!

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

A prog rock maze awaits me...!

[@sconni666]

I saw the Union tour or whatever in the round with all them in ‘91. Guess they worked out their differences. And bank accounts.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Bank Accounts i'm sure, the former Yes men needed CASH, their records were not selling like 90125 did.

[@neilouellette3004]

Being a teenager in the 70's, I've seen YES many times over the years 70's-90's. I have to say the Trevor Rabin era and concerts were far better. Even though The Union Tour w/everyone involved, should be called "The Reunion Tour", was awesome. Will say you could feel and see the friction between Howe & Rabin. They would stay and play on opposite sides of the stage. Rabin was having fun but as usual Howe looked like he didn't want to be there at that time. I haven't and would never see this current carnation of YES. No way! Steve Howe & Friends that's all it is now.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

the RE-UNION Tour yes, i agree! The friction of Howe and Rabin is GOLD. It's like TAKE THAT STEVE, look at the man who saved the band you quit in 1981 for Asia hahahha. I need to talk about this!

[@Doug-nr3gh]

New yes won't play any Trevor Rabin songs live disappointing

[@ThrewABrickBoots]

33:53 is that my thumbnail I spot 🤔

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Which spot? The great Oakland stadium? Thanks for watching!

[@ThrewABrickBoots]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories The Inglewood 1988 one, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Oh yes! Was it a great show?

[@ThrewABrickBoots]

@@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories I remember it being a good show, its on my channel if you are interested.