Steve Howe of Yes tells a few tales from topographic oceans

Steve Howe talks to us from the old house and studio in Devon where they rehearsed ‘The Yes Album’ in 1970. He’s been recording there for 54 years and is part of the current line-up about to set out around Europe. He looks back here on what he’s learnt from 60 years onstage and mentions …
… the effect of seeing Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins and The Animals in 1964.
… playing old Shadows tunes at the Barnsbury Boys School in Holloway, aged 14.
… how Yes songs evolved and the cover versions they used to play (America by Paul Simon, Something’s Coming from West Side Story).
… “the dark 1968 that followed the rainbow 1967”.
... Duane Eddy, Hank Marvin, Chet Atkins, Alison Krauss and the Big Three.
… how Sgt Pepper - and blues, jazz and classical music - lit prog’s blue touchpaper.
… the value of “homework” and the hours of painstaking rehearsal that allowed them to play Fragile onstage.
… how Iron Butterfly helped transform the Yes stage show.
… Starship Trooper, Roundabout and other songs they’re guaranteed to play.
… old memories of Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe.
… and the road ahead: “I’ll keep going while I can still do the twiddly bits”.
Yes tour dates …
www.yesworld.com/
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[@lesblatnyak5947]

I saw Steve with YES 31 times. Greatest show on earth.

[@gregoryschleitwiler9601]

You have me beat 27 fir me

[@user-dw3hl4sh2w]

I listened to Topographic Oceans constantly when I revised for my A levels in 1975. It is still one of my favourite records. I saw Yes at Reading that summer, they played the best set. Thirty minutes was not long enough with Steve.

[@jonathanbodge2113]

I saw Tales at the New Haven coliseum in Connecticut. I understand that it was only one of the 2 concerts where all 4 movements were performed live. It was transformative and changed my life. I pursued that life and at some point toured as a visual artist on Jon Andersons Work in Progress Tour of the Universe. I met Steve at one point at a guitar show in Long Island, I remember playing a guitar in a vendors booth while sitting down then looking up and Steve was listening to me! A master listening to a minion I thought. Steve will be reviered forever.

[@jamesmicucci7028]

The New Haven Tales Tour concert (2/15/74) was my second-ever Yesshow. Research supports the fact that there were approximately 50 complete live performances of the entire double album of 4 songs, worldwide: the entire UK tour leg, Nov/Dec 1973, (21 in England, 4 in Scotland); and on the North American tour leg, Feb/Mar 1974, of 43 Yesshows, there were 23 complete Tales in USA, 2 in Canada. [At 13 US shows, they played Sides 1, 3 & 4 only (No "Remembering"); at 3 US shows, they just played "The Ancient" & "Ritual"; and at one US concert, the Philadelphia matinee show (2/16/74, 2:30 pm.), they played only "The Revealing" & "Ritual" from Tales]....I might add that, after years of believing Detroit 2/28/74 was the last complete, original Tales performance, I've discovered through this research an additional 7 complete live 1974 Tales shows, including 3/8, 3/11, 3/12, 3/16, 3/23, 3/24, and the actual final, complete performance to this day: 3/25/74, Dallas. On the following European leg, the final leg of the Tales Tour, Sides 1, 3 & 4 (No "Remembering") were performed at all 10 Yesshows: 6 in Germany, 1 in The Netherlands, 1 in Paris, 1 in Zurich, & 1 in Rome. ...Thanks to setlist.fm for a wealth of concert information.

[@Atom-56]

It’s good to see Steve looking so well and full of enthusiasm. You can see, he is in a good place with it all.

[@KNevada]

I saw the Tales concert in Louisville, KY in, I think, 1973. Absolutely amazing, blew me away… Yes fan forever.

[@Bryan8329]

My first concert was Yes’ Masterworks tour in 2000, so I got to see him play some of his famous solos. What I remember most is how he traded out his spanish instrument for his Martin acoustic for the first part of I've Seen All Good People, Jon was playing acoustic guitar too. Underneath the singing he was playing almost in a flamenco style on a steel string instrument. Great show. I overheard someone on the way out it was a cool gig but too many keyboards. His friend said “Yes without keyboards is like beer without alcohol”.

[@scitsalcoryp]

Great attitude . Have a good one Steve !

[@apollomemories7399]

Always find his enthusiasm most entertaining and he's such an interesting guy. Been listening avidly since 1972.

[@hamadah4]

Great interview! Love the fact that Steve still owns and uses the same cottage as they used for the rehearsals for The Yes Album.

[@vbian88]

REFRESHING LISTENING TO A LIVING LEGEND.

[@stevennovakovich2525]

The consummate gentleman and guitarist. I always like to listen to him.

[@mickthemerciless9694]

One of the most unique guitarists ever.

[@1ouncebird]

Yes also played the Beatles' "I'm Down" during the encore portion of the 1976 tour. Well they played it when I saw them in San Diego, anyway. They made it one very rocking and rollicking tune, that's for sure. I almost couldn't believe they were playing it but it was a lot of fun.

[@davidgarione2206]

Recuerdo que allá por 1977 en Argentina ya era considerado el mejor guitarrista de rock en el mundo por la prensa especializada. Howe ha sido por décadas el motor de Yes, un maestro en toda la línea en rock prog, jazz, charleston, música clásica, etc. Sus trabajos con aquel otro eximio maestro Steve Hackett en GTR no debe dejar de mencionarse. Saludos desde Mar del Plata, argentina!

[@grahamcole1539]

Another wonderful half hour, thanks guys. I first saw Yes in London 1971, Rick Wakeman had just joined. Festival Hall. Part of my 6th Form Soundtrack.

[@gedofgont1006]

I still vividly remember Melody Maker's review of The Steve Howe Album: "Stevie: he play guitar just fine; he no sing so good!" 😂😂😂 I've loved his work with (classic) Yes since hearing my older brother's copy of The Yes Album, in 1979. Unfortunately, the most recent iterations of the band are really only a tribute act. The absence of Jon Anderson long ago removed the spiritual heart of the band.

[@ianstephenson1117]

Great lively wide ranging chat.Thanks!

[@dogdrawer]

Absolutely Fantastic - TU!

[@perigee1275]

Truely one of the greatest guitarists ever. There's no one else at all like him.

[@apchsiri1156]

Truly, truly.

[@dabbog5518]

I'm having a ... Healthy Flashback 🎶🥰🎶

[@GentleGiant1969]

Fabulous!! I saw Yes in the round!! ❤️🙏 the Tormato tour! 1978

[@rocketpost1]

Excellent interview with Steve. I remember first hearing him like many others I would think, on the song My White Bicycle by Toomorrow (sic) maybe in 1966. A famous Yes cover which wasn't mentioned was The Beatles' Every Little Thing. Maybe it was too obvious. Steve is definitely one of the great guitar players who has a totally individual style. I still remember first hearing Roundabout on my Bush Arena stereo with 10 watt speakers. It sounded absolutely amazing especially when Chris Squire's bass kicked in. I was instantly hooked.

[@garyrigby21]

i was hoping you would talk about his band Tomorrow 1967/8

[@philipholding]

Who is this guy? Oh! I know, one of the greatest guitarist's on earth!

[@davidwhite2949]

Brilliant guitarist. Thanks for this interview!

[@TheAmazingSpaghetti]

He's my fave, nobody at all like him and Yes, except maybe a few people/bands who are highly influenced by him and Yes.

[@davefitzgerald5334]

Agreed. Best guitarist in the world. Good vocals too.

[@234cheech]

about time

[@John-rb3yv]

Always playing, creating.... Just like Jon....

[@wfamdaxj]

Shame that he and Jon aren't working together.......Before they can't. Ever. 🤞

[@catnameddog8776]

Slight intricacies indeed ..

[@ambadad]

I've got my ticket for the RAH in June, and I'll be delighted if they come up with more variation than the warhorses. I'm not fussed about hearing Roundabout and Starship Trooper for the umpteenth time.

[@scrambaba]

Yes have mixed it up a lot over the years compared to Genesis.

[@ambadad]

@@scrambabaHardly comparable given that Genesis did tours in the UK after Invisible Touch only in 87, 92, 98 (with Ray), 07 and 21-22 (split because of Covid).

[@scrambaba]

Actually the fact that Genesis toured so little makes their same-old same-old setlist and arrangements even worse. Remember too that their setlist and the medleys started being added to their standard repertoire by maybe 1976.

[@Rowenband]

I thought Steve had a very developed ego. He certainly has, but he is also a nice guy it seems. And anyway what a guitarist and composer.

[@smithpm81]

best guitarist in the world

[@moenacarlos]

Bravo! Muchas gracias.

[@StevieBluenoseScott]

Wow!

[@jimcondon762]

Yes...

[@bobbaldwin3572]

When Mark asks Steve about owner of a lonely heart does Steve say something like " thank God I wasn't involved"😅

[@dabbog5518]

HealingLoveALL HealingMusicALL

[@paulbrookes413]

It's so ironic that Steve isn't on 'TALK' 😂

[@Michael-pq4wd]

I'm looking forward to seeing YES in a couple months, with Deep Purple. To be honest, I might just leave after Yes performs and skip Purple.

[@philkindermann]

In which Mark Ellen manages to survive asking Steve Howe if he played on 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart'.....

[@quayscenes]

🤣

[@willbick7889]

somewhat amazed that he didn't know that...?!!!?

[@sratus]

Bizarre that he as a seasoned music journalist & Yes fan asked that. We all have a brainfart now & then I suppose.

[@monicadonnelly4991]

I’m surprised Steve didn’t jump through the screen at him

[@philkindermann]

I don't think it was a brainfart, I think he genuinely didn't know. Plus he should have perhaps been aware that Steve Howe doesn't think much of Rick Wakeman these days, either!@@sratus

[@BarryChabala]

Lets try the right tempos maybe

[@chrispinto3043]

Not my fave album Ritual onlytrack i like

[@peterstudley1804]

How on earth can you compare YES, with the beatles, YES stand head and shoulders over the beatles, YES were the real deal, the beatles just another boy band who happened to have alot of people oiling the wheels .

[@sratus]

Ha, what rubbish.

[@morbidmanmusic]

You can't be that arrogant, and ignorant. You're embarrassing and looking for attentions.

[@gregoryschleitwiler9601]

​@@sratusTwo totally different genres. Bother great within that scope. Dream Theater compared to the Monkeys. Cmon dude

[@greghaines6488]

Beatles were just another boy band? Now, please…