YesYears - 1991 Documentary about the band Yes

[@williamlangan5902]

I always wanted to see the whole video. So to whoever posted this, thank you! Only 2 quibbles. It would’ve been nice if the late Peter Banks, Patrick Moraz, Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes were interviewed. And no mention of Mr. Moraz’s The Story Of I, which was released the same time as the other solo albums. But I think the band members touring on Union were most readily available. The other quibble was the video being stopped. But I am glad you got to hear what you couldn’t see. And we’re going to have to wait a long time before we get it in public domain. Aside from that, a great documentary from 1991. I remember purchasing the box set 2 years after its release. Favorite stories- how Rick Wakeman and Alan White joined Yes. Chris Squire calls Rick at 3 in the morning to join the band and Rick asks “Do you realize what time it is, Chris?” Time to join the greatest prog rock band ever, Rick! Alan says Chris threatened to throw him out the window if he didn’t join. That sounds like Mr. Squire! Jon Anderson admits he was a little bossy, calling himself Napoleon. He also talks about how much he enjoyed working on his solo album. Bill Bruford was very matter of fact about liking his order and Robert Fripp inviting him to join King Crimson. Trevor Rabin admits to being a perfectionist with songwriting. Steve Howe talks about band dynamics and Squire talks about the history of the band. Seeing them come together near the end is worth the price of admission and it brings back memories of seeing Yes live during the Union tour. One of the best concerts I can remember! A must see for any fan of Yes, casual or serious. Thank you again for posting!

[@Dave_Murr]

Watched my VHS copy of this endlessly and before each of their tours. YES was my first concert experience - Union Tour - after discovering them through my Dad’s record collection.

[@Singleballtheory]

Glad to see this posted, but frustrating that so many parts are removed for copyright restriction. Still better than nothing since I'll likely never own a VCR ever again. My VHS of this is just a relic of a bygone time.

[@mattleppard1964]

I had it too 😊

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Fortunately I still use my VCR!

[@tomgebarowski8156]

I learned more about Yes here than ever before. Thank you for this documentary!

[@RadagastBrown420]

How long was the original documentary?

[@123612100]

You could probably find a VCR for cheap. VHS is retro cool now.

[@GuitarBassCigar]

My wife (then girlfriend) bought the YES box set for me in which this video was included and it was one of the best gifts ever.

[@georgeratkovich7161]

Wakeman's contribution to Topographic Oceans was beyond amazing, and to realize that it was an album that he didn't like is mind blowing. How does one perform so well on a project he doesn't care for? Full credit to his musicianship.

[@fabrikk60]

Bill Bruford claims he's never once heard TFTO. I find that a bit weird; you'd think he'd wonder what his old band sounded like with Alan as a newbie. I guess Crimson occupied all the real estate in Bill's mind at the time.

[@scifiwriter98]

His mellotron playing on Revealing Science of God is sublime. That album and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway are the last great mellotron albums.

[@RadagastBrown420]

​@@fabrikk60I'm not sure when he said that, but I'm not buying it in 2024.

[@fabrikk60]

@@RadagastBrown420 Here's an interview with Bill, from 2022, where he clearly states that he's never heard TFTO. It's at about the 14 minute mark: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6mXimSseLGSb7s

[@Mozart1220]

George Harrison did it for years.

[@tomgebarowski8156]

Glad to see Yes get their due. An incredibly innovative & talented band, Yes was one of the premier progressive rock bands of the 70's and beyond. Love these deep dives into classic bands!

[@RadagastBrown420]

The best progressive/ psychedelic hippie band ever.

[@richardchapman1592]

Was around in those days. Would make a record of it but still on a contract with Stanislaughski.

[@josephkain6213]

That first logo, for such a completely unique band, is wonderfully simplistic.

[@impalaman9707]

And I actually like it better!😃

[@frankhoulihanfh4972]

They were utterly unique. We shan’t see their like again.❤

[@fabrikk60]

Peter Banks designed that logo and had it on his Rickenbacker. I have it on a T-shirt with a big replica of the debut album (ie UK sleeve, not the USA one).

[@impalaman9707]

@@fabrikk60 Those poor guys who leave bands before they become popular--I feel sorry for those guys😥

[@michaeljones9301]

Bought this on VHS the day it was released . Wore it out. Was HUGE YES FAN. Today, not so much. The band is not the same, as we all know. I loved this time. I fell in love with YES because of ABWH . Bought everything I could get my hands on. Reason I'm a Musician. Long Live theeeee YES!

[@steve-0493]

Right on..grew up as kid in 80sn,SO OBVIOUSLY i heard the Rabin era lol...BUT it was the 9012live version of Seen all good ppl that REALLY got me into them when i got older..despite being a late bloomer fan,as in "turn of the century"😉 /2000 I was now in my 20s,so got CD house of blues in bargin bin lol,that was not the version of Seen all good ppl I liked lol,but man oh man Yours is no disgrace on that cd/DVD is SMOKING!!!anyways,I finally got to see them live when they got back together in 08-09 ,had Benoit David as singer,GOOD SHOW!!it was like listening to older music/instruments of Yes,With a 70s sounding Jon Anderson on vocals!!plus Squire and them did early version of Aliens,which ended up on Squackatt...which is Steve Hackett and The Fish teaming up,good album!!get it if u can!! I like glass hammer,Jon Davison is good singer,I like him in glass hammer,and he does good singing FOR YES,but I've only liked a few songs from last few albums really,the last 2,awesome..heaven and earth,....errr.......oh bummer...lol sorry so long!!🤦‍♂️🤣😜✌️🥃🤟

[@michaeljones9301]

@steve-0493 Saw the 08 show at HOB. Missed Jon, but Beniot did a good job. They performed Aliens, which I thought was weak. Only a 90 minute show. Got to hear MACHINE MESSIAH though. Love Billy, but cannot listen to Davison. H&E was OK, a bit cringy, and very LIGHT. Not much Prog. Last YES ALBUM I have bought or listened to. Look forward to Jon and the Band Geeks, and what their idea of YES music will be. Sad ARW didn't make any. Probably would have sounded like Trevor's solo album, which is Awesome. Cheers.

[@steve-0493]

@@michaeljones9301 agreed..I missed Jon lol,but they started that tour,Jon said he couldn't, still dealing with sick/asthma,whatever he had,so Steve and the band didn't wanna wait??yh they did machine messiah,was awesome lol! Opened with Siberian....and yh the aliens version they played was weak,I'll give it that..ended up SO much better on A life within a day album lol,I actually love that album..wish I had my shit together 20yrs back,then could've seen classic lineup during that 35th anniversary tour,nope..regret lol...I really can't listen to H AND E,I don't know why besides I just a tired band,WHICH IS NOT YES..I like songs off open ur eyes more than H and E hahaha!!sheesh

[@markhunter8554]

Last album I really liked was Drama.

[@mattleppard1964]

@@steve-0493 9012Live for me too. Rabin on Starship Trooper before I heard the original ❤️

[@Carl2112]

Bought this on VHS at the local music store around 1991. Watched it a ton as it was the only historical look at Yes at the time. In the early 2000's found it on DVD in a music shop in Montreal. Great video!

[@meandmyEV]

I had this on vhs back in the day. I think it was sold as a box set along with a vhs with all of the bass music videos. They also released a box set around that time and I met Rick Wakeman and had him sign it. It was the most nervous I had ever been. Also, Fish Out of Water is an amazing album. Criminally under appreciated.

[@tomgebarowski8156]

I was never following Yes during the Trevor Rabin era, but I like what I hear here. Both his attitude & determination to make it work are impressive. Plus, it seems like he was a heck of a player & singer in his own right guiding YES into the future!

[@christopherwright8811]

Surely the most talented band in history - I mean in terms of performance and compositional proficiency

[@morbidmanmusic]

no. my fave but not even close. Google "Morbid Man covers yes close to the edge, soundcloud" for some Yes love.

[@stephenmolaro2031]

@@christopherwright8811 Peter Gabriel era Genesis, is right there with yes, in all those categories! Great composition great musicianship in a uniqueness all their own!

[@tonykeith76]

@@stephenmolaro2031 I should add Emerson Lake & Palmer

[@ridinginthered1614]

​@@tonykeith76 definitely... atleast until 1977

[@bonniecollum3037]

Great documentary on Yes. I saw Yes three times in the 70s during, Fragile, CTTE, The Yes Album. I have the ticket stubs somewhere to prove it. What a great band. What a great time to be young. Yes was and will always be my favorite band. RIP Chris, Alan and Tony. I still listen to you every day. YES FOREVER!❤

[@Lesiga1]

Tony? Maybe Peter Banks, not Tony Banks :) Unless there's something I don't know....

[@johnmartinsen963]

@@Lesiga1 Tony Kaye was a founding member of YES❣❣❣

[@johnmartinsen963]

@@Lesiga1 Tony is talking at 18:12

[@johnmartinsen963]

@@Lesiga1 Pretty sure Tony Kaye is still alive and well, but not sure about Tony O'Reilly (original drummer)

[@jupiterlegrand4817]

The greatest prog band of all time. I mean, I love ELP, King Crimson, Gentle Giant...but in the end, Yes stands alone. (Also, the 1975 Relayer tour was the absolute zenith of what a prog concert could be. Please...someone...invent a time machine. I need to experience that show just one more time.)

[@littlebeebs1]

Amen on the Time Machine so I can travel back and see the concert at all . Haha ! I was born in 77 . But if love to travel back to the 70’s and be 20 . I’d probably just stay in the 70’s if I did 🤣. 70’s music is my favorite. I’ve loved music since birth 😊

[@SOALNightLive]

Seeing this when it was new was a revelation! That was pre-internet so all the live footage was rare and mindblowing. Just hearing them all talk for the first time helped shape our perceptions of each character that made up Yes too. We watched this so much we could quote big chunks of it. Probably still can....

[@Ghoopty]

Thanks for posting. I had just about worn out my VHS tape 😅 and don’t own a VCR anymore…

[@fabrikk60]

My VHS copy has sat in a closet for about 30 years. Wonder if it still plays...

[@peterresetz1960]

Way back many many moons ago (1974), YES head friends and I attended the RELAYER tour when they played at Cobo Hall in Detroit. One of our friends, Dan, was able to make a piercing loud whistle, which ended up becoming recorded by the ambient microphones hung from the rafters. Dan's whistling ended up being heard at the beginning of one of the live songs that was included on the YESSONGS album.

[@rickcook7308]

Yessongs was 1972

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

The Union Tour was Awesome!! Saw them in the Seattle Key Arena and even managed to score a complete bootleg recording (who remembers the tape tradings days from back in the day?!)

[@RadagastBrown420]

Me.

[@stevenbongiorno9277]

Yeah, we were listening! And enjoying every minute of it!

[@markturner5996]

Excellent documentary! Sadly,several videos, which depict the various interations,and evolvments,of the band,are removed...

[@rodwilliams4170]

I happened upon this gem!! Not an absolute Yes fan although as a teenager I was aware of two excellent bands - Yes and Budgie. Yes influenced my taste in composition and to a degree interest in prog rock (although that is limited) to Yes, Pink Floyd and Rick Wakeman as a solo artist. Budgie were great as well and have influenced many bands along the way. The Beatles were my idols as a kid born in the 60’s. But music has shaped my life and i do have diverse tastes, although the Metal scene is where I am happiest. This documentary is excellent and captures points in time that will never be repeated. One metal band in particular Between the Buried and Me, I believe, are influenced by seventies prog and their musicianship is excellent. The influence of Yes extends like tentacles across genres and we really owe a lot to these pioneers of music for leaving such a vast array of great music!! Thank you for the upload

[@styles8007]

I bought this documentary on VHS, and later, I was able to find this DVD. What a gem.

[@jamesbatcho]

I also had this VHS. I've always been struck by Jon's acoustic version of Long Distance Runaround at 22:23. I remember wishing they would release a version like this.

[@neil7813]

Jon Anderson, one of the greatest most unique voices that ever put out musical notes.

[@bonniecollum3037]

My band! Enjoyed this documentary. I love Yes. So interesting to hear the musicians speak of all the changes. They sound like no other band imo.. Love their spirituality. RIP Chris &: Alan.❤🎉❤

[@bessmahaneypilates8638]

Became a Yes fan when I was 16 in 1976. I also had a Rick Wakeman LP! ❤ Still listening in 2024 ❤

[@mjm5081]

What a gift! Thanks so much for sharing!!! 🙏❤🌹Peter, Chris, Alan🌹❤🙏

[@stephenmolaro2031]

I loved tales of topographic oceans! And I saw them do the relayer album in Chicago outdoors add Hawthorne race course must have been 75! Was like seeing God! Sound chaser, to be over, Gates of delirium! Absolutely god-like!

[@BunyanaRed1958]

Enjoyed watching that. Thanks very much for posting it.

[@thejollyjoker187]

Besides the very annoying restricted video snippets, this is a great doc and a very nice looking VHS transfer.

[@jilldubick3007]

So glad to find this gem. My intro to music, can’t think of any better! YES !❤

[@CulainRuledByVenus]

2:09:48 You were right, Rick! But it's good to know you're still with us as of the time of this comment.

[@MichaelVLang]

Alan, a master drummer that was a powerhouse who could handle the most complicated music with confidence and Bill who created a style that fit the music perfectly. No drop off with Alan.

[@vfxtutswithdan1893]

Really? You've heard him attempt to play songs like Fragile and Heart of the Sunrise, right?

[@fabrikk60]

@@vfxtutswithdan1893 Alan played those songs in a different *style* than Bruford did, not in any way inferior. If you're judging only by "Yessongs", that is unfair because Alan had only been in the band a matter of weeks when that was made. Ever heard the album *"Levin Torn White"*? On that, Alan proved hands down that he could play Crimson-style avant-prog as well as anybody. (BTW there is no song called 'Fragile')

[@unamacarana]

Still have my VCR copy - Hilarious and revealing to the core - Thanks for posting the whole thing.

[@impalaman9707]

So the opening of "Your's Is No Disgrace" came from the TV Western, Bonanza---INTERESTING! I always did like that riff! It had a real sense of urgency about it!

[@georgeratkovich7161]

Bill Bruford has an interesting sense of humor. I doubt that anything was borrowed from Bonanza.

[@impalaman9707]

@@georgeratkovich7161 Even if it doesn't really sound like Bonanza, I still dig the riff!

[@georgeratkovich7161]

@@impalaman9707 Even though i have listened to the song a thousand times, i admit i went to it again and played the opening just to be sure! Thanks for the reply.

[@impalaman9707]

@@georgeratkovich7161 The urgent nature of it makes me think of Dragnet. Like "stop everything--this is important!"

[@MochaDaisy8645]

Thanks for the upload! I have not seen this in 20 years, at which time I rented this from a video store because I was too cheap to buy a copy and was still buying cassettes because I thought CD’s were a total ripoff. To be honest, I didn’t miss the restricted videos or footage

[@Humb7757]

Luckily, I found a dvd edition of it … in a record store… in the 2000’s

[@chrisbergmanniii59]

Somewhere Out There is a pro shot of the going for the one tour. I don't know who has it but it would be great if they released it.

[@duluozk1514]

nice video! id always wanted to find such a video to introduce yes band. im so glad there it is... also im wandering if i could made chinese subtitles for this video and upload on other video website for chinese yes fans. we really need this!

[@andygonzales2113]

AWESOME! Super thanks for this great work about a great band! Do you please have a better quality of America in studio....fingers crossed :)

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

Great video of my favorite band ever, but whoever the person (probably a lawyer) is who had all the video removed for "copyright restriction" is an A-hole.

[@donaldwhittaker7987]

This is great. Thanks. Great footage.

[@tmamone83]

"The Yes Album," "Close to the Edge," and "Tales from Topographic Oceans" are the Holy Trinity of Yes albums to me. I love "Fragile," of course, but those three are my personal favorites.

[@RadagastBrown420]

I feel sad for you if those are the only three you have tried.

[@tmamone83]

@@RadagastBrown420 Well I’m working on it. I wasn’t too keen on “Relayer.”

[@johnmartinsen963]

@@tmamone83 Drama? 90125?

[@tmamone83]

@@johnmartinsen963 Haven't listened to those yet. I fucking hate "Owner of a Lonely Heart," so I don't have high expectations of 90125.

[@johnmartinsen963]

@@tmamone83 That song was definitely overplayed on radio back in the day. I saw the 90125 tour live...still gives me ASMR hearing the A cappella parts (like in Leave It)

[@RealBesty]

Love this documentary - saw it loads of times on VHS!

[@lilianawojciechowska3985]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[@robinmjones6197]

like the acoustic Long Distance Runaround segment ; great video, thanks from Somerset

[@stevebouras641]

Yes was original as a group of musicians could be I seen them in 77 Going for the One tour n it was like nothing happening anywhere Thier encore was Roundabout the ground was shakin it was magical beyond any show Ive seen at that time or anything since. Breathless

[@kevinwilkinson2972]

My favourite yes documentary. ❤

[@yestopographic73]

YES ! FOREVER !

[@hugegnarlyeyeball]

I've always heard that Rick disliked Tales From Topographic Oceans and even that he mocked it at times, but I'd never heard his full explanation here. The fact that he recognizes there were some really strong melodies being developed but an awful lot of padding is fair. I find there are some of Yes' most beautiful melodies and greatest moments in Tales, while I can understand why he and others say there is a lot of padding. The album is such a journey that a few meandering interludes don't really bother me but it's hard not to wonder how things would have turned out if the whole band could have worked together until they were satisfied with the final result as they had on previous albums.

[@thefool2007]

Absolutely love this. Appreciate the upload.

[@carlrasmussen3267]

To reinvent themselves so many times shows their musical genius. Incredible group - all of them. Now, lump in ELP, Genesis, Kansas.

[@stevebouras641]

Fascinating story of musicians on a path of never ending discovery with a world wide whirl wind of blends a chef could taste a portrait painter could see and an audience could hear n think WTF was that an opera in a cathedral on a rollercoaster in a medieval time warp YES I suppose

[@fabrikk60]

My fave album is Relayer, which had the best keyboardist. Patrick could play circles around Wakeman, and had a much broader palette with his jazz and latin elements. It's funny how Bill's departure took the jazziness out of Yes, but Patrick brought jazziness back into Yes. And it's kinda cool that Bill & Patrick never played together in Yes, but worked on Chris' solo album, then years later made two albums together. The whole Yes story is full of strange things like this. BTW Patrick's 1976 solo album is only bettered by Chris's. It's truly shameful how Patrick was booted out for crass commercial reasons, and was uncredited/unpaid for his material that was used on GFTO.

[@fabrikk60]

I'd love to hear a "Yes Re-imagined" type project album, with Bill, Patrick, Steve, and Tony Levin, playing/arranging some Yes works that are most adaptable to a jazzier style. Steve has already made a jazz version of "Siberian Khatru" that gives a tantalizing hint of what might be possible.

[@markhunter8554]

Back when record companies actually liked music.

[@shawnfranklin9581]

I LOVE this doc.

[@megasoid]

Good documentary.

[@michaelcoulson2686]

So many seasons have passed us by

[@loganpierce9244]

Absolutely wonderful absolutely beautiful!!!

[@adrianlyord5300]

I definitely became a “ Fan” of Yes though the courtesy of MTV and their song “ Owner Of A Lonely Heart “ ! It wasn’t until later when I discovered their early music like “ Roundabout “ etc. Question… how Steve Howe wasn’t a part of Yes in the early 80s?

[@charleswagner2984]

Steve and Geoff formed Asia with Wetton and Palmer.

[@WarrenBridges-um5cg]

@@charleswagner2984 Geoff did some session work as well. I know he played on Kate Bush's "Sat In Your Lap" with Jimmy Bain from Rainbow on bass.

[@eda396]

We knew what the band was going through pretty much by the sound of each album.

[@chrisbergmanniii59]

Bill Bruford is the coolest guy ever.

[@mdrouin4885]

Looked like some professionally shot footage from the Topographic tour. Wonder where that's at now?

[@OlafProt]

It's so funny how we really thought they were dinosaurs, ancient, has beens, in 1991 and yet now.... 20:48.... Rick still looks like a young man 😂😂

[@impalaman9707]

Seems like Steve Howe favoured the big, bulky hollow body electric guitars, which I suppose, worked in a band where the guitarist is not really asked to play loud or metallic, as those type of guitars feedback horribly with high amplification (somehow, Ted Nugent made it work, by knowing where on stage to stand to avoid the shrieking) but perhaps there were other reasons, too. Maybe those guitars had more of a melodic timbre?

[@connormacleod4045]

jai se dvd chez moi eh oui a l'epoque on achetais et c'etais bien mieux ...bref ...yes sera toujours yes le son , meme s'il n'y a plus que steve howe comme membre officiel et le temps a passer aussi et il est vrai que depuis que jon anderson n'en est plus ca n'a plus le meme impact ...il etais le fondateur et l'ame du groupe et cette voix pour conclure je serais fan a vie

[@田代智樹-r8v]

ありがとうございました。

[@my_freelance_life]

The more I listen to Trevor Rabin speak, and watch his showboating and his obvious control issues, the greater my understanding of why no one wishes to play with him; much like so many musicians at Berklee College of music. Lots of talent but many with way too much ego to ever work with others as a collective.

[@markhunter8554]

Never noticed Chris' vocals on Going for the One.

[@michaelmcconnell-n5n]

Someone gave us this box set for helping them move

[@cornfilledscreamer614]

56:18 You really would have to wonder if the Police didn't hear that...

[@fueledbylove]

If you did have the Laserdisc I really doubt it would look much different than the VHS sourced copy you posted. A lot of LD's are nothing special image-wise, the audio might be superior but unless the source was remastered the picture would not be remarkable compared to true High Def.

[@19del69]

THE FINEST

[@colinburroughs9871]

They're telling the truth about Tales here nerds.

[@carlotta4441]

what a treasure !!

[@impalaman9707]

Wakeman looks like James Young from Styx

[@MuzixMaker]

What is the piece Tony is playing at 1:38:50 ?

[@jwckauman]

I've wanted to know that for decades

[@MuzixMaker]

@@jwckauman it almost sounds like something from a Wakeman record. Note the MM solo at the end of the clip.

[@carlsaganlives6086]

Very first show ever - the old Chicago Stadium '73, classic lineup.Very interesting environment for a young suburban lover of the fading counterculture scene...did NOT go with my parents, hell no. No one did, are you crazy? They woulda sent me to military school - huge generation gap in those days - you didn't hang around with mom and pop, or call them you're 'best friend'. Telling them everthing? Hahahahaha!! 🎛🔊 ✌

[@markhunter8554]

Bruford and Moraz backing the Fish?

[@kirkgray6949]

You had Chris and Bill…with Jon on vocals….how cudthatnot work

[@dalebingham9074]

they needed a second keyboard player named Mark Ups (i made that up; -) and then we could have called the keyboard team "Ups and Downes"

[@jerjets11]

Yours Is No Disgrace!

[@quiquerockero]

❤

[@DavidB-rx3km]

Look how young they look - they have either died or look really old now, time goes really too quickly. And the electronic drums of this era have never sounded good, they sound awful here.

[@jamesgilbey4162]

Bill Bruford has always had his head stuck up he's own arse

[@markhunter8554]

A Rickenbacker acoustic?

[@ChrisKaseMusic]

great rockumentary. anyone know the name of the song that is heard at 1:45?

[@gileslawrence1168]

Leave It - from the 90125 album

[@bobg4657]

Sorry, but White was a very poor choice. Not even close to the edge of representing the style that formed Yes.

[@fabrikk60]

Bill Bruford is mainly THE drummer of *King Crimson*, not mainly Yes. Alan White is THE drummer of Yes, given that he played on the greatest number of their albums and tours. BY FAR. Of this there can be no serious debate. Also, the best and most representative Yes albums are TFTO and Relayer, which Alan played on and helped write.

[@bobg4657]

@@fabrikk60 and EVERY album after Close to the Edge sucked. This is NON-DEBATABLE. White was a very average rock drummer who was buds with Offord and happened to play with a Beatle. Anderson was endamoured with the Beatles connection. And that's why he got the gig. Anderson admitted as much. Now go listen to some shitty Tangerine Dream.

[@kirkgray6949]

Yes was never as good with Alan….just a boring rock drummer

[@fabrikk60]

Listen to the album "Levin Torn White", if you have the integrity and courage to.

[@brianhorner8349]

The Greatest Band Ever.

[@Mozart1220]

I had this on laserdisc. I thought it was "Yesspeaks"