It was announced today, that due to current health issues Yes drummer Alan White will not be taking part on the band’s forthcoming 50th Anniversary Close to the Edge UK Tour.
The legendary progressive rock band’s management has stated that “Alan was really looking forward to playing live again preparing to celebrate 50 years with Yes, having joined the band for the July 1972 Close to the Edge Tour, coming full circle in 2022,” and on the subject of his tour replacement, “Alan’s close friend Jay Schellen will be taking on drumming duties in Alan’s place.
This tour, twice rescheduled due to the covid pandemic was intended to showcase Yes’ 1974 classic Relayer album but hs subsequently been replaced and will feature Close to the Edge, performed in full, along with other classic tracks from the band’s extensive catalogue. An announcement regarding the European dates is expected to be made shortly.
The tour line-up features Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Alan White’s replacement Jay Schellen on drums and percussion.
All tour dates are as previously announced and all tickets remain valid. A full performance of the Relayer album will now be featured in a future tour in The Album Series.
The show will comprise full production and a high-definition video wall directed by Roger Dean who will also be joining the tour with an exhibition of Yes related art.
Following the release of The Yes Album and Fragile, in 1971, Yes released what is widely considered one of the most defining albums, not only for the band but for the whole progressive movement. Close To The Edge became an inspiration for their contemporaries and for successive generations of musicians.
“We reached a real high, doing Close To The Edge,” said Steve Howe. “We valued the musicianship, the artistic ideas and the vocalising that people bring and that’s why we’re still doing it, because it’s exciting to do!
“Close To The Edge was voted the most-proggy album possibly ever made. It was very experimental. We had already done 10-minute epics but with Close To The Edge we just took it a stage further and I’m very pleased we were brave enough to do that.”
Tickets remain valid for the rescheduled shows. For full details and to book tickets for all shows go to venue website or by clicking here where you can also book Meet and Greets with the band.
