Prog icons YES have released a brand-new mix of their album Fly From Here – Return Trip, featuring the Drama line-up and new lead vocals by Trevor Horn, to coincide with their 50th Anniversary celebrations.

All the vinyl editions and the special postcard book, which were previously only available to pre-order, are IN STOCK AND OUT NOW but are ONLY available on the band’s current US tour and via these two links:

Pledge: https://www.pledgemusic.com/p…/yes-fly-from-here-return-trip

Burning Shed: https://burningshed.com/tag/fly%20from%20here

The original 2011 release of Fly From Here featured the band members who appeared on Drama: Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, plus Benoit David on lead vocals with Trevor Horn in the role of Producer.

Trevor Horn says: “I really enjoyed listening to Alan and Chris playing together again. Finishing off the album was a labour of love.”

Geoff Downes adds: “It’s quite amazing what Trevor has done with the album and the way it has turned out. It is most refreshing and adds a whole new dimension to the original recordings from 2011. I think the fans will appreciate it as a genuine sequel to the Drama album, and embrace it as a valuable part of our YES50 celebrations.”

Fly From Here – Return Trip also contains a previously unreleased song, “Don’t Take No for an Answer” recorded in 2011, with Steve Howe on lead vocals. Additionally, the full-length version of “Hour of Need” is included. This has previously only been included as a Japanese bonus track.

For the first part of this exclusive evening, Roger Dean will be in conversation with Geoff Downes on stage, with Downes performing with Angharad on vocals, for the second half. GD will also encourage audience interaction as he discusses all aspects of his career, including the writing process behind some of the world’s best known hits. 

Geoff Downes’ extraordinary career began with The Buggles. Formed with Trevor Horn in 1977. Their first album, The Age of Plastic, was released in 1980. Their single ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’, was No. 1 in the singles charts of sixteen countries. In the same year, both Horn and Downes joined Yes and they recorded the album Drama. The following year however, Yes disbanded only to reform again in 1983 without Downes, who had formed Asia in 1981. Asia’s self-titled first album was number 1 for 9 weeks in America, and became the biggest selling album in the world in 1982.

Geoff has been ever present in Asia since 1982, he rejoined Yes in 2011, and he has collaborated with many A list musicians over the years. It will be a fascinating evening, and tickets are selling rapidly.

Box office: 01825 790200 or visit http://www.tradingboundaries.com/product/geoff-downes-friday-23rd-october/

We became close over the last few years, and spent a lot of time together socially as well as on the tours. He was always greatly entertaining with his countless tales of rock and roll, and his own personal spin on life. Despite his imposing figure, he had a really soft, gentle and charitable side. Always magnanimous to band, crew and fans alike. Although essentially captain of the YES ship he displayed very much a laissez-faire attitude towards the band and a nonchalance to life in general. I am eternally grateful that he was a great advocate of my playing and encouraged my own musical contributions. I learnt an enormous amount and gained great confidence from his support.

Many of the funny stories were from airports. His lateness was famous. Back on the Drama tour, we had a private jet and suitcases were always collected early from outside hotel room. Chris had somehow packed his trousers and shirt, turned up at the airport and got on the plane wearing just a long jacket and underpants. “Sorry I’m late” he said, without the slightest hint anything was untoward. Another time we were all waiting to go on stage and – no Chris. Thus followed a panic to find out where he was. He had apparently fallen asleep in the bath and had to get the fire marshall to break down his hotel room door. We ended up taking the stage an hour late, with Chris arriving asking, “Is there a problem”?

But one thing for sure is that he always delivered. The stage was his world. His attention to the minutest details of the music was immense – you certainly couldn’t get away with playing the wrong inversions of the chords anywhere, or anything out of line. He would come over with his inimitable casual fashion and point out ’that’s not quite right’.

As a person he loved life to the full – a glass of wine, fine food, tennis, motor racing, and an enthusiast for everything musical. His thunderous bass rig with the sub Taurus pedals rattling the stages was legendary – the ‘wall of doom’ as it was known housing some 30 speakers dominating an entire side of the stage. He was one of the few bassists who had the audacity to pick up a triple-necked instrument without the slightest hint of irony, and, probably the only one who could actually play the bloody thing!

A musician’s musician. A genius. I’m going to miss him greatly.

Somehow, he’s also made time recently for side projects including DBA with Chris Braide and the New Dance Orchestra’s Electronica.

Read the full interview »

Yes Fantasy Camp features:

• Jam with Yes band members: Alan White, Chris Squire, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Steve Howe
• Play in a band led by a Rock Star counselor
• The Ultimate Fan Experience!
• Rehearse and Perform live in Las Vegas!
• Write and record an original song
• Attend master classes with world renowned musicians
• Have an experience of a lifetime
• All instruments and backline provided. Use ours or bring your own
• Daily meals with celebrity musicians and campers
• All experience levels welcome
• Signup now before we’re SOLD OUT!

Read more >

E-mail questions to Geoff at rockshow@gtfm.co.uk.

E-mail the programme at rockshow@gtfm.co.uk.

• Interview part 1
• Interview part 2