Yes - the Line-ups of the Band
Created | Updated Oct 10, 2006
The history of the band Yes is fraught with quitting, joining, rejoining, getting back together, suing, and making up. To this day there have been 15 people in the band since 1968. The band was started in a London club called La Chasse when Jon Anderson met Chris Squire. They decided to start a band, because they both liked Paul Simon and thought it would be nice to have a band with good lyrics and good music. The year was 1968. Jon was a singer and songwriter and Chris was a bassist.
The Various Line-ups
1968 - Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Tony Kaye, Peter Banks, Bill Bruford.
1970 - Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Tony Kaye, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford.
1971 - Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford.
1972 - Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Alan White.
1974 - Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Patrick Moraz, Steve Howe, Alan White.
1976 - Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Alan White.
1980 - Trevor Horn, Chris Squire, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Alan White.
1981 - Yes breaks up.
1982 - Cinema is formed. Line-up: Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin, Alan White.
Cinema changes name back to Yes. In 1989 there was a legal dispute over the name resulting in two bands.
Yes: Chris Squire, Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin, Alan White.
ABWH: Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford.
1991 - Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin, Steve Howe, Alan White, Bill Bruford.
Instruments And Movements
Jon Anderson - vocals, left in 1980 because of creative differences, left in 1989 to join ABWH.
Chris Squire - bass, left in 1981 due to band break-up.
Tony Kaye - keyboards, left in 1971 to join the band Flash.
Peter Banks - guitar, left in 1970 to found Flash.
Bill Bruford - drums, left in 1972 to play for King Crimson.
Steve Howe - guitar, left in 1981 due to band break-up.
Rick Wakeman - keyboards, left in 1974 because of creative differences, left in 1980 because of creative differences.
Patrick Moraz - keyboards, left in 1976 because Rick Wakeman returned.
Alan White - drums, left in 1981 due to band break-up.
Trevor Horn - vocals, guitars, left in 1981 due to band break-up.
Geoff Downes - keyboards, left in 1981 due to band break-up.