Jon Anderson talked about the possibility of a Yes reunion in a new interview with Mojo. During the interview, Anderson mentioned that he still regards himself as a member of his former band, even though he departed from Yes in 2008. He also further revealed that his former bandmates never replied back to his messages:
“I was talking to [Anderson’s current touring band] The Band Geeks and said, Hopefully we can play in London and Steve will get up and do a couple of songs with us, maybe Rick too… It just means talking. When I’m out there singing on my own I still think I’m part of Yes. They still feel like my songs.”
Despite having toured with Rick Wakeman in 2010 and 2017, Anderson has not collaborated with Steve Howe or performed under the Yes banner since the band’s 35th-anniversary tour in 2004. And apparently, it has been some time since they last connected:
“We’re still friends but we’re not connected. The first time I realised it wasn’t going to continue was when I discovered you could send MP3s on the computer. So I e-mailed Steve and Chris, saying, Why don’t we send music to each other – we’re on the same planet? And they never replied. Maybe they never got the e-mail.”
Howe’s Thoughts On Reunion
Howe also discussed his connection with Anderson and explored the possibility of a reunion with the singer and other former band members. When questioned in an interview about the likelihood of any of Yes’s classic lineups reuniting, he clarified that he had been resistant since the ‘fiasco’ of their Union Tour. Howe then disclosed the only exception that would persuade him to collaborate with Anderson:
“I love Jon. I’m a lot older now, and so is he, and the only terms I work on is that I’m happy working on this. I’m not going to take a sudden load on my back that I either don’t need or want. My music’s always guided me, and it’s not telling me to do those things. It’s telling me to go forwards. If it keeps steering me where it is now, then it’s great to have this live and vibrant Yes.”
Anderson’s Last Appearance With Yes
Anderson’s last recorded appearance with Yes was on the 2001 album ‘Magnification.’ After touring with the band until 2004, he departed a few years later to focus on his solo career. However, by the time of Yes’ 2021 release, ‘The Quest,’ Anderson had been replaced. The lineup for ‘The Quest’ included Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Billy Sherwood, Alan White, and new singer Jon Davison.
In 2016, Anderson, Wakeman, and former Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin joined forces to create a new ensemble. The band conducted two tours but did not release a studio album before disbanding in 2020. Anderson’s most recent solo album was released in 2019. He is now engaged in new projects with his band, Band Geeks.
