Ex-Yes Frontman Jon Anderson Opens Up About Getting Fired

Those two buses now travel on separate tours. Anderson now tours with Wakeman as an acoustic duo, playing a set heavy on Yes classics. Yes originally replaced the elder Wakeman with his son Oliver – but he recently got replaced by ASIA's Geoff Downes. "People get into that place where they don't care about people," says Anderson. "To them, it's just business."

So far, Anderson/Wakeman have just toured Europe – but in the fall they're finally headed to America. "We're bringing it to the East Coast around the middle of October through the middle of November," he says. "We'll do Yes songs, but we'll concentrate more on the new album. I sing more doing these shows than I ever did with Yes. I don't have to say, 'Turn down the bass, Chris!'"

Anderson keeps a much lighter tour schedule than Yes, who often do five or six shows a week. "I would never do that kind of tour," says Anderson. "It's stupid. Some people haven't got a life I suppose. They want to be on the road all the time." Guitarist Steve Howe performs with ASIA when Yes are off, which means maintaining a punishing schedule. "He hasn't got a home," says Anderson. "He's a journeyman, like Willie Nelson."

Despite all the turmoil, Anderson doesn't completely rule performing with Yes again someday. "If we ever get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame we'll all get together," he says. "We'll give each other a hug and let bygones be bygones." How about a reunion tour? "You never know," he says. "It would have to be two or three shows a week, though."

In the meantime, Anderson remains focused on his solo career. Last year he released Survival & Other Stories. In a unique twist, it features contributions from online fans. "There's so many talented people out there," he says. "Using the Internet as as vehicle to work with people is fascinating. It's sort of a Pandora's box of energy for me."

The process begins with fans simply sending Anderson MP3s. "Over the last few years I've written indigenous music songs, symphonies, musicals . . . all sorts of things," he says. "I'm working on my next project right now. Music is beautiful. Yes music is great. My music's great. My new album's great. Life is good."

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Song Stories

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