Just say Yes: Catching up with Jon Anderson

The most distinctive singing voice in the history of progressive rock belongs, hands down, to Jon Anderson.

He was a founder of Yes, back in 1968, and the British band’s frontman and lead singer for the glory years. On The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer and all the others that mattered so much to people. He was also one of Yes’ chief songwriters.

The band has famously splintered, re-formed, splintered again and re-organized in combinations of original and new players.

Only guitarist Steve Howe remains in the version of Yes that’s currently touring. Everyone else is a ringer.

The same could almost be said about Friday’s concert of “Yes Epics and Classics” at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The musicians, led by American multi-instrumentalist Richie Castellano, are known as The Band Geeks.

The lead singer, however, is none other than Jon Anderson. If you want your Yessongs to sound like Yes, this – all these many years later – is probably the best way to hear them.

In our Zoom interview, Anderson, 80, talks about the long-ago rancor in the ranks of Yes, and his friction-free relationship with this new band.

“It was like a gift from the gods of music,” he says. “Who said ‘OK Jon, you’ve worked hard enough. Now here, take these people and get on the road.’ I said OK.

“We’re having a great tour. Everybody’s so happy, grateful, thankful, just like me. I’m so excited about everything. Life is good.”

Tickets for Friday’s concert are available at this link.