The Last Bass Outpost

Yeah, the Purple forums are full of gleeful anticipation re that.  I find it a bit childish, I wouldn't mind seeing Yes (with whatever remnant members they have) at a Purple gig and I don't question Howe's legitimacy of continuing with the name. So many 70ies bands are by now down to one original member (Uriah Heep and Status Quo for instance, Purple too, if you see Mk I as the original DP, but most people only start counting Mk II as real DP of which there are still three members in the current - wait for it  - Mk IX line-up).

I don't mind these "elephant pairings" that DP does mostly on their North American tours to get butts on seats. They've done it in the past with Lynyrd Skynyrd (that combination even made it to Europe), the Scorpions and Judas Priest (what a dream combo for me!). I'd take a look at modern day Yes just to see what they are like now, that Glasshammer guy isn't a bad singer. I've seen Yes without Anderson before (with David Benoit) and I've seen Anderson with Rabin and Wakeman, both gigs were fine. Both Squire and Wakeman were in their respective own way limelight-grabbing charismasaurs 🦕🦖 on stage, highly entertaining.

I last saw Yes in 2014 when Chris was still alive. The new Jon has the range, but he lacks the depth of Anderson. I actually liked Benoit better, but he couldn't keep up the pace in that range. I saw Anderson/Rabin/Wakeman twice, and more recently, Anderson with the Band Geeks, and he is still untouchable. I really have very little interest in the current Yes. It's like the Beatles without Lennon and McCartney. To me, the heart of the Yes sound was Anderson and Squire singing together. The Davison/Sherwood team doesn't do it for me as singers or writers. Their latest record is the best they've done with Davison, but I still kind of drift off at some point.

On the topic of prog bands with just the guitarist as an original member, I just saw Kansas, and they were outstanding. They've got a really strong lineup with my old friend Ronnie Platt on vocals and extra keys (10 years now), and the recently added Joe Deninzon, who is also a friend, on violin, vocals, and guitar. Their current keyboardist is Tom Brislin, who toured with Yes in the early 2000s. He is amazing and can sing too.

ESP?

Hamer. I thought the knob layout looked like it (closer to the neck), then I saw the headstock which confirmed.

I don't know. Something about the headstock shape seems off. 

Glad it's getting some play time! Is that where two of those tuners went?

 

Very cool. Looks great.

You had very tame tastes then, Tom, tsk, tsk, tsk ... 

Linda, Debbie Harry, Stevie Nicks, and Ann Wilson were the ones. 

Not the Sheriff, but four talented guys from Nottingham ...

Geez, takes me back to 4th grade. I didn't know these guys also did Billy, Don't Be a Hero. 70s gold...