Showing posts with label Yes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yes. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW Welcomes 'YES' Legend JON ANDERSON With Special Guest Guitarist JAMIE GLASER

ANDERSONPONTY BAND MEMBERS 
JON ANDERSON AND JAMIE GLASER 
ARE GUESTS ON 
THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

In support of their critically acclaimed CD/DVD release “Better Late Than Never”, the AndersonPonty Band, featuring music icons Jon Anderson and Jean Luc Ponty, will be touring North America in Spring 2016! The band played a series of successful US dates in the Fall of 2015 and are excited to bring their music to the fans once again.
One of the most eagerly awaited releases of 2015, the AndersonPonty Band’s “Better Late Than Never” features outstanding performances by the group from September 2014 at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado, as well as some innovative production.

Along with some breathtaking new musical compositions, “Better Late Than Never” also showcases rearrangements of classic YES hits like “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, “Roundabout” and “Wonderous Stories”. The album also includes some of Jean Luc Ponty’s beloved compositions, with Jon’s lyrical vocals and melodies enhancing the music and creating a very special and unique sound such as “Infinite Mirage” a new song incorporating Jean Luc’s classic tune “Mirage”.

YES’s original singer/songwriter for 35 years, Jon Anderson has had a successful solo career, which includes working with such notable music artists as Vangelis, Kitaro, and Milton Nascimento. International violin superstar Jean Luc Ponty is a pioneer and undisputed master of his instrument in the arena of jazz and rock. He is widely regarded as an innovator who has applied his unique visionary spin that has expanded the vocabulary of modern music. Together these two music legends have formed a musical synergy that is unparalleled!
The AndersonPonty Band also includes Jamie Glaser on guitars (Jean Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Bryan Adams and Lenny White); Wally Minko on keyboards (Pink, Toni Braxton, Jean Luc Ponty, Tom Jones, Gregg Rolie and Barry Manilow); Keith Jones on bass (Airto, Santana, Kenny Loggins and Jean Luc Ponty); and Rayford Griffin on drums and percussion (Stanley Clarke Band, George Duke, Jean Luc Ponty and Michael Jackson
Jean Luc Ponty was originally approached by Jon Anderson with the idea of working together as far back as the 1980’s. Now 30 years later the dream has become a reality!
Jamie Glaser is best known as the guitarist for Grammy award winning musical acts, Jean-Luc Ponty, Chick Corea, Bryan Adams, Gloria Trevi, Manhattan Transfer and more. His guitar can be heard on over 170 albums as well as on the biggest sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld and Married With Children. Jamie’s compositions can be heard weekly on CBS sports, ABC, Animal Planet, History channel, Discovery, and ESPN. His solo albums have been successful worldwide. Jamie is presently the guitarist for Jon Anderson and Jean Luc Ponty. The AndersonPonty Band recently completed a US tour on the heels of their recent CD/DVD release "Better Late Than Never".

RAY SHASHO INTERVIEWS 
JON ANDERSON AND JAMIE GLASER
 ON BBS RADIO 1 POSTED ON YOU TUBE
To purchase the latest release from the AndersonPonty Band entitled
“Better Late Than Never” visit … amazon.com or www.andersonpontyband.com
The album received rave reviews!!!!
For more information and tour dates visit the official AndersonPonty Band website: www.andersonpontyband.com
Jon Anderson official website: www.jonanderson.com
Jon Anderson Official Facebook:www.facebook.com/TheJonAnderson
Jean Luc Ponty official website: www.ponty.com
Visit Jamie Glaser’s Official Website at… www.jamieglaser.com

Purchase Jamie Glaser's novel "Hear The Silence" at Amazon.com
 …5 star reviews


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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

INTERVIEW: Billy Sherwood discusses the Progressive Rock of CIRCA… ‘And So On’

 By Ray Shasho

Remarkably this article fits the criteria for both Classic Rock and Classic TV.

CIRCA’s latest release is a powerful musical deliberation constructed by four gifted artists. CIRCA’s YES affiliations have not restricted their creativity and willingness to develop their own sound. And So On is the band’s third release and greatest innovative achievement to date.

The band was formed by Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood in 2007. Kaye was the original Yes keyboardist from (1968-1971) and Sherwood was asked to replace lead vocalist Jon Anderson when he and Trevor Rabin left the band but was uncomfortable with the idea. After Engineering/Producing the Keys to Ascension albums, Sherwood was asked to be an official YES member and played on three albums. The multi-instrumentalist Sherwood played guitar and keyboards on stage with YES on tour.

CIRCA features the alluring lead vocals and Squire-like bass playing of Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye’s masterful execution on organ and keyboards, Johnny Bruhns licks of complexity on guitar and Scott Connor’s barrage of reason on drums. CIRCA’s debut album originally featured Alan White of YES on drums.
Their latest collaboration is how I describe, “The more you listen to it -The more you want to listen to it.” There are delightful YES similarities on the title track “And So On” and "'Til We Get There” with astonishing parallel to Chris Squire and Steve Howe.
But for most of the tracks it’s pure CIRCA magic. “Cast Away” is a bewitching masterpiece capturing lyrics of life’s mysteries and the bands artistry performing in progressive conformity.

“Halfway Home” is a tune that should definitely find its way on the playlists of contemporary radio.
The haunting “In My Sky” is a beautiful heartfelt composition. Sherwood’s voice is breathtaking with delightful connotations to Peter Gabriel and Steve Winwood’s John Barleycorn.

“True Progress” is an incredible compilation showcasing the ingenuity of what defines CIRCA and their track “Each To His Own” will soothe the psyche with inspirational messages dealing with the puzzle of life.
And So On by CIRCA is a breath of fresh PROG. An incredible composition performed by gifted instrumentalists.

Billy Sherwood was born in Las Vegas Nevada and into a showbiz family of talented musicians. His father was big band leader/musician/actor Bobby Sherwood -his mother Phyllis was a singer and a drummer and his brother Michael a singer and keyboardist. Now if that hadn’t convinced anyone that they were indeed a showbiz family how about the fact that his Godfather was legendary comedian Milton Berle.

I had the opportunity to chat with Billy last week.
Here’s my interview with record producer/engineer/songwriter/vocalist/muti-instrumentalist/musician Billy Sherwood.

Billy, thank you so much for being on the call today.

“Right on Bro and I appreciate the time.”

It’s ironic and I really didn’t plan it this way but I just published an article regarding the collaboration of Tony Levin, David Torn and your ex YES and CIRCA bandmate Alan White. And several weeks ago I interviewed Jon Anderson, so it’s been EVERYTHING YES. 

“You’re on the YES Roundabout.”
(All laughing)

I’ve noticed a lot more collaborations like that between seasoned musicians as of late. Are they trying to mesh and see if they’ll produce a hit album or just doing it for fun?   

“Musicians all want to play and the kind of musicians that we’re talking about here are always looking to push the envelope and to do something different and unique and not get into a rut and play the same stuff every night so I think that always sparks the interest to do something different and explore other areas and obviously when you get guys that who we’re talking about something unique and great is going to happen.
I think it’s just the act of being a musician wanting to push forward in your music you’re always trying to look for the next thing and keep going. That’s how I feel about it and I’m sure others do as well because it’s happening as you said.”

What bands influenced you into becoming a musician?

“Well my first real memory of getting into bands or following music was kind of R&B rooted stuff like Earth Wind & Fire, The Ohio Players and kind of what was grooving on the radio in Vegas at that point when I was a kid and I fell in love with the rhythms and the styles and got way into it. Earth Wind and Fire was the first concert that I saw and then my musical horizons expanded and I started exploring YES music and fell in love with that and obviously out of all the music I loved growing up that was the most influential and the most closest to my heart as a fan long before I joined the band.

Then through friends and the like minded musical friends discovered Genesis and Peter Gabriel, UK, Return to Forever and Mahavishnu and you know the list is ginormous. And that’s what my roots are founded in that kind of stuff and for me now and at present I draw on those emotions and those musical memories to pull things now and use right now and present and I’m glad that I have that Well to draw from because music today is not designed nearly at all like the music was designed in the past some of that stuff is just remarkably musical and great.

And it’s funny playing this kind of music Prog as we do -we just got back from Mexico where we did some shows had some fun playing our new album and in the crowd were some kids from the university there. They had no idea really who we were and what this was about and they were way too young to even know. But by the time it was over they were just devout and into it and we’re with you we’re telling all of our friends and it just illustrates the point that music is timeless and ageless and you know if you can get the music in front of a generation that normally you would be told they’ll never like that well they actually ended up liking it and it changes their whole world. It’s cool to know that it still can happen that way and it can happen that way and it is happening that way.”

Musicians nowadays have to basically promote themselves over the internet and become entrepreneurs to have any chance of being noticed, any words of wisdom for musicians trying to make it?

“I get asked all the time by younger musicians and this guy in Mexico asked me after the show turned on to CIRCA and you know was really freaking out over it he said “What would be your best advice to me growing up and trying to be a musician?” I said don’t listen to what anyone tells you about the kind of music you make. Just make it! Be yourself, make your own music and be totally true to your art because it’s kind of a selfish thing to be an artist I mean you lock yourself in a room you want to make your music and you don’t want to be bothered and it’s a selfish act and then you release it to the world which is the most unselfish act but when you do that you have to be prepared for the good the bad and the ugly and you have to let your music be true and then people who want to adopt it as that they take it on and they love it and it changes their world and then of course you get people who aren’t buying in but at the end of the day if your true to yourself you can move forward you can succeed you can start gaining your own ground and the internet has totally allowed people to do that.”

I know you’re a multi-instrumentalist but what was the first instrument you first learned to play when you were a kid?

“I started playing drums at a pretty early age because my parents were musicians. My dad was an amazing multi-instrumentalist and I can play a lot of instruments but my dad actually played all the instruments I could play and then added another twenty five or thirty five different categories on there he was incredible. He got an act actually in Vegas my parents Bobby and Phyllis Sherwood.”

Yea, your dad was a famous guy didn’t he work on the film Pal Joey with Frank Sinatra?

“He was bandleader on Pal Joey and he’s had many-many albums out and you know I’ve got this amazing set of 78 wax records battle of the bands with my dad’s band and Dizzy Gillespie and Artie Shaw so it’s very cool to see all that stuff and that’s a whole other thing and a whole other kind of music that is amazing. My mother by proxy of working with my dad she was an entertainer, she was a singer, dancer and an amazing drummer and she played drums with my dad’s act and by virtue of watching her as a little kid I started sitting behind the kit and she sat behind me and explained that the foot goes on one and three and the snare on two and four and off we went. So I learned to play from her and drums have been my first instrument and are a passion of mine and have been ever since.
But it was an interesting way to grow up seeing that lifestyle and it kind of became my lifestyle by virtue of continuing on the same path.”

I read somewhere that your Godfather was the legendary Milton Berle?

“Yea my Godfather was Milton and he was a really good friend of my dad’s and my dad actually has a star on Hollywood and Vine here in Hollywood from whatever year it was when television was first born and the Milton Berle show was one of the first shows on TV and my dad was one of the costars on the show and they became friends and Milton became my Godfather by virtue of that relationship.”

Did you get to see Uncle Miltie very much?

“That’s Godfather Miltie to you.”
  (All laughing)

“At the time of my growing up a lot of my youth growing up was in Vegas because my parents were working there during that heyday I don’t know if you ever saw the movie Casino but that was the era that my dad and mom were kind of there it was a crazy time. Anyway I would see Milton when he came into town and of course my parents would see him and I’d be coming along but I hadn’t seen him in a long-long time and so I think it was 1984 or something like that I was rehearsing at a studio working on trying to get a record deal and we were working on some demos at a studio called The Complex here in LA so we had amazing recording facilities and then had a huge video film shoot production sound stage.

Someone came in and said, “Dude your Godfather is down the hall he’s making a TV Special.” So me and my brother went down the hallway and we see his dressing room and we knock on the door and he says, “Come on in!” and we open the door he turns around and goes, “Guys how are you?” and he’s in full drag with red lipstick, the hair, the eyeliner, the shoes and he was just such a wonderful dude and just gave us a big hug and just extremely warm obviously he and my father were extremely close. But I’ll never forget that image and that was the last time that I saw him.”

I’ve followed Progressive Rock bands since I was 13 years old, I’m 52 now. CIRCA’s latest rendition And So On has all the components of a classic Prog Rock album. You knew there would be YES connotations but CIRCA definitely reinvented itself on And So On.  I thoroughly enjoyed the CD and to be perfectly honest can’t stop listening to it. 

“When we started this thing CIRCA many years ago now the obvious comparisons were going to come no matter what we did because we had me Tony(Tony Kaye) and Alan(Alan White) in the same band. At the time we may have outnumbered the real YES members in their band. (Laughing)

So the obvious comparisons are really common and I understood that and it’s cool it is what it is and I explained then the idea is not hey here we are let’s write YES music –no, the idea is let’s write music that flows. And the result of being who we are and doing what we do it kind of comes out in that vibe.
The second album with Jay Schellen adding a different twist and everything like that it sort of evolved into a different level of CIRCA and now with this new third record it kind of found its own and I kind of feel the same way about it that others do including yourself and other people I’ve spoken to where its really clicked into its own sound as a CIRCA sound now and I’m quite happy about that and very proud of the record.
I’ve been trying to make records you know I describe it almost like a movie for your ears where it’s a little unconventional in its shape and form but there’s something that’s intriguing in keeping you wanting to wait and see the next frame of film except in here what’s coming around the corner for your ears.”

Talk about the origins of the song “Castaway.”

“I lost a very-very close dear friend of mine who I’ve known for 30 years and it hit me quite hard. Usually I’m not getting into that in my music I kind of keep it in a different place but it started seeping into some of these lyrics and concepts and I just started thinking about life and we all do as we get older but when something like that happens it really makes you stop and take the count. And the song is just a reflection it’s a metaphor for life is like a rollercoaster you know and at the start it’s a fun adventure and it looks like it’s going to be really exciting you get to the top where you’re peaking and you’re doing your thing and then there’s the back half of life that comes at you. And so I started thinking about all those things in a way where it really seeped into all of the lyrical content. At the end of the day that whole experience I just described for me personally it’s a beautiful thing because that’s what life is about it’s the whole thing.

So the song reflects the idea that eventually we come in alone we take the journey and we go out alone and it’s kind of its own serene sort of beautiful thing and along the way the other metaphor the castaway is always someone who is alone on an island somewhere and that is the metaphor for the song that even though we are all interrelated closely we actually come and go alone and that’s the idea.”

And positivity is definitely the only way we can make it through the journey.

“That’s the whole theme of the album really the title itself basically means just keep going as I said don’t pay attention to what anyone is telling you about your personal journey just keep going because that’s what it’s all about. It is a positive message in that regard.

I’ve got to say the song “In My Sky” from the new album was my personal favorite, it really blew me away.

“It’s funny you mention that because “In My Sky” was the precursor to writing “Castaway” I mean when I spoke to this friend of mine he knew he was going and he kept telling me, “I’m going” and I kept being in the denial thing you’re not and finally as it got near its end I started realizing no he is and it freaked me out. It’s hard to even talk about now. That song is a result of that easing stone call and it’s very heavy.”

It’s a very special song and I definitely felt the vibes. I can’t help but hear a hint of Steve Winwood and John Barleycorn in the song.
I definitely hear Chris Squire when you’re playing the bass on other songs on the album.

“Well that’s going to be in there, I had the luxury of looking over his left shoulder if memory serves for several years and picking up a few tricks.”

I understand you and Chris Squire had a great relationship?

“Yea, we were friends and very tight for a long-long time. We had a lot of great laughs and great times and serious times and taking care of business times and all those things that go with a relationship that I never imagined that I’d have quite frankly because Chris was one of my heroes growing up. And then life is life and you know you go through things and your business ties into what you’re trying to do and things happen. He found himself moving back to England and reforming a different band and I found myself staying here and reforming CIRCA and one thing leads to another but we definitely had some great times that I’ll never forget.”

You mentioned CIRCA played some dates in Mexico is CIRCA officially on tour?

“We’re on tour as gigs are coming out; we are in a live mode. We just did two shows one in Mexicali September 3rd and the next night in Ensenada on September 4th and we now have a little string of shows here for the Southern California area on October 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. There’s some other gigs coming in November Tony Kaye and I have this two man show that we’ve kind of created that’s accidentally you know been asked to come back for a second round in Japan we went there not too long ago and the promoter called us and asked do you want to come back in November. So we’re going to take that back to Japan in November and when we come back I think CIRCA’s got some stuff brewing on the east coast in December. So I can’t say it’s the world tour but it’s more like yea we’re getting gigs which are a good thing. I’m cautiously optimistic that it looks like we’re gaining the momentum that I’ve been trying to get going here for awhile. So with the support of the fans it will start building more momentum.”

Don’t forget about Florida when you guys are touring.

“One of the interesting things that came about this year was working with John Wetton who is amazing and making the Raised in Captivity record here with him and you know he’s getting ready I believe to do some shows with his band playing that stuff. And so I’m hoping in a perfect world perhaps we could join forces and maybe have CIRCA and his band play some shows back east. It’s nothing official but I’m definitely putting it in people’s ears as an idea.

About John Wetton’s record (Raised in Captivity) there’s a lot of cool lyrics on there that are very deep that are written by him and very personal and everything and there are also a lot of amazing guest artists Eddie Jobson, Steve Morse, Tony Kaye is on there, Geoff Downes, bunch of cool guys.”

You and Tony Kaye seem to also have a great relationship.

“Tony is my Bro we’ve been buddies for a long time I mean literally since I met him and we’ve never had a cross word or a conversation that hasn’t been like I hear you I know what you mean. So very much kindred souls I guess. And I’ve always respected his playing immensely and when we toured with YES I got to tour with them the first time on the Talk tour I gained an even deeper respect for him and we just became friends. And I dragged him as he will tell you out of retirement to play on a few tribute records and he said, “I don’t know man” and I said I’m coming over I don’t really care. And he did it and smoked it. And then one thing led to another and I said are you inspired to do anything and he said, “I’d love to.” So the inspiration took over and we started CIRCA.

Tony Kaye was so important to the foundation of YES.

“We do this medley man in the CIRCA set as a homage to his early YES moment where we play this chronological instrumental thing that starts with 1968 and goes all the way to 1972 and it’s got some great T. Kaye Hammond moments in it and people dig it, it’s really cool so when we do get back to Florida you’ll see that and it’s a very cool piece of the show.

Billy you’ve got a new solo album coming out as well?

“My new solo album will be out really soon it’s called What Was The Question? and that will be my fifth solo album. It’s basically a totally surreal musical kind of adventure and it plays around with the themes of constantly asking the question of things. All the songs relate to that theme in a matter of speaking. There’s a song called, “Counting The Cables” and it’s about the WikiLeaks situation and it kind of plays with the question of is it a good thing that we actually do know everything or is it maybe a better thing in order for something to become stable and peaceful we leave that closed door and negotiation to happen that don’t intrudes but it can happen where are the balances between the two and what is the right course it plays with that concept.

I know you’re a workaholic so what else is going on beside’s new CIRCA (And So On) and your new solo album (What Was The Question?). 

“There’s so much going on, I’m working with the Sonic Reality/Sonic Elements Company and doing all sorts of recordings over famous drummers stuff. I just recently played bass over Neil Peart’s drums from RUSH and doing demonstration stuff with them which is really fun to do.

 I’m working on a new band called Breed right now not the Breed of old but a new band called Breed. And that record is really Progressive and really adventurous it reminds me somewhere between a modern take of an old Genesis Wind & Wuthering or something it’s very cool I like it a lot.

And I’m always open to working with other people I recently sort of opened my studio if you will –I’m on Facebook with thousands of friends and I’ve said to all of them look if you’re out there and you need assistance with overdubs, mixing, production, don’t be shy in other words everyone I work with doesn’t have to be a rock star. If you need a guitar overdub I’m a work for hire musician call me. And I’ve actually ended up on six or seven records this year by virtue of doing that and they’ve all been fun projects to work with.

And I would say the same thing if everyone out there in the audience needs anything from bass, drums, guitar to mixing you can find me on Facebook because I really do enjoy working with people and I find interesting relationships from there that go to unique places.”

Billy the new CIRCA album And So On is awesome and I’m looking forward to listening to your solo effort as well. Thank you so much for being with me today it was a lot of fun.

“Thank you and take care Ray.”

Special thanks to Billy James of Glass Onyon PR for this interview.

CIRCA official website http://www.circahq.com/
Billy Sherwood official website http://billysherwoodhq.com/Store/
Billy Sherwood on Facebook   http://www.facebook.com/people/Billy-Sherwood/752104140

Order Ray Shasho’s new book called Check the GsThe True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com or iuniverse.com.
 
“Normalcy is a myth and anyone who tells you differently isn't very normal."Check the Gs" is a memoir from Ray Shasho who tells of his own offbeat upbringing working in the family business art gallery, from a young age. Of Cuban and Syrian descent, he tells a very American story of coming from everything, seeing everything, walking the line of the law and much more. A fun and fast paced memoir, "Check the Gs" is a worthwhile addition to many a memoir collection." ~~ MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Contact author/classic rock music reporter Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

 
 

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Jon Anderson: "I'll return to YES when they wake up" - Interview with Ray Shasho

 
 By Ray Shasho

YES starship pilot and spiritual voice of reason Jon Anderson spoke with Examiner Ray Shasho in a recent interview. Positivity, exciting new ventures and a rebirth of energy thrusting towards a bright future was the essential message received from the illustrious YES songsmith.

In 2008, Anderson’s reverent role as lead singer, composer and musician for the progressive rock group came to an end. Anderson became very ill with a respiratory ailment. Management wanted the group to continue touring but Anderson asked for a break or perhaps to do a semi acoustic project but the band refused and continued with their plans anyway. In fact they recruited Benoit David a singer from a YES tribute band to replace the legendary singer.

Anderson became so ill that he stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. He fell into a three- day coma and near death on several occasions. But despite life’s setbacks Jon Anderson remains optimistic. He’s currently on a solo tour playing Yes favorites and his own eclectic works.

So will Jon Anderson ever return as YES frontman? Jon says, “When they wake up.”

On October 19th Anderson will bring back the true magic of early YES music when he begins a new tour with ex-bandmate and keyboardist Rick Wakeman. (Anderson Wakeman Tour 2011)  Both collaborated on a phenomenal album in 2010 called The Living Tree.

Jon’s latest solo creation is called Survival & Other Stories. Jon says, “About four years ago I put in an ad on my website: ‘Musicians Wanted’…this is the result” The album features Anderson and many other artists writing songs via the internet while Jon performs them.

John Roy Anderson was born in Accrington, Lancashire, England. Jon is 66 years old and an American citizen living in San Luis Obispo, California.

Not only is Jon Anderson a very special human being but I’ve also learned that he’s a funny guy!

Here’s a very special conversation with the immortal Jon Anderson.
Jon how are you today?

“I’m fine how are you?”

Are you calling from your home in California or on the road today?

“No I’m in California, Central California and it’s a beautiful day.”

How’s the solo tour coming along?

“It’s really wonderful I just get up there and sing with my guitars and acoustic piano you know just have a good time singing classic Yes songs and Vangelis songs some new songs from Survival & Other Stories my new album and tell stories and a lot of people enjoy them.”

You know I really like the reggae twist you put on your songs. I find a lot of performers doing that nowadays.

“Yea reggae is really where it’s at.”

Besides your solo tour, I guess the other big news would be the Anderson-Wakeman Tour launching in October?

“Yea that’s me and Wake we did a concert tour last year in the UK which was very successful so we decided to take it to America. So we’re doing the east coast October and November- mid October to mid November tickets are selling well so it’s a going to be a great show.”

It’s so great to see you with your old YES bandmate. The living Tree is such a wonderful album. Beautiful arrangements, your vocals are better than ever and reminiscent to the very early YES material.

“I love it, I love doing those new songs and especially on stage it’s just so much fun.”

Survival & Other Stories is a terrific project, talk a little about how it was conceived?

“Well you know I put an ad on my website asking for musicians to send me ideas to music and I got lots of them -I get them every week now and my son is sending me music which is really cool we’re working together on some songs. So you know music is very very adventurous out there and a lot of young people and you know any age kind of people just sending me music and you never know what’s going to come along.”

It’s so cool to get the kids involved man, I brought my kids up the right way listening to classic rock music. As a matter of fact my son’s favorite band when he fell asleep at night was YES.

“Excellent!”

I took them to concerts at early ages too. I think it’s important for them to know. 

“Yea, that there’s more music than the ones you here on the radio and basically there’s pop music which is popular music which is great but there’s also music which is a little bit more adventurous and different and that’s something that I’ve always been interested in you know.”

And it’s tougher than ever for new bands to get signed nowadays by record companies.
“Well you know happily they can create their own music and put it on the internet by themselves and it won’t cost them too much money to do that and so there’s a couple of companies like ChinCorp and the company called Stageit you can actually do concerts and sell tickets online from your home and you can just do a half an hour or forty five minutes show just in your home on a little camera that’s on your laptop and people are doing this -really really exciting times you know.”

YES music was a religion to most of us growing up. Those spiritual lyrics sung by one Jon Anderson who we emulated not as an entertainer but more or less as a spiritual advisor or holy man. And then your bandmates replaced you with a YES tribute band singer who I happened to feel is horrible by the way. And everyone I’ve talked with agrees.

“He’s just different you know what I mean. They did it with The Buggles (Geoff Downes and Trevor Horne). Chris and Steve and Alan they just think well that’s where we’re going and good luck to them and I just think well I’ve got a lot of work that I want to do as well a lot of great music that I want to create so I’ll just get on with my life you know. I‘ve left the band a couple of times because of outside influences trying to push the band around and I hate that so that’s when I have to say I’ve got to get out of there quick.”

I guess it may have been different if the new singer had been a member of YES or perhaps another classic rock legend, but a tribute band singer? YES faithful are still scratching their heads.

“It’s kind of disappointing but hey 35 years of YES is not too bad after all. I did a lot of work that I’m very proud of and there were some ups and downs but hey when you look at the depth of music that YES created over those 35 years it’s kind of amazing to me when I think about it in my head and there’s some great music coming and I’m always thinking about the next step of music and I think a lot of people are going to be very surprised in the next couple of years how music is going to really evolve and all that energy from the love of YES music will come through and people will hear it in a different way.”

I guess you’re ex bandmates are stuck in the past while you’re moving forward?

“You know Ray every time I do an interview they say when are you going to get back together with YES and I say, “When they wake up.””

Laughing

“You know, you’ve got to make light of everything. YES was a tiny miniscule of the music world anyway. People like yourself and other people like me I loved what we’ve done so I’m sort of committed to creating great YES music in a way but I think the next project that I’m going to let go of probably before Christmas people are going to say, “Yea Jon still has that energy to do that kind of music I love it.””

The music was great but it was your inspirational words that kept YES fans focused on a positive outlook of life and hope for the future. I can honestly say that you got me through a very tough stage in my life.How do you stay so positive especially during these difficult times?

There’s a lot of us out there who are committed to being positive and optimistic. I think in life you have a choice. You can either be optimistic or pessimistic and I go for the optimism you know.”

And you’ve been through a terrible illness too. Your wife actually saved your life when you were sick right Jon?

“Well that was an amazing moment. Basically I got into a coughing fit and there’s a lot of dust around and pollen in this area and I’ve been coughing on and off pretty badly for three years and doctors couldn’t figure it out. So when I had this real bad one I just stopped breathing and my wife held me in her arms while the paramedics came and they just sort of jumped started me and it put me in a coma for three days. So it was pretty dangerous you know?
A couple of months later the real infection took over and that’s when I had to have these operations. You know you have a problem and the infection goes into the pancreas and then the liver and you have to be very careful so they had to do these very delicate operations. And I couldn’t sing for six months and couldn’t speak hardly but I just kept thinking I thought of doing all this stuff you know. A lot of people go through it its life; okay better get on with the next thing.”

What got me through my two week stint in the hospital a few years back was my wife staying with me over night for several days and a regular visit from the Pastor.

“It’s amazing, when I finished up my last operation this guy use to come around playing guitar you know and singing and he started singing It’s a Wonderful Life and I just burst out in tears. And it took me all those months to let go and cry you know.”

When the pastor came in to pray with me at the hospital I cried every time.

“It’s good for you ya know.”

 I think going through all that does something to your emotions and maybe even brings you closer with God?

“Yea that’s what it is.”

You said in a recent interview that “I live to understand the great mystery, and how we are part of Mother Earth, and ‘why’” That statement reminded me of what the American Indians tell us, as they remind us how important it is for our soul to connect with nature.

“Oh gosh yea. When I first came to live in America and I’m an American now for two years and I was here twenty years ago when I first came here lived here and that’s when I started meeting with you call them Medicine Man Shaman Native Americans. And it’s a beautiful experience to sit and hear what they have to say and I thank the Gods that I was able to be there at that time and wake up you know.”

Unfortunately sometimes it’s difficult to find sincere words of wisdom and hope nowadays in America. It seems like positive or inspirational significances are overshadowed by commercials.

“Everybody wants to be American it seems. I travel enough to know you know I’ve been to China just about 20 years ago and they were just beginning to understand the American energy and I remember seeing at this airport there was a big sign and a big white painted sign and it said peace love tourism and they understood what was the next thing and look at them now they’re the biggest financially based country in the world and they’re feeding off the Americanism but its far- far- far away from spiritual below the mother earth but it’s a good thing in a way because eventually everybody will turn around and understand that if we don’t take care of mother earth we’re not taking care of ourselves.”

You know Jon, God created such a massive universe there just has to be other life out there somewhere. After all there must be a reason for all that space right?

“For sure! for sure! There’s so much going on that we don’t understand. I love that concept anyway and one day it’ll all come clear.”

Do you think after we die it’s all going to come clear?

“I think if you let go of preconceived ideas you’ll find everything in this life. For me my understanding is God is all that is, God is everything all that is and you’re true God is within and that’s the power that you have as a human being. And this life is for us to discover the divine within. And that’s really the key to life in many ways for me. And the thing is it’s not for us to reason why everything is what it is just do it.”

Inspired by The Beatles you played in a band called the Warriors with your brother before YES.  And now your brother Tony is a Priest. Jon you would have made a wonderful Priest.

“You know we’re all very spiritual beings and I was always felt happy to sing about the earth and don’t kill the whale and take care of life, the great path, the mystery and everything. I was always happy to sing about it and why not I’m not going to sing about rock and roll Chuck Berry did that, The Beatles did that I’m not even going to get near that so I might as well sing about something different you know.”

What other music besides The Beatles inspired you?

“Oh gosh from Stevie Wonder to… when I think about the list it’s pretty endless. I love the music from the 40’s, 50’s obviously the 60’s and when I watched Michael Jackson what an incredible talent and what an incredible energy you know and Sting and there’s so many great artists out there it’s just extraordinary. I actually saw Ricki Lee Jones a couple of months ago just like being in heaven you know she was amazing. And then about a month later we saw that was on the same bill Randy Newman one of the great composers my God he was so beautiful. Very funny! On stage he’s very funny.”

I think you would have meshed well with George Harrison.
“I met him once but if I‘m around George Harrison I don’t know what I want to say it’s a frightening experience.”

Why Jon?

“Because it’s George Harrison. He’s a Beatle.”

That’s funny; I remember seeing Ozzy Osbourne being nervous and excited about meeting Paul McCartney. I thought, come on man you’re Black Sabbath!

“I know the feeling.”

When meditation is done correctly one can actually leave their body. I read somewhere that you’ve entered the fourth dimension while meditating?

“I’ve had three experiences in this lifetime of interdimensional world and it’s a beautiful experience because it wakes you up about life and makes you realize that there’s more to life than we see and understand. And I write about in some music. I’ve written a whole piece of music about that experience and one day it’ll come out timing is everything.”

In 1974 Yes’s seventh studio album called Relayer was released.  In my mind the album stands out to be the most creative and inspirational albums on the planet. It’s almost like the five of you were from another galaxy far-far away.Of course Roger Dean had a lot to do with that perception.

“Gates of Delirium I wrote that on piano all the way through. And I took it to the band and I don’t play good piano so it must have sounded terrible but they understood what I was trying to get at you know.”

Was that piece inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace?

“Yea, it was a combination of the war as we understand it and where would we be can we live beyond war and then I had to jump in the real chaos and savagery of war in order to come out at the other end with soon oh soon the light to wake us up emotionally and spiritually you know.

What’s so great about the lyrics is that it touches people in so many ways. You can take the song and match them with your own trials and tribulations of life and it all makes so much sense. It’s like an explanation of what life is all about.  

“It says the reason to be here and the reason to be here is the light.”

Relayer is such a magnificent album and I will always know that it is the best YES album of all time.

“It’s one of those albums that over the years when we performed that on stage it was such a tribute -laser beams happening and then thunder and lightning going on stage and then all of a sudden it calms right down and I’d walk to the front with a guitar and just sing soon oh soon the light and I was on another planet. I use to go through this like an exorcism in the middle of the war I was screaming and shouting and banging and crashing I was doing all sorts on stage trying to evoke something very-very ancient it was a powerful moment. I believed that I was finding the truth.”

What were some of your favorite works?

“I think they all got something in them you know. Fragile, Close to the Edge, Topographic, Gates of Delirium, Awaken that whole period was such an incredible adventure and obviously 90125 was a totally different world and the last album we did Magnification I love very much. But like you say the Relayer was like sort of the kingpin of the 70’s can we stand and keep going yes we can you know.”

Who actually named the band YES?

“The original band was called Mabel Greer’s Toy Shop. Yea Chris’s (Chris Squire) band was called that so I joined with Bill( Bill Bruford original YES drummer) after the drummer left and the keyboard player left in the first week because they had better gigs so I said right to Chris listen we’ve got to shorten the name. So Peter Banks (YES Original guitarist) came up with the name YES. I came up with LIFE and Chris came up with WORLD and then he said, “Why don’t we call ourselves YES?” and we all said, “The Yes?” And he said, No-no just YES.” Then we all said, “YES that’s great!” Yea those were wild and beautiful times.”

Do you have a good story from that wild and beautiful time?

“Aw there’s so many you know. I remember me Howe and Rick getting on the plane but we had a couple of drinks and in those days you could smoke a joint in the airport because nobody cared anyway it was ’71 or ’72 around that time. So we’re happy and on the plane and the captain says we’ll be landing in Chicago in an hour’s time and we said, “Hey wait a minute we’re supposed to be going to Philadelphia.” So Rick stood up and said, “Excuse me can you turn the plane around.”

All laughing
That’s hilarious!

“And we all looked at him and okay so we got there a quarter of an hour before the show in Philadelphia so we had to get on a different plane when we got to Chicago but that whole moment when Rick stood up and shouted “Can you turn the plane around?” He was serious.

Bands like Yes, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull never had a string of top 40 hits but were still selling out stadiums. Although YES had Owner of a Lonely Heart and Roundabout as Top 40 radio hits. Were you ever pressured to put out something commercially that would be played on the radio?

“It would happen every so often and that’s when I would leave the situation every eight or ten years or so when it became more of a corporate idea and a record company idea to make an album because we need a hit. And I’d say, “I think I’ve got to get out of here.” I’d go up and do Vangelis or go off and do other things because I don’t want to chase that dream because if it happens great if it doesn’t get on with great music and new ideas.”

Jon I want to close with a statement.I’d like to say for all the YES faithful like myself throughout the ages, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your inspirational lyrics and soothing voice of calm that reached into our very souls. With messages that remind us that everything is going to be okay.

Jon thank you so much, it’s been a real pleasure.

“Thank you so much.”

Good luck man

“Bye-Bye!”

I want to thank Billy James of Glass Onyon PR for arranging a very special day with Jon Anderson.

Stay in informed with all the latest Jon Anderson news at http://www.jonanderson.com/
You can purchase Jon and Rick Wakeman's album The Living Tree and Anderson’s latest solo creation Survival & Other Stories at Amazon .com.

And don't forget to order author Ray Shasho’s new book called Check the Gs -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business today at http://rayshasho.com/
It’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding MEETS Almost Famous MEETS Seinfeld! You’ll live it!
Contact Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Positivity, exciting new ventures and a rebirth of energy thrusting towards a bright future was the essential message received from the illustrious YES songsmith.

“I think they all got something in them you know. Fragile, Close to the Edge, Topographic, Gates of Delirium, Awaken that whole period was such an incredible adventure and obviously 90125 was a totally different world."

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Peter Rivera is Rare Earth



By Ray Shasho

Do you ever get peeved about seeing your favorite classic rock bands touring and playing their original hits, but without the key original members of the group? I certainly do. And it seems like more imposter bands are getting away with it lately.

The last draw for me was when the group “Yes” went out on tour without original lead vocalist Jon Anderson. The band replaced him with Benoit David, a vocalist for a Yes- tribute band called, “Close to the Edge.” And please don’t tell me they got the idea from watching the movie “Rock Star.”
It was even reported for awhile that Aerosmith was going to replace Steven Tyler. This reporter’s opinion states that if the heart and soul of the band is no longer with the band, than call it quits! Don’t ruin a legacy for some extra cash; come up with a different name.

Mick Box, the only original member of Uriah Heep continues to tour with the Heep name, Ten Years After tours without legendary guitarist and frontman Alvin Lee, Journey continues to tour without Steve Perry, and their current lead vocalist is Arnel Pineda another cover band replacement, Mick Jones is the only original member left of Foreigner and still touring, Grand Funk is touring with a look- alike replacement for original guitarist and vocalist Mark Farner, The Beach Boys continue their touring ways with only Mike Love and Brian Johnston from the original band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd ridiculously tours with Gary Rossington as its only original member. What’s next a Beatles reunion tour with Paul and Ringo?

And don’t even get me started on the Motown bands. The Four Tops are touring without legendary leader Levi Stubbs, and the Temptations with its only surviving member Otis Williams. And speaking of Motown, Michiganians from the Bradenton-Sarasota area should remember a funky classic rock band from Detroit called Rare Earth. The group signed with Motown in 1969 and became the most successful all- white member band on the label.

The heart and soul of the band was drummer and lead vocalist Peter Rivera. The band scored numerous hits throughout the 70’s including “Get Ready”, "(I Know) I’m Losing You”, “Born to Wander”, “Hey Big Brother”, and “I Just Want to Celebrate.” Their albums “Get Ready” and the two- record set “Rare Earth in Concert” won double platinum. With Peter Rivera on drums and lead vocals, Rare Earth sold over twenty five million records. Rivera has been called the premier rock drummer/vocalist of the 70’s. I’d rank Rivera among the top ten drummers of all-time.

On August 13th of 1980, I attended a Rare Earth show at a small club in Waldorf, Maryland called the Stardust Inn. Sadly only a handful of Rare Earth faithful attended that night. They could have canceled the show for lack of attendance, but they decided to rock the house down instead. I hung out with all the members of Rare Earth that night after the show, and I clearly knew that Pete was the leader, and heart and soul of the band.

A few years earlier I witnessed Rare Earth headlining for the Funkadelic and Ohio Players to a sold-out Baltimore Civic Center of over 13,000 screaming fans. And in 1974 they were the opening act for the California Jam which attracted more than 200,000 people.

Without a doubt, the band’s driving force during their success was Peter Rivera.

Rare Earth continues to tour without Peter Rivera at the helm. Original member and saxophonist Gil Bridges now leads the band with Rare Earth’s most successful guitarist Ray Monette.

As for Peter Rivera, in 1990 he started touring with the Classic Rock All- Stars. A Supergroup that consisted of Peter on drums and vocals, Jerry Corbetta keyboardist from Sugarloaf, Mike Pinera lead singer of Blues Image and guitarist from Iron Butterfly, and guitarist Spencer Davis formally of the Spencer Davis Group. The most current lineup features Rivera, Pinera, Corbetta, and Larry Prentiss bassist from the Johnny Rivers band. http://www.classicrockallstars.com/flash.html

In 2007 Rivera formed another band called “Celebrate” with Peter Rivera, playing all the great Rare Earth tunes plus the timeless hits from Motown and other R&B dance favorites.

Peter Rivera has a great book out called, “Born to Wander.” He writes about his 30 year experience- before, during, and after Rare Earth. You can purchase Pete’s story at  http://www.peterrivera.com/book.html







Do you have a classic rock story? Email them to me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com