Jon Anderson Opens Up About Potential Yes Reunion
In a recent interview with Mojo magazine, iconic progressive rock vocalist Jon Anderson expressed his openness to reuniting with former Yes bandmates Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman. Despite his departure from the band in 2008 due to health issues, Anderson maintains a deep emotional connection to Yes, stating, “When I’m out there singing on my own, I still think I’m part of Yes. They still feel like my songs.”
Anderson, now touring extensively with his backing group The Band Geeks, shared a hopeful vision: “I was talking to [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.” This comes amid his ongoing performances of classic Yes material, underscoring his enduring bond with the music he helped create.
When Did Jon Anderson Leave Yes?
Jon Anderson’s final departure from Yes occurred in 2008, marking the end of his long and tumultuous tenure with the band he co-founded in 1968. His last studio appearance with Yes was on the 2001 album Magnification, and he toured with the group through 2004.
Severe health problems, including acute respiratory failure, sidelined him in the mid-2000s. While recovering, Yes decided to continue touring and replaced him with vocalist Benoît David (formerly of a Yes tribute band) for planned 2008 shows. Anderson learned of his replacement indirectly and has described feeling “fired” from the band he helped build.
This was not Anderson’s first exit— he left in 1980 (leading to the album Drama), rejoined in 1983 for the blockbuster 90125, departed again in 1988, and returned in the 1990s. However, the 2008 split proved permanent, with Jon Davison becoming the current Yes singer in 2012.
Anderson reflected on the disconnect, noting a failed attempt to collaborate remotely: “The first time I realized it wasn’t going to continue was when I discovered you could send MP3s on the computer. So I emailed Steve and Chris [Squire], saying, Why don’t we send music to each other – we’re on the same planet? And they never replied.
A Brief History of Yes and Anderson’s Role
Yes, formed in London in 1968 by Anderson and bassist Chris Squire, became pioneers of progressive rock with landmark albums like Fragile (1971), Close to the Edge (1972), and Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973). Anderson’s ethereal countertenor voice, mystical lyrics, and creative drive defined the band’s golden era.
Lineup changes were frequent: Rick Wakeman joined on keyboards in 1971, Steve Howe on guitar in 1970. The classic 1970s lineup—Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman, and drummer Alan White (from 1972)—produced some of prog’s most ambitious work.
After multiple reunions and splits, Anderson’s health-forced absence in 2008 led to the current Yes configuration led by Howe, featuring Geoff Downes, Billy Sherwood, Jon Davison, and touring drummers. The band released Mirror to the Sky in 2023 and toured extensively.
Despite the separation, Anderson performed with former members at Yes’s 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction—his first time onstage with the group since 2004.
Anderson’s Post-Yes Journey: ARW and The Band Geeks
Following his 2008 exit, Anderson remained active. He toured with Rick Wakeman in 2010 and 2016. In 2016, he formed Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman (ARW) with guitarist Trevor Rabin and Wakeman, touring as a Yes offshoot but releasing no studio album before splitting in 2020.
In recent years, Anderson discovered The Band Geeks—a New Jersey-based group known for faithful Yes covers—online. Impressed, he recruited them as his backing band starting in 2023. Their collaboration yielded the acclaimed 2024 album True, often described as the closest thing to a new Yes record in decades, followed by a live album Perpetual Change in 2025.
Anderson and The Band Geeks have toured successfully, with dates announced into 2026 under the banner “YES Epics, Classics, and More.” A second studio album is in pre-production for late 2026 release.
Anderson’s most recent pure solo efforts include reissues of older works, but his primary focus remains collaborative projects evoking the spirit of Yes.
Reflections on Friendship and the Future
Anderson acknowledges the distance: “We’re still friends but we’re not connected.” Yet he harbors no bitterness, emphasizing life’s experiences and shared history. His openness to guest appearances by Howe and Wakeman suggests a door remains ajar for collaboration, even if a full reunion seems unlikely given the current Yes lineup’s ongoing activity.
At 81 (as of 2025), Anderson continues to embody the optimistic, spiritual ethos of classic Yes. His performances with The Band Geeks keep the music alive, offering fans epic renditions of “Roundabout,” “Close to the Edge,” and more—proving that, in his heart, he never truly left.
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