Yes tour announces prog-rock partnership, summer dates with Asia

By Allison Reitz

Progressive rock musician Steve Howe will play overtime this summer when prog-rock icon Yes tours with special guest Asia. Howe, who plays guitar in both bands, will take the stage twice a night throughout the 24-city tour.

The trek kicks off on the West Coast with a June 26 concert at Fantasy Springs in Indio, CA, and crosses over to the East Coast for an August 2 close-out at Bethlehem Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. Highlights of the run are a July 2 concert at Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, CA, a July 12 performance at Paramount Theatre in Denver, CO, and a July 29 show at Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ.

Asia formed in the early 1980s, comprised of members from prog-rock titans such as King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The group's mainstream success was somewhat limited, driven by the anthemic commercial hit "Heat of the Moment." However, Asia has retained a place of honor among progressive rock fans.

"People have been waiting for this for decades," said John Wetton, bassist and vocalist for Asia, in a statement. "Since America was so important to the success of both bands, we feel it was the right time and place to launch [this tour]."

In addition to Howe, the Yes lineup will consist of classic members Chris Squire on bass and Alan White on drums. They will be joined by stand-in vocalist Benoit David and keyboardist Oliver Wakeman, taking over for his father and longtime Yes member Rick Wakeman.

For the past year, the Yes line-up has been in a state of flux. Lead singer Jon Anderson was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure last summer and ordered to rest for at least six months, sidelining the band's planned 40th anniversary tour. David, a Yes tribute band singer, stepped in for Anderson, allowing the band to complete more than 30 concerts on the 2008-2009 In The Present Tour.

More health issues sidelined the band during its early 2009 tour dates. After undergoing leg surgery in February, Squire was ordered to rest for one month, and the rest of the tour was cancelled.

Despite his recent health concerns and shifts in the band lineup, Squire is optimistic about the band's direction and upcoming tour. In a statement, he said, "This has turned out to be one of the best performing line-ups in Yes' storied history. It feels like we're rediscovering these songs all over again."