List of Yes band members

The following list details musicians who have been and are members of the English progressive rock band Yes since its formation in 1968. The band was split up between 1981 and 1983. Bassist Chris Squire was the only member to be part of every one of the band's incarnations until his death in 2015, which left the band without any original members.

Yes
Yes in concert, 1977 Left to right: Steve Howe, Alan White, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman
Background information
Genres	Progressive rock
Years active	1968–1981, 1983–present
Members	Steve Howe Alan White Geoff Downes Billy Sherwood Jon Davison

Members

Current members

Steve Howe

Steve Howe (c. 1978), guitarist (1970-1981, 1990-1992, 1995–present)

Active: 1970–1981, 1990–1992, 1995–present

Instruments: guitar, backing vocals, lap steel & pedal steel guitar

Occasional Instruments: laud, mandolin, bass guitar, sitar, banjo

Release contributions: all Yes releases from The Yes Album (1971) to Drama (1980), Union (1991), all new Yes releases from Keys to Ascension (1996) onward

Alan White

Alan White (c. 2008), drummer (1972-1981, 1982-2004, 2008-present)

Active: 1972–1981, 1982–present

Instruments: drums, percussion

Occasional Instruments: piano, backing vocals

Release contributions: all new Yes releases from Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) onward

Geoff Downes

Geoff Downes (c. 2006), keyboardist (1980-1981, 2011-present)

Active: 1980–1981, 2011–present

Instruments: keyboards

Occasional Instruments: vocoder, programming

Release contributions: Drama (1980), The Word Is Live (2005), all new Yes releases from Fly from Here (2011)

Billy Sherwood

Active: 1997–2000, 2015-present

Instruments: bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

Occasional Instruments: timpani, harmonica

Release contributions: All Yes releases from Open Your Eyes (1997) to House of Yes: Live from House of Blues (2000), Topographic Drama – Live Across America (2017) onward

Non-member contributions: Union (1991) (keyboards, guitar, bass guitar) Keys to Ascension (1996) (mixer) Keys to Ascension 2 (1997) (producer, mixer) Heaven & Earth (2014) (mixer, engineer)

Jon Davison

Jon Davison (2013), lead vocalist (2012-present)

Active: 2012–present

Instruments: lead vocals, guitar, percussion

Occasional Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: All new Yes releases from Heaven & Earth (2014), onward

Former members

Jon Anderson

Jon Anderson (2011), lead vocalist (1968-1980, 1983-1988, 1990-2004)

Active: 1968–1980, 1983–1988, 1990–2004

Instruments: lead vocals, guitar, percussion, harp

Occasional Instruments: keyboards, cuatro

Release contributions: all Yes releases from Yes (1969) to Tormato (1978), Yesshows (1980), all Yes releases from 90125 (1983) to Magnification (2001), Union Live (2011), Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two (2015)

Chris Squire

Chris Squire (c. 1978), bassist (1968–1981, 1982–2004, 2008–2015)

Active: 1968–1981, 1982–2004, 2008–2015 (his death)

Instruments: bass guitar, backing vocals

Occasional Instruments: piano, harmonica, bass pedals, timpani, lead vocals

Release contributions: all Yes releases from Yes (1969) to Like It Is: Yes at the Mesa Arts Center (2015)

Tony Kaye

Tony Kaye (c. 1994), keyboardist (1968-1971, 1982-1983, 1983-1994)

Active: 1968–1971, 1982–1983, 1983–1994

Instruments: organ, piano

Release contributions: all Yes releases from Yes (1969) to The Yes Album (1971), All Yes releases from 90125 (1983) to Talk (1994), The Word Is Live (2005), Yes 50 Live (2019)

Bill Bruford

Bill Bruford (c. 2004), drummer (1968-1972, 1990-1992)

Active: August–September 1968, November 1968–July 1972, 1990–1992

Instruments: drums, percussion

Release contributions: all Yes releases from Yes (1969) to Yessongs (1973), Union (1991), The Word Is Live (2005)

Peter Banks

Active: 1968–1970

Instruments: guitar, backing vocals

Release contributions: Yes (1969), Time and a Word (1970), Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970 (1997), The Word Is Live (2005)

Tony O'Reilly

Active: Sept. 1968–Nov. 1968

Instruments: drums

Release contributions: none

Rick Wakeman

Rick Wakeman (c. 2012), keyboardist (1971-1974, 1976-1980, 1990-1992, 1995-1996, 2002-2004)

Active: 1971–1974, 1976–1980, 1990–1992, 1995–1996, 2002–2004

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: all Yes releases from Fragile (1971) to Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973), Going for the One (1977), Tormato (1978), Union (1991), Keys to Ascension (1996), Keys to Ascension 2 (1997), The Word Is Live (2005), Live at Montreux 2003 (2007), Union Live (2011),[1][2] & Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two (2015)

Patrick Moraz

Active: 1974–1976

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: Relayer (1974), Yesshows (1980), The Word Is Live (2005), Yes 50 Live (2019)

Trevor Horn

Trevor Horn (c. 2007), lead vocalist (1980-1981)

Active: 1980–1981

Instruments: lead vocals

Occasional Instruments: bass, guitar, keyboards

Release contributions: Drama (1980), The Word Is Live (2005)

Non-member contributions: 90125 (1983) (producer, backing vocals) Big Generator (1987) (producer) Fly from Here (2011) (producer, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) Fly from Here - Return Trip (2018) (producer, lead and backing vocals, additional keyboards, additional acoustic guitar)

Trevor Rabin

Trevor Rabin (c. 1994), guitarist (1982-1994)

Active: 1982–1994

Instruments: guitar, backing vocals, keyboards

Occasional Instruments: lead vocals, programming

Release contributions: all Yes releases from 90125 (1983) to Talk (1994), The Word Is Live (2005), Union Live (2011)

Eddie Jobson

Eddie Jobson (c. 2009), keyboardist (1983)

Active: 1983

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: none

Igor Khoroshev

Active: 1997–2000

Instruments: keyboards, backing vocals

Occasional Instruments: cowbell

Release contributions: The Ladder (1999), House of Yes: Live from House of Blues (2000), Magnification (live bonus tracks from 2004 reissue) (2001)

Non-member contributions: Open Your Eyes (1997) (keyboards)

Benoît David

Benoît David (2010), lead vocalist (2008-2012)

Active: 2008–2012

Instruments: lead vocals

Occasional Instruments: acoustic guitar, tambourine

Release contributions: Fly from Here (2011), In the Present – Live from Lyon (2011), From a Page (2019)

Oliver Wakeman

Oliver Wakeman (c. 2010), keyboardist (2008-2011)

Active: 2008–2011

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: In the Present – Live from Lyon (2011), From a Page (2019)

Non-member contributions: Fly from Here (2011) (keyboards)[3][4]

Studio musicians

Session musicians

David Foster

Instruments: backing vocals, guitar

Release contributions: Time and a Word (1970)

Colin Goldring

Instruments: recorder

Release contributions: The Yes Album (1971)

Graham Preskett

Instruments: violin

Release contributions: 90125 (1983)

Jimmy Zavala

Instruments: harmonica

Release contributions: Big Generator (1987)

Steve Porcaro

Instruments: synthesizer, keyboards

Release contributions: Union (1991), Open Your Eyes (1997)

Randy Raine-Reusch

Instruments: world instruments

Release contributions: The Ladder (1999)

Rhys Fulber

Instruments: dance loops

Release contributions: The Ladder (1999)

Luís Jardim

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: Fly from Here (2011)

Gerard Johnson

Instruments: piano

Release contributions: Fly from Here (2011)

Studio group and conductor contributions

Richard Williams Singers

Release contributions: Going for the One (1977)

Ars Laeta of Lausanne

Release contributions: Going for the One (1977)

The Marguerita Horns

Members: Tom Keenlyside (piccolo, saxophone), Derry Burns (trumpet), Rod Murray (trombone), Tom Colclough (saxophone), Neil Nicholson (tuba)

Release contributions: The Ladder (1999)

Larry Groupé (conductor)

Release contributions: Magnification (2001)

Live musicians

Touring musicians

Ian Wallace

Active: 1968 (one show)

Instruments: drums

Release contributions: none[5]

Billy Sherwood

Active: 1994

Instruments: keyboards, guitar

Release contributions: none

Tom Brislin

Active: 2001

Instruments: keyboards

Release contributions: Symphonic Live (2002-DVD, 2009-CD)

Jay Schellen

Active: 2016-2017, 2018-present

Instruments: percussion, drums

Release contributions: Topographic Drama – Live Across America (2017), 50 Live (2019)

Dylan Howe

Active: 2017

Instruments: drums

Release contributions: none

Tony Kaye

Active: as special guest for Yes's 2018/9 50th anniversary tour[6]

Instruments: organ, piano, synth

Release contributions: 50 Live (2019)

Live group and conductor contributions

Wilhelm Keitel (conductor)

Release contributions: Symphonic Live (2002-DVD, 2009-CD)

Lineups

Years	Members	Albums/Videos
1968	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Peter Banks – guitar, backing vocals Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Bill Bruford – drums	no recordings, live performances only
1968	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Peter Banks – guitar, backing vocals Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Tony O'Reilly – drums
1968–1970	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Peter Banks – guitar, backing vocals Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Bill Bruford – drums	Yes (1969) Time and a Word (1970) Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970 (1997) The Word Is Live (2005) [2 tracks] The Lost Broadcasts (2009) [4 tracks]
1970–1971	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Bill Bruford – drums	The Yes Album (1971) The Lost Broadcasts (2009) [4 tracks]
1971–1972	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Rick Wakeman – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Bill Bruford – drums	Fragile (1971) Close to the Edge (1972) Yessongs (1973) [2 tracks] The Word Is Live (2005) [6 tracks]
1972–1974	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Rick Wakeman – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Yessongs (1973) [11 tracks] Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973) Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two (2015)
1974–1976	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Patrick Moraz – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Relayer (1974) Yesshows (1980) [2 tracks] Yes: Live – 1975 at Q.P.R. (1993) The Word Is Live (2005) [4 tracks]
1976–1980	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Rick Wakeman – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Going for the One (1977) Tormato (1978) Yesshows (1980) [6 tracks] Live in Philadelphia (1995) The Word Is Live (2005) [7 tracks]
1980–1981	Trevor Horn – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Geoff Downes – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Drama (1980) The Word Is Live (2005) [3 tracks]
The band was broken up between 1981 and 1983
1982–1983	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Trevor Rabin – guitar, lead & backing vocals, keyboards Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	90125 (1983)
1983	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Trevor Rabin – guitar, lead & backing vocals, keyboards Eddie Jobson – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	rehearsals and promotional appearances only
1983–1988	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Trevor Rabin – guitar, lead & backing vocals, keyboards Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	9012Live: The Solos (1985) Big Generator (1987) The Word Is Live (2005) [4 tracks]
1988–1990	Trevor Rabin – guitar, lead & backing vocals, keyboards Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	YesYears (1991) [1 track]
1990–1992	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Trevor Rabin – guitar, lead & backing vocals, keyboards Tony Kaye – keyboards Rick Wakeman – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Bill Bruford – drums Alan White – drums	Union (1991) Union Live (2011)
1992–1994	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Trevor Rabin – guitar, lead & backing vocals, keyboards Tony Kaye – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums with Billy Sherwood - keyboards, guitar, backing vocals (1994)	Talk (1994)
1994–1995	Jon Anderson – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	no recordings or live performances
1995–1996	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Rick Wakeman – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Keys to Ascension (1996) Keys to Ascension 2 (1997)
1997–1998	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – lead guitar, backing vocals Billy Sherwood - keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Open Your Eyes (1997)
1998–2000	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – lead guitar, backing vocals Billy Sherwood - rhythm guitar, backing vocals Igor Khoroshev – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	The Ladder (1999) House of Yes: Live from House of Blues (2000)
2000	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Igor Khoroshev – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Magnification (2001) [live bonus tracks]
2000–2002	Jon Anderson – lead vocals, keyboards Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums, piano on Magnification with Tom Brislin – keyboards (2000–2001)	Magnification (2001) Symphonic Live (2002,DVD, 2003,CD)
2002–2004	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Rick Wakeman – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Yesspeak (2004) Yes Acoustic: Guaranteed No Hiss (2004) Songs from Tsongas (2005,DVD, 2014,CD) Live at Montreux 2003 (2007)
The band were on hiatus between 2004 and 2008
2009–2011	Benoît David – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Oliver Wakeman – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	In the Present – Live from Lyon (2011) From a Page (2019)
2011–2012	Benoît David – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Geoff Downes – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Fly from Here (2011)
2012–2015	Jon Davison – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Geoff Downes – keyboards Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums	Heaven & Earth (2014) Like It Is: Yes at the Bristol Hippodrome (2014) Like It Is: Yes at the Mesa Arts Center (2015)
2015–present	Jon Davison – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Geoff Downes – keyboards Billy Sherwood – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums with Jay Schellen – additional drums (2016-2017, 2018-present) Dylan Howe - additional drums (2017)	Topographic Drama – Live Across America (2017) 50 Live (2019)

Bands closely related to Yes

There have been two occasions when a line-up of former Yes members has competed with the official line-up of Yes. These bands included former Yes members, performed/perform Yes music and presented/present themselves within the context of Yes' history.

Band/Years	Members	Albums/Videos
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe: 1988-1992	Jon Anderson – lead vocals Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Rick Wakeman – keyboards Bill Bruford – drums with Tony Levin - bass, backing vocals (live shows, 1 studio album) Jeff Berlin - bass (some live shows, 1 live album) Milton McDonald - rhythm guitar (live shows, 1 studio album, 1 live album) Julian Colbeck - keyboards (live shows, 1 live album) Matt Clifford - keyboards, backing vocals (1 studio album)	Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989) An Evening of Yes Music Plus (1993) Live at the NEC – Oct 24th 1989 (2012)
Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes 2008	Steve Howe – guitar, backing vocals Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals Alan White – drums with Benoît David – lead vocals Oliver Wakeman – keyboards	no recordings, live performances only
Yes feat. Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin & Rick Wakeman: 2010-2018[7]	Jon Anderson – lead vocals, acoustic guitar Trevor Rabin – guitar, lead and backing vocals Rick Wakeman – keyboards with Lee Pomeroy - bass, backing vocals Lou Molino III - drums Iain Hornal - bass (some live shows, no recordings)	Live at the Apollo (2018)

Timeline

Touring Members Timeline

References

1. http://www.yesfeaturingarw.com/
2. http://ultimateclassicrock.com/yes-featuring-jon-anderson-trevor-rabin-rick-wakeman-band-name/?trackback=tsmclip
3. Tony Grassi (1 August 2011). "Photo Gallery: Yes Members Throughout the Years". Guitar World. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
4. Bruno Ceriotti (8 March 2011). "The British Sound: YES FAMILY TREE". Thebritishsound.blogspot.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
5. "Ian Wallace • Obituary (Pierre Perrone in 'The Independent', 28 February 2007)". Procolharum.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
6. "TONY KAYE, founder member of YES is Special Guest for the band's 2018 50th Anniversary". Facebook. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
7. "Ticket Image". Retrieved 26 August 2019 – via Ebay.