The 00s To Now
Yes went into the new decade without their iconic frontman but still flying. They tell us why they’re revisiting Fly From Here in 2018, discuss the pain of losing Chris Squire and look forward to what the future holds for Yes.
Into a sky that’s clearing: the return of Fly From Here
Released in June 2011, Fly From Here was Yes’ 20th studio album. The first without Jon Anderson’s vocals (his illness in 2008 had taken him out of the band and he was replaced by Benoît David), musically it was a return to the ‘old new Yes’, with Trevor Horn returning to produce. As recording progressed, Geoff Downes returned to the fold, replacing Oliver Wakeman on keyboards.
Now, in 2018, David’s vocals have been replaced by Horn’s, and the new edition of Fly From Here has become a fitting tribute to Squire, and the de facto follow-up to Drama.
HOWE: “Fly From Here was a great time. It was a lot of work, a pull-and-tussle sort of a record. Trevor is a staunch Yes guy. We had [the track] Fly From Here recorded but it didn’t float to the top – not because it was bad, it was just that there was a focus on other things. We never finished that recording of it. Chris and I said that one day we should look at it.”
HORN: “Chris would always come and see me in LA. He said, ‘Why don’t you just come and do Fly From Here?’ I thought, ‘Why not?’ as we should have recorded it. I then told Chris that there not only was a second part to it, which I played to Chris and he really liked, but also a more complicated part three. I wanted Geoffrey back as he did the keyboards.” DOWNES: “It was weird that when it all came round, when they came to produce the album, that’s when they invited me back.” HORN: “The guys were playing really well: Chris, Steve and I were getting on, it was a good vibe. I’d done a guide vocal. English wasn’t Benoît’s native language – it was sometimes tough to get the sense of the song across to him.”
WHITE: “Benoît was okay. Eventually his voice broke down on tour.”
HORN: “Years later, they phoned and said they were doing Drama and would I sing Tempus Fugit live. It coincided with me going to the gym again. I hadn’t sung that high for years.” WHITE: “Trevor felt that way about the album: it wasn’t as good as it could have been.” HORN: “Alan asked me to redo the vocal on Fly From Here. Alan doesn’t say much, but then he’ll come out with something that surprises you. Steve called me up and said the same. I launched myself into it. I had singing lessons, worked on the tunes, rewrote the songs a little.”
WHITE: “So, he replaced his vocal, which is quite amazing when you think about it.” HOWE: “It’s amazing. Trevor’s done a great job on the production. He’s really spent a lot of time on it – he reshapes the album and the remixes are improved. It wasn’t the last album Chris recorded with the band, but I think it’s the best one of the most recent albums.
It’s a tribute to him as much as anything.”
“Fly From here wasn’t the last album Chris recorded with the band, but I think it’s the best one of the most recent albums. It’s a tribute to him as much as anything.”
Steve Howe