Chris Squire, bassist for "Yes," dead at 67

Rolling Stone | 6/28/2015 | LS

[LS]

A rock icon, Chris Squire, bassist of "Yes," died at age 67 of leukemia, which was only recently diagnosed.

[LS]

Squire was an incredibly innovative bass player, and the glue for "Yes." Saw them in 69 (?) right after "Fragile" came out on a ticket with Black Sabbath (!!) and they opened. Amazing. After two Black Sabbath songs, we left, having seen the real musicians. (I know, why did it take you two songs?)

[StarfireIV]

May this highly influential bassist rest in peace.

[moovova]

Another long distance runaround has come to an end.

Great band.

[Lurkinanloomin]

I was fortunate enough to see them in “the round” at the Philly Spectrum in the’70’s. Fantastic show.
Music has lost another great.

[P.O.E.]

"If there's a rock and roll heaven, you know they've got a hell of a band"

[God luvs America]

Very sad. Big Yes fan and Squire was always my guy in the band. Saw Yes at least a dozen times in the 70s/80s. Squire was/is possibly the best bass player in rock and roll.

[lee martell]

Was Squire with Yes when they did “Roundabout”? That song was everywhere for months and months when it came out. It was more an audio experience vs ‘a song’ in the classic sense. True progressive rock, on the same level as King Crimson.

[4yearlurker]

Back in the day of Yes we would call chilled out stoners "Yes Heads." Great,great old music. RIP Chris Squire.

[Fungi]

The album “tales from topographic oceans” is a mystery. Starts nowhere, ends nowhere, this is music? I know, going to get hell for this from some.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“Squire was/is possibly the best bass player in rock and roll.”

Agree entirely, and it is tragic that he died without ever having been inducted into the sham they call the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was absolutely incredible. Very sad.

[SamAdams76]

While Yes was more musically accomplished than Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath had the better frontman. And having a good frontman counts for a lot in rock and roll.

I appreciate the progressive rock scene much more in my middle years. When I was a youth, I found "prog rock" ponderous.

Glad I finally came around.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“Was Squire with Yes when they did “Roundabout”? “

Yes. That baseline was just one example of how talented he was.

[Zeppo]

I know, going to get hell for this from some.

Deservedly so :-)

It's an acquired taste...

[LS]

No, I’m with you on that album. Easily their worst. But “Close to the Edge” and “Relayer” were, in my opinion, amazing. “Yes” was not a “song” band that could write a song that would bring you to tears. But they were innovative.

[LS]

Yes, Squire was one of the founders.

[Fungi]

Well we are in agreement there, both those albums are great.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Tales from Topographic Oceans has great moments. If they had condensed the best into a single LP, it would have been received much better. Wakeman hated most of it, but not all of it.

[time4good]

Yes. That baseline was just one example of how talented he was.

Although I started playing bass in High School when Roundabout came out - I never fully appreciated it until years later - just listening and marveling. I saw them three times in concert - always laughed to myself that Squire played like he had either octopus or spaghetti fingers - all over the frets at the same time - and Fast!

[smokingfrog]

NO!

[God luvs America]

The rock and roll hof? You mean the place that inducted donna summer but left out the likes of Yes and the Moody Blues?