Posted on 06/28/2015 11:22:49 AM PDT by a fool in paradise
Chris Squirethe bassist, vocalist, and founding member of Yesdied last night following his battle with leukemia, according to a statement from the band. Since he started the group with Jon Anderson in 1968 until he was diagnosed with Acute Erythroid Leukemia in 2015, Squire was the only constant member of the group. He was 67.
Squire grew up in central London, where, in 1964, he was suspended from school for having long hair. He played in a few bands in the 1960s, including the Selfs, the Syn, and Mabel Greer's Toyshop. It was through that last band that he met Jon Anderson. The two bonded over Simon and Garfunkel's music. They formed Yes and released their debut album in 1969.
Squire later released solo records and was a member of the short-lived supergroup XYZ, which featured Squire, Yes' Alan White, and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page.
Yes' statement reads:
For the entirety of Yes existence, Chris was the bands linchpin and, in so many ways, the glue that held it together over all these years. Because of his phenomenal bass-playing prowess, Chris influenced countless bassists around the world, including many of todays well-known artists. Chris was also a fantastic songwriter, having written and co-written much of Yes most endearing music, as well as his solo album, Fish Out of Water.
Outside of Yes, Chris was a loving husband to Scotty and father to Carmen, Chandrika, Camille, Cameron, and Xilan. With his gentle, easy-going nature, Chris was a great friend of many
including each of us. But he wasnt merely our friend: he was also part of our family and we shall forever love and miss him.
Yes is my all-time favorite group
It’s sobering to think about how long ago that stuff was.
I know I saw Cream at MSG in NYC but I didn’t realize that was so “early”...must have been 1967-68 if their Royal Albert farewell concert was November 1968 = end of ‘68.
I saw Yes 4 or 5 times back in the day. Fantastic live shows, outstanding musicians all of them.
RIP Mr. Anderson.
L
Saw Yes in “the round” April ‘79 in Pittsburgh. It was literally a round stage that rotated in circles as they played. Interesting, and they were really good.
Anderson? My spell check is drunk.
L
The examples you give are place-names taken from people-names, as opposed to the lady named Scotland, which is the opposite.
Scotland is derived from the Latin "Scotti", which was a Roman "people-name".
Point.
My favorite Yes song.
Indeed. It was a great day of music. I was 19.
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RIP to a great bass player.
I had heard he wasn’t on the current tour due to treatment for the Leukemia. First time he ever missed a tour, and now he’s gone. A sad day, I’ve always worked hard to be able to play bass as well as he does. I don’t know many that can.
RIP Chris Squire, and thank you for all the great music.
RIP
RIP ‘Governor’
At one point, I owned everything they had made and could play any part he and played on record. From the time I started playing at the age of 13 in 1974 until now, no except Geddy or Jaco had anywhere nearly so much influence on the person I am now.
RIP.
I didn’t know about this... But for some reason on Friday night... Oh well without getting into too much detail I warmed up the big vintage amp and me and my kids blasted Heart of the Sunrise and other Yes favorites. Odd... I don’t often listen to Yes, but it just seemed like the right thing to do. I love the density and irreverence of the compositions in the same way I like Genesis... And of course, the inimitable Bass lines. Thanks friend! See you on the other side.
I saw Yes twice on that “In the Round” tour. Great band, talented musicians. Sad to hear of Squire’s passing. He was a monster on the bass. He and the Ox, John Entwistle, were in a league of their own.
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