Posted on 06/28/2015 11:22:49 AM PDT by a fool in paradise
Chris Squire—the bassist, vocalist, and founding member of Yes—died 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 band’s 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 today’s 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 wasn’t merely our friend: he was also part of our family and we shall forever love and miss him.
“I think I first saw Yes, perhaps with the Who...”
*****************
“So Who did you see?”
“Yes!”
Tom Woods must be seriously bummed (that’s for the libertarians here).
Yes he was. One of the best ever. Played an eight string bass occasionally. Damn Shame, too young.
“If there’s a Rock-N-Roll Heaven, you know they got a helluva band!”
For a hearty “good job” and an internet pat on the back, who sang that?
Google says “The Righteous Brothers”. A couple of years ago I sat front row right in front of Chris here in San Diego. Last year I was fifth row on Steve Howe’s side. Sat front row back in the 70’s with a Nikon. My favorite band ever. Much of their music I consider genius. Felt the loss all day.
Very sad indeed.
When a soon to be famous musician first heard ‘Yes’ play he said “that bass player is screwed up, he thinks he’s playing lead”......Ha....glad he was...
Thanks for the note.....get back to you soon.
Sucks I had to find out about this on the Grammies tonight. I met Chris, Trevor Rabin, and Alan White at an English Pub on Sherman Way in the Valley back in the late 1980s. I was there with my softball team and they were there celebrating Alan White’s birthday. Just normal guys enjoying a beer with their bandmate. I believe the owner was Rick Wakeman’s head roadie at one time. Saw them many times from the 70s to the early 2000s.
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