Current Yes lineup (Gottlieb Bros.)Yes has officially announced that its original keyboardist, Tony Kaye, will join the band as a special guest for the entire North American leg of its 50th anniversary tour.
The trek, dubbed #YES50: Celebrating 50 Years of Yes, kicks off with a June 5-6 stand in St. Charles, Illinois, and runs through a July 28 show in Atlanta.
Kaye will share the stage with current Yes keyboard player Geoff Downes, who first told ABC Radio about Tony’s planned participation in the tour a few months ago.
Explaining how Yes will approach performing with two keyboardists, Downes said, “I think Tony’s gonna be more focused on the periods that he was involved with the band and, of course, I’ve got my own area that I played for the band, and also right across the board. So, it’s gonna be an interesting way of presenting it.”
Kaye also played with Yes on the the prog-rock legend’s 2018 Cruise to the Edge.
Meanwhile, the YesFanFest — 50 True Summers U.S. fan convention has been scheduled for June 21 at The Foundry in Philadelphia, coinciding with the band June 21-22 stand in the city. The event will include a Q&A with Yes, plus performances by ex-Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz and the group’s one-time touring keyboardist Tom Brislin.
In other news, a five-LP vinyl box set called Yes: The Steven Wilson Remixes will be released on June 29. The collection will feature versions of 1971’s The Yes Album and Fragile, 1972’s Close to the Edge, 1973’s Tales from Topographic Oceans and 1974’s Relayer remixed by acclaimed prog-rock musician and producer Steven Wilson. The set also features new artwork by longtime Yes album artist Roger Dean.
Here are Yes’ 2018 North American tour dates:
6/5 — St. Charles, IL, Arcada Theatre
6/6 — St. Charles, IL, Arcada Theatre
6/8 — New Buffalo, MI, Four Winds Casino Ballroom
6/10 — Kansas City, MO, Midland Theatre
6/11 — Denver, CO, Paramount Theatre
6/13 — Boise, ID, CenturyLink Arena
6/14 — Woodinville, WA, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
6/16 — Bakersfield, CA, Spectrum Amphitheater
6/17 — Anaheim, CA, City National Grove of Anaheim
6/19 — Los Angeles, CA, Ford Theatre
6/20 — San Jose, CA, City National Civic
6/22 — Wendover, NV, Peppermill Casino Hall
6/23 — Laughlin, NV, Edgewater Hotel & Casino
6/24 — Temecula, CA, Pechanga Resort & Casino
6/28 — Interlochen, MI, Kresge Auditorium
6/29 — Grand Rapids, MI, 20 Monroe Live
6/30 — Detroit, MI, Fox Theatre
7/2 — Cincinnati, OH, PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
7/5 — Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
7/6 — Jim Thorpe, PA, Penn’s Peak
7/7 — Montclair, NJ, The Wellmont Theater
7/10 — Boston, MA, The Wilbur Theatre
7/11 — Hampton Beach, NH, Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
7/13 — Mashantucket, CT, Foxwoods Casino
7/14 — Atlantic City, NJ, Tropicana Casino
7/15 — Staten Island, NY, St. George Theatre
7/17 — Peekskill, NY, Paramount Hudson Valley
7/18 — Westbury, NY, Theatre at Westbury
7/20 — Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore
7/21 — Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore
7/23 — Washington, D.C., Warner Theatre
7/24 — Richmond, VA, Classic Amphitheatre
7/26 — Clearwater, FL, Capitol Theatre
7/27 — Orlando, FL, The Plaza Live
7/28 — Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Symphony Hall
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.