Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Encyclopedia
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (sometimes referred to by the abbreviation ABWH) was a project of four progressive rock
musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson
, drummer Bill Bruford
, keyboardist Rick Wakeman
, and guitarist Steve Howe
(with Tony Levin
on bass). They had played together in Yes
in the early 1970s. With the exception of Anderson, the only remaining member of the lineup from that period, they had not been playing with Yes for many years. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe released one self-titled studio album
in 1989 and a live recording from their immediately subsequent concert tour (advertised as "An Evening of Yes Music plus") in 1993. In the meantime, Arista Records had co-opted the material they had written for their second studio album for a 1991 "union" album of ABWH and members of the more recent Yes lineup around Chris Squire, who owned the rights to the name "Yes".
and Chris Squire
, and Squire and White were still continuing with Yes along with Trevor Rabin
and Tony Kaye
; for these reasons, it was not possible for ABWH to use the "Yes" name anyway. Anticipating this problem, Jon Anderson suggested they call themselves "The Affirmative," , but the other band members felt that was disingenuous. The name "No" was also suggested, but in the end, they decided to simply name themselves after the members of the band.
When Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe toured, they titled their shows "An Evening Of Yes Music Plus", a name that was also used for their subsequent live album. ABWH were sued by Yes in an attempt to prevent any mention of Yes in the ABWH promotional material.
Eventually, ABWH and Yes resolved their differences and produced a Yes album titled Union. The album included recordings originally intended for separate albums by both groups. Several songs originally intended for the second ABWH album, tentatively titled Dialogue, surfaced on the 1990s bootleg We Make Believe and the underground Yesoteric
bootleg compilation. This material included demos by Anderson but without the other three that were subsequently released as part of Jon Anderson
's The Lost Tapes box set series as Watching the Flags That Fly.
Songs from the ABWH album have been included on subsequent Yes compilations and Yes concerts.
The band was satirized in the Dead Milkmen
song "Anderson, Walkman, Buttholes And How!"
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, drummer Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
, keyboardist Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
, and guitarist Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
(with Tony Levin
Tony Levin
Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
on bass). They had played together in Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
in the early 1970s. With the exception of Anderson, the only remaining member of the lineup from that period, they had not been playing with Yes for many years. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe released one self-titled studio album
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (album)
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe is the self-titled album by four alumni of the progressive rock group Yes: Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe.- History :The project began in 1988...
in 1989 and a live recording from their immediately subsequent concert tour (advertised as "An Evening of Yes Music plus") in 1993. In the meantime, Arista Records had co-opted the material they had written for their second studio album for a 1991 "union" album of ABWH and members of the more recent Yes lineup around Chris Squire, who owned the rights to the name "Yes".
History
Although conceived by Anderson as being a Yes reunion, others in the band were keen to distance themselves from the "Yes" name. At the time, the name for the band "Yes" was co-owned by Anderson, Alan WhiteAlan White (Yes drummer)
Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
and Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
, and Squire and White were still continuing with Yes along with Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
and Tony Kaye
Tony Kaye (musician)
Tony Kaye is a British musician.Kaye was the original keyboard player for the progressive rock group Yes from 1968 to 1971, and rejoined Yes from 1983 to 1995...
; for these reasons, it was not possible for ABWH to use the "Yes" name anyway. Anticipating this problem, Jon Anderson suggested they call themselves "The Affirmative," , but the other band members felt that was disingenuous. The name "No" was also suggested, but in the end, they decided to simply name themselves after the members of the band.
When Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe toured, they titled their shows "An Evening Of Yes Music Plus", a name that was also used for their subsequent live album. ABWH were sued by Yes in an attempt to prevent any mention of Yes in the ABWH promotional material.
Eventually, ABWH and Yes resolved their differences and produced a Yes album titled Union. The album included recordings originally intended for separate albums by both groups. Several songs originally intended for the second ABWH album, tentatively titled Dialogue, surfaced on the 1990s bootleg We Make Believe and the underground Yesoteric
Yesoteric
Yesoteric is a widely-distributed, multi-volume bootleg compilation of music by the band Yes and other related artists which circulated beginning in the early 1990s among fans...
bootleg compilation. This material included demos by Anderson but without the other three that were subsequently released as part of Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
's The Lost Tapes box set series as Watching the Flags That Fly.
Songs from the ABWH album have been included on subsequent Yes compilations and Yes concerts.
The band was satirized in the Dead Milkmen
Dead Milkmen
The Dead Milkmen is an American satirical punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman , guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro , bassist Dave Schulthise and drummer Dean Sabatino .Beginning within the local underground...
song "Anderson, Walkman, Buttholes And How!"
Discography and Videography
- 1989 Anderson Bruford Wakeman HoweAnderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (album)Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe is the self-titled album by four alumni of the progressive rock group Yes: Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe.- History :The project began in 1988...
(reed. 2CD, Gonzo 2010) - 1990 In The Big Dream
- 1991 YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
- Union - 1993 An Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music Plus is a live album by the English progressive rock side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe . Released on October 12, 1993, it was recorded at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on September 9, 1989....
Personnel
| Year | Lead vocals | Bass | Keyboards | Guitars | Drums | Additional Vocals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Jon Anderson Jon Anderson Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes... |
Tony Levin Tony Levin Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass .... |
Rick Wakeman Rick Wakeman Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes... ; Julian Colbeck Julian Colbeck The current CEO of Keyfax NewMedia, Julian Colbeck is a former professional keyboard player of over 25 years, author of several music-related books and guides, the creator of Twiddly.Bits MIDI loops, the concept designer for the PhatBoy MIDI controller, and producer of several music technology DVDs... (1989 tours) |
Steve Howe Steve Howe (guitarist) Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes... ; Milton McDonald Milton McDonald Mike "Milton" McDonald is a session guitarist. He has played with Patricia Kaas, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, The Spice Girls, S Club 7, Ray Davies, Take That, Robert Palmer, M People, Louise, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Atomic Kitten, Hear'Say, Mylène Farmer, and Girls Aloud.McDonald also played... (1989 tours) |
Bill Bruford Bill Bruford William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring... |
|
| 1990 | Jeff Berlin Jeff Berlin Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were... |
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| 1991 (As part of Yes) | Tony Levin Tony Levin Tony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass .... |
Chris Squire Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:... |