| 1. What are you currently up
to? |
....busy writing and filming Demo of next DVD idea....scheduled for next
spring...I have new songs, and piano songs and a couple or 3 YES
classics......also working with this dude 'Chris at his Polish Animation
company and A Canny dude in Scotland, and Brad in South Bend .....and this
guy John Banks who is perfect for my stories etc.........all these guys are
very happening in the Art world..a lot of this work is based on the next
'OLIAS' saga...
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| 2. You have a new DVD out, 'Tour Of The Universe'. What was the idea behind
the DVD release and could you take us through some highlights please?
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the upcoming 'Tour of the Universe' DVD is my 'OneManShow' I started
last year 2004...it was recorded at XM radio studio/tiny concert
room...great fun to listen to and see.....Robert Garolalo's Classic Film
company took the raw footage and built a really wonderful visual landscape
around my songs.............some YES songs, some Jon & Vangelis songs and
other new ones, even the first song I ever wrote.....and a couple of
stories...
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| 3. You have an extensive European tour coming up in Sep/Oct. What sort of
set list can fans expect and will it include the animation/effects used in the US shows? How different does it feel being on stage in a solo capacity
as opposed to being a band member with Yes?
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the SOLO tour will be very much like the DVD, plus a couple of
surprises......I will interweave visuals from the DVD show and others I have
at hand on a screen behind me.....maybe some live shots on the screen as
well......answer some questions......I call it a 'work in progress'
tour...anything can happen, I enjoy playing piano and singing of
course.........being on my own is more relaxed, and I can do anything I
want, ....and it's the kind of challange that I really need at this time..
in my life.
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Photo © Edward Ajaj
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| 4. What have been the most memorable gigs with Yes and solo and why?
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there are so many gigs with YES that stand out....I could fill a couple
of pages...Playing with CREAM on their farewell concert at the Albert Hall
.....all those Philly Gigs....amazing energy......MSG New York....wild and
wonderful........playing Topographic and CTTE...in the rain in Tampa, and
nobody left......first time in Brazil 500,000 people singing and dancing
the whole show.....playing with Mahavishnu Orchestra on their first
show.............fireworks in Chicago in 72...nearly blew up the
stage...this last tour with Roger Dean set...the band was truly
amazing...
Australia 30 years later........all these and more..........I just did my
'OneManShow' up north in Santa Rosa at the HARMONY festival..........love
peace and understanding is still available.........loved it..........singing
in Poland for the first time, very emotional.
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| 5. What future does Yes have (certainly touring wise) given that Rick
Wakeman has announced his retirement from touring from 2006?
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I hope we will do maybe one more project as YES.....when, where, and how......who knows...
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| 6. What was it like touring again last year with what many Yes fans regard
as the classic Yes line-up? Are you all more laid back with each other now rather than the disputes that arose in the past whilst touring?
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...as I always say...when we make music on stage ...we are in
'Harmony....you can feel it, and hear it.....this last tour was hard for me,
I was really sick most of the time, yet on stage I felt great and we played
great, I loved the acoustic set........even wanted to do more of that idea
this year, but we all finished up on different pages.........as for
disputes, I think that goes with the gig, it is a family....we are a
brotherhood.....we are teachers and pupils to each other, when we believe as
one, as a group ,we can do anything....anything......
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| 7. Is there any unreleased work from your time with composing and working
with Vangelis? Any chance the two of you could work again on an album in the future?
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...Vangelis lives in Greece, and loves living there, I doubt if
there is another project for us...(we really wrote some special music).. if
he called me.... I would get on the next plane....that's how much he means
to me...
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| 8. Do you find with touring that fans are always after the classic Yes tunes
and it is harder to slot newer songs into the set? Similarly is it harder for bands like yourselves to get new product out to fans when many are
content to buy compilations of the band's past work and/or live albums?
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...I find it's the opposite, YES fans are truly open to the 'NEW', no
matter what it is...."YES" is a 'progressive' band idea....always has
been.........there will always be new music.....and people that want to hear
it.....always has been .........always will be......Music is a powerful
energy....all kinds of music...all kinds
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| 8. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
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...in my spare time, I enjoy cooking , gardening and birdwatching with
my honey Janeeeeeeeee
......painting, when I find the right moment, same with
reading....daydreaming...and would you believe, watching silly TV
shows.......and of course I'm making music everyday .....I Iove a good
movie.....and watching all kinds of sport , Soccer and American
football.....go ...SF 49rs......I'm learning through Janeeeee, you have to
support the team through the bad times.....it's tough..
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| 9. Message to your fans?
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...to be able to tour and still be excited about music is truly a
blessing for me, to have people all over the world to perform to is just
great.....over the years I've learnt to enjoy the touring more, treasure the
moments with the fans, to meet and greet, is fun, and honest...I really
have many more dreams to fulfill, be ready, be strong, the world is an
amazing dream in itself...best wishes JON
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