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New Howe Interview

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Kevin Caffrey

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Apr 10, 2013, 8:58:52 AM4/10/13
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http://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-howe-interview-2013/

Seems pretty angry about not playing _TYA_, _CttE_, and GftO_ in chronological order. I can't recall a time when he's vented this much publicly about a CURRENT Yes situation:

"There’s been a few internal ordering issues [with] different people thinking that we should do them in anything but a chronological order. I’m completely chronological in my mind, but unfortunately at the moment, we don’t play them chronologically so I’m not totally happy with that.

Not playing them chronologically makes utterly no sense to me whatsoever. I’m not the only person who thinks that but not everybody thinks that. So there’s an internal combustion going on as usual in Yes where the order of the albums is seen to be something we can change. Which you can’t change the fact that ‘The Yes Album’ came out in 1971 and you can’t change the fact that ‘Close To The Edge’ came out in ‘72 and you can’t change the fact that ‘Going For The One’ came out in ‘77. You can’t change that fact. To me, it tells a beautiful story of our naive, wet behind the ears ‘The Yes Album’ to our expansive ‘Close To The Edge’ development to our almighty reunion sense of openness and beautifulness with ‘Going For The One,’ with songs like ‘Turn Of The Century’ and ‘Awaken.’

They are a long way from ‘Perpetual Change.’ I love them all and they’re all dear to my heart and I helped write many of them, but I would say that to me, it’s blindingly obvious [and] it’s a no-brainer, if you like, that we would chronologically do the albums. But there’s another agenda and it’s a confusing issue. We keep changing it and trying it different ways around. Very rarely, do we actually go back to the logical chronological [sequence] which I think is perfect."

Kevin
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kevincaffrey

Rob Allen

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Apr 10, 2013, 9:23:32 AM4/10/13
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On Wednesday, April 10, 2013 5:58:52 AM UTC-7, Kevin Caffrey wrote:
> http://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-howe-interview-2013/ Seems pretty angry about not playing _TYA_, _CttE_, and GftO_ in chronological order. I can't recall a time when he's vented this much publicly about a CURRENT Yes situation: "There’s been a few internal ordering issues [with] different people thinking that we should do them in anything but a chronological order. I’m completely chronological in my mind, but unfortunately at the moment, we don’t play them chronologically so I’m not totally happy with that. Not playing them chronologically makes utterly no sense to me whatsoever. I’m not the only person who thinks that but not everybody thinks that. So there’s an internal combustion going on as usual in Yes where the order of the albums is seen to be something we can change. Which you can’t change the fact that ‘The Yes Album’ came out in 1971 and you can’t change the fact that ‘Close To The Edge’ came out in ‘72 and you can’t change the fact that ‘Going For The One’ came out in ‘77. You can’t change that fact. To me, it tells a beautiful story of our naive, wet behind the ears ‘The Yes Album’ to our expansive ‘Close To The Edge’ development to our almighty reunion sense of openness and beautifulness with ‘Going For The One,’ with songs like ‘Turn Of The Century’ and ‘Awaken.’ They are a long way from ‘Perpetual Change.’ I love them all and they’re all dear to my heart and I helped write many of them, but I would say that to me, it’s blindingly obvious [and] it’s a no-brainer, if you like, that we would chronologically do the albums. But there’s another agenda and it’s a confusing issue. We keep changing it and trying it different ways around. Very rarely, do we actually go back to the logical chronological [sequence] which I think is perfect." Kevin http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kevincaffrey



lol...so I guess it's now *Squire* _ruling with an iron fist_.

I'd agree with Howe on this one...and following the order of release seems not just really obvious, but almost necessary to the best nostalgic concert experience this band might offer.

That said, I suspect Howe would ultimately complain about anything he doesn't have final say about.


Rob "at least he didn't call the setlist _baggage_" Allen

MarkF

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Apr 10, 2013, 10:38:32 AM4/10/13
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Kevin Caffrey wrote:
> http://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-howe-interview-2013/
>
> Seems pretty angry about not playing _TYA_, _CttE_, and GftO_ in
> chronological order. I can't recall a time when he's vented this much
> publicly about a CURRENT Yes situation:

He quit Asia so that he could devote more time to complaining about
chron-illogical Yes issues.

--
Mark "he doesn't like that Shuffle feature on his iPod either" F

Tales From TopBLOGraphic Oceans
<http://markf-yeselpkrimson.blogspot.com/>

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---

Rob Allen

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Apr 10, 2013, 11:02:52 AM4/10/13
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On Wednesday, April 10, 2013 7:38:32 AM UTC-7, MarkF wrote:
> Kevin Caffrey wrote: > http://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-howe-interview-2013/ > > Seems pretty angry about not playing _TYA_, _CttE_, and GftO_ in > chronological order. I can't recall a time when he's vented this much > publicly about a CURRENT Yes situation: He quit Asia so that he could devote more time to complaining about chron-illogical Yes issues. -- Mark "he doesn't like that Shuffle feature on his iPod either" F Tales From TopBLOGraphic Oceans <http://markf-yeselpkrimson.blogspot.com/> --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---


I think it funny that the touring superman Howe would feel squeezed by a schedule that the _certainly less than fit_ Downes is somehow able to handle.


Rob "I think Howe is maintaining his loose relationship with the truth" Allen

Peter

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Apr 10, 2013, 1:52:34 PM4/10/13
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On Wednesday, April 10, 2013 8:58:52 AM UTC-4, Kevin Caffrey wrote:
> http://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-howe-interview-2013/

Hey, it makes perfect sense. Play CTTE while before the edge wears off of the pre-show buzz, and to make sure you do your best songs early so that people don't just walk out. Then make sure you play Awaken in the middle, so people don't leave the show saying, "Wow, I remember when Awaken used to be so moving and powerful" or " Wow, I wish Jon and Rick were back, that wasn't played right."

I also find his celebration of ignorance about music a little odd.

"I never learned to drive before I got on the freeway, because it would have inhibited my style"


Peter

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Apr 10, 2013, 1:58:05 PM4/10/13
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lol: "... that was a new step. Bill often said to me [previously] when I overdubbed a guitar break, “why haven’t you played that before? I would have never have played that [part the way that I did]!” So I liked Bill’s honesty towards that, “oh, that’s a nice solo, but I wish you’d played it when we did it, because then I could have played the right thing!”

And there's the consequence of not knowing anything about writing or reading music - never being able to reproduce the same thing twice. It was very evident early in the Masterworks our, where there were repeated trainwrecks - I recall Steve nearly leading them into one on Gates at Universal - fortunately, by then, Chris and Alan just ignored him and they just survived, but it was a close call.

Jeffrey Hamilton

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Apr 14, 2013, 12:40:18 PM4/14/13
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As much as Mr Howe doesn't like any playing of Yes music not in it's
chronologically released form, I'm afraid I have to disagree. Opening the
concert with Close To The Edge was absolutely spellbinding and man did the
audience ever respond to it was the last note died away ! It was a standing
ovation of epic proportions.

Going For The One, in my estimation is not their strongest album and in this
particular case it is clearly the weakest (IMHO), so playing it second was a
good idea, if only because "The Yes Album" is so very strong , rife with
numerous Yes favourites on it. It was a great way to return from the 20
minute break, whereas, "Going For The One" would have been an emotional
letdown.

cheers....Jeff


JT

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Apr 15, 2013, 12:02:26 AM4/15/13
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On Apr 10, 7:23 am, Rob Allen <robm...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Wednesday, April 10, 2013 5:58:52 AM UTC-7, Kevin Caffrey wrote:
> >http://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-howe-interview-2013/Seems pretty angry about not playing _TYA_, _CttE_, and GftO_ in chronological order. I can't recall a time when he's vented this much publicly about a CURRENT Yes situation: "There’s been a few internal ordering issues [with] different people thinking that we should do them in anything but a chronological order. I’m completely chronological in my mind, but unfortunately at the moment, we don’t play them chronologically so I’m not totally happy with that. Not playing them chronologically makes utterly no sense to me whatsoever. I’m not the only person who thinks that but not everybody thinks that. So there’s an internal combustion going on as usual in Yes where the order of the albums is seen to be something we can change. Which you can’t change the fact that ‘The Yes Album’ came out in 1971 and you can’t change the fact that ‘Close To The Edge’ came out in ‘72 and you can’t change the fact that ‘Going For The One’ came out in ‘77. You can’t change that fact. To me, it tells a beautiful story of our naive, wet behind the ears ‘The Yes Album’ to our expansive ‘Close To The Edge’ development to our almighty reunion sense of openness and beautifulness with ‘Going For The One,’ with songs like ‘Turn Of The Century’ and ‘Awaken.’ They are a long way from ‘Perpetual Change.’ I love them all and they’re all dear to my heart and I helped write many of them, but I would say that to me, it’s blindingly obvious [and] it’s a no-brainer, if you like, that we would chronologically do the albums. But there’s another agenda and it’s a confusing issue. We keep changing it and trying it different ways around. Very rarely, do we actually go back to the logical chronological [sequence] which I think is perfect." Kevinhttp://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kevincaffrey
>
> lol...so I guess it's now *Squire* _ruling with an iron fist_.
>
> I'd agree with Howe on this one...and following the order of release seems not just really obvious, but almost necessary to the best nostalgic concert experience this band might offer.
>
> That said, I suspect Howe would ultimately complain about anything he doesn't have final say about.
>
> Rob "at least he didn't call the setlist _baggage_" Allen

I think he's complaining because after this tour he's done.

His interview about leaving Asia, he indicates he wants to focus on
solo work.

The money is probably the same and he does not have to deal with
Squire, with fans complaining, etc.

He can play the tunes in any order he wants.

Jim

JT

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Apr 15, 2013, 12:07:03 AM4/15/13
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and now he throws pretend-YES under the bus: "In fact, ‘XXX,’ I think
is a fantastic record. Mike Stone did a brilliant job on it, helping
us arrange and record that record in the most efficient and beautiful
way. I think the sound on it, some of the guitar sounds, are every bit
if not sometimes better than what Yes had done. ‘Fly From Here’ wasn’t
so bad, but he really got some beautiful [sounds]."

Fly From Here wasn't so bad...that is a comfort for any fan who paid
for it. Or had to endure it when it was played live.

Not so bad...a ringing endorsement or should I say, a not so bad
endorsement of Fly From Here.

Up there with Squire's 'mop up' tour comment.

Jim

ye...@hotmail.com

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Apr 16, 2013, 12:58:12 AM4/16/13
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>And there's the consequence of not knowing anything about writing or reading music - never being able to reproduce the same thing twice.

What a ridiculous comment. Howe has never had a problem reproducing "the same thing twice", and as for your condemning his lack of sightreading skills, I'm firmly in his corner as far as that goes, "Mood for a Day", just to name *one* of the things he's written, shows compositional skills miles ahead of just about any guitarist in rock, then or now. And you know, I'll take someone unschooled and self-taught, but able to seemingly improvise endlessly, over someone who can read and play (and play it safe) from sheet music any day of the week.

--

Paul

Peter

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Apr 16, 2013, 1:38:43 PM4/16/13
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Good to see that ignorance sticks with its own kind.

ye...@hotmail.com

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Apr 16, 2013, 1:52:44 PM4/16/13
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So you stand by your assertion that Howe doesn't know anything about writing music, & he's incapable of playing the same thing twice?

Lol, speaking of *ignorance*.......

--

Paul

Peter

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Apr 17, 2013, 7:39:22 PM4/17/13
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On Tuesday, April 16, 2013 1:52:44 PM UTC-4, ye...@hotmail.com wrote:
> So you stand by your assertion that Howe doesn't know anything about writing music, & he's incapable of playing the same thing twice?
>
>
>
> Lol, speaking of *ignorance*.......

Funny, I said nothing about not being able to write music, but he clearly has problems reproducing the same songs, unless of course, it's Clap. The near crashes on Gates that he caused at more than one show I saw, as well as some really painful solos on Revealing and other songs more than reinforces that a trained musician knows what he or she is doing and knows how *and when* to break the rules. And knows how to play the songs right. Howe is very creative, and once upon a time was among the world's best. No longer though, although he has managed to compensate through a rather enlarged ego.

JT

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Apr 18, 2013, 3:23:43 PM4/18/13
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He has reproduced plenty of guitar riffs, solos live. I have plenty
of recordings that I can listen to...he does improvise too at times
like with YIND...but really, do you believe he can't reproduce music
he wrote? There are singers who can't "write" music on a chart but
they remember their parts, drummers, bass players too.

Peter

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Apr 20, 2013, 1:21:48 PM4/20/13
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On Thursday, April 18, 2013 3:23:43 PM UTC-4, JT wrote:
> do you believe he can't reproduce music he wrote?

He created music, he did not write it.

> There are singers who can't "write" music on a chart but
> they remember their parts, drummers, bass players too.

Good for them.

Bottom line test: A trained musician like a Zappa, McLaughlin, even a Morse or a Petrucci could play anything and everything Howe created. The reverse is most certainly not true. Like any endeavor, you have the occasional savant who can creatively come up with something without any real knowledge about what he or she is doing, but in the long run, claiming ignorance of the topic is an advantage is only proof *of* the ignorance in my opinion. It causes other ignorant people to be convinced they are talents and not hacks. Read any right-wing blog for more examples.



scarton

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Apr 23, 2013, 11:48:16 AM4/23/13
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On Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:21:48 -0700 (PDT), Peter <b...@progedge.com>
wrote:
LOL you really think that Zappa (either one) could play EVERYTHING
Howe has created?? You're a dick!

ye...@hotmail.com

unread,
Apr 23, 2013, 2:52:12 PM4/23/13
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>Funny, I said nothing about not being able to write music,

Other than saying this, of course: "there's the consequence of not knowing anything about writing or reading music"

>He created music, he did not write it.

lol, now you're just letting your anti-Howe bias make you look silly. By your criteria, Lennon & McCartney, Dylan, Clapton, Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Jon Anderson, etc. etc. etc. have never written any music/songs. I guess through the long history of recorded music everyone but _you_ has it wrong-- they're all song *creators*, not songwriters.

Come on, Peter, you can do better than that. ;)

--

Paul

Peter

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Apr 23, 2013, 4:31:35 PM4/23/13
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My bias is against his promoting ignorance, which was my main point before you decided semantics was more important.

ye...@hotmail.com

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Apr 24, 2013, 8:08:40 PM4/24/13
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Semantics?? "He created music, he did not write it"

Pot, meet kettle.

--

Paul

JT

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Apr 25, 2013, 12:25:54 AM4/25/13
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On Apr 24, 6:08 pm, ye...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Semantics?? "He created music, he did not write it"
>
> Pot, meet kettle.

Ma and Pa Kettle?

Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.

Jim


Peter

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Apr 28, 2013, 12:51:32 AM4/28/13
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On Wednesday, April 24, 2013 8:08:40 PM UTC-4, ye...@hotmail.com wrote:
> "He created music, he did not write it"

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