Rocknotes' Steph Perry has issued an interview with YES vocal legend JON ANDERSON. An excerpt follows.

On how his long career with YES ended so abruptly and yet he’s moving ahead with a positive attitude in his music and his life:

"It took me a while to get over what they were doing because my main concern was the music, the fans, and how people relate to YES. And what I relate to YES as, is a doorway, like an opening, an ever-expanding experience. So when they wanted to move on and do what they did, I felt pretty sad and depressed that they did it in such a crazy manner. That fans would be upset, of course, and that’s normal because I hated it when THE BEATLES split up you know it was the worst day of my life. Life moves on, you got to learn to live with it, which I did. Everybody asks me about it and I just say well, when are you going to get together with YES again? I always say it’s a joke, I always say, when they wake up! Because the music is more powerful than we could ever understand, and one of the great things about the break was that they gave me the freedom to become who I am now… a very more happy person, more contented about what I am doing creatively, and very excited about the musical experiences I’m going through now. And I just want to reach out to all the YES fans and say don’t worry, YES music will survive in some form or another and I’ll be part of it in some form or another. And that’s life you know. And it’s a very very tiny tiny teeny teeny part of rock and roll and a very teeny tiny part of the world so I don’t want to get too over confused about it. At times I think YES is everything and then I think, no, YES is really a very small thing so just get on with music."

Read the full interview at this location.

Much to the delight of fortunate music fans in the Eastern part of North America, former YES members Jon Anderson and RICK WAKEMAN will be playing a select number of engagements this coming fall. The legendary duo performed a series of successful concerts in the UK in 2010 in support of their critically acclaimed CD release, The Living Tree, and are now bringing their highly anticipated show to North America.

Having worked together on and off since 1971's groundbreaking YES masterwork, Fragile, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman have traveled similar musical paths that have eventually and happily led their careers back together again. Now once again, the duo promise a magical evening of music and humor for all who attend.

“Expect a night of music, full of YES classics and new adventures in song from The Living Tree album and moments of brilliance, humor and affection borne from a friendship and musical partnership that has lasted 40 years”, says Jon.

"We knew from the responses on the last YES tour that the acoustic section was extremely popular and that many of the pieces could be re-arranged and adapted to make very interesting and hopefully enjoyable new ways of playing YES music and our own music," adds Rick.

The tour is being produced by Metropolitan Talent Presents and is booked by Keith Naisbitt of Los Angeles based Agency for the Performing Arts. John Scher co-CEO of Metropolitan says, "We are incredibly proud to be presenting the North American debut of this legendary duo! Jon and Rick ARE the voice and sound of YES, as well as famously successful solo performers! This tour will be areal treat for their legions of fans."

Tour dates include:

October

19 - Potawatomi Casino - Milwaukee, WI
22 - Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead - Munhall, PA
23 - Lisner Auditorium - Washington, DC
24 - Concert Hall - New York, NY
26 - Kleinhans Music Hall - Buffalo, NY
27 - The Palace Theatre - Albany, NY
29 - Tropicana Casino Resort - Atlantic City, NJ
30 - Temple Performing Arts Center - Philadelphia, PA

November

1 - Capitol Center for the Arts - Concord, NH
2 - The Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT
4 - Count Basie Theatre - Red Bank, NJ
5 - Sherman Theatre - Stroudsburg, PA
6 - Theatre at Westbury - Westbury, NY
8 - Hanover Theatre - Worcester, MA
10 - Grande Theatre du Quebec - Quebec City, QC
12 - St. Denis Theatre - Montreal, QC