"For the first time, we had a great P.A. system."

"To mic up the orchestra we used coat racks and hung a hundred mics, over each instrument ... sounded cool."

March-May 1970
The band moves to a farm in Devon, England to write and rehearse material for their third album.

"This was when we all felt very confident in our new songs, we didn't know the record company was about to drop us if this one didn't do well!"

April-May, 1970
Peter Banks Leaves Yes, and is replaced by guitarist Steve Howe.

"Of course, Steve changed my whole outlook in music."

July, 1970
Yes - "Time And A Word" is released in the U.K.

"Time And A Word" cover (UK)

Autumn 1970
The band enters Advision Studio in London with producer Eddie Offord to record their third album.

Jon appears as guest vocalist on King Crimson's "Lizard".

" They were recording nearby, I was fascinated by King Crimson's music."

November, 1970
Yes - "Time And A Word" is released in the U.S.

"Time And A Word" cover (US)

"We were now into the new 'Yes' with Steve and songs just jumped out from everywhere."

December 16, 1970
Jon's daughter Deborah Leigh is born.

"A beautiful child in my life."

"The Yes Album" cover

"Now we felt great, ready to take on the world ... most of the press didn't believe!"

April, 1971
Yes tour the U.S. for the first time with Jethro Tull.

"Couldn't believe how wonderful America was, it was a great baptism into the larger picture; Yes fans all over the place."

August, 1971
Tony Kaye leaves Yes, Rick Wakeman joins.

"It's always been hard to change people in the band, but we've been lucky, always!"

Autumn 1971
Yes go into Advision studios in London to record their fourth album.

Jon's guest vocals are featured on Johnny Harris's release, "All To Bring You Morning". Also appearing are Steve Howe and future Yes drummer Alan White.

"Working in Advision was that first feeling of being a professional musician."

"Fragile" cover

"We all agreed this was the beginning of our best work."

February-May, 1972
Yes tour the U.S.

"Realising how well received Yes was in the U.S. of A. was so gratifying, and really made everyone in the band
bond so much."

May, 1972
Yes begin rehearsals for their fifth album.

June, 1972
Yes enter Adivsion studios in London to record their fifth album.

"It was around this time Steve and myself spent a lot of time writing,
great times... 'Close to the Edge' is born."

July, 1972
Bill Bruford leaves Yes, Alan White joins.

Yes begin a 1-month U.S. tour.

"Bill leaving was a great shock and disappointment to me personally."

September, 1972
Yes - "Close to the Edge" is released.

"Close to the Edge" cover

Jon's son Damion James is born on the 22nd.

"A wonderful feeling of great things to come!"



"My son Damion entered my world."

September-November, 1972
Yes tour the U.S. and Canada

"We were now on this treadmill of never-ending tours. We all loved it!"

December, 1972
Two London concerts filmed for the live album/movie, "Yessongs".

"Not my favourite 'Movie of Yes', but a great recording!"

May, 1973
"Yessongs" (live) is released.

"Yessongs" cover

May-September, 1973
Yes enter Morgan Studios in London to record their sixth studio album.

"During 'Tales', I became more and more convinced we were doing the right thing for music's sake.   I believed we could make a Masterwork."

November, 1973
"Tales From Topographic Oceans" is released, and Yes tour the U.K. through mid-December.

"Tales From Topographic Oceans" cover

"There is more to all this than we could ever understand."

"Tired and frustrated and as usual pushed hard by our manager!!"

May, 1974
Citing musical differences, Rick Wakeman leaves Yes.

"Sad and heartbreaking for all of us!
He just didn't enjoy the tour.
'Tales' would hang heavy in my heart for many years!"

Summer 1974
The band writes and records their seventh studio album at Chris Squire's home in the English countryside.

After a lengthy audition process for keyboard players, Patrick Moraz joins Yes in August.

"Again we were getting so much energy out of the band.    'Gates of Delirium' is a monumental work!"

November, 1974
Yes - "Relayer" is released, and the band tours the U.S. through mid-December.

"Relayer" cover

"Touring again, I'm getting tired and lost!"

"Yesterdays" cover

"I was really getting ready to write my own album of songs.   I was growing mature and musically getting better!"

April-May, 1975
Yes tour the U.K.

"For many reasons the group really were getting frustrated with each other.   This is normal when you're always 24-7 together!"

Summer 1975
Yes tour the U.S.

In August, Jon records "So Long Ago, So Clear" for Greek composer and multi-instrumentalist Vangelis. The song appears on Vangelis' release "Heaven And Hell", and begins a collaborative relationship that will last for years.

"Vangelis was my mentor and great friend in those days."

"This was a revelation for me to be able to call myself a musician after all these years.   I was so overjoyed and blessed!"

Spring-Summer 1976
Yes tour the U.S.

"Touring again!   Thank you fans, for sticking with us!!"

June, 1976
Jon's "Olias Of Sunhillow" is released.

"Olias Of Sunhillow" cover

"I worked hours and hours to create 'Olias'.   I had a vision of how it should sound and look."

"I listened to this CD just last year; it still sounds wonderful and alive!"

September, 1976
Yes travels to Montreaux, Switzerland to record their eighth studio album at the aptly-titled Mountain Studios.

"I had great visions of doing a very classic work with Yes!"

November, 1976
Patrick Moraz leaves Yes, and Rick Wakeman rejoins as the band records in Montreaux.

Yes in Montreaux

"I worked hard with Steve and Chris and Alan to create 'Awaken' ..."

"Going For the One" cover

"We had a hit record !   I loved listening to 'Awaken', at last we had created a Masterwork."

July-December, 1977
Yes tour the world.

"We all needed a year off!"

"We all needed a break!"

September, 1978
Yes - "Tormato" is released.

"Tormato" cover

"We were all going in different directions ... check out the photo!"

September-October, 1978
Yes tour the U.S., followed by three shows at Wembley Stadium in London. This tour features the debut of an innovative rotating "In The Round" stage, with Jon singing in the center.

"A great idea from Chris.  For some reason, playing in the round rejuvenated my feelings toward touring.   It was a great show to see!!"

April-June, 1979
Yes tour the U.S., again using the "In The Round" stage, and celebrates their tenth anniversary.

"It was the best tour of that time because of 'Awaken' - such a great work to play on stage."

October, 1979
Yes enter the studio in Paris with producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen) to begin work on their tenth studio album.

"The beginning of the end of my being able to help with the group.   They lost their belief in my ideas.   Paris was a very dark time for all of us in 1979."