"Beautiful Jade!"

Early 1980
Jon records with Vangelis.

"Such great times and making music was so easy and loving!"

Summer 1980
Jon & Vangelis release "Short Stories".

"Short Stories" cover

"I was so happy and felt I was growing so fast in these days."

November, 1980
Jon's "Song Of Seven" is released.

"Song Of Seven" cover

"It was good to work with different musicians... very productive times."

November-December, 1980
Jon tours England and Scotland in support of "Song of Seven". His touring group is called "The New Life Band".

November, 1981
Jon & Vangelis release "The Friends Of Mr. Cairo".

"The Friends Of Mr. Cairo" cover

"Still one of our best efforts, I wished we could have toured together!"

June, 1981
Jon's makes a guest vocal appearance on Rick Wakeman's release "1984".

June, 1982
Jon's "Animation" is released.

"Animation" cover

"I enjoyed just making music with no pressure. "

Summer 1982
Jon tours the U.S. in support of "Animation". He dazzles audiences with solo material as well as Yes classics like "Close To the Edge".

"I realized why I dreamed so much as a kid, I had wanted to change my world ... here I was again, changing my world."

June, 1983
Jon rejoins Yes, now featuring new guitarist Trevor Rabin. Before re-uniting with Jon, the band recorded under the working name "Cinema" -- but with "the voice of Yes" back behind the microphone, it only made sense to call themselves... Yes.

Yes records a new album with producer (and former Jon replacement) Trevor Horn.

"I was really happy about the work on 90125, at that time a different kind of music was around.  Sampling and innovative production drew me back to Yes!"

June, 1983
Jon & Vangelis -"Private Collection" is released.

"Private Collection" cover

"Our third project - and my favourite of our work together!"

November, 1983
Yes -"90125" is released featuring the band's first number one single, "Owner of a Lonely Heart".

"90125" cover

"All of a sudden we were pop stars, a dangerous place to be.  I felt a bit out of the reality of it all, I'd seen 'Spinal Tap'!"

February, 1984
Yes embark on a massive, year-long world tour in support of "90125".

" 'Spinal Tap' was not seen by the band for almost a year, I kept telling them to go see it!  It was us, and every band that ever was!   So cool, so funny."

June, 1984
"The Best Of Jon & Vangelis" (compilation) is released.

"The Best Of Jon & Vangelis" cover

"I miss working with Vangelis, he was a great friend!"

"I never met Tangerine Dream, but I met Ridley Scott and had a pint with him. We got on very well."


"The key of the song was too low!  I didn't really enjoy this work.  John's a nice guy, though.

Late 1985
Yes convene to record their next album. The resulting sessions span a year and a half in studios in Italy, London and Los Angeles.

"This was a pretty bad time for me.  I was kept out of the loop for many reasons. "

November, 1985
Yes - "9012Live - The Solos" (live) is released.

"9012Live - The Solos" cover

"Too much ego, not enough music for me!"

December, 1985
Jon's "3 Ships" is released for Christmas.

"3 Ships" cover

"I had so much spare time.  I really enjoyed this record!"

Spring 1987
Jon experiences a profound spiritual awakening when he meets Flora Nomi, known as "Divine Mother" to followers of the teachings of the 19th century Indian spiritual leader Sri Ramakrishna.

"Started my dreamquest period in '87, learning to understand Native American culture and how we as a people just don't get it !!   That we are the caretakers.   I met 'Divine Mother' in spring of 1987 ... totally changed my reason for living."

September, 1987
Yes - "Big Generator" is released.

"Big Generator" cover

"I was in denial about these days, I really wanted to do larger works of music, not just pop stuff; I was on my own on this, but eh, 'Yes' was still alive."

November, 1987 - April, 1988
Yes tour the world in support of "Big Generator".

March, 1988
Jon's guest background vocals are featured on Toto's release, "Seventh One ".

"I was learning meditation and really understanding more and more about the music I loved!"

Spring 1988
Jon records his next solo album at Ocean Way Recording studio in Hollywood, CA.

"...with Toto!  I wanted to go to Cuba and record with a big salsa band, but I was persuaded not to by my manager and record company - I should have gone!"

June, 1988
Jon's "In The City Of Angels" is released.

"In The City Of Angels" cover

"At the end of the 'Big Generator' tour, I was very dislocated from the band - Trevor never quite understood the meaning of Yes music for me.  Chris was living in a different world to me."

September, 1988
Jon leaves Yes and joins with former bandmates Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe to begin work on a new project, aptly titled Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (also known as "ABWH").

Jon, Bill and Rick travel to the island of Montserrat for recording sessions, while Steve Howe records his parts in London.

"Great time!  I was back in the driving seat again.  I loved recording this CD.  My idea of being in control is to give everyone freedom!"

"A very wonderful CD, again I was learning how much I needed to learn about my own spirituality."

June, 1989
"Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe" is released.

"Anderson Bruford
Wakeman Howe" cover

"A wonderful period!"

July, 1989 - March, 1990
ABWH tour the world. The Mountain View, California show on 9th September is broadcast live as a pay-per-view event on cable television in the U.S., and is also recorded for a live CD.

"To see how good this was, watch the live concert ... sadly, good things never seem to last too long, Billy Bruford became 'Mr. Grumpy' and Rick and Steve didn't quite enjoy my leadership even though they enjoyed the music (I think) and success."