Just reading Amazons summery of this book..
In All My Yesterdays the renowned guitarist Steve Howe tells his own story in his own words, often unflinchingly as he recounts times of triumph and torment amidst the cream of the UK's prog rock bands. Best known for his work with Yes, a group prone to sudden upheavals, and AOR supergroup Asia, Steve Howe s passage through these and other bands is a roller-coaster ride of constant touring, tense recording sessions and frequent trips to all corners of the globe. A workaholic, he soon realised that the temptations of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle weren't for him and instead dedicated his life to excellence in musicianship. Born in North London in 1947, Steve got his first guitar at the age of 12 and thereafter devoted himself passionately to mastering its intricacies. After spells in psychedelic bands of the late sixties, he was invited to join Yes in 1970, thus finding himself in a spotlight that shines to this day. In the meantime he raised a family, adopted vegetarianism as a lifestyle and watched as many of his peers succumbed to the impulses he managed to avoid. As well as Yes and Asia, Steve has led bands of his own, released numerous solo recordings in many different musical styles and amassed a legendary collection of priceless stringed instruments. All of this and his many encounters with other celebrated guitarists are recounted in All My Yesterdays, the first ever autobiography by a member of Yes.
I'd say Bruford beat him to the punch being the first.. Did Jon's book ever come to market?
Calyx (Canterbury Scene) - http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr
Legends In Their Own Lunchtime (blog) - https://canterburyscene.wordpress.com/
My latest books : "Yes" (2017) - https://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/yes/ + "L'Ecole de Canterbury" (2016) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/lecoledecanterbury/ + "King Crimson" (2012/updated 2018) - http://lemotetlereste.com/musiques/kingcrimson/
Canterbury & prog interviews - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf...IUPxUMA/videos
I haven't read any of the other autobiographies from Yes members, so why start now? Oh, right, this is the "first" one. I guess Wakeman's and Bruford's don't count.
Seriously though, I should probably read them all, and this one interests me the most since I'm a guitarist and Howe was an influence.
Hurtleturtled Out of Heaven - an electronic music composition, on CD and vinyl
https://michaelpdawson.bandcamp.com
http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Pr...MCD-spc-7.aspx
Maybe they're referring to current member, not former members
Anyone still thinking a reunion is possible wants to read the first chapter of his book.
There's also Peter Banks', https://amzn.to/34qeyjp , which preceded Bruford's. Banks had a co-writer: Billy James helped him. Does that make it not an autobiography?
Henry
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
^ Peter Bank's book is very nice and recommended to anyone minimally interested in early Yes and Flash. It's also quite a sad tale of a musician's fate.
Last edited by Conti; 04-11-2020 at 08:19 AM.
I watched an interview with Peter with Mark Powell where he walks thru his history.. Peter doesn't have a happy face during this questioning... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sjxnnx-jqU
Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
Hard to compare him to Pete Best in terms of their parallel stories.. And I'm sure there are plenty of other musicians who got off the train just prior to their respective bands hitting their stride.. but I would agree with you that while he was a very talented guitarist his "vibe" interrupted the dynamics of Yes at that point in the bands history.. Howe was obviously the correct fit for all that happened next on their journey.
What an incredible book!
Best was terrible. They kept him in the band partly because his mother was booking gigs for them. But, when it came time to get serious, he didn't have the chops (or any, for that matter) and the bond with Ringo had already begun. He didn't fit in personally and simply couldn't keep a basic rhythm. He only had one drum fill, too.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
2023... maybe.
Yeah, that Tune In book made it abundantly clear that Pete Best was no drummer. He could barely keep the beat even after many gigs where Paul, John, and George would be frantically stomping out the rhythm on the stage in an attempt to get him to lock into their rhythm. On top of that, he seldom hung out with the other Beatles socially and always went off and did his own thing.
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