Catch the FULL and UNABRIDGED interview on our Podcast streaming everywhere! We actually had to cut a lot of this interview out to fit it into two TV episodes. Spotify link here: open.spotify.com/episode/0tY9JGySPXyUH6vJJfKkIM?si=pOITYiJKR96Hk1_GwrH-sA
If asked who gives you the most creative bang for your buck. Howe is unprecedented. David Gilmour by contrast ,I think can draw out the biggest sound from a single note
Steve's rock style is utterly unique. It took me awhile, but eventually I figured out that he reflects an eclectic combo of twangy American rockabilly, Euro classical & some flamenco influences. Most rock or progressive guitarists come from American blues and/or R&B, or jazz/classical influences. I believe that's why he sounds so uniquely different. Relisten to the long version of 'America', then his Yes acoustic solo pieces & you'll hear what I mean.
Steve is a world class guitarist , when people talk about the best guitarist you hardly ever hear his name but he deserves to be in the conversation for he is one of the best guitarists that ever lived .
500 years from today, people will remember the guitarist Steve Howe. He is one of those musicians who will transcend time when this Era of music is over.
Oh for sure, he is on fire for all of it. Still, I prefer listening to 7 songs from 72 because it reveals more parts to YIND. I think it was taken from Augusta Georgia I think?
Haha underrated. Underrated is overrated. How do you conclude that he is underrated? He has 2-3 signature Gibson guitars, 2 signature Martin acoustics, was in two mega bands, all over guitar magazines.
SH untouchable guitar playing on yes songs you cant see him play it. Like opening of ctte. Solo on perpetual change. And more making one think it dubed in.
All I will say about Steve Howe is when he joined yes and the Yes Album was released the band was now on a different plateau, they were now a serious & legitimate top notch band. Everyone has their favorite Yes album but The Yes Album was the first album I ever bought when I was 14 and til this day its still my favorite Yes album mainly because of Starship Trooper. That song is just unbelievable & one of the best songs I ever heard. Steve Howe found his calling thank God and he never looked back. He is a master guitar player and one of the all time greats in his profession. He deserves a lot of credit for helping Yes get to the top !
The Yes album is a master work in guitar. Hearing it on a car 8 track in about 1972 it literally changed my life as a second year player. The elements of Disgrace especially the guitar lines stick in my ear even today 51 years later. I immediately decided I was going to learn to play this album and I did, every song, guitar and bass parts in about two years, starting with the Clap. It got me into bands. I met Howe in the 1990s when Martin guitar made a tribute model named for him. I told him he changed my life and he kind of smiled, said nothing. He doesn’t shake hands with strangers, which I didn’t know, and I stuck my hand out and he kind of touched the back of my hand with the back of his hand. It was weird but I didn’t care. Absolute guitar genius.
@@chilitoday A lot of people don't seem to shake hands anymore, I thought maybe it was because of Covid but Steve Howe's hands are his bread & butter & maybe he thought that there might be a crazy obsessed fan with a machete or a cleaver that wanted his hands preserved and mounted on his mantle, who knows but that was a cool story & im glad you got to meat him, he is a great guitar player!
During that interview he was asked about the third part of Starship Trooper, "The Wurm" & he said that part he wrote for his former band & then brought it to YES and the rest of "Yes History" !
I love how both Yes and Rush recognized the concept that the credit for songs can belong to the entire group, that the contributions of each member is what made the songs as great as they were.
I saw Yes on the Topographic Oceans tour in 1973 when they were at the height of their powers. Steve Howe was completely off the scale. I have seen many of the legends of classic rock at their peaks, but I don't think I've ever seen a guitarist play as brilliantly as Steve Howe did that night. You should have been there!
@@mikeeckel2807 In my head I was thinking greatest level of musicianship in a rock band. I wasn't specific enough. You're right the Beatles and Zep were the greatest.
Steve Howe is such a gifted guitarist and consummate musician. Thank you for all the amazing music. I hope more to come. I think his brand of music elevates the human spirit also.
Steve Howe is so humble in this interview. If you ask me, Steve single-handedly drove a majority of songs YES produced. Steve's mastery of the guitar is rather impressive. The whole band seemingly was in a one upsmanship contest with each other on every song they played and they all shined.
I've seen Yes in concert some dozen times, most recently almost exactly one year ago in Torrington, Conn., when Yes were marking the 50th anniversary of "Close to the Edge". Mr. Howe has been the one constant in all of those different shows. Yes are a band which has always featured top-notch talent no matter the lineup, and even well into his 70s, Mr. Howe is still brilliant. He's a consummate artist whose contributions to music can't be overstated. (He also holds the distinction of being the only non-Queen member to play guitar on a studio recording of a Queen song: "Innuendo".)
I’m happy to see Yes is still around, and Steve is still around. But to me Yes seems inconceivable without Chris and Alan. Others have come and gone. Jon, Tony, Rick, Bill, and Trevor have come and gone. Rick once predicted there will still be a Yes after the ones we know now are long gone. Kinda like Beethoven. He’s been gone a long time but his music is still being played. Yes is in the Dead Beethoven phase.
@@briangallagher2236 Very well put! Two of my other favorite bands, Kansas and Chicago, are still active and touring, with, respectively, 2 and 3 original members. I've seen both bands quite a few times, and I have to agree, a Kansas without Kerry Livgren or a Chicago without Terry Kath is, well, inconceivable. But fortunately, both groups are still able to put on a really good show for their fans, thanks to the talent of the folks on the stage, who really are faithful to the source material. I guess that's the important thing.
@@curcumin417. . Steve's main problem is his vegetarianism. It's nothing a good steak wouldn't fix. Most lifelong vegans look like long term heroin addicts.
Nice - this interview redeems Howe in my estimation. I see the current version of Yes as basically a cover band, with Howe keeping alive an entity that is a ghost of its former self. However, his remarks reveal a thoughtful gentleman who credits his colleagues for past success His contributions on the Yes Album helped the band realize a musical achievement that is several orders of magnitude beyond previous efforts. And beside his compositional skills, he is an eclectic and talented guitarist. Thanks for this post.
Mr Howe is a great guitarist. YES is one of the greatest ever and in my top five bands of all time at this moment, and I've been around for a while. They molded my humble musical career and I thank them for many hours of listening pleasure.
Steve Howe es quien le imprimió el sonido clásico a Yes, es de lo mejor que he escuchado en el progresismo, gracias por siempre Steve ! Sos un grande !
I saw yes only once and it stands out as really the best concert I attended. All the musicians are stellar. It also was the longest concert at over 2-1/2 hours. Glorious ❤
They're in a class of otheir own, definitely in my top 10 shows for sure. The only bands I've seen who played for longer were Rush, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.
Steve started the best ever guitar contribution to Yes. That album collectively is my favorite Yes of all time. I had listened to the previous 2 albums by Yes, good but not too much there. Hats off to Steve. The guitar playing would stand out so much for me in Seen All Good People that I wasn't even aware of great guitarist such as Jimmy Page back then. He really brought virtuoso guitar playing to my attention when it was released back in my Jr. High School years.
Well, it's great to see how enthusiastic Steve is after all of these decades. He still seems genuinely thrilled by the work he put in collaborating with the Yes guys in the early days.
Steve's classical guitar playing on Topographic Oceans isn't something a lot of people talk about, but it's truly beautiful and technically awe-inspiring.
Steve is one of my guitar heroes and inspiration to pick up a guitar. I have always loved his playing. His stint in Yes is legendary and Yes was such a fantastic group of amazing musicians. Those albums are hitting 50 to 60 years old and still nothing can touch them. Thank you Steve for all the great music.
My nephew, upon being introduced to some of Yes classics proclaimed "This is what happened to Elrond after he sailed from Middle Earth. He just ended up in England and focused his magic on guitars." Bravo, young Nick.
He's so diverse in his playing and use of multible instraments in his and Yes compasistions. Yes was looking for a diverse guitarist and he more than fit the Yes mold, taking them to their first new level of sound, and completing the formula with Wakeman, changing what prog was and creating a sound unmatched and very recognizable.
He's no more diverse than a hundred other Brit guitarists at the time. But what he did with those instruments, melodically, is why we're reading this. Basically, he played electric and acoustic guitar, mandoline, and not sure what else.
@@robrussell5329 I think he has played every string instrament there is, as a guitarist. Look at his album Beginnings, he had many of what he played at that time, on that album. My grandfather was a self taught guitarist and loved to listen to Fragile. Watching him play is an amazing experience.
Steves work on the Going for the One Album/Track - especially on Awaken with this otherworldly Sound followed by the wild middle playing, is in my Opinion unique, what a Guitar player ever contributed.
Thank you, Mr. Howe! I'm 68, and I feel very lucky to have grown up during such a Golden Age of music, which I think existed as the soundtrack to a time of massive social change. I feel that when our social progression once again surges forward we will again be accompanied by the power and uplifting music of artists such as these. You want more interesting music to become popular, such as that of Yes? Make room for the genius's of art, music, thought by sweeping aside materialism and bland obedience to unworthy goals! MAKE CHANGE!
great interview, thanks! For my money, THE best and most versatile guitarist in rock history! He does great interviews, and shares so much great history.
my all time fav guitarist since I was 15yrs in 1975. The sounds he could conjour up the speed and melodies were amazing. We missed you in Joliet,Il. recently hope to see you again soon, best wishes
Hands down my favorite guitarist ever. I am a big Jeff Beck fan, and he may have been a better technician, but Howe has the writing and arranging skills also - and he's hardly a poor technician.
In no way was Beck in Howe’s skill level or technique. I can’t even believe someone would think that. It speaks of ignorance of the guitar and it’s disrespectful. Beck was a good writer but not in the league of Howe.
Howe is a better technician than most tbh...certainly in that 70s prog/rock genre...classical, jazz, Atkins style, and 70s prog rock all in the one package - that is some technician...
Yeah, Howe was technically better than Beck, but I still like Becks guitar playing better. And Beck basically did not write at all. The best musicians were so often poor composers. Like Beck was a better guitarist than Jimmy Page, but Page was a great composer. He wrote one of the songs on Becks first album. Still…Howe is much more difficult to copy…I know, I played Becks and Yes music for decades. And “Blow By Blow” really does approach Yes in technical difficulty, but I could play every note on “Blow”, and I still cannot play most of Howes stuff. Part of that is effort and time invested, but that is because of motivation. I like Yes, but never bought any of their records or put much time into learning their stuff. I put a lot of time into Beck.
Steve Howe from the very beginning was INCREDIBLE. The first time I heard Yes I was hooked. I was learning to play at the time and Steve was someone I wanted to play like. So unique and REAL sounding. His stuff is difficult to cover, but it’s fun trying…
Saw them in the 80'd with Trevor and they were great doing the 901 tour then saw them 2013, before Chris got sick and they were awesome with the new singer, but Howe just blew me away all the different instruments he played, when they hit the last note of " the clap" whole place jumped to their feet. Just awesome
being listenning to rock for almost half a century now and my opinion remais: Steve is the BEST guitar player in rock history and his skills in the album tales from the topography of oceans is beyond musical, besides having the most friendly smile ever
The most creative guitarist ever, he could be a classic guitarist one minute, then jazzy and then fully experimental, always for the benefit of the composition, just brilliant.
thank you steve, and all of yes, for a lifetime of thought provoking, expertly played, enjoyable music. the live version of "yours is no discgrace," of the "yessongs" album, is one of the best live renditions of any song ever recorded. and "gates of delrium," from "relayer" is easily one of the best pieces, its not a song but a suite, in r&r history. just brilliant and unmatched in style and presentation.
I remember going to a Yes concert in St Petersburg,Florida back in the early 70’s. It was about the time Fragile came out. Great album,one of my all time favorite 70’s albums.
I saw them in Boise in about 1983 or 84 and it was the 90125 tour. Best concert I’ve ever been to… Steve Howe wasn’t in the group then, sadly but wow. What a concert.
My daughter and I saw yes in Orlando at the Dr. Philips Theater this past October 2023. Awesome show! YES is such a talented band that sounds fantastic. I highly recommend that you check them out if you have the chance. A wonderful night!
Something that strikes me listening to Steve Howe is his humility and how his history brought him to where he was when he joined yes. Last night Martin Carthy was in conversation at Colchester Arts Centre and I heard exactly the same. An incredible traditional English folk artist whose every song was the result of a web of historical connections. What a joy it is to hear some of the back stories of these truly, truly great musicians. We are so very lucky.
Their music raised us throughout the 70s. What a glorious time. We seen yes live in the round in Greensboro, NC in 1977. Seems like he was recognized as best overall guitarist in Guitar Player magazine back then. I know we wore our fingers out learning his songs. Thanks Steve!
This man is why I dedicated my life to music! Yessongs, the movie changed me. And I haven’t missed a Yes tour since first seeing them on the Going for the One tour! The best!
We will look back on these guys as one of the leaders of the modern renaissance of incredible music like that of Mozart or Bach IMHO. I am lucky to be alive during these times to hear and experience this musical magic! Thank you!!!! Ive seen YES at least 10 times. Simply outstanding work!!!
Steve Howe is one of the top 5 guitar 🎸 players EVER. Soooooo underrated. Watch him play Yours is no Disgrace on the Yessongs video, case closed. God Bless You Steve Howe.
Saw Yes three times over the years at Madison Square Garden. Awesome band! And I distinctly remember at one of the nights, Chris Squire was wearing his outfit at around 6:25 on this interview. They were a bit late, and then out of the darkness, they started "All Good People". Classic!
One of the best interviews ever with Steve Howe!. Nothing like The Yes Album had ever been done, It was really something new, I think it was a silent game changer.
I have to say, the MOST in-depth, info gettin outa Steve intevoews i've ever seen, Steeve looks thin, i will PRAY for his well-being, but i just LOVED this interview, as Starship Trooper is etched into my soul, and Dissilussion/Wurm, are just HUGE displays of artistic genius!!....THANK YOU SIR!!!....i'm all smiles now!!!!....TY!!
i saw them during the "Fragile tour" at the Academy of Music (N.Y.C.) thanksgiving evening 1971, as the opening group, with King Crimson and Procol Harum following!! YES who were relatively unknown (in the US) at that date blew my mind. Steve Howe was so unusual for the time with his singularly unique playing style and tone, and his huge hollow body L7/L5 (?) while everyone else played solid body guitars. excellent performance!!!
Great Interview. This is the kind of details I love to hear about. Members input into songs, early Bands they were in and how songs are formed. Thank you both. Also, thank you to Bodast and its Members. So much great Music comes from Bands that most will never know.
That means a lot William! We try to ask new questions, or differently phrased questions, to let our guests answer things in a fresh way, so thank you for that!
There's Tony Kaye with his bandaged foot on The Yes Album sleeve. I saw then on December 22nd 1970 at the Shrewsbury Tech Christmas Dance, I was 15 with no idea who they were but I do remember the keyboard player hobbling on stage with a walking stick. Needless to say I was a young YES fan by the end of the gig
I completely agree that the orchestration and arrangement of the songs is equally as important as who wrote the lyrics or main riff; they're what makes the song be something memorable.
Catch the FULL and UNABRIDGED interview on our Podcast streaming everywhere! We actually had to cut a lot of this interview out to fit it into two TV episodes. Spotify link here: open.spotify.com/episode/0tY9JGySPXyUH6vJJfKkIM?si=pOITYiJKR96Hk1_GwrH-sA
If asked who gives you the most creative bang for your buck. Howe is unprecedented.
David Gilmour by contrast ,I think can draw out the biggest sound from a single note
Some of the best are invisible can't say why ?
@@railbart the humble introvert
@@railbartand off course yes
Steve's rock style is utterly unique. It took me awhile, but eventually I figured out that he reflects an eclectic combo of twangy American rockabilly, Euro classical & some flamenco influences. Most rock or progressive guitarists come from American blues and/or R&B, or jazz/classical influences. I believe that's why he sounds so uniquely different. Relisten to the long version of 'America', then his Yes acoustic solo pieces & you'll hear what I mean.
Steve is a world class guitarist , when people talk about the best guitarist you hardly ever hear his name but he deserves to be in the conversation for he is one of the best guitarists that ever lived .
Yep. Kerry Livgren came to mind.
He’s in my top three favorite guitarists easily. I agree with you wholeheartedly🙏❤️
@@ericaward702Same! In my top three!
I agree
I agree
To this day I consider their music some of the most extraordinary music ever created! Thank you Steve!
I agree with you!!
Absolutely!
500 years from today, people will remember the guitarist Steve Howe. He is one of those musicians who will transcend time when this Era of music is over.
I think the music of the great 60s and 70s bands will be remembered and played live as long as Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, maybe longer.
I’ve always thought that too. Steve’s Genius peaked in the 70s and will carry over centuries from now.
@@davidraymer397 i agree. 60s, 70s and 80s bands and the pop music of that era.
One of the most underrated guitarist ever. His playing on Yessongs is untouchable
Nobody underrates SH.
studio played... watch the who at tanglewood for Real concert footage. yes has ja as lead singer and he is satan
Oh for sure, he is on fire for all of it. Still, I prefer listening to 7 songs from 72 because it reveals more parts to YIND. I think it was taken from Augusta Georgia I think?
Haha underrated. Underrated is overrated. How do you conclude that he is underrated? He has 2-3 signature Gibson guitars, 2 signature Martin acoustics, was in two mega bands, all over guitar magazines.
SH untouchable guitar playing on yes songs you cant see him play it. Like opening of ctte. Solo on perpetual change. And more making one think it dubed in.
All I will say about Steve Howe is when he joined yes and the Yes Album was released the band was now on a different plateau, they were now a serious & legitimate top notch band. Everyone has their favorite Yes album but The Yes Album was the first album I ever bought when I was 14 and til this day its still my favorite Yes album mainly because of Starship Trooper. That song is just unbelievable & one of the best songs I ever heard. Steve Howe found his calling thank God and he never looked back. He is a master guitar player and one of the all time greats in his profession. He deserves a lot of credit for helping Yes get to the top !
The Yes album is a master work in guitar. Hearing it on a car 8 track in about 1972 it literally changed my life as a second year player. The elements of Disgrace especially the guitar lines stick in my ear even today 51 years later. I immediately decided I was going to learn to play this album and I did, every song, guitar and bass parts in about two years, starting with the Clap. It got me into bands. I met Howe in the 1990s when Martin guitar made a tribute model named for him. I told him he changed my life and he kind of smiled, said nothing. He doesn’t shake hands with strangers, which I didn’t know, and I stuck my hand out and he kind of touched the back of my hand with the back of his hand. It was weird but I didn’t care. Absolute guitar genius.
@@chilitoday A lot of people don't seem to shake hands anymore, I thought maybe it was because of Covid but Steve Howe's hands are his bread & butter & maybe he thought that there might be a crazy obsessed fan with a machete or a cleaver that wanted his hands preserved and mounted on his mantle, who knows but that was a cool story & im glad you got to meat him, he is a great guitar player!
During that interview he was asked about the third part of Starship Trooper, "The Wurm" & he said that part he wrote for his former band & then brought it to YES and the rest of "Yes History" !
..if Yes had stopped at that record, the Yes Album would stand alone in its brilliance. But thank god they didn't stop...
The Yes Album ! Yes great guitar and Tony Kaye's keyboard was equal to it!
I love how both Yes and Rush recognized the concept that the credit for songs can belong to the entire group, that the contributions of each member is what made the songs as great as they were.
You can add Deep Purple to that list.
Early Genesis with Gabriel did the same thing. Compositions were always credited to the whole group.
The early Doors too
I saw Yes on the Topographic Oceans tour in 1973 when they were at the height of their powers. Steve Howe was completely off the scale. I have seen many of the legends of classic rock at their peaks, but I don't think I've ever seen a guitarist play as brilliantly as Steve Howe did that night. You should have been there!
I saw Steve Howe play with Steve Morse at My Father's Place on long island- they played Jeff Beck's blue wind - wow what a show.
@@bdeprima Yikes now THOSE are the two top dogs for me.
The man is a damned legend. No one else in music history like him.
I saw Jon Anderson in concert a few weeks ago his voice is still fantastic.👍👍✌️✌️
Jon is the real and original voice of Yes!!!
The line up of Steve Howe, Bill Bruford, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson is probably the greatest band line up of any band ever.
Well..
I would add two other bands, too....
John, Paul George, and Ringo in one band and Page, Plant, Jones, and Bonham in a second band.
@@mikeeckel2807 In my head I was thinking greatest level of musicianship in a rock band. I wasn't specific enough. You're right the Beatles and Zep were the greatest.
ok, ok.....
@@mikeeckel2807 ok, ok....and Justin Bieber too.
@@mikeeckel2807 I would add some fellows by the name of Lee, Lifeson and Peart.
Steve Howe is a gift to the music world! Brilliant guitar player
Steve Howe is such a gifted guitarist and consummate musician. Thank you for all the amazing music. I hope more to come. I think his brand of music elevates the human spirit also.
My favorite all time guitar player. And, I've been playing for over 50 years!
Steve Howe is so humble in this interview. If you ask me, Steve single-handedly drove a majority of songs YES produced. Steve's mastery of the guitar is rather impressive. The whole band seemingly was in a one upsmanship contest with each other on every song they played and they all shined.
I'm 68 and lost track of how many hundred times I played the Yes Album....its great !
Steve is one of the greatest guitar players ever!!!
I've seen Yes in concert some dozen times, most recently almost exactly one year ago in Torrington, Conn., when Yes were marking the 50th anniversary of "Close to the Edge". Mr. Howe has been the one constant in all of those different shows. Yes are a band which has always featured top-notch talent no matter the lineup, and even well into his 70s, Mr. Howe is still brilliant. He's a consummate artist whose contributions to music can't be overstated. (He also holds the distinction of being the only non-Queen member to play guitar on a studio recording of a Queen song: "Innuendo".)
I’m happy to see Yes is still around, and Steve is still around. But to me Yes seems inconceivable without Chris and Alan. Others have come and gone. Jon, Tony, Rick, Bill, and Trevor have come and gone. Rick once predicted there will still be a Yes after the ones we know now are long gone.
Kinda like Beethoven. He’s been gone a long time but his music is still being played.
Yes is in the Dead Beethoven phase.
@@briangallagher2236 Very well put! Two of my other favorite bands, Kansas and Chicago, are still active and touring, with, respectively, 2 and 3 original members. I've seen both bands quite a few times, and I have to agree, a Kansas without Kerry Livgren or a Chicago without Terry Kath is, well, inconceivable. But fortunately, both groups are still able to put on a really good show for their fans, thanks to the talent of the folks on the stage, who really are faithful to the source material. I guess that's the important thing.
Man, I can't even imagine how cool auditioning for a band of Yes' caliber would be. Great story.
Steve's mind is as sharp as ever at age 76. Most rock stars his age couldn't recall half of the details he pulled out of the air.
Yeah, that's because he never did any drugs. His mind has remained clear all these decades.
Maybe right, but he has clear evidence of frailty and age-related sarcopenia. Somebody give this man a glass of olive oil.
@@curcumin417 Was there ever a time when Steve didn't look frail?
@@curcumin417. . Steve's main problem is his vegetarianism. It's nothing a good steak wouldn't fix. Most lifelong vegans look like long term heroin addicts.
@@arthurblackhistoric He did meddle, but very sparingly & carefully.
Thank you Steve Howe for all the amazing music and memories you have gifted the world 🌎. We are eternally grateful. 🕊️
Exactly !!!!
Wow! Steve Howe! Yes, Starship Trooper is my favorite Steve Howe performance.
An absolutely brilliant guitarist. I love his flamenco guitar solo on the Queen song "Innuendo."
The flamenco style solo in ''Sound Chaser'' is one of the most original you will hear
Nice - this interview redeems Howe in my estimation. I see the current version of Yes as basically a cover band, with Howe keeping alive an entity that is a ghost of its former self. However, his remarks reveal a thoughtful gentleman who credits his colleagues for past success His contributions on the Yes Album helped the band realize a musical achievement that is several orders of magnitude beyond previous efforts. And beside his compositional skills, he is an eclectic and talented guitarist. Thanks for this post.
I discovered Howe when I was fourteen years old, and it changed me as a guitarist forever.
Mr Howe is a great guitarist. YES is one of the greatest ever and in my top five bands of all time at this moment, and I've been around for a while. They molded my humble musical career and I thank them for many hours of listening pleasure.
The Yes album was such a gem. Has to be one of the best examples of great band chemistry.
Steve Howe es quien le imprimió el sonido clásico a Yes, es de lo mejor que he escuchado en el progresismo, gracias por siempre Steve ! Sos un grande !
Love Steve Howe's work, then and Today!
I saw yes only once and it stands out as really the best concert I attended. All the musicians are stellar. It also was the longest concert at over 2-1/2 hours. Glorious ❤
7 times, Every show excellent
They're in a class of otheir own, definitely in my top 10 shows for sure. The only bands I've seen who played for longer were Rush, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.
Brilliant guitarist that I saw 31 times with Yes.
Sixteen.
A mere fourteen.
Excellent
Hey someone who's seen almost as many times as me!! (35). Saw them 4 times in 5 days in Boston, NY, and Philly.
@@andylipiro3862 peyote or LSD twice in Philly?
Steve started the best ever guitar contribution to Yes. That album collectively is my favorite Yes of all time. I had listened to the previous 2 albums by Yes, good but not too much there. Hats off to Steve. The guitar playing would stand out so much for me in Seen All Good People that I wasn't even aware of great guitarist such as Jimmy Page back then. He really brought virtuoso guitar playing to my attention when it was released back in my Jr. High School years.
Well, it's great to see how enthusiastic Steve is after all of these decades. He still seems genuinely thrilled by the work he put in collaborating with the Yes guys in the early days.
Steve's classical guitar playing on Topographic Oceans isn't something a lot of people talk about, but it's truly beautiful and technically awe-inspiring.
Steve is one of my guitar heroes and inspiration to pick up a guitar. I have always loved his playing. His stint in Yes is legendary and Yes was such a fantastic group of amazing musicians. Those albums are hitting 50 to 60 years old and still nothing can touch them. Thank you Steve for all the great music.
LOVE love love(!) the signature sound of Steve Howe and how integral he was to one of the most uniquely evocative sounding bands in recording history.
My nephew, upon being introduced to some of Yes classics proclaimed "This is what happened to Elrond after he sailed from Middle Earth. He just ended up in England and focused his magic on guitars." Bravo, young Nick.
He's so diverse in his playing and use of multible instraments in his and Yes compasistions. Yes was looking for a diverse guitarist and he more than fit the Yes mold, taking them to their first new level of sound, and completing the formula with Wakeman, changing what prog was and creating a sound unmatched and very recognizable.
He's no more diverse than a hundred other Brit guitarists at the time. But what he did with those instruments, melodically, is why we're reading this.
Basically, he played electric and acoustic guitar, mandoline, and not sure what else.
Sorry.. slide guitar...
@@robrussell5329 I think he has played every string instrament there is, as a guitarist. Look at his album Beginnings, he had many of what he played at that time, on that album. My grandfather was a self taught guitarist and loved to listen to Fragile. Watching him play is an amazing experience.
@@robrussell5329 pedal steel guitar on "Soon" and the middle section of "And you and I", mandolin on "All Good People"
Steves work on the Going for the One Album/Track - especially on Awaken with this otherworldly Sound followed by the wild middle playing, is in my Opinion unique, what a Guitar player ever contributed.
Thank you, Mr. Howe! I'm 68, and I feel very lucky to have grown up during such a Golden Age of music, which I think existed as the soundtrack to a time of massive social change. I feel that when our social progression once again surges forward we will again be accompanied by the power and uplifting music of artists such as these. You want more interesting music to become popular, such as that of Yes? Make room for the genius's of art, music, thought by sweeping aside materialism and bland obedience to unworthy goals! MAKE CHANGE!
one of my guitar heroes, Steve Howe.
The live version of the song "To be over" is a Howe masterpiece . Playing pedal steel and lead guitar , just amazing.
great interview, thanks! For my money, THE best and most versatile guitarist in rock history! He does great interviews, and shares so much great history.
my all time fav guitarist since I was 15yrs in 1975. The sounds he could conjour up the speed and melodies were amazing. We missed you in Joliet,Il. recently hope to see you again soon, best wishes
Hands down my favorite guitarist ever. I am a big Jeff Beck fan, and he may have been a better technician, but Howe has the writing and arranging skills also - and he's hardly a poor technician.
In no way was Beck in Howe’s skill level or technique. I can’t even believe someone would think that. It speaks of ignorance of the guitar and it’s disrespectful. Beck was a good writer but not in the league of Howe.
Poor technician is a way under understatement. Categorize it as best of the best!
Howe is a better technician than most tbh...certainly in that 70s prog/rock genre...classical, jazz, Atkins style, and 70s prog rock all in the one package - that is some technician...
Yeah, Howe was technically better than Beck, but I still like Becks guitar playing better. And Beck basically did not write at all. The best musicians were so often poor composers. Like Beck was a better guitarist than Jimmy Page, but Page was a great composer. He wrote one of the songs on Becks first album. Still…Howe is much more difficult to copy…I know, I played Becks and Yes music for decades. And “Blow By Blow” really does approach Yes in technical difficulty, but I could play every note on “Blow”, and I still cannot play most of Howes stuff. Part of that is effort and time invested, but that is because of motivation. I like Yes, but never bought any of their records or put much time into learning their stuff. I put a lot of time into Beck.
Steve Howe from the very beginning was INCREDIBLE. The first time I heard Yes I was hooked. I was learning to play at the time and Steve was someone I wanted to play like. So unique and REAL sounding. His stuff is difficult to cover, but it’s fun trying…
Saw them in the 80'd with Trevor and they were great doing the 901 tour then saw them 2013, before Chris got sick and they were awesome with the new singer, but Howe just blew me away all the different instruments he played, when they hit the last note of " the clap" whole place jumped to their feet. Just awesome
being listenning to rock for almost half a century now and my opinion remais: Steve is the BEST guitar player in rock history and his skills in the album tales from the topography of oceans is beyond musical, besides having the most friendly smile ever
The most creative guitarist ever, he could be a classic guitarist one minute, then jazzy and then fully experimental, always for the benefit of the composition, just brilliant.
thank you steve, and all of yes, for a lifetime of thought provoking, expertly played, enjoyable music. the live version of "yours is no discgrace," of the "yessongs" album, is one of the best live renditions of any song ever recorded. and "gates of delrium," from "relayer" is easily one of the best pieces, its not a song but a suite, in r&r history. just brilliant and unmatched in style and presentation.
Thank You from my heart, Steve, for a lifetime of beautiful music and collaborations.
I remember going to a Yes concert in St Petersburg,Florida back in the early 70’s. It was about the time Fragile came out. Great album,one of my all time favorite 70’s albums.
Merci Steve. You helped start my hearing loss.
I saw them in Boise in about 1983 or 84 and it was the 90125 tour. Best concert I’ve ever been to… Steve Howe wasn’t in the group then, sadly but wow. What a concert.
My daughter and I saw yes in Orlando at the Dr. Philips Theater this past October 2023. Awesome show! YES is such a talented band that sounds fantastic. I highly recommend that you check them out if you have the chance. A wonderful night!
Something that strikes me listening to Steve Howe is his humility and how his history brought him to where he was when he joined yes. Last night Martin Carthy was in conversation at Colchester Arts Centre and I heard exactly the same. An incredible traditional English folk artist whose every song was the result of a web of historical connections.
What a joy it is to hear some of the back stories of these truly, truly great musicians. We are so very lucky.
He’s actually a very kind man.
Yours Is No Disgrace - Yessongs. Thank you, Steve.
They are incredibly amazing live
Never experienced the timing and accuracy of these guys.
Seen them many times over many years 😊❤
Their music raised us throughout the 70s. What a glorious time. We seen yes live in the round in Greensboro, NC in 1977. Seems like he was recognized as best overall guitarist in Guitar Player magazine back then. I know we wore our fingers out learning his songs. Thanks Steve!
Steve Howe is a brilliant guitar player and artist. Love his insight.
Steve!!!! Great stuff guys. Thanks for sharing. Still got their stuff on Lp.❤
This man is why I dedicated my life to music! Yessongs, the movie changed me. And I haven’t missed a Yes tour since first seeing them on the Going for the One tour! The best!
To this day I am still finding wonderful pieces of music in Yes group albums.
Yes was such a great band, so many iconic sounds.
We will look back on these guys as one of the leaders of the modern renaissance of incredible music like that of Mozart or Bach IMHO. I am lucky to be alive during these times to hear and experience this musical magic! Thank you!!!! Ive seen YES at least 10 times. Simply outstanding work!!!
Thanks for the great interview. Looking forward to Part 2. (PS: It's Trooper)
Gosh I knew I would inevitably do that on one of these descriptions. Fixed!
Amazing talent and fantastic artist. Impressive experience to listen to his work.
A total original, nobody will ever be like him.
Steve Howe is one of the top 5 guitar 🎸 players EVER. Soooooo underrated. Watch him play Yours is no Disgrace on the Yessongs video, case closed. God Bless You Steve Howe.
And if that's his Kitchen I'd say UNDERPAID too!!!
The Yessongs video changed everything about guitar playing when I saw it in high school
@@timothyward980 I was a a Sophomore in High School when I bought the Album the day it came out. Still have it.!
The production on The Yes Album is so far ahead of its time. The sound is just unreal for that time.
Thanks Steve! You moved and moulded me.
More than Yoko... 😄
What a guitarist, what a gentleman. Fan for life. Thanks Steve ❤
Great Interview! Steve Howe has an incredible memory and tells one exactly what they would want to know
Saw Yes three times over the years at Madison Square Garden. Awesome band! And I distinctly remember at one of the nights, Chris Squire was wearing his outfit at around 6:25 on this interview. They were a bit late, and then out of the darkness, they started "All Good People". Classic!
Absolutely a musical genius!
Fantastic historical document. Steve’s testimony very detailed and sharp. Thanks to all concerned (from a Yes fan & historian).
Me and my wife saw Steve play at Birchmere in Alexandria, an intimate setting. Glad I was able to introduce her to the music.
i have had the pleasure of seeing yes live in the 70s and 80s
love the incidental background info as answers. look forward to watching the other parts. thanks for posting!
He along with Alan Holdsworth are my favorite guitarists, as no one in the world sounds like them. This was neat - thanks for sharing.
Yessongs live still one of the greatest rock albums ever made. Thankyou yes!!!
Saw Steve in a tiny bar in timonium Maryland in the early 90s he was only about 10 feet away. A true guitar master
That looks like a very simple nice small apartment kitchen. He’s such a humble greatest guitarist of all times. God Bless you Steve!
It’s a hotel
What a great interview - I get more reveals from this that from what I previously knew. God bless SH!
One of the best interviews ever with Steve Howe!. Nothing like The Yes Album had ever been done, It was really something new, I think it was a silent game changer.
Definitely a great artist.thank you Mr.Howe for creating alot of our lives through the decades.
I have to say, the MOST in-depth, info gettin outa Steve intevoews i've ever seen, Steeve looks thin, i will PRAY for his well-being, but i just LOVED this interview, as Starship Trooper is etched into my soul, and Dissilussion/Wurm, are just HUGE displays of artistic genius!!....THANK YOU SIR!!!....i'm all smiles now!!!!....TY!!
that means so much to us! Thank you for those kind words! This was one of our absolute favorite interviews to do. Steve was wonderful.
i saw them during the "Fragile tour" at the Academy of Music (N.Y.C.) thanksgiving evening 1971, as the opening group, with King Crimson and Procol Harum following!! YES who were relatively unknown (in the US) at that date blew my mind. Steve Howe was so unusual for the time with his singularly unique playing style and tone, and his huge hollow body L7/L5 (?) while everyone else played solid body guitars. excellent performance!!!
He's a great story teller! 🤘
God bless Butch + Nema Davis thank you Steve
A fabulous interview. Thank you.
His favourite Yes track is the magnificent Turn of the century from the masterpiece Going for The One and I DO agree!
Way up in the top 10 greatest guitarists regardless of eras.
Great Interview. This is the kind of details I love to hear about. Members input into songs, early Bands they were in and how songs are formed. Thank you both. Also, thank you to Bodast and its Members. So much great Music comes from Bands that most will never know.
That means a lot William! We try to ask new questions, or differently phrased questions, to let our guests answer things in a fresh way, so thank you for that!
There's Tony Kaye with his bandaged foot on The Yes Album sleeve. I saw then on December 22nd 1970 at the Shrewsbury Tech Christmas Dance, I was 15 with no idea who they were but I do remember the keyboard player hobbling on stage with a walking stick. Needless to say I was a young YES fan by the end of the gig
Thank you for this interview.
thank you for watching! We love doing this.
I completely agree that the orchestration and arrangement of the songs is equally as important as who wrote the lyrics or main riff; they're what makes the song be something memorable.
Thank you Steve Howe! We love you.
Steve is the greatest guitarist ever. GENIUS.
Steve, Jon, Chris, Rick, & Bill is my favorite band of all-time!