Their 50th anniversary tour, “#YES50: Celebrating 50 Years of YES,” will feature two tour stops in the New York area. On July 15, they will be performing at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island. “I am looking forward to that show,” Downes said.
On July 18, Yes will be playing at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury in Westbury on Long Island. “It is going to be a great show. We are halfway through the tour, at the moment, and it has been going really well. The Westbury Music Fair is always a nice venue, playing in the round,” he said. “I hope the fans will love it, since they will get a whole variety of Yes music. It’s going to be a great time for Yes and for the fans to come and see us.”
When asked what motivates him each day, Downes said, “With Yes’ music, it is a special kind of music. It is a very unique kind of music. The fans have really inspired us, and it is great when you play your music in front of people, and be appreciated for it. That’s the main thing.”
Downes noted that being successful comes with perseverance. “We challenge ourselves daily,” he admitted.
On September 7, 2018, Eagle Vision will release the Yes, 50th Anniversary Live At The Apollo collection on such formats as DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD and 3LP. “We take each gig as it comes. It is always great to be in front of the fans, and see where we are up to at the moment,” he said.
Regarding the induction of Yes into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a band, he said, “That is great for the band. They only allowed eight members in, which is fair enough since they all deserved it, and it is understandable. Ultimately, it was the right choices.”
Downes’ advice for aspiring rock singer-songwriters is as follows: “It is important that the people learn instruments, and know that it’s about the musicians and not just the music. If that continues, we will see more great music from young people coming through.”
Digital transformation of rock music
On the impact of technology on the music business, Downes said, “I think technology makes it more difficult for musicians these days. The money is not what it used to be to support musicians. It helps get your music out there, but a small amount of money comes back to you as a result of that. That is why the touring side of the music business is very important to a lot of people. Touring is a great way to support yourself as a musician. It is a good way to sustain yourself.”
To learn more about the progressive rock band Yes, and their 50th anniversary tour, check out their official homepage.
