If nothing else, Chris Squire deserves a medal for persistence.
The bassist for the iconic progressive rock band Yes is the only member who’s been on every Yes album and played on every Yes tour since the band’s formation in 1968.
Beyond that, he’s unarguably redefined the role of bass guitar in rock music, making the often-overshadowed and under-mixed instrument a prominent and boldly creative lead voice in Yes’ complex classics.
When we spoke to Squire in late March 2014, he was just about to play the last dates of his band’s long-running Classic Albums Tour, which saw them playing three three albums start-to-finish.
In the following interview (conducted exclusively for EntertainmentTell.com), Squire discusses the band’s upcoming studio album; its Summer 2014 tour, which will feature two albums in their entirety (Fragile and Close to the Edge) along with tracks from the new CD and Yes classics; the second Cruise to the Edge; and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which Yes almost got into this year.
Howard Whitman: So, on the upcoming summer tour, you’re finally playing Fragile, start to finish?
Chris Squire: Ah … (laughs) We’re aren’t yet! Yeah, there’s a couple of tricky points about doing that, to reproduce it like the original album exactly is a little complicated for myself, and for Geoff Downes as well to do the keyboard piece (“Cans And Brahms”), and for me to reproduce “The Fish” in the same way it appears on the album—although I’ve played “The Fish” solo over the years in a very different form and presentation from the album. The album (version), of course, was a bunch of overdubbed bass guitars. So I’ve got to figure out exactly how that is going to be pulled off. I’m sure we have the technology so it can be possible.
Whitman: Yes, there’s been speculation online that you’re going to use loops or things like that? Have you worked that out yet?
Squire: No, no … I mean, I know where there’s a will, there’s a way (laughs).
Whitman: Absolutely! And also, for Jon Davison to do “We Have Heaven”—that’s a zillion overdubbed voices, correct?
Squire: Yeah, well, strangely enough, that one we had actually done a version of over the years from time to time. We have done “We Have Heaven.” I’ll have to say I’m not quite so sure how close it is to the original, but once again, I’m sure we’ll be able to figure out a way to faithfully reproduce it.
Whitman: Have you ever played “Five Per Cent For Nothing” live onstage before?
Squire: That’s another good point, isn’t it? Yeah, that one is going to be definitely a bit of a challenge so, yes, thanks for reminding me about it.
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