Yes Members by Era (1968–2025)

🎸 1968–1970: The Founding Years

• Jon Anderson – lead vocals
• Chris Squire – bass, backing vocals
• Peter Banks – guitar
• Tony Kaye – keyboards
• Bill Bruford – drums

✅ Key Albums: “Yes” (1969), “Time and a Word” (1970)
➡ Banks was fired after the second album, replaced by Steve Howe.

🎸 1970–1971: Classic Sound Emerges

• Steve Howe – guitar
• (replaces Peter Banks)
• Other members unchanged.

✅ Key Album: “The Yes Album” (1971)
➡ Marked a significant artistic leap with more complex compositions.

🎹 1971–1972: The Wakeman Arrival

• Rick Wakeman – keyboards
• (replaces Tony Kaye)

✅ Key Albums: “Fragile” (1971), “Close to the Edge” (1972)
➡ Yes’s golden age begins. Wakeman’s classical influence reshaped their sound.

🥁 1972–1973: Bruford Exits, White Enters

• Alan White – drums
• (replaces Bill Bruford, who joined King Crimson)

✅ Key Album: “Tales from Topographic Oceans” (1973)
➡ The band shifts to long-form progressive epics.

🎹 1974–1976: Wakeman Out, Moraz In

• Patrick Moraz – keyboards
• (replaces Rick Wakeman)

✅ Key Album: “Relayer” (1974)
➡ A jazzier, more chaotic edge with Moraz on keys.

🎹 1976–1980: Wakeman Returns

• Rick Wakeman – returns to keyboards
• Same lineup as “Fragile” era resumes.

✅ Key Albums: “Going for the One” (1977), “Tormato” (1978)

➡ Wakeman’s return helped the band regain popularity.

💥 1980–1981: The Drama Era

• Trevor Horn – vocals
• Geoff Downes – keyboards
• (Both from The Buggles; Anderson and Wakeman leave)

✅ Key Album: “Drama” (1980)
➡ A darker, more modern sound. Trevor Horn later became a major producer.

⚠️ 1981–1983: Disbanded (Unofficially)

• Members go their separate ways:
  • Squire, White, and Downes try to keep Yes going
  • Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe form ABWH (Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe)

⚡ 1983–1988: 90125 Era – Pop-Progressive Crossover

• Jon Anderson – vocals (returns)
• Chris Squire – bass
• Trevor Rabin – guitar, vocals
• Tony Kaye – keyboards (returns)
• Alan White – drums

✅ Key Albums: “90125” (1983), “Big Generator” (1987)
➡ Massive commercial success with “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”

🔄 1989–1992: ABWH + Yes Merge

• Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe and 90125 lineup unite for:
• Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, Kaye, Rabin, Bruford, White

✅ Key Album: “Union” (1991)
➡ 8-man lineup. The album was mostly a producer creation — complex and controversial.

🎸 1994–1997: Rabin Departs, Classic Lineup Reunites

• Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman, White

✅ Key Album: “Keys to Ascension” (1996–97)
➡ Return to the classic progressive sound.

🎹 1997–2004: Igor Khoroshev / Billy Sherwood Years

• Igor Khoroshev – keyboards
• Billy Sherwood – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals

✅ Key Album: “The Ladder” (1999)
➡ More collaborative, polished sound; Sherwood becomes increasingly key to the band’s future.

🌀 2004–2008: Touring Hiatus / Health Issues

• Anderson unable to tour due to illness in 2008.

➡ Leads to a major shake-up.

🎤 2008–2011: New Voice – Benoît David

• Benoît David – vocals (replaces Anderson)
• Oliver Wakeman – keyboards (Rick’s son)
• Steve Howe, Squire, White

✅ Key Album: “Fly from Here” (2011)
➡ Geoff Downes returns during recording.

🎹 2011–2015: Geoff Downes Returns

• Geoff Downes – keyboards (permanently)
• Jon Davison – vocals (replaces David in 2012)

✅ Key Album: “Heaven & Earth” (2014)
➡ Jon Davison brings a sound closer to classic Anderson.

🕊️ 2015–2022: Farewell to Squire, New Chapter

• Chris Squire dies in 2015 (only constant member until then).
• Billy Sherwood – bass (Squire’s hand-picked successor)
• Jay Schellen – second drummer (eventually replaces White live)
• Howe, Downes, Davison, Sherwood, Schellen

✅ Key Albums: “The Quest” (2021), “Mirror to the Sky” (2023)
➡ Symphonic, expansive modern prog.

🕊️ 2022–Present: Post-Alan White Era

• Alan White dies in 2022.
• Jay Schellen becomes full-time drummer.

🟢 Current Lineup (2025):

• Steve Howe – guitars
• Geoff Downes – keyboards
• Jon Davison – vocals
• Billy Sherwood – bass
• Jay Schellen – drums

✅ Still touring and recording as of 2025.

🧩 Summary by Role

🎵 Yes Lineup Eras at a Glance