Rock and roll is messy. It’s even messier when the band in question has a family tree that looks like a bowl of spaghetti. If you were paying attention around 2016, you probably saw something strange. Two different bands were touring the world, both calling themselves Yes.
One version was the "official" one, led by Steve Howe. The other? That was Yes Featuring Jon Anderson Trevor Rabin Rick Wakeman. For a few years, it was the ultimate prog-rock tug-of-war. Fans were divided, lawyers were likely caffeinated, and the music was, honestly, pretty spectacular.
The Birth of ARW
It started quietly. Back in 2010, the "Holy Trinity" of Yes history—vocalist Jon Anderson, guitarist Trevor Rabin, and keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman—started whispering about a reunion. They didn't call it Yes at first. It was just ARW.
Basically, Jon Anderson had been out of the main band since 2008 due to health issues, and he wasn't exactly thrilled with how they moved on without him. Trevor Rabin had spent decades scoring massive Hollywood films like Armageddon and Con Air. Rick Wakeman was, well, being Rick Wakeman—touring, writing, and being a professional "Grumpy Old Man."
The catalyst was the death of Chris Squire in 2015. Chris was the bedrock. He was the only guy who had been in every single version of Yes since 1968. When he passed, the "keeper of the flame" was gone. Suddenly, Jon, Trevor, and Rick felt it was time to reclaim their version of the legacy.
Why the Name Changed
When they hit the road in 2016, the posters said Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman. But by April 2017, everything shifted. After their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—a night filled with awkward speeches and even more awkward proximity—they rebranded.
They became Yes Featuring Jon Anderson Trevor Rabin Rick Wakeman.
Why the mouthful? Legality. Jon Anderson is a co-owner of the Yes name. He had as much right to use it as anyone else. But to avoid a total courtroom meltdown with the Steve Howe-led version of the group, they added the "Featuring" suffix. It was a compromise that satisfied the lawyers but left casual fans scratching their heads at the ticket counter.
Honestly, it was a power move. By putting "Yes" first, they were telling the world: This is the voice you remember. This is the guy who wrote the hits. This is the real deal.
The Sound: 70s Meets 80s
What made Yes Featuring Jon Anderson Trevor Rabin Rick Wakeman so unique was the setlist. Usually, a Yes show is either "classic prog" (the 70s stuff) or "90125" (the 80s pop-rock stuff). It’s rare to see them blended perfectly.
Trevor Rabin brought a modern, muscular energy to 70s epics like "Awaken." On the flip side, Rick Wakeman finally got his hands on 80s tracks like "Owner of a Lonely Heart," adding his signature analog synth flourishes to Rabin’s digital-age riffs.
They weren't just playing the notes. They were reinventing them. Lee Pomeroy, the bassist they hired, played with a Rickenbacker growl that would have made Chris Squire proud. Lou Molino III on drums kept it all grounded. It was loud. It was theatrical. It felt like a celebration rather than a museum piece.
The Missing Album
Here is the part that still stings for fans. They promised new music. For years, Jon Anderson talked about "the files" they were exchanging. Trevor Rabin mentioned in interviews that they had hours of material.
They even released a snippet of a song called "Fragile" (not the album, the song) during their 2018 tour. It sounded fresh. It sounded like a band that actually liked each other.
But it never came out.
Life got in the way. Schedules clashed. Rabin’s film commitments and Wakeman’s solo tours made finishing a full studio album nearly impossible. By 2019, the momentum had stalled. Rick Wakeman eventually admitted that he felt the name should have been retired after Chris Squire died, expressing a bit of "Grumpy Old Man" regret about the whole branding war.
The End of the Road
By late 2019, the band effectively went on "hiatus." In the world of Yes, "hiatus" usually means the members aren't speaking for a while. Trevor Rabin went back to his solo work (releasing the excellent Rio years later). Jon Anderson teamed up with The Band Geeks to tour Yes music on his own terms.
Yes Featuring Jon Anderson Trevor Rabin Rick Wakeman was a flash in the pan that lasted just long enough to remind us why those three worked. It wasn't about the name on the ticket. It was about the chemistry.
What You Should Do Next
If you missed the live shows, you aren't totally out of luck.
- Listen to Live at the Apollo: This 2018 release is the definitive document of this lineup. The version of "Awaken" on there is arguably one of the best live captures in the band's fifty-year history.
- Track down the "Fragile" single: It’s a rare glimpse into what a studio album might have sounded like.
- Check out Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks: If you want that specific vocal magic today, Jon’s current touring group is the closest spiritual successor to the ARW energy.
The "two Yeses" era was confusing, sure. But for a brief moment, we got the "Holy Trinity" back on stage, and for most fans, that was more than enough.
