Set for release on October 30th is Yes' latest concert set, The Royal Affair Tour: Live From Las Vegas. The album was captured on July 26th, 2019 at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel. The show was part of the band's "Royal Affair Tour," featuring Asia, the Moody Blues' John Lodge, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy with guest vocals by Arthur Brown.
Interspersed between Yes classics are the band's covers of Simon & Garfunkel’s "America," Richie Havens' "No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed" and John Lennon’s "Imagine" — on which Yes drummer Alan White originally performed on.
In addition to White, Yes' current lineup features Steve Howe on guitar, Geoff Downes on keyboards, Jon Davison on vocals, and Billy Sherwood on bass. The band is supplemented by Jay Schellen on additional drums.
In a statement announcing the new album, Steve Howe said, "Having the opportunity to bring together the band members in the development of a well-refined set of songs that captures the band’s true potential is simply an honor for me."
Howe recently touched upon the band's revolving door of members throughout the years: ["It's kind of an evolutionary thing. And Yes just kept going and going and maybe taking short breaks — maybe a couple of years — then the lineup might change and we might get back together. Y'know, this person would leave — and people leave sometimes, because they really do want to do different music, y'know, and Bill Bruford did that. And several Yes musicians have done that. But other times, yeah, there's a bit of intrigue. There could be some problems; somebody doesn't like a record we made, or didn't like a tour — it's all a mixed bag."] SOUNDCUE (:25 OC: . . . a mixed bag)
The tracklisting to Yes' The Royal Affair Tour: Live From Las Vegas is:
"Tempus Fugit"
"Going For The One"
"I've Seen All Good People"
"Siberian Khatru"
"Onward"
"America"
"Imagine"
"Roundabout"
"Starship Trooper"
Steve Howe On Shifting Yes Lineup :