"I wasn't happy with my vocals on the first Yes album, but I didn't say anything at the time": Jon Anderson on a new era with The Band Geeks, the songs that defined his early career & more | Interview

Jon Anderson on a new era with The Band Geeks, the songs that defined his early career & more | Interview

Eternally known as the ethereal voice of Yes, Jon Anderson has spent decades pushing the boundaries of progressive rock—crafting some of the most iconic records of the genre—both as a solo artist and in collaboration with some of music's most talented artists. Now, Anderson is channeling that same creative energy into a new project with The Band Geeks, culminating in a stunning debut album, 'True,' released earlier in 2024 worldwide via Frontiers Music.

This nine-song collection bridges the classic sounds of Anderson's Yes years with a fresh, modern edge, featuring ambitious compositions like the epic "Once Upon a Dream" and the incendiary "Counties and Countries." As Anderson embarks on this exciting chapter, he sat down with Jonathan Graham to discuss the origins of this new era with The Band Geeks, the making of 'True,' the songs that defined his early career, and why his voice continues to defy the passage of time.

Jon, great to chat with you today. Congratulations on 'True'! How did the collaboration with The Band Geeks come about?

"It started about a year and a half ago when a friend sent me a video of The Band Geeks performing 'Heart of the Sunrise.' Their precision and energy blew me away—it felt like Yes in the '70s. I reached out to Richie Castellano, their bassist and leader, and told him, 'You guys are incredible. Let's tour together.' He was surprised, but a few months later, we did 12 shows to see how we clicked. I wanted to focus on epics and classics, which has always been a dream of mine. When you find a band that can play pieces like 'Close to the Edge' and 'Awaken' note for note, you know you're on the right path."

The album feels like a blend of your solo work and a modern take on classic Yes. Was that the goal?

"Not really, no. I think it just happened naturally. On one of our next phone calls, I said to Richie, 'Let's make an album.' I sent him two or three ideas, and he had a couple of ideas as well. Within a month, he'd strung most of the songs together. He's such a great producer and an incredible bass player. It's almost like a homage to Chris Squire because he can play anything, of course. He brought so much to this project."

What was the first piece of music that truly inspired you growing up?

"There were so many! When you're 8 or 10 years old, you're listening to music on the radio, and in England, that was BBC One and BBC Two. BBC One was pop music, and BBC Two was more symphonic music. I'd listen to 'The Planets Suite,' and when 'Mars' came on, it was so frightening. Then I discovered Stravinsky—'The Rite of Spring' and things like that. But on the other side, there was pop music coming from America, often performed by English singers. The first record I ever bought was 'Rebel Rouser' by Duane Eddy. My brother bought an Elvis Presley album at the same time. That's what we got into for about two years."

Your voice is legendary and instantly recognisable. Was it something natural, or did it take years to develop?

"I was always too loud singing in class—' Anderson, don't sing so loud, please.' I sang in the school choir and worked on a local farm with my brother, singing Everly Brothers songs. When he formed a band, he sang the main parts, and I took anything higher than Elvis Presley. So I'd sing Roy Orbison songs. Over the years, you just keep at it. You don't think about it much; you just hope to survive the early years of being in a band. I was lucky—very blessed—to meet Chris Squire in London. He had a band that needed a singer, so I joined. The drummer left soon after because he got an offer in Paris, and that's when we brought in Bill Bruford. From there, Yes started to build itself up over the next few years."

Your voice hasn't aged at all—what's your secret?

"Well, my dad was from Glasgow, so maybe it's the Scottish in me! My mum was Irish, so I have this Celtic sense about my singing. I wasn't happy with my vocals on the first Yes album, but I didn't say anything at the time. Over the years, you learn to look after yourself. I remember doing a show in Leeds where I'd had a steak at four o'clock. When I got on stage, I could hardly sing. That's when I learned you can't eat before performing. Little things like that make a difference."

Was Yes's debut album the most challenging to make?

"Well, I didn't know much about recording at the time. My first band with my brother had recorded a song years earlier, but it was a very nerve-wracking experience. You're surrounded by professionals, and you sing your song, but then you hear it later and think, 'I've got to get better.' By the time we got to 'Fragile,' I'd found my voice and my strength. That's when I felt like I truly understood who I was as a singer."

What was the first instrument you learned, and what were your early experiences with it?

"My first instrument was a saxophone. I could play a few notes and pretended I was a jazz player during my last year with the Warriors while we toured Germany and Scandinavia. When I moved to London, I was still playing sax. I remember waiting at a train station and playing 'God Save the Queen' while waiting for my friend Brian Chatton, who was also in the Warriors. Later, I tried playing guitar. I recently found 50 tapes of me singing and playing guitar—stuff I'd completely forgotten about. I'm thinking of re-recording some of those songs. There's a lot of material to revisit."

With The Band Geeks, you're revisiting many classic Yes songs. Why does 'Awaken' stand out for you?

"'Awaken' marks the end of the first ten years of Yes. By then, we'd gone through several musicians, managers, and agents. You never know how long a band will last—that's why we called the third album 'Fragile.' The music business can be disheartening. I remember the record company saying, 'There's no single here,' and I'd think, 'But there's so much good music!' It's frustrating when they only want something three minutes and 33 seconds long. At one point, I wanted to give up, and that's when I started writing musicals. I've written three or four musicals since then, and along with this new band, they've been a great creative outlet for me."

Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks debut album' True,' is available worldwide via Frontiers Music. For more information on the album, tour dates, and more, visit jonanderson.com