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Tripper11

(4,338 posts)
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 01:54 PM Jun 2015

Chris Squire, Yes Bassist and Co-Founder, Dead at 67

Source: Rolling Stone

Chris Squire, the co-founder and longtime bassist of prog rock icons Yes and the only member of the group to feature on every studio album, has passed away just over a month after revealing that he was suffering from a rare form of leukemia. Squire was 67. Current Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes first tweeted the news, "Utterly devastated beyond words to have to report the sad news of the passing of my dear friend, bandmate and inspiration Chris Squire."

Yes confirmed Squire's death on their official Facebook page. "It's with the heaviest of hearts and unbearable sadness that we must inform you of the passing of our dear friend and Yes co-founder, Chris Squire. Chris peacefully passed away last night in Phoenix Arizona, in the arms of his loving wife Scotty," the band wrote in a statement.

"For the entirety of Yes' existence, Chris was the band's linchpin and, in so many ways, the glue that held it together over all these years. Because of his phenomenal bass-playing prowess, Chris influenced countless bassists around the world, including many of today’s well-known artists. Chris was also a fantastic songwriter, having written and co-written much of Yes' most endearing music, as well as his solo album, Fish Out of Water."

Yes formed in 1968 after singer Jon Anderson met self-taught bassist Squire at a London music-industry bar; the pair were soon joined by guitarist Peter Banks, keyboardist Tony Kaye, and drummer Bill Bruford. Yes released their self-titled debut in 1968. However, it wasn’t until Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman replaced Banks and Kaye, respectively, that the prog rock group really hit it big with 1971's The Yes Album and 1972's Fragile.



Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chris-squire-yes-bassist-and-co-founder-dead-at-67-20150628#ixzz3eNewQhki
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chris-squire-yes-bassist-and-co-founder-dead-at-67-20150628

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Chris Squire, Yes Bassist and Co-Founder, Dead at 67 (Original Post) Tripper11 Jun 2015 OP
Marta and I saw YES last year in concert Omaha Steve Jun 2015 #1
Just awesome, OS. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #19
A Yes LP was among the first in my vinyl collection. 90125 I think it was. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2015 #30
So long Fish, and thanks for all the LunaSea Jun 2015 #2
We saw Yes 12 times over the years. onehandle Jun 2015 #3
One of my favorite musicians of all time ballabosh Jun 2015 #4
man that is too bad. rip. n/t restorefreedom Jun 2015 #5
One of the best. secondvariety Jun 2015 #6
Take a straight and stronger course To the corner of your life Ichingcarpenter Jun 2015 #7
Saw Yes years ago, BarbaRosa Jun 2015 #8
I saw Yes in July '71 (first US tour) opening for Jethro Tull. SaveOurDemocracy Jun 2015 #9
Wow Cal Carpenter Jun 2015 #12
I'm thinking of buying that sticker.. whathehell Jun 2015 #38
I saw them on the same tour mwdem Jun 2015 #21
Wow, wow, wow. nt Bonobo Jun 2015 #34
his sound will live on olddots Jun 2015 #10
... Alkene Jun 2015 #11
... shenmue Jun 2015 #13
Chris... Dont call me Shirley Jun 2015 #14
... Enthusiast Jun 2015 #18
... Dont call me Shirley Jun 2015 #22
what type of luekemia? onethatcares Jun 2015 #15
Acute erythroid leukemia sendero Jun 2015 #20
This is very sad. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #16
A great bass guitarist. Saw him back in '72. Outstanding. navarth Jun 2015 #17
First concert I ever went to, Yes, "In the Round" at Olympia Stadium in Detroit 1976 corkhead Jun 2015 #23
Saw them in 75 edhopper Jun 2015 #24
So sad sparkeyd53 Jun 2015 #25
Loved him and Yes since I was a little kid, The Fish is still one of the best Bass songs ever. orpupilofnature57 Jun 2015 #26
Saw Yes in June 1976, phenomenal show. ms liberty Jun 2015 #27
it is sad that Jon and Chris were at odds DonCoquixote Jun 2015 #28
I saw Yes in the early 70's. Unknown Beatle Jun 2015 #29
FUCK! That sucks. blackspade Jun 2015 #31
I listened to The Yes Album... sendero Jun 2015 #32
very cool. blackspade Jun 2015 #33
OH MAN THAT SUCKS ... brett_jv Jun 2015 #35
That sucks! My first bass hero, and yes, he sold me my first bass (so to speak . . . ) hatrack Jun 2015 #36
Saw them many times yesphan Jun 2015 #37
Bill Bruford's tribute from Facebook rdmtimp Jun 2015 #39
I came to Yes late MissMillie Jun 2015 #40

LunaSea

(2,894 posts)
2. So long Fish, and thanks for all the
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 02:03 PM
Jun 2015

great music.
Exceptional bassist, and a great singer.
I really wish he'd gotten around to a follow up to Fish Out of Water.
Damn sad news.

onehandle

(51,122 posts)
3. We saw Yes 12 times over the years.
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 02:03 PM
Jun 2015

Not the current incarnation with no Jon Anderson. Just not the same.

RIP Chris.

ballabosh

(330 posts)
4. One of my favorite musicians of all time
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 02:34 PM
Jun 2015

Too sad. Yes wasn't the same without Jon Anderson, and now it can never be the same again. Farewell.

Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
7. Take a straight and stronger course To the corner of your life
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 03:24 PM
Jun 2015

Don't surround yourself with yourself
Move on back two squares
Send an instant karma to me
Initial it with loving care, yourself

'Cause it's time, it's time in time with your time
And its news is captured for the queen to us



Read more: Yes - I've Seen All Good People Lyrics | MetroLyrics


One of my favorite song writers and group

SaveOurDemocracy

(4,400 posts)
9. I saw Yes in July '71 (first US tour) opening for Jethro Tull.
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 04:10 PM
Jun 2015

Yes had just released 'Fragile' and Tull had just released 'Benefit'. Small venue, Wildwood Convention Center.

GREAT CONCERT!!

Sad news.

Cal Carpenter

(4,959 posts)
12. Wow
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 04:39 PM
Jun 2015

I bet that was amazing.

There's a bumper sticker I've seen that says

"I May Be Old But I Got to See All The Good Bands"

Or something like that

I'm not old enough to have been to shows like that - I've managed to see some amazing bands but no one like that in their heyday. If I had a time travel machine that would be my first priority. 60s and 70s rock shows.

whathehell

(29,067 posts)
38. I'm thinking of buying that sticker..
Mon Jun 29, 2015, 10:09 AM
Jun 2015

but still not sure whether I want to call myself "old", true as it may be.

I remember talking to my young niece in the late 80's about

spending lots ot of cash for a ticket to see the Stones.

She explained thusly:

"Well, they are a legend, you know"

I said "I know, kid, I saw them in '69, the year you were born"!

I caught The Who in Golden Gate Park the next year too.


















 

olddots

(10,237 posts)
10. his sound will live on
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 04:23 PM
Jun 2015

a Ric , Rotosounds and a pick thru an S.V.T. often copied but never duplicated .

rest in peace .

Dont call me Shirley

(10,998 posts)
14. Chris...
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 04:46 PM
Jun 2015
Love comes to you and you follow; Love comes to you and then after, Dream on onto the heart of the sunrise

I saw Chris with Yes 3 times in the mid 70s. Sheer awesomeness.

sendero

(28,552 posts)
20. Acute erythroid leukemia
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 05:36 PM
Jun 2015

quite rare , aggressive and not really treatable as far as I can tell.

Squire might not have been the first bassist to play it like a lead guitar, but he was probably the best.

navarth

(5,927 posts)
17. A great bass guitarist. Saw him back in '72. Outstanding.
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 05:02 PM
Jun 2015

That man sold more Rickenbacker Basses than any salesman in history. Fragile was a terrific album, messed us all up back then.

RIP bass brother.

corkhead

(6,119 posts)
23. First concert I ever went to, Yes, "In the Round" at Olympia Stadium in Detroit 1976
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 06:01 PM
Jun 2015

The stage continually rotated and I got a kick out of Rick Wakeman putting away the Heinekens. One of the first albums I owned was Fragile on 8 track.

edhopper

(33,580 posts)
24. Saw them in 75
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 06:10 PM
Jun 2015

for Tales of Topographic Ocean, and three times the last few years , including when they did all of Fragile and Close To The Edge (my favorite album).

Had tickets to the 40th anniversary tour a few years back, but that was when Jon got sick and they cancelled. Seen Jon's solo gig a few time since then.

It was all wonderful and I am so sad to hear such a great musician from this spectacular group is gone.

(Hey Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you really think the Small Faces and the Red Hot Chili Peppers deserves it more than Yes?)

sparkeyd53

(12 posts)
25. So sad
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 06:15 PM
Jun 2015

My favorite band off all time. I must have seen them around twenty times since the early 70's. Haven't been the same since Jon Anderson left but now no way they can even come close to what they were. What a great bassist. RIP chris

 

orpupilofnature57

(15,472 posts)
26. Loved him and Yes since I was a little kid, The Fish is still one of the best Bass songs ever.
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 06:19 PM
Jun 2015

Last edited Sun Jun 28, 2015, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)

RIP Chris

DonCoquixote

(13,616 posts)
28. it is sad that Jon and Chris were at odds
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 07:08 PM
Jun 2015

Although to be fair, their last album was really a remake of the lineup they did in 1980 with trvehorn producing, and the young singer doing a copy of him as opposed to anderson. I wish that band could have just chosen to go on, the wya the dio led sabbath just called themselves "heaven and Hell."

Although Yes is closed, I would gladly see and Anderson bruford wakeman, Howe line up again, with tony levin on bass..

Godspeed Chris..thank you for decades worth of good music.

sendero

(28,552 posts)
32. I listened to The Yes Album...
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 09:29 PM
Jun 2015

... just this morning as I replaced the belt on my garden tractor. It was the first in a string of fantastic recordings (The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Relayer), all of which I love. I didn't know about Chris at the time, he was instrumental to Yes' sound.

RIP Chris.

brett_jv

(1,245 posts)
35. OH MAN THAT SUCKS ...
Mon Jun 29, 2015, 03:44 AM
Jun 2015

Saw them 2x on the 90125 tour ... one time at the Greek Theatre, I was 17, and trippin' on a very clean dose of the purple microdot my friends and I scored at People's Park ... they came on JUST as the sun went down, and I started peakin' HARD ... Man, that was such an amazing show, one of my all time favorites ... though I always wished I'd seen them in the 1970's ... lets just say they did NOT play Close to the Edge or Perpetual Change or the like ... Starship Trooper was pretty badass though ...

Also saw 'em on the Reunion tour, the one that had pretty much all the major players doing the 'in the round' thing about 10 years later, that was also pretty sweet.

Godspeed, Christopher Squire ... thanks for the memories!!!

?list=PL201777EE3F73AACF

hatrack

(59,587 posts)
36. That sucks! My first bass hero, and yes, he sold me my first bass (so to speak . . . )
Mon Jun 29, 2015, 08:58 AM
Jun 2015

A white Rickenbacker.

A friend of mine said that the mark of a good musician is that you know who they are after they play three notes. Never more true than with Chris.

yesphan

(1,588 posts)
37. Saw them many times
Mon Jun 29, 2015, 09:46 AM
Jun 2015

over the years. I knew this day would come. Getting news of members of my favorite band no longer on this planet.
It hurts, but his legacy will live on.
Thanks Christopher Russell Edward Squire for all the great music and memories.

MissMillie

(38,559 posts)
40. I came to Yes late
Tue Jun 30, 2015, 09:54 AM
Jun 2015

but when I did it didn't take much to convince me that Chris was something quite special.

I met him and his lovely wife Scotty a few years back (when she was pregnant w/ Xilan).

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