Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius
Limited edition box set
It’s time to post our full review of the latest Yes album, Aurora. Mark and I spoke – quite a lot – about the record and our reactions to it. As you will hear, we both like it a lot and we go into depth about why. There are a couple of aspects I’m not so keen on and there is even a [Shock! Horror!] minor disagreement between your two favourite podcast co-hosts!
However, we agree that Aurora has some wonderful features and it’s a hugely enjoyable record.
Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius
It’s been a week of huge contrasts. Aurora was released and Mark and I chat about the physical copies later in the episode but I also had the news from Clive Ayer that Yes’ first manager, Roy Flynn, died this week. Clive kindly agreed to come and share his recollections of Roy but before. Here are two tributes, the first from Yes’ current management team and the second from Dave Watkinson:
All of us at QEDG are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Roy Flynn, Yes’s very first manager, there at the beginning, “beyond and before,” when everything was still forming, still becoming.
Roy believed in the band at a time when the path was uncertain, when the music was still finding its voice. He gave not just guidance, but energy, faith, and his own resources, helping to spark something that would grow far beyond those early days.
In those first steps, from small stages to a recording contract, he helped set the course, quietly shaping the direction of a journey that would travel many roads.
He saw the light in it, the possibility, the dream… and helped carry that “astral traveller” out into the world.
His time with Yes was only a moment in the greater story, but like all true beginnings, it mattered, deeply and permanently. The echoes of that belief remain, still moving, still reaching.
We send our love and condolences to his family and friends. And with gratitude, we remember Roy.
One of those who stood at the dawn, when the music first turned and began to flow, when “love makes the world go round,” and the journey of Yes first found its wings.
Martin Darvill
Chairman, QEDG Management
We are all very thankful for his dedication, money, foresight, and for unknowingly helping start such an important band.
We look back fondly to those early days, so fresh and new, with big dreams and relentless energy.
Thank you, Roy.
David
Clive Ayer kindly sent these photos of the Order of Service from Roy’s funeral. All Yes fans are welcome to contribute to Lawrence Nurses in memory of Roy. He also commented:
Roy Flynn’s funeral was last Friday. Please see the images of the order of service. It was a beautiful day.
If anyone would like to donate to the Lawrence Nurses, please use the QR code. Roy’s family asked those attending to donate to this wonderful charity, which helped care for him at the end of his life, rather than send flowers.
Limited edition 2LPSpecial Edition CD DigipakLimited edition box set
Enrich your Prog year with iconic images of Yes in the 1970s, taken by the legendary rock photographer, Barry Plummer.
Enjoy 12 beautiful colour and black and white photographs of Yes in the studio and live, capturing the essence of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. With this limited-edition calendar on your wall throughout 2026, you’ll agree that Barry Plummer is, indeed, the Master of Images!
(A flat shipping fee will be added at checkout depending on your location.)
Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius
Mark and I are looking forward to talking about the new Yes album, Aurora, next week but this time, we have gone right back to the first ever Yes compilation album, Yesterdays, because we mentioned the first song on the record a couple of weeks ago, in the context of The New Age of Atlantic album.
We enjoyed listening to the 1975 release again, particularly the first and last songs. There is a bit of audio geekery and lots of enthusing about this great collection from us both.
Please do let us know what you think of Yesterdays and what’s in your deadwax, of course.
Enrich your Prog year with iconic images of Yes in the 1970s, taken by the legendary rock photographer, Barry Plummer.
Enjoy 12 beautiful colour and black and white photographs of Yes in the studio and live, capturing the essence of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. With this limited-edition calendar on your wall throughout 2026, you’ll agree that Barry Plummer is, indeed, the Master of Images!
(A flat shipping fee will be added at checkout depending on your location.)
Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius
This week we welcomed bass maestro Miguel Falcão back onto the YMP, this time to talk about the bass that appears in Barry Plummer’s photo set from Redan Recorders in February 1980. Chris shows off his new instrument to the camera so we have a great insight into his feelings, shortly after he received his customised Electra MPC bass. He seems rather pleased with it, as you can see in the photos I have included, appropriately watermarked, in the show notes for this week. I kick off the conversation by explaining what Yes were doing in Redan Recorders and why Barry Plummer’s visit was fortuitous, at least for those of us interested in the history of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. Miguel then takes us through all the details of the Electra bass, delving deeply into the weeds in the way we enjoy very much on the YMP.
What was special about this bass guitar?
Where and how did Chris use it?
What happened to the instrument in the end?
Please do add any other details you know about this remarkable bass in the comments below.
Chris plays the Electra on 9012Live in 1984The Rickenbacker takes a back seatChris singing, playing and dancing, as alwaysChris demonstrates the Electra on the Starlicks video in 1990A good close-up of the bassThe internal setup with two slots for effectsThe Tempus Fugit videoUncredited, 1980 – Forgotten YesterdaysPaul Stradley Saturday, October 18, 1980 Hampton, Virginia Hampton Coliseum – Forgotten YesterdaysPaul Rogers Friday, July 22, 1994 Los Angeles, California Greek TheatreBrian King Wednesday, December 1, 1999 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Forgotten YesterdaysJohn Kuehne Sunday, May 2, 2004 Tampa, Florida – Forgotten YesterdaysEduardo Paulo Wednesday, April 21, 2004 Las Vegas, Nevada – Forgotten Yesterdays
Enrich your Prog year with iconic images of Yes in the 1970s, taken by the legendary rock photographer, Barry Plummer.
Enjoy 12 beautiful colour and black and white photographs of Yes in the studio and live, capturing the essence of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. With this limited-edition calendar on your wall throughout 2026, you’ll agree that Barry Plummer is, indeed, the Master of Images!
(A flat shipping fee will be added at checkout depending on your location.)
Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius
This week, Mark and I had a very interesting chat about collecting Yes music – different pressings, different versions, different formats. I had come up with several categories of Yes collectors and here they are:
Musical completist
Artist/Band Supporter
Band historian
Audiophile
History fanatic
Tactile fanatic
Emotional collector
So which category do you think you fit into – or perhaps you consider yourself in several, all or none. Please do let us know in the show notes for this week.
This topic came up because I have just received several new (to me) Yes and Yes-related items. Here are some photos:
Kevin’s newest purchases:
I explain what these are and why I fancied adding them to my collection in the episode and Mark talks about these samplers he has in his collection:
Enrich your Prog year with iconic images of Yes in the 1970s, taken by the legendary rock photographer, Barry Plummer.
Enjoy 12 beautiful colour and black and white photographs of Yes in the studio and live, capturing the essence of the world’s greatest progressive rock band. With this limited-edition calendar on your wall throughout 2026, you’ll agree that Barry Plummer is, indeed, the Master of Images!
(A flat shipping fee will be added at checkout depending on your location.)
