Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS
Produced by Joseph Cottrell, Wayne Hall, Ken Fuller and Jeffrey Crecelius
This week we were delighted to welcome Yes drummer Jay Schellen back on the YMP. Just like last time, we had a lovely conversation and Jay shared his thoughts about the forthcoming UK and European Fragile Tour as well as the new Yes album that is now being prepared for release in July (hopefully). It’s clear from our interview that Jay is totally committed to the future development of the band and believes that the new album will be warmly received. We look forward to that, of course.
- What unexpected item does Jay take with him on tour?
- How does his kit differ from Alan White’s
- Has Jay been more involved in the writing of the forthcoming album than his previous Yes records?
Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
YES – FRAGILE UK TOUR 2026
YES Receive Stunning Reviews from USA leg of their FRAGILE tour, which they bring to the UK in April and May 2026.
“Yes, quite possibly the most important Prog Rock originators and granddaddies of the genre, delivered deep cuts and their groundbreaking classic album, “Fragile,” in its glorious, delightfully indulgent, layered, and ambitious grandiosity tonight.” Sonic Nation, 11/10/25
“Prog-rock stalwarts Yes took the stage…bringing new energy to their classic sound.”
–Danielle Modica, NYS Music, 10/9/25
“Truly prog rock at its finest, if I do say so myself. They’ve still got the groove, the intensity, and the mythicality that established them as such a unique act over 50 years ago.”
Rock DNA Magazine – 5 stars – 5/10/25
Progressive Rock legends, YES, recently returned from the USA where they performed 31 shows on their Fragile Tour across the country. They hit the road in the UK once more for a 9-date trek across the country starting on 22nd April at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow and ending with a two-night run at the prestigious Palladium in London on 3rd and 4th May.
The tour will see YES performing their 1971 classic album, ‘Fragile’, in its entirety, including such timeless songs as ‘Heart of the Sunrise’, ‘South Side of the Sky’ and the much loved ‘Roundabout’ as well as a selection of songs from right across their illustrious catalogue from their legendary 70`s releases right up to their current album, ‘Mirror To the Sky.’
‘Fragile’ was the fourth album by YES cracking the Top 10 in the UK in 1971 achieving Platinum status along the way and was the first to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman. The single, ‘Roundabout’ was a Top 20 hit in the States with the album breaking into the Top 5 on the Billboard chart receiving a Double Platinum certification in the process.
Steve Howe: “After The Yes Album, everything seemed to align. With Eddie Offord co-producing, and each of us contributing solo pieces, Fragile became a bold statement of creativity. It was Bill Bruford’s idea to include individual showcases—it was a bit oddball, but it captured the spirit of the time.”
Each show will feature a gallery of work by esteemed artist, Roger Dean, whose paintings have graced the covers of many of YES albums over the years. ‘Fragile’ was the first YES album to feature Dean`s iconic artwork.
The current line-up of YES features Steve Howe, whose association with Yes began in 1970, along with Geoff Downes, a member of the 1980 ‘Drama’ era line-up. Jon Davison has been lead vocalist in Yes since 2012 while bassist, Billy Sherwood, who was hand-picked by original bassist Chris Squire, has been involved with YES since 1990`s. Jay Schellen, who worked closely with Alan White on drums, completes the line-up.
Steve Howe: “We’re all looking forward to the UK dates and will be presenting an intriguing first set then all of ‘Fragile’, in its entirety then a slight diversion before our usual final encore. See you all then”
The ‘Fragile’ UK Tour Dates 2026
Wed 22nd April Glasgow Royal Concert Hall glasgowlife.org.uk
Fri 24th April Sheffield City Hall sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
Sat 25th April Liverpool Philharmonic Hall liverpoolphil.co.uk
Mon 27th April Birmingham Symphony Hall bmusic.co.uk
Tue 28th April Bournemouth Pavilion bournemouthpavillion.co.uk
Thur 30th April Bristol Beacon bristolbeacon.org
Fri 1st May Manchester Bridgewater Hall bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Sun 3rd May London Palladium lwtheatres.co.uk
Mon 4th May London Palladium lwtheatres.co.uk
Tickets (subject to booking fees) go on general sale on Friday 19th September at 10am from BookingsDirect.com
About YES
Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals (1970 –1981, 1990–1992, 1995–present)
Geoff Downes: keyboards (1980–1981, 2011–present)
Jon Davison: lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2012–present)
Billy Sherwood: guitar, backing vocals ((1994, 1997–2000), bass guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
Jay Schellen: drums and percussion (2016-present)
Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late Chris Squire with guitarist Steve Howe joining in 1971 for ‘The Yes Album’, YES have been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history. Their 1970s albums ‘The Yes Album’, ‘Fragile’, ‘Close To The Edge’, ‘Tales From Topographic Oceans’, ‘Relayer’ and ‘Going For The One’ were ground-breaking in musical style and content.
With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017.
YES released their 23rd studio album in 2023, ‘Mirror To The Sky’, produced by Steve Howe and the first to feature current drummer Jay Schellen. A new album is in the works with a proposed release in 2026.
Barry Plummer 2026 Calendar is still available!
YMP Listener discount code – KVKBKC8Z
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.)
Yes – The Tormato Story & Tales from Topographic Oceans – Yes Album Listening Guide
Available now!
YMP Patrons:
Producers:
- Joseph Cottrell
- Wayne Hall
- Ken Fuller
- Jeffrey Crecelius
Patrons:
| Aaron Steelman | Lind |
| Al Dell’Angelo | Lobate Scarp |
| Barry Gorsky | Mark Baggs |
| Bill Whittaker | Mark James Lang |
| Bob Martilotta | Mark Slater |
| Brian Harris | Martin Kjellberg |
| Brian Sullivan | Michael Handerhan |
| Chris Bandini | Michael O’Connor |
| Craig Estenes | Miguel Falcão |
| Dave Owen | Paul Hailes |
| David | Paul Tomei |
| David Heyden | Rachel Hadaway |
| David Pannell | Robert Nasir |
| David Watkinson | Robert Vandiver |
| Declan Logue | Ronnie Neeley |
| Dem | Scott Colombo |
| Doug Curran | Simon Barrow |
| Fergus Cubbage | Stephen Lambe |
| Fred Barringer | Steve Dill |
| Gary Betts | Steve Luzietti |
| Geoff Bailie | Steve Perry |
| Geoffrey Mason | Steve Rode |
| Guy DeRome | Steve Scott |
| Henrik Antonsson | Steven Roehr |
| Hogne Bø Pettersen | Terence Sadler |
| Todd Dudley | Thomas DeVries |
| John Cowan | John Thomson |
| John Holden | John Viola |
| Jamie McQuinn | Tim Stannard |
| Douglas Caldwell |
Discover more from Yes Music Podcast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
8 replies on “In conversation with Jay Schellen – 709”
Nice chat with Jay, as usual. Kevin, good luck and best wishes for a successful surgery and recovery. My best friend went through that a few years ago.
Nice chat with Jay, as usual with him. Kevin, good luck with the surgery and recovery. My best friend went through the same thing a few years ago and he’s been good since.
Best wishes. Jay is such a cool guy, he always comes across well, like Alan did in fact. Upbeat about everything to come, he has that reassuring way, and is always excited to be in Yes.
Kevin, my thoughts and prayers for you as you go through this process. You are such a positive person, and I think we’ve been saving that up to send back to you!
Hi Kevin. wishing you a speedy and trouble-free path to restored full health. My Dad want down that road back in 1990 and even back then recovered and lived to tell another tale or two. Also hoping you will be granted the energy to work on your next Yes book as I have been absolutely loving dipping into the new one alongside listening through the TFTO box set. To say it has given me a fresh appreciation of the music would be a major understatement! All the best, Ian
Great interview. I particularly enjoyed hearing how Jay views the Toms as a melodic aspect of drum-kit playing, similarly to Alan, and how Alan inspired him to get into roto-toms (I’ve always loved them…Alan’s fill using these on the House of Yes version of Face to Face always blows me away). btw I often steal somewhat obscure Alan White fills for my drum programming when I’m constructing accompaniment trax for my student choir-LOL.
Does anyone know what specific drum hits Jay was referring to when he discussed Offord’s recording of Bill B’s parts in Heart of the Sunrise? He described them as “taps.” Is it during the bass /mellotron segment?
Best wishes for a successful surgery and your quick recovery.
Very best wishes to you Kevin – hope things work out for you and that we can all look forward to hearing your dulcet tones again asap!