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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.
Please do add your comments below.
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4 replies on “R.I.P. Roy Flynn and Aurora physical copies – 726”
Below is an excerpt from the YesStore update email::
The band’s label manufactured all of these in Germany. We placed our order on time, and the label shipped them on time. Unfortunately, the shipment was held up in U.S. customs. As of the end of the day Tuesday, we were optimistic it would be released. Yesterday, however, we were informed that the shipment had instead been returned to the shipper in Germany.
I am nostalgic for simpler times:(
Thank God for digital services such as Amazon Music anyway.
Looking forward to discussion of the music.
Thanks
Hi team.
Another fascinating episode. Thanks for the reflections on Roy Flynn who clearly did so much for the band in their early days…
Buying their Hammond organ in particular would have been a big expense and totally formative of their early sound. I wonder what organ Tony Kaye used before the Hammond. Anybody know?
In an answer to your question, if Freyja Dean was born in 1987 the next Yes album cover Roger designed was ABWH.
I remember it was a very exciting time for us fans to see and hear a proper Yes album again after the Yes West years. I got my copy as soon as it was released in the stores…
If for some reason you exclude ABWH, then ‘Onion’ would be the next cover Roger worked on… I purchased my copy of Union as a bootleg cassette at a market stall in Baghdad just after Gulf War 1.
Looking forward to next weeks review of ‘Aurora’.
Thanks Kevin and Mark
“Freyja’s Castle” was the painting Roger was doing and finished when Freyja was born in ’87. It’s one of my favorites of Roger’s works. I have a poster of it, signed by Roger many years ago.
Hi Guys,
I very much enjoyable this episode. I was very sad to hear that Roy had died, even if just financially he was key to Yes becoming a professional band.
Sadly he was one of many people who helped artists start their careers and eventually got shafted by the artists they helped become great.
I recently bought The Quest and Mirror to the Sky Artbooks for less than £20 each….so am waiting for the Aurora artbook to get a bit cheaper.
On a different note it was great to bump into Dave Watkinson and Ian Parry at the Wolverhampton and London Beat shows . Looking forward to catching up with them both at the Beat gig in Pompeii.
Keep up the great work .
All the best
Gary Andrews