YES to release The Royal Affair Tour live from Las Vegas
Following the outstanding success of their 2019 American tour, YES is to release The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas through BMG Records on 30th October. Eager fans will be able to get hold of the PHYSICAL formats from 2nd October if ordered exclusively through the YES Store. Formats are CD Digi sleeve with 12-page booklet; 2LP gatefold with 12 booklet and digital. Pre-Order the album here: https://YesBand.lnk.to/RoyalAffairPR
All YES concert tours are special events for their legions of fans and The Royal Affair Tour was no exception, conceived as a wonderful celebration of the best of British progressive music. Guests on the tour were Asia (with YES keyboardist Geoff Downes and a special appearance by Steve Howe), John Lodge of The Moody Blues and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy featuring Arthur Brown.
Of The Royal Affair Tour album, Alan White says: The Royal Affair tour album, being released in October, is a welcome new chapter in the wide expanse of YES live recordings. I hope you enjoy it.
Steve Howe adds: Having the opportunity to bring together the band members in the development of a well-refined set of songs that captures the bands true potential is simply an honour for me.
The show features many classic tracks across the period 1970 1980. The set opened with No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed, the Richie Havens cover from YES second album Time And A Word (1970). Tempus Fugit was taken from Drama (1980), Geoff Downes first as a member of YES, while Going For The One, I’ve Seen All Good People and Siberian Khatru are from some of YES iconic mid-70s albums. The set included a rare live performance of YES cover of Paul Simon’s America and John Lodge shared vocals on YES cover of John Lennons Imagine. Soon-to-be YES drummer Alan White played on the original studio recording.
The Royal Affair Tour live set and album, recorded at the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, in July 2019, reaches a climax with two of the best-loved YES tracks Roundabout and Starship Trooper, always a high note on which to close the set.
YES are Steve Howe (guitar) who joined in 1970, Alan White, drums since 1972, Geoff Downes (keyboards) who first joined in 1980, vocalist since 2011 Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood, who played guitar/keyboards in the 1990s and was the late Chris Squires choice to take over bass/vocals in 2015 also played with Asia on this tour. Jay Schellen played additional drums.
The Royal Affair Tour also featured an exhibition of original art by Roger Dean whose artwork is synonymous having designed the iconic YES logo and the bands best-loved album covers. Roger Dean recently painted The Royal Affair Tour album artwork live on Facebook while also fielding questions from fans.
The Royal Affair Tour Live in Las Vegas track listing:
1. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed
2. Tempus Fugit
3. Going For The One
4. I’ve Seen All Good People
5. Siberian Khatru
6. Onward
7. America
8. Imagine
9. Roundabout
10. Starship Trooper
Recorded live at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel, Friday 26th July 2019, The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas was mixed by Billy Sherwood and is released by BMG Records. Customers who order via the YES Store will receive their albums on 2nd October with the album on general release from 30th October.