Simon Rushworth
Yes drummer Alan White has insisted the band had no option but to tour without Jon Anderson this year after the singer’s health problems forced plans for previous shows to be shelved.
Responding to his colleague’s assertion that the current line-up of Yes showed a lack of respect to fans, and that the band should not tour under the Yes name, White said: “There are a lot of different opinions about this whole situation.
“But the fact remains that Benoit [David, Anderson’s replacement] is a really good singer with a voice very similar to Ian’s. We’ve just come off a successful tour of the US and I didn’t hear any complaints.
“Everyone knows there was a period of time when Jon was sick. And when we going to put Yes back together again ready to tour he was admitted to hospital.
“There came a point where we’d all been standing around for three years or so and eventually we had to take some positive action. We had to do something.
“That’s when Benoit came into the frame and he’s done for Yes what Arnel Pineda has done for Journey. I’d just ask British fans to listen to him live before they make any judgements.”
Earlier this week Anderson admitted he was unhappy that David was singing under the Yes name but added that he felt no ill will towards his long-time colleagues within the prog rock band.