Tag: My standard defeats one of comformity

Yes: Who Cares?

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock12 Comments

Before I start this short post, let me state two things.

  1.  I speak ONLY for myself, not all of progarchy.
  2. Please don’t doubt my YesCred (see photo below)
IMG_1277 copy (1)
Well, it’s not complete.  I can’t find my copy of HEAVEN AND EARTH, for example.  And, I can’t find my copy of the book that has all of the Yes interviews in it–the one that explains the origins of each song.  Still, I bought each of these CDs, books, and videos because my soul said it was right and good, not because some PR guru told me to do so.

I’ve just seen the news that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has once again rejected Yes’s admission into its supposedly august confines.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/17/460082433/cheap-trick-deep-purple-among-2016-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-inductees

Honestly, who cares?  I certainly don’t.

I thought it was really nice that Rush got in, but it had absolutely no affect on my love for Rush, one way or another.  Rush is Rush, whether the RnRHF recognizes the band’s brilliance or not.

The same is just as true for Yes.

For those of us who grew up with and on Yes, we have done so and chosen our loyalties based on our own personal standards.  If we’d run with the crowd, we’d not like Yes (or Rush).  We like some top 40 crud that mattered for all of two seconds.  Less if measured against all of western civilization.  We love Yes because they stand for something.  Succeed or fail, they tried, and they gave their all.

No one in Cleveland (or any other city) matters one iota to the legacy of Yes.  Yes is Yes.  It is what it is.  I’m sorry a board of civic leaders and PR corporate conformist types can’t see that–but should we expect them to?

Well, I know my answer.  It’s been way too long since I’ve listened to THE YES ALBUM.  Time to listen again.

Weirdos of the world, stay individual!