Added: 4 years ago
From: tmullens
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  • This guy is a real genius

  • jesus this guy was the paul gilbert of the 70,s he could really shred

  • Just watch Yes today. They still are just mind boggling in their musicality showmanship.  First class act forever.

  • An old family friend gave me Relayer, and I just love "Soon the Light". Blows my mind! Can anyone else recommend another Yes record that's more melody based like that. I'm not so into their jazzier kinda side. I'm more into stuff like early King Crimson ('69 - '74). I'd be interested to hear more Yes that's focussed on melodic/storytelling sort of stuff like "Soon the Light", and that King Crimson sort of sound. I find it hard to get into the Emerson Lake and Palmer sort of poncing about.

  • @muzboz Maybe 'Tales from Topographic Oceans' , if you don't mind the fact that it only has 4 - 20 minute songs.

  • @ProcolHarum1967 Thanks, I'll have to take a listen! Cheers for the recommendation. :)

  • @muzboz I'd recommend "Going For The One", which followed the "Relayer" album. Beautiful tunes, very accessible and the crowning glory is "Awaken", which IMO is one of the best pieces of music ever realized.

  • @keyman69 Thanks! That is a great song, thanks for the recommendation. Just had a listen. Very good. :) All the best! PS: I bought "Olias of Sunhillow" the other week, and that is great! Really like that. It's the solo album by Jon Anderson from 1976. I love a good concept album! :)

  • @muzboz "Olias" has been one of my favorite albums since I bought it in 1976 (the day it hit the stores!). That album has some of the most beautiful music ever created, clearly showing where the melodic heart of Yes came from. I have read that Jon's buddy Vangelis helped him with the synths and mellotron a good bit (although I don't know for sure how true that is).

  • @keyman69 Yes, I think Jon is probably the part of Yes that I like most, and I think he was a bit overshadowed by a certain domineering guitarist much of the time! :)

    I love the Mellotron. I want to make a prog/psychedelic/orchestral sort of album some time, with lots of vintage instruments and sounds on it... Mellotron, tape echo, old recording gear. I just bought a few old Oldfield albums, very nice, and an inspiring guy! Love that he'd just coup up and record everything himself!

  • I met him in person this past Tuesday. Though he is very quiet, he made a good effort to talk to me and we had a sweet little conversation together. He made out the autograph just for me and it was a really special part of the evening. After that, I told him I was so glad to be seeing him and meeting him. He's adorable. So's the rest of the band (although Alan didn't say a WORD to me)

  • @GuitarMasterizer really? he was a bastard to me

  • @guitarreilly oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I guess he has his off days, just like any other person. :(

  • @guitarreilly no way not an excuse im afraid my dad told him he was his hero basically for his whole life and i was 16 telling him how much of an inspartion he was and he acted like we were a pair of rapists i mean cmon i doubt he gets recognition like that every day

  • Steve Howe is the best guitarist in the history of rock.Maybe some now can match his technical ability but Howe's mix of taste,sound,style and technical ability make the complete package.He was the first rock guitarist to mix classical,rock and jazz.Robert Fripp is the only other axman of that era who was close but he was much more Jazz like and wasnt as clean nor did he play acoustic as much.

  • @Big77Jim Robert Fripp played some hardcore evil heavy tones for a lot of the King Crimson albums between '69 - '74. I haven't heard a lot of "Yes", but it seems to be more jazz/nonsense focussed, while I feel King Crimson spent more time making songs with a purpose. But maybe I just have too limited an exposure to "Yes". But certainly, excellent players all around!

  • Jesus. I wish I could have to attention span to learn classical and jazz.

  • I didn't know Hillary Swank played guitar.

  • This is Spinal Tap. Hah.

  • Just a natural musical genius.

    We don't get 'em like that anymore

  • I remember seeing steve howe at the royal academy london doing a classical show in a small room with most of yes and a few others there , july 9th 1972.

  • Hey, where can i get the whole documentary? Or can u post more? I love the parts with Bruford and Squire

  • The guitar master when he was young.....back in '71.

  • Steve Howe and Yes RULES! One of my top guitarists and bands of all time. In particular the album Relayer blows me away every time I listen to it!

  • I guess no one would happen to know

    which concerto he is referring to?

  • Good lord, this guy is such a musical genius.

  • i envy this guy.

  • Great finger dexterity.

  • Steve is more Swank-y. Definitely.

  • dang that boy's got some long-a55 fingers.

  • you must look at prog rock as more than just sound. its almost like a movie.

  • the main man

  • I saw Yes in 1972 at Duke. The first real concert I ever saw. I saw many more concerts after that. But nothing tops the 72 Yes concert. They performed tunes from Fragile and Close To the Edge. The sold out crowd was totally captivated, and the atmosphere was spirtually electric. For those 2 hours, I was in a pure state of bliss. The talent was off the scale. Best concert ever, and the greatest rock band in history.

  • @chest002 Agreed, for me at least there´s no other band with such complexity, musical structure & technique, maybe star castle but they sound like YES.

  • @chest002 i saw the drama tour at the gardens it was the best concert i ever saw

  • @chest002

    They say the first is always the best....;> )

  • I saw Steve Howe, and YES, 6 weeks ago, here in Seattle. I was seated right in from of him. It was breathtaking, so wonderful. HIs playing is still so great. He has been my favorite guitar player for 31 years.

  • cool

  • hehe, that part from 0:30 to 0:44, he used in "The Nature of the Sea" on Beginnings in 1975.

  • YES WAS THE BEST BACK IN 71 STEVE WAS THE SHIT.

  • Does anyone know of the flute concerto that he is talking about?

  • Only Steve Howe could find a flute concerto "quite rockin" and turn it into something wicked

  • Steve Howe is just simply amazing....don`t need to go into it much more...just sit back and ...listen.....

  • not only 6 string,but also 12 string slide guiter mandolin and every other stringed instrument the man plays.love him,atleast for the last 33 years

  • what I think about a good musician composer is not how difficalt think he plays but how he did it something very easy could be better then something very difficalt the moust important thing is it is good? I guess this band did a lot of good music at all sometime easy to play sometime difficalt is not important is difficolt put everything together in a band no one plays for himself but anyone for the others sometime today we forgot it

  • apart from the loss of hair, the mans' not changed at all...well the guitar playing has become crisper, Anderson got shorter and better dressed, Rick turned up to rehearsals...Chris doesn't drink Scotch until well after 10.30. Maybe stuff has changed but most of it's the same thank god

  • steve you are a fucking genius and a nice bloke with it

  • BACK TO FORMULA!!!!

  • Anyone know what concerto he is talking about?

  • Jeez, Louise...as ever, I have the distinguished palate of Troy Shoenmeier to thank for this. The "other" love of my life.....thank God I met Troy. Next to Tearson, my whole horizon changed upon this meeting in my life......I love you, Troy.

  • He always interviews so well. He has the same attention to detail in his words as he does in his music. Amazing talent, very little to rival.

  • One of the guitar greats.

  • I like how he says "Well that's nice" --- very proper. What can I add about Mr. Howe that hasn't already been said ?

  • what a brilliant musician

  • and if you believe that, i've got some real nice swamp land in Florida to sell ya...

  • @lorigale99 You probably believe Paul Mccartney is dead as well?

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  • He said 'it was a theme from a flute concerto, or something' I think :)

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  • Ah the beautiful days of early Yes. Steve Howe's playing was both creative and inspirational. Him and Jon Anderson made Yes @ least to me they did.

  • @nat00ben06 Don't forget about Chirs Squire and those wild bass lines. I think he may have been the only constant member of Yes.

  • no disaster being schooled by a master

  • I don't care if Steve Howe is part of the Illuminati; frankly if they're all like him more power to them.

  • is he part of the iluminati

  • underrated genius

  • hev no words for this guy..he is simply awesome

  • I was at a guitar show on Long Island some years ago, and Steve attended and played a little concert. Completely down to earth and cool guy, besides being one of the most creative guitarists around.

  • such a great guitarist

  • Steve lives,breathes guitar.Then and now.He is simply awesome.

  • Great video, thanks for posting!

  • steve has always been the king

  • is it me, or does SH look like hillary swank in this clip?

  • It's you. You look like Hillary Swank.

  • ahahahhha --->tmullens

  • tmullens HAHA he got insulted

    bad boy

  • @tmullens if thats tru, ill do you. right now

  • @tmullens the weird thing isn't SH looking (a bit) like HS.. the weird is that HS really looks like SH! but i like her and I've always found SH face unique and him a man admirable keeping himself far from fashion shits. so, let's go down with HS hearing SH music! :-D

  • lol ya

  • Ok, he does. But Steve his given us musical pleasure for decades. What sublime sounds has Ms. Swank committed to vinyl. . .er, CD?

  • hmm. I don't think so, but whatever floats your boat. Imagine him in a pink tutu if you like, he's still a master musician & guitarist and inspiration to us all.

  • funny! i am usually good with that stuff you got it!

  • @vlridder lol he does look like swank.lmao he has some big ass lips

  • @vlridder thats beacause he IS Swank!!!! fuckin Idiot!!!

  • @vlridder I just hope he stays out of the boxing ring. He looks a bit frail.

  • Your's Is No Disgrace,,,,,,,,, Wow, what an unbelievable seguey,.....

  • jesus christ, this is great

  • stive howe mi dioooooooos

    mi rey

    mi patron ...xD

  • People who video their TV are annoying.

  • Like they really had home recording in 1971! This is probably the best they could do.

  • wat is that song hes playing?

  • The part where he mentions getting an idea from a flute concerto? Those are bits from his song "The Nature of the Sea" from his first solo record called "Beginnings."

  • He made those songs, because he got the idea from a flute concerto... lol i know, confusing xD

  • sounds like bits and pieces of "mood for a day"

  • no that`s aabsolutely not true.

  • it absolutely is true at about 1:05

  • your absolutely correct!

  • all the stuff before can be found on his solo track "nature of the sea" from his beginnings album. sounds quite different cos its all electric and overdubbed but same stuff. great video

  • wow really you are so smart man. i wish i figured that out.

  • Steve is Elrond (just look at any recent stuff).

  • Heh, I was thinking more along the lines of Gollum at this stage in his life.

  • It looks like just his fingers are as long as my whole hand!

  • is it just me or does he have a massive head and a tiny body?

  • I lova all these comments.. Jimmy was great,Steve possibly greater.. Fuck me even, I`m great.. but in the end.. who the flip gives a doodle?

  • jimmy page is a great blues player, but he doesnt have the technical element Steve Howe has...Steve is #1 in my book

  • We shouldn't forget that Jimmy played on countless studio sessions in various styles from Tom Jones to Herman's Hermits before Zeppelin and it's folk timbres. Howe on the other hand went into sort of wonderland where he could try anything.

  • Steve Howe wasn't afraid to branch out. He didn't confine himself to one style/genre... in one song you'd hear folk, classical, and rock n' roll influences. He's a king of kings, a God walking amongst mere human musicians...

  • jimmy page is one of the most overrated guitarist player.

    Or maybe is not overated and is seen as it has to be and the others as Steve howe are underated.

    Whatever page is great but I think that Ritchie Blackmore Steve Howe are better

  • I love Steve Howe And Pagey, My favorite 2 bands Are Zepp and Yes, But pagey influence my playing more.

  • yeah page is pretty good, I love Since iv been loving you and Achiles last stand. but, he doesnt like me when he improvise, most of the times he do the same such as whole lotta love, rock n roll stairway to heaven, dazed and confused. I think he is more an studio player. Thats one of the reasons I prefer Ritchie Blackmore. Anyway both are amazing players and I have played their songs, but Rithchie has influenced my playing more

  • Yeah but you're kind of underestimating Page, He improvised the studio version of Stairway to Heavan, and thats one of the top solos in rock. I love in live work its great. I still Love Howe

  • hum could be that solo is simple but awesome,anyway depend of tastes, I love his blues and the way he plays the guitar while plant is singing.He is one of the best playes from his generation Im just saying that he is a bit overrated,cause howe,blackmore,michael shenker were from those years but none of them is known as page is,Becouse Zepp is the most popular hard rock band,even people who dont listen much rock knows him.He is great but for me hesnt the best. Whatever, 70's music is the best

  • Mmmm, yes, technically speaking Howe is better than Page, but Page is in my opinion more creative (even if Howe is a genius, too)...so in the end I prefer Page. But we are speaking of gods.

  • I agree with you 100%. That's why I really dig guitarists like Hendrix, Page, Eddie Hazel. Although  guitarists like Howe are still great

  • People............he's only a child. Name any good music from anyone over thirty now that I think about it.

  • Great Guitarist! ProgRock ON!

  • english faces are incredible

    (nice faces,i mean)

  • he looks like chucky

  • Thanks for posting this clip! He's one of my guitar heroes.

  • I really like steve howe, and saw his first concert with yes, although I think peter banks was very good and a bit underrated too

  • Thanks SO MUCH for this, as a guitar player it is so informative. Steve Howe in his absolute, brilliant prime. He is one of the most unique, innovative 6 string players EVER. He has his own style and it is really interesting to hear his points on how it developed.... Thanks and more please if you have it!

  • Steve howe is the best guitarist because he can play any kind of music and all types of guitars and he is very creative. He can play nice riffs like yours is no disgrace, fast solos like the begining of close to the edge and nice classicle

    acoustic music like mood for a day the clap and many others.

  • Don't forget that he doesn't have that massive ego that so many so-called guitar gods have. One interview that I found really inspiring about Steve Howe was when he was asked about how he manages to create such amazing guitar parts that complement the music of Yes his answer was very simple: people skills!

    AAAAAAAAAANND...he is the only guitarist I know of who doesn't use drugs! His music gives him the natural high that he needs. YOU RULE STEVE!!!

  • God bless you my son!!!... Steve howe is god when it comes to the guitar!!! I am afraid the likes of jimmy page cannot compete with this guy!!

  • Yes, Steve Howe is a phenomenal guitarist, but I don't think you can compare the two, really.

    Page is incredible at hard rock, a pioneer even. His sloppiness actually adds to the sound, in my opinion.

    Steve Howe shows his great classical roots, though Page can play some classical (he played Chopin at the Arms concert, and it was pretty good) I doubt he could compete with Howe's classical style.

    So it really is your musical taste if there is comparing to be done, and my preference is Page :)

  • I do agree (to some degree)with what you are saying. I prefer jimmys playing because it is more on my level but when you try and work out what this guy is doing it is impossible!!!

    As for saying that howe is more classical and page is more rock, put on a record by howe called "sound chaser" or "gates of delirium"

    .....it doesn't come more heavier than that.

  • You can't compare hard rock with prog lol, although my preference is Howe by far.

  • I don't mean to sound insulting but i think the more intelligent man understands prog rock.......i am gonna sit back and reap in the insults now.

  • @jarwz I believe you are right. It is rather complex and few people I know really like it.

  • @jarwz What the HECK! Stupid people can like it too!!! just kidding, you're absolutely right, as soon as someone who wasn't educated heard the word "scales" they would have left this video probably

  • @jarwz

    Naaah.

    It's just tat the even-more-intelligent-than-tha­t man relaxes with purposely stupid rock'n'roll :-)

    Indeed, there's plenty of people knowing that they are 'the more intelligent' who claim to 'understand' prog rock. But first of all, what is there to 'understand'? (I love it, but can I say I understand it...?)

    Secondly, 'progressive rock' is an oxymoron. Rock'n'roll was initially progressive (pioneers: Bo Diddley, Ike Turner, Les Paul, Link Wray) but 'rock' plays it safe!

  • @jarwz Oh, and I didn't mean to sound insulting either...

    But your posting leaves me with a couple of questions. (a) In your view, can or can't dumb people 'understand' so-called prog? (b) Can one enjoy music only if one is intellectually challenged (each on one's own level)? (c) If you don't mean to be insulting why do you expect to reap insults? And finally (d) what I keep asking myself: if I think I'm so clever why do I make typing errors just like everyone else?

  • @Bietel I admit, I totally identify with ( D) ! LOL

  • @jarwz no insults from us man. We're the ones who understand prog rock :)

  • @jarwz Sir, you are a genius.

  • Very true all the you are saying, but I don't know where you got the idea he never used drugs. I've heard from many sources that Yes was at least into ganja. The bulk of TfTO was supposed to be written in a hotel room under the influence of the plant. And lets not get into Jon, who every year until recent years would "experiment with mushrooms". At one Yes concert He even dedicated  All Good People "to all the people on the grass."

  • I know for a fact that Jon did mushrooms but I could never say the same for Steve. He never looked jaded in the same way that most guitarists do. If he did do marajuana, I have nothing against it. I highly encourage substances to enhance the ritual of the music but I always imagined that Steve got a natural high without the use of substances. Either way he RULES!!!

    (P.S.-you DO have a good point about TfTO though. Thanks!)

  • why do people even say twat? it doesnt even sound offending its like something a 1st grader would say. Why not justs say bitch?

  • I say, his fingers are as nimble as a wee nymph and quick as the quickest of steeds!

  • Hail Maestro!

  • right on. mixing the two. i've never heard of this guy until today. he was in the band Yes? is that right?

  • where is there more interview?

  • Just do a search for Sounding Out Yes

  • He is a amazing player, specially all by himslef on stage playing the classical guitar. I have seen him twice, and i felt like just throwning my guitars away after seeign what he did on them. he is great.

  • STEVE IS THE BEST!

  • Interesting to see you kids making a big issue as to if Steve Howe is the 'best' or not. NO ONE is the best guitarist in the world per se... Andrés Segovia was a master of classical guitar who would have put Yngwie Malmsteen to shame, and vice versa each in his own field. But to me, Steve Howe is clearly one of the best artful, creative, intelligent and masterful progressive guitarist that ever was, period. Even guys from bands like Dream Theater refer to him as the Maestro.

  • One of the best guitarists in rock.. a legend

  • big guitarist :)

  • Greatest guitarist in rock history. Hands down.

  • Yngwie J

  • Number 1 of progresive guitar. Sorry Robert

  • yes definatly the best in prog

    one of the best in history, but perhaps not the best

  • Agree with nellster66. Another kind of music needs diferent guitarists. I compere Howe just with progresive guitarists.

  • Aww, cmon guys... the best? Not the best? Genius accommodates varitey. He's a genius. Good enough, no?

  • a very good point indeed

  • "He's a genius"

    A genius is a person's protective deity -- a divine double. A person may have an exceptional genius but not be one.

  • He owns Hendrix; way more musical.

  • what clap!!

  • What, you again??!! No one asked you. Piss off!!!

  • Greatest ugliest guitarist EVER!!!

  • Genius...

  • Yes still sounds fantastic

    the 2008 World tour has just been announced

    Steve and Jon havn't lost a thing Steve is captivating and wonderfull and Jon's voice has gotten stronger this from someone who has ALL the albums ALL the solo stuff and has seen YES perform in EVERY incarnation about 20 times now they just get better.

  • I love Steves playing!

  • GREAT VID!

  • well for those who say that steve has lost his edge over the years I just have to disagree when they came here in 2001 2002 and 2004 it was "The Steve Howe Show!" jon andersons voice is very powerfull and he is certinly the leader of YES but Steve blew the audience away with his technical ability and percission. it was amazing. i dont know what show you were watching! he is still the best in the game.

  • Dudes I saw Yes play here in Phoenix about 5 years ago or so. No opening acts. Just YES and it was at the largest venue we have. They were so damn awesome and didn't lose a thing on that show! It was all spot on.

    My younger friend who usually enjoys shows like Ozzfest/Iron Maiden, etc dropped his jaw to the floor when he saw Yes play like sheer masters of their instruments! One of the best shows EVER if not THE BEST I've ever seen!

  • On the other hand Steve Harris of Maiden has stated if not Yes but progressive groups like Genesis and Wishbone Ash had an influence on him. Listening to Dancing with Moonlit Knight of Genesis or the twin guitars of Ash it is easy to imagine.