Yes Releases Documentary to Tie In With ‘Royal Affair’ Tour
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Yes have added several dates to their 2019 North American concert tour, “The Royal Affair Tour.” Headlined by the prog rock pioneers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the original April 2 announcement revealed a “best-of-British-rock show” that will also feature Asia with the return of founding member Steve Howe in a special performance, John Lodge of the Moody Blues, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy with guest vocals by Arthur Brown (of “Fire” fame).
Tickets are available here and here.
On June 7, Yes released a nearly 40-minute documentary, YES 50: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. Watch it below.
The bands’ sets will be dedicated to various members of the storied groups who have died in recent years. Yes will perform songs from throughout their career, and honor the memory of founding member Chris Squire, and Peter Banks.
Watch the tour’s official trailer
Asia will play their signature songs and pay tribute to their late founding member John Wetton. (The tour begins June 12, on what would have been his 70th birthday.) A portion of their set will feature their original guitarist Howe in a special performance. The band will also introduce its new line-up featuring guitarist/lead vocalist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and bassist Billy Sherwood.
Lodge’s set will encompass his classic hits by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Moody Blues and pay tribute to the band’s recently departed member Ray Thomas.
Watch Lodge’s tour trailer
Related: Our John Lodge 2018 concert review
Palmer will honor the memory of his fellow Emerson, Lake and Palmer members Keith Emerson and Greg Lake – both of whom died in 2016 – with vocals by British vocalist Arthur Brown.
Related: Our interview with Palmer
As part of the evening’s British theme, Yes’ Alan White will perform a tribute to John Lennon; White was the drummer on many of Lennon’s solo recordings including “Imagine.”
Longtime Yes album cover and set designer, Roger Dean, will be in each venue’s reception/foyer with an exhibition of his artwork.
Related: Our interview with Roger Dean
In addition, in advance of the launch of “The Royal Affair Tour,” Yes has released online a nearly 40-minute documentary, YES 50: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.
The documentary is a teaser to the forthcoming Rhino release, YES 50 LIVE, due for release on Aug. 2, although advance copies will be available to fans exclusively at “The Royal Affair Tour” shows later in the tour.
Directed by Paul Gosling, the documentary had a limited release over Christmas to fans as a holiday present and has since been updated with another 15 minutes of exclusive performance footage and interviews with band members Steve Howe, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Billy Sherwood and Jon Davison, plus current additional drummer Jay Schellen, as well as former members Trevor Horn and Tony Kaye. World-renowned English artist and designer Roger Dean is also interviewed.
The Royal Affair Tour 2019 Dates
Jun 12 – Bethlehem, PA – Bethlehem Event Center
Jun 14 – Farmingdale, NY – LI Community Hospital Amphitheater
Jun 15 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Jun 16 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Jun 20 – Westchester, NY – Westchester County Center
Jun 21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
Jun 22 – Baltimore, MD – MECU Pavilion
Jun 24 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Jun 25 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark Amphitheater
Jun 27 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Jun 29 – Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
Jun 30 – Providence, RI – Bold Point Park
Jul 03 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Jul 05 – Columbus, OH – Express Live
Jul 06 – Aurora, IL – RiverEdge Park
Jul 08 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry House
Jul 10 – Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Jul 12 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jul 13 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Jul 15 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
Jul 16 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart financial Centre
Jul 18 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Jul 20 – Irving, TX – Toyota Music Factory
Jul 21 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
Jul 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
Jul 26 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Jul 27 – Irvine, CA – FivePoints Amphitheatre
Jul 28 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery
Related: Links to 100s of current classic rock tours
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversation“Imagine” being at one of these concerts, amazing stuff. Yes. Asia. Moody Blues. ELP all rolled into one. Time stands still, and rightly so.
No Los Angeles Dates? I hope they schedule more concerts.
Nyc venues please?