Yes U.S. Tour Starting Minus Drummer Alan White

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Longtime Yes drummer Alan White is on the shelf and will miss some of the band’s 2016 U.S. summer tour when it kicks off this Monday, July 25 in Lancaster, PA. Billed as “The Album Series: Drama + Topographic 1 & 4,” the 28-date outing will feature the 1980 album Drama performed in its entirety for the first time ever and sides one and four of 1973’s double album Tales From Topographic Oceans, plus a selection of their greatest hits.

The trek will proceed as originally announced in light of the health update issued yesterday (7/18) from White, who recently underwent a successful surgery to repair an injured disc in his lower back. As White noted in a letter penned to the fans on the band’s website, with rest and physical therapy, he will be rejoining the band as soon as physically possible. “I’m eager to be on the road with the band, but also need to ensure my recovery is complete before doing so.” Until then, White’s friend Jay Schellen will perform with the band.

The 1980 album Drama – the band’s tenth studio album – marked a new sound and more aggressive direction for Yes with the use of modern keyboards and a vocoder. The album peaked at #2 in the U.K. and #18 in the U.S. Released as a double album in 1973, Tales From Topographic Oceans is a concept album comprised of four interlocking pieces, ranging between 18 and 22 minutes. Tales From Topographic Oceans, the band’s sixth studio album reached #1 in the U.K. for two weeks and peaked at #6 in the U.S.

Following the album performances, Yes – whose current lineup features Howe (guitar), Jon Davison (vocals), White (drums), Billy Sherwood (bass) and Geoff Downes (keyboard) – will also perform a selection of their greatest hits. While those songs haven’t been identified, fans can hope to hear such Yes favorites as “Roundabout,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “I’ve Seen All Good People” and “Starship Trooper.”

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The band’s annual summer outing will take them throughout the U.S. until early September.

Yes U.S. Summer Tour (Tickets go on sale on various dates; details here):

July 25 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
July 27 – Columbus, OH – Ohio State Fair
July 28 – Northfield, OH – Hard Rock Live
July 30 – Atlantic City, NJ – Tropicana
July 31 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Event Center
Aug 02 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark
Aug 04 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Auditorium
Aug 05 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre
Aug 06 – Westbury, NY – Theatre at Westbury
Aug 09 – Staten Island, NY – St. George Theatre
Aug 10 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC
Aug 12 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theater
Aug 13 – Morristown, NJ – Morristown PAC
Aug 14 – Albany, NY – The Egg
Aug 16 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
Aug 17 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Aug 19 – Sterling Heights, MI – Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
Aug 20 – Chicago, IL – Copernicus Center
Aug 21 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
Aug 24 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
Aug 26 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove
Aug 27 – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Events Center
Aug 28 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
Aug 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Orpheum Theater
Aug 31 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery
Sept 2 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino
Sept 3 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Winery
Sept 4 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s