Yes special blue plaque was unveiled at 3rd August 2018 at 184 Shaftesbury Avenue, London. Now the Wildwood Restaurant, it was once called ‘The Lucky Horseshoe Café’ where YES started out on the same date in 1968.
The historic Yes plaque is now on display as of midday today, 3rd August 2018. Exactly 50 years on from Yes going out to play their first gig.
Bill Bruford opened the plaque along with words from Bill, Anthony Squire, Chris Welch and David Watkinson.
Around 40 happy excited fans watched the plaque be revealed in the hot basement of the Wildwood Resturant. Standing there with Bill knowing their history began there, was indeed a privilege. After the opening around 20 Yes fans stayed for lunch, Yes talk and photographs.
Thank you are for coming because you made it a very special day.
BLUE PLAQUE TO BE UNVEILED AT 184 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE, LONDON.
As YES celebrate their 50th anniversary this year, a special blue plaque to honour their achievement is to be revealed in London.
Devised and coordinated by YES fan and author David Watkinson, along with YesWorld, this will be the only permanent recognised YESsite in London, the place it all began. It will become a key venue to visit for all YESfans from around the world.
The revealing of the plaque will be held on the 3rd August 2018 at 184 Shaftesbury Avenue, which is now the Wildwood Restaurant. Once called ‘The Lucky Horseshoe Café’, it is where YES started out on the same date in 1968.
Attending will be Chris Welch, the YES book author and Melody Maker journalist. Others TBC.
In the summer of 1968, the band Mable Greer’s Toyshop began its line-up changes, gradually morphing itself into the band YES at this address. In ‘68 these basements fulfilled the task of housing the band while they practised through the day and lugged their equipment up and down the stairs by night.
Jon Anderson and Chris Squire led the band with this new shortened memorable name, which was dreamt up by their first guitarist, Peter Banks. Along with Bill Bruford on drums and the organist Tony Kaye, a youthful YES began its long road to fame from this basement.
Travelling out of town to Essex for their first gig on the 3rd August, YES returned to play the famous Marquee Club on Wardour Street on the 5th. This would be the club and area that would become so familiar to them over the years helping to kick start their career.
Please join David and other YESfans to celebrate this 50th anniversary milestone year and the YES plaque revealing from 11.30am onwards.
If interested in attending please R.S.V.P. david_yes@hotmail.com
If you would like lunch after, then please book a table through the following:
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Yes (2018)
Friday, August 3, 2018
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