Mark

Sunday, August 16, 2015 1:35 AM

I went to the first two nights and slept in the railway station between. Got to the venue early the next day! We were let in by the cleaners and later got to meet 4 of the band (Not the late, great Fish). Jon was dressed like Sherlock Holmes with the deerstalker and tweed short cloak coat thing. I remember Rick seeming HUGE. My mate Ian got to sit behind Alan's drums! And I was on stage too! Before the show, obviously....It was a blissful concert and I even copped off with the girl in front of me for the duration. When I'm listening to GFTO it is my favourite Yes album but Awaken is probably always my favourite track. I used to get very excited when I saw Chris coming out with his treble necked bass. R.I.P.

Chris White

Wow! I vivdly remember this one. It was my first gig at the age of 17. My friend and I did manage to sweeze in somewhere in the middle of the floor when a few people went to the loo after Donovan. I remember quite a lot of police men stationed around the edge of the audience. Maybe they knew something we didn't? As we waited Yes to come on Steve turned to me and said "would you rather be getting your end away with Debbie Harry or be here now?" After some deliberation (Debbie was at her best) I chose wisely.
I remember Chris Squire would occasionally drop on one knee and bounce back up. No mean feat when you're six feet plus carried a triple-necked sideboard! Highlights, though, were Awaken (an almost religious experience at any other time but add smoke and lasers (it was 1977 remember) and it was positively life changing. Starship Trooper for the echore just took my breathe away and the opening bars still give me a thrill.
With genuine programmes and bootleg t-shirts we staggered out into the night physically and emotionally drained but all the better for it. But as for Debbie and me, some things are just not meant to be. But many years later I did get to do some CD and vid covers for Rick. Which was nice.
So all that remains is for me to get me sweaty little hands on a copy of the bootleg tape to re-live that night in Stafford New Bingley Hall. Oh, the anticipation!

butch Basil

I remember going to the concert I thought they did 3 nights perhaps i was mistaken. Yes always seem to be at home on All Good People which is the definitive track for most yessies.

the anthem 'Your Move' saw john join steve and chris on acoustic as i rememder.

Turn of the Century had just made it onto the first choice list and the magic moment of 'Yours is no disgrace' will long stay in the memory.

thanks

John Illingworth

The first concert I ever attended as a 16 year old. The venue was diabolical - a cow shed - but it couldn't detract from seeing the band for the first time. The black and white striped jacket of Squire is still a vivid memory as are the initial bars to "Parallels" - the opening song. Marvellous simply bloody marvellous.