Koldo Barroso

I used to run the Spanish Yes Fan Club, and Yes were not coming to play in Spain in the Union Tour , and we were very disappointed. So I organised this trip to the nearest place from Madrid , which was Toulouse , France, and it was a great fun : a bus crowded with Yes fans blasting Yes music all the way up.

I had seen Yes before in London this tour, and was very upsetting to see the usual stage, instead of the round one. It seems that the venue wouldn't allow that big set up, and I think in Europe only London and Rotterdam would have the round one -not sure of this-.

The spider legs-like lights columns were standing at the back of the stage, so it was an adaptation of the round stage. The guys were in the stage in this order left to right : Trevor Rabin, Tony Kaye, Alan White, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman.

The sound was quite bad, and there was a lot of disgusting feedbacks during the first half of the show.

Despite I really enjoyed it, I think is probably the worst Yes show I've ever seen. The band looked disorientated, and the 8 musicians put their foot in it all of the night -which is quite human-;

It was very fun in fact. I remember Jon stop with an open mouth in "Awaken" advertising that that was not the right bar, or trying to play acoustic guitar and the guitar wouldn't sound. It was Steve saying : "OK Jon, have you just tried to take out the pick from the strings ?"and all the 8 guys laughing.

Trevor Rabin had several failures, as well as Bill Bruford, and Rick Wakeman in "Merlin", everyone.

In this concert it was evident the division between two bands, and Chris Squire was all of the time closer to the L.A. band , while the ABHW were mocking all of the time on Trevor Rabin -like Jon taking off his Heavy Rock guitar solo style-; Rick was also very friendly with the L.A. band, but Steve Howe looked lonely and uncomfortable.

Everybody can remember him pulling faces of astonishment and disapproval during Trevor's guitar solos. Rick Wakeman's solo on "Owner of a Lonely Heart" was one of the most exquisite things in the night. It was a crazy night, but we all enjoyed it even if they didn't have a good day.