The 1972 Yes concert at Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee was originally scheduled to be on July 28, 1972. It was cancelled and rescheduled for August 19, 1972 because Bill Bruford quit the band to join King Crimson just before the beginning of the "Close to the Edge" album concert tour, and new drummer Alan White had to learn the music.

Somehow, the Memphis Commercial Appeal received some rather sketchy information via local promoter Bill Tatum that the July 28, 1972 date had to be cancelled because Bill Bruford had to have an emergency appendectomy, and also that Bill Bruford was the lead singer. This misinformation continued throughout the months of July and August 1972, as is very obvious from the reportage collected and presented here in the various articles, and through later interviews and historical accounts.

You can also view the Mid-South Coliseum records showing the correct August 19, 1972 date of this show at this link under the "Concert Spreadsheet" listing.
-Geoffrey Mason

Alessandro Borri

Tuesday, November 3, 2020 1:17 AM

Sorry but are you sure this gig took place in August 1972 ? Surely not 20 August 1972 as according to these newspapers

August 15, 1972
The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 11
Publication: The Daily Oklahoman
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Issue Date: Tuesday, August 15, 1972
Page: 11

[Link]

YES played in Oklahoma City – Civic Center Music Hall Sunday 20th August 1972 !
'Yes' to Perform in City center

IRS district director Clyde Blckerstaff announced the English rock group Yes will appear in concert Sunday at Civic Center Music Hall. The 8 p.m. show will bring to the hall the Atlantic Records artists of the albums of "Yes," "Fragile," and "Close To The Edge." : In one year the group has earned a , gold album award, a sold-out concert tour and the top spot on the Melody Maker music poll. Specializing In soft rock, the group has often appeared as backup band for Black Sabbath and Ten Years After.
Yes now is billed as a headliner. Band members Include two founding musicians, , Jon Anderson - as lead vocalist and Chris Squire on bass guitar. Other, band members are…
Yes, a young English soft rock band now on it second United States tour, will spear in concert next Sunday at Civic Center Music Hall.

Also this issue has another preview

August 20, 1972
The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 132
Publication: The Daily Oklahoman
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Issue Date: Sunday, August 20, 1972
Page: 132

[Link]

An appearance has been scheduled by the English rock music group Yes at 8 p.m. Sunday at Civic Center Music Hall.
Described as a soft-rock band, the group's albums include "Yes", "Time and a Word", "The Yes Album", "Fragile" and their latest release, "Close to the Edge".
Led by singer Jon Anderson, Yes recently was voted "best new vocal group" and won seven of eight honors bestowed by the Los Angeles Star.
Other members of the group are Rik Wakeman, who plays five keyboard instruments; guitarists Chris Squire and Steve Howe, and drummer Al White. Howe plays both electric and acoustic guitar and writes songs, while Wakeman plays organ, piano, mellotron, electric piano and Moog. Anderson writes the bulk of the group's songs and Squire also contrib…
This means YES didn’t played in Memphis - Mid-South Coliseum 20th August 1972 but on another day of August (I suppose)…

Thanks

DavidLP

I was at this show myself......it was a great show....I remember them doing Song For America during the show...it also before the special stage props....I also saw them at the opening of the Cook Convention Center that wasn`t finished.....all main floor seating with a quad soundsystem.....the sound was nothing but sound bouncing off the marble floor, walls.....I wish it had been at the coliseum like the Close to the Edge tour was.

Ed Manning

I saw Yes in Memphis on that tour on 8/20/72, at the Mid-South Coliseum. The backup band was the Eagles. Alan White was introduced by Jon as their "drummer-in-residence".