Line-Up Of Legends To Play Exclusive John Wetton Memorial Concert On 3rd August

by | Jun 28, 2023 | News

The Wetton Family & Qedg Management Announce Line-Up Of Legends To Play Exclusive John Wetton Memorial Concert On August 3rd, 2023 In Aid Of Charity Who Cared For John Streaming Tickets On Sale Now!

28th June 2023: Lisa Wetton, (wife) Dylan Wetton, (son) and QEDG Management are delighted to announce that a memorial concert will be held in memory of JOHN WETTON (King Crimson, Family, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ask, UK, Asia) on 3rd August 2023 at Trading Boundaries in East Sussex.  The event will see friends and family of the late lead singer and guitarist gather together to celebrate the life of this extraordinary musician.  An all-star line-up of 

legends, who were friends and collaborators of Wetton’s, will perform songs from throughout his incredible career.

The memorial event will be hosted by Prog Magazine’s editor, Jerry Ewing, alongside Geoff Downes (The Buggles, Asia, YES), Steve Hackett (Genesis, GTR)  and artist Roger Dean.  The list of performers and special guests who wish to pay tribute to the legendary Wetton is growing by the day, but so far boasts (in alphabetical order):

Chris Braide (Downes Braide Association), Roger Chapman (Family), Mel Collins (King Crimson, Alan Parsons Project, Chris Squire, Roger Waters), Jim Cregan (Family, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Rod Stewart, Katie Melua), David Cross (King Crimson), Chris Difford (Squeeze), Geoff Downes, Steve Hackett, Annie Haslam (Renaissance), Dave Kilminster (John Wetton, Keith Emerson, Steven Wilson, Roger Waters), Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), John Mitchell (John Wetton, Icon, It Bites, Fr*st), Martin Orford (John Wetton, IQ, Jadis), Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, Roxy Music) , Jay Schellen (YES, Asia), Billy Sherwood (YES, Asia) and Rick Wakeman (YES, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe), Laurie Wisefield (Wishbone Ash, Snakecharmer) – all of whom will be supported by The Paul Green Rock Academy.

Geoff Downes commented “I am very excited to be a part of the upcoming John Wetton Tribute.  As you all know, I had a very close and unique writing partnership with John, and we were dear friends, brothers and band mates for many years.”  

Wetton died on 31st January 2017, as a result of complications due to cancer.  He spent his last days being cared for by the charity Macmillan Caring Locally, at the Macmillan Unit, Christchurch Hospital in Dorset.  As a gesture of recognition towards his fans who supported Wetton right up until his death, John’s family and management have decided to allow this private event to be live streamed so that it can be enjoyed by fans across the globe.  They have also identified the memorial as being the perfect opportunity to highlight the fantastic work done by Macmillan Caring Locally and to raise much-needed funds for the creation of a special hospice suite dedicated to the star. 

Lin Sharp, Fundraising and Communications Director for the charity commented “It was a privilege to care for John in the final days of his life and we are so grateful to his wife, Lisa, for her continued support.  All monies raised will go to fund a room as a legacy to John, named The John Wetton Suite. A massive thank you to you all for making this possible.”  

John’s son Dylan went on to say “I am delighted and humbled that so many legendary artists who worked with my Dad over the years have agreed to come together both to honour him and raise vital funds for the charity which supported him during his last days.”

Tickets for the live stream can be purchased now with all proceeds going to Macmillan Caring Locally.  In an effort to raise further funds, a special online auction will run alongside the evening’s proceedings boasting some unique lots, including a guitar owned by Wetton himself.  

This promises to be an incredible, once-in-a-life time event and it is hoped that fans will support it generously by buying live stream memorial tickets as well as bidding on the various auction lots.  

Dylan Wetton went on to say “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my Dad’s life and the incredible musical legacy he has left behind.  It’s going to be an amazing night, a unique event – which is exactly what my Dad deserves.”   Downes agrees “To honour John’s legacy in this way with so many of his former musicians, colleagues and family gathered together, shows just what an enormous amount of love, gratitude and respect so many of us held for John and his music.  It’s going to be a wonderful celebration spanning the whole of John’s amazing career. I am very much looking forward to it. See you all there.”

Live Stream Tickets can be purchased from:

https://www.tradingboundaries.com/concert/

CHRIS BRAIDE

ROGER CHAPMAN

MEL COLLINS

JIM CREGAN

DAVID CROSS

ROGER DEAN

CHRIS DIFFORD

GEOFF DOWNES

STEVE HACKETT

ANNIE HASLAM

DAVIE KILMINSTER

PHIL MANZANERA

JOHN MITCHELL

MARTIN ORFORD

GUT PRATT

JAY SCHELLEN

BILLY SHERWOOD

RICK WAKEMAN

HARRY WHITLEY

LAURIE WISEFIELD

With THE PAUL GREEN ROCK ACADEMY

Hosted by JERRY EWING

EVENT DETAILS

AUGUST 3RD, 2023

TRADING BOUNDARIES, nr Uckfield, East Sussex

Live-Stream tickets are available for this show, if you would like to attend

please buy them from the link below:

https://www.tradingboundaries.com/concert/

YES MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCE CHANGE TO TOUR LINE-UP

by | May 22, 2022 | News, Tour

22nd May 2022: YES Management have announced today that due to current health issues Alan White will not be taking part on the forthcoming 50th Anniversary Close to the Edge UK & Eire Tour.   Alan was really looking forward to playing live again preparing to celebrate 50 years with Yes, having joined the band for the July 1972 Close to the Edge Tour, coming full circle in 2022.  Alan’s close friend Jay Schellen will be taking on drumming duties in Alan’s place.      

The Album Series Tour 2022 which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of YES’ iconic album Close to the Edge and will feature the album, performed in full, along with other classic tracks from YES’ extensive catalogue.  

The tour line-up will feature Steve Howe (guitars), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar and backing vocals) with Jay Schellen (drums and percussion).  

The show will comprise full production and a high-definition video wall directed by Roger Dean who will also be joining the tour with an exhibition of YES related art.  

A full performance of the Relayer album will now be featured in a future UK tour in The Album Series.  European dates were recently announced for rescheduled dates in 2023.  

The 10 date UK and Eire tour starts on 15th June – full dates are:  

Wed 15th June Glasgow Royal Concert Hall 

Fri 17th June Manchester Bridgewater Hall 

Sat 18th June Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 

Mon 20th June Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 

Tues 21st June London Royal Albert Hall 

Wed 22nd June York Barbican 

Fri 24th June Birmingham Symphony Hall 

Sun 26th June Newcastle O2 City Hall 

Tues 28th June Dublin Vicar Street 

Wed 29th June Cork Opera House  

Tickets remain valid for the rescheduled shows. For full details and to book tickets for all shows go to venue website or http://yesworld.com/live where you can also book Meet and Greets with the band.  

About YES 

Steve Howe: guitars, backing vocals (1970 –1981, 1990–1992, 1995–present)
Alan White: drums, percussion (1972 – present)
Geoff Downes: keyboards (1980–1981, 2011–present)
Jon Davison: lead vocals, acoustic guitar (2012–present)
Billy Sherwood: guitar, backing vocals ((1994, 1997–2000), bass guitar, backing vocals (2015–present) 

Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late, and much-missed, Chris Squire, YES have been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history. Their 1970s albums The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Yessongs (a triple live album set), Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer and Going For The One were ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YES albums. 

With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy-award winning YES were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 where they performed Roundabout from the album Fragile and the FM radio-friendly Owner Of A Lonely Heart from the 1985 album 90125.  In 2021 YES released their 22nd Studio album, The Quest, produced by Steve Howe, which went to No.1 in the UK rock chart and entered the Official UK Album Chart at No. 20.  

UK www.yesworld.com
www.facebook.com/yestheband
www.twitter.com/yesofficial
www.youtube.com/user/yesofficial
www.instagram.com/yesofficial
soundcloud.com/yesofficial 

KEN HENSLEY (formerly Uriah Heap) DIES SUDDENLY

by | Nov 5, 2020 | News

5th November 2020: It is with great sadness that we announce that Ken Hensley, former Uriah Heep vocalist songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist passed away peacefully on 4th November following a very short illness.

Hensley was one of the most important musicians of the past half-a-century. His work with Uriah Heep in the 1970s helped to make the band hugely influential. He also collaborated with bands such as Blackfoot, W.A.S.P., and Cinderella, as well as building a very successful solo career. As a writer, he was responsible for such classics as ‘Lady In Black’, ‘Easy Livin”, “July Morning” and ‘Look At Yourself’.

A very spiritual person, Hensley became an inspiration to many and known for encouraging talented artists.
“I am in deep shock at the news Ken Hensley has passed away, and my sincere condolences go to his family and wife Monica.

“Ken wrote some amazing songs in his tenure with the band, and they will remain a musical legacy that will be in people’s hearts forever. RIP Ken” MICK BOX – Uriah Heep

Ken had recently finished work on a new project My Book of Answers which is due for release end of February 2021.
He leaves behind a wife Monica and 2 brothers Trevor, Mark and sister Dawn and his close friend and manager Steve Weltman.

We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Ken’s family, friends, and many associates from his musical career at this time.

The family asks fans for some space and time to come to terms with the tragic and unexpected loss.