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11th August 2021: Tony Kaye today releases Flight 11 as the first track from his forthcoming debut solo album End Of Innocence on Spirit Of Unicorn Music (distributed via Cherry Red Records). Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWFP4U46NkU
The former YES keyboard legend was moved to commit his thoughts and feelings to a heartfelt personal musical interpretation following the terrible events of 9/11. End Of Innocence is a requiem for those who lost their lives and all those touched by those horrific events, a powerful and emotional suite, both beautiful and sinister, reflecting the dark forces at work that day.
The drama of that fateful day began when terrorists seized control of American Airlines’ Flight 11 from Boston to LA. This track reflects the struggles on board, portrayed by Jay Schellen’s (CIRCA, YES) dynamic drum solo and the plaintive calls made to the tower by flight attendants Amy Sweeney and Betty Ong, before the plane was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre.
Kaye’s response to 9/11 was to retrieve his keyboards, stored away in his garage for 5 years having retired from the music business, and begin to interpret his feelings in the only way he knew, through his music.
“I’ve been friends with Jay Schellen from YES for a long time,” said Tony Kaye, “and reconnected on the 50th anniversary in 2018 when I came back into the band for a little while. So, I asked him to help on this track depicting the scene inside the planes. I wanted a drum solo – Jay’s just the guy to do that – and it includes the conversations stewardesses had with the tower. It was an emotional track and Jay did great drums on it.
“I lost friends,” Kaye adds. “I knew a lady who was on one of the planes. It made it personal, knowing that she was on the plane.”
End Of Innocence is released in CD Format on 10th September 2021 via Spirit Of Unicorn Music (distributed through Cherry Red Records) to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
End Of Innocence Track Listing:
1. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/Twilight Time2. 911 Overture3. NYC Blues4. Battle Cry5. 285 Fulton Street6. Let’s Roll7. Tug of War8. Flight 119. Towers Fall10. Sweetest Dreams11. Aftermath12. Heroes13. The Battle14. Hope and Triumph15. Homecoming16. Ground Zero
Produced by Tony Kaye
All tracks composed by Tony Kaye except Sweetest Dreams by Dani Torchia.
Pre-order the album here: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/tony-kaye-end-of-innocence/
Tony Kaye, Spirit of Unicorn Music and Cherry Red Records are donating 10% of all profits from End of Innocence to https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/ The charity supports veterans, defenders and first responders in times of hardship.
About Tony Kaye
Tony Kaye is best known as the original keyboard player with prog legends YES, his Hammond organ giving their ground breaking The YES Album it’s most distinctive sound within the YES catalogue. Following his departure from YES in 1971 Kaye was involved with a number of other bands including David Bowie, Badger and Badfinger before returning to YES for their greatest commercial success 90125 in 1983. Kaye remained with YES for several albums and tours before retiring from the music business in 1996.
Following the re-awakening of his musical inspiration in 2001, Kaye accepted an invitation from current YES bassist Billy Sherwood to work on projects which led to the formation of CIRCA, in 2007, and has yielded four albums to date.
Tony Kaye – END OF INNOCENCEReleased on 10th SeptemberPre-order the album here: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/tony-kaye-end-of-innocence/Formats: Standard CD Jewel case