British Rockers YES first U.S.Concert Tour

The lineup for YES's first American tour consisted of Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Chris Squire, Jon Anderson and Bill Bruford. This rare press photo was used only once as personnel changes developed after the tour.

In this first of a three part series featuring the Supergroup YES, promotion executive Phillip Rauls shares his photographs and stories of personal experiences while touring with the band in the early 1970's. For true devotees of YES music and aficionados of their long extensive career, this series is a must for viewers.

The arrival of YES from across the big pond into the United States was set to coincide with the release of their third album appropriately titled "The YES Album." The bands first two previous albums served as a warm-up to American audiences but far from anything deserving a tour of the States. Without a dominant hit album on the charts, it was a enormous challenge for a rock group to successfully tour the states. But as this story unfolds there were a series unsuspected events that developed proving to compliment one another. While working from behind the scenes, a crafty manager of YES named Brian Lane had reached an agreement with the decision makers at Atlantic Records for a ten thousand dollar advance against their forthcoming royalties. This money was issued to off-set any possible loses that might occur from a unsuccessful concert tour. In addition to the underwriting from Atlantic, YES's Brian Lane then convinced powerful talent agent Frank Barcelona of Premier Agency as to the bands careful placement onto the concert bill of an ideal tour. This combination might be the key exposure needed for the band to break with American audiences. As you had it, arrangements were made for YES to open the U.S. concert tour for another British band that was experiencing huge success across the country. Jethro Tull's heralded "Aqua Lung" album was scorching up the charts and their "Aqua Lung Tour" was packing-in the arenas throughout the concert trail. This match-up would prove to set the stage of success for YES.


While dining at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, YES manager Brian Lane appears confident and relaxed that he's got the perfect ingredients of promotion support combined with the bands working patience to meet the necessary components for success. The only problem however was the physical match-up between vast musical styles of the two bands. By contrast, The Yes Album contained a new brand of classical-laced rock that was yet untested in the American marketplace. This posed questions as to the consumer's acceptance of this new dimension. The issues of artistic merit however, would be gainfully decided by approval coming from the American press and radio. That's where my job began. After pleading with my supervisors at Atlantic petitioning to join the tour and provide marketing assistance, once again I had been accused of being a "groupie" for my request. It seems I'd faced the same criticism earlier when asked to join Led Zeppelin on tour. From my manager's perspective back in New York, he thought I was going on the road just to party with disk jockeys and music journalist. My manager even accused me of desiring to smoke and drink all night while partying with the groupies. Hmm...Golly gee, what were they thinking?


The Southern leg of the concert tour began in Dallas which was my first meeting with the band. YES bassist Chris Squire recalls, "Just by the mere fact that we were in the States and opening for a full house was a big thrill for us. But we were far from paying our dues with American audiences." And he was so right. My assignment as their promotional representative was to greet the band at the airport gate and escort them to the afternoon commitments. As they exited the gate, all five members were skinny as a rake and appeared wide-eyed and vulnerable to the Texas surroundings. After the introductions, we walked trough the corridor and band members drew stares from passerby's who were observing their rather unusual British apparel. Love beads were draped around the necks of their blouse-like pirate shirts with furry knee boots looking like barbarian footwear. One airport observer wearing a large Stetson hat and pointed-toe cowboy boots shouted-out,"Looks like the Circus is in town." Upon departure band members carried their own luggage where no doubt this was a budget tour. As we departed the airport, the band, including their entire belongings, crammed into my rented station wagon to venture off to the radio stations for interviews. It was a long way from my days as the road manager of The Gentrys, but I could definitely identify with their conservative arrangements and grass-roots travel approach.

Next Posting; YES awarded first Gold Record