Remembering Alan White (R.I.P.) with Yes' Turn of the Century and CTTE (Yessongs) | Episode 405 

I cannot express how much this band and their music has enriched my life for over 50 years.

Alan White played a larger part in composition than most people realise. The perfect all round musician and a hero of mine. RIP Alan ~ borne away on the silent wings of freedom.

Seeing Yes in the mid-70’s literally changed my life, to this day. Never missed a tour.

"He was My best man at my wedding to Janee in Maui 1997…We love you Alan and will miss you…You were just the best of the best for Yes, and an amazing drummer...We wrote 'Turn of the Century' together all those years ago, just one of so many wonderful times together…he was a gentle soul." - Jon Anderson, Anderson's message concludes, "And now you're in heaven…resting after the long journey Home to meet your dear Mom who you loved so much...Blessings brother."

Jon put out a beautiful tweet earlier saying that Alan would be seeing his dear mother and Chris Squire in heaven very soon. Whether you believe or not, this certainly brought a tear to my jaundiced eye ❤️❤️

Turn of the Century is one of prog rocks (and rock in general) most beautiful ballad ever composed!

When Bruford quit and Alan joined as his replacement, he had only THREE days to learn the set material from The Yes Album, Fragile, and CTTE before the first night of the CTTE tour - the same tour that you're watching.

Turn of the Century is one of the most underrated Yes songs IMHO. This song slays me every time I hear it. Amazing balance of everything. And the ending... spectacular.

Alan White was amazing. One of my best friends, who actually taught me to play bass in the 90s, is Jon Davison. The current singer for YES. Decades before Jon(I call him Juano) joined YES he was the bass player in a band with a bunch of my friends called Sky Cries Mary from here in Seattle. Alan and Juano knew each other and after the SCM sound track I got to have lunch with my wife, Juano and Alan before the SCM gig. He was just the nicest English bloke you'd ever want to meet. Just a regular guy that happened to be the drummer in an iconic band. Juano's the same way really. Just a dude that sings in an amazing band. R.I.P. Alan! You rocked my friend. You were awesome and Seattle will miss you living around here.

Relayer was a standout for Alan. Great intros and strong elements of fusion in that album.

The live version of Close to the Edge is so full of energy and just so intense so good. Only Yes would do this only Yes.

From Jon - Dear Alan. My best man at my wedding to Janee in Maui 1997 We love you and will miss you You were just the best of the best for Yes and wonderful soul... We wrote Turn of the Century together all those years ago, just one of so many wonderful times together… And now you’re in heaven ….resting after the long journey Home to meet your dear Mom...and Chris of course Blessings brother 💕💕💕💕 We love you so Alan. Jon&Janee🙏🙏🙏💕💕

Turn of the Century is an amazing piece, and the lyrics are truly poetry.

"Turn Of The Century" is one of the best YES songs.

Alan’s best playing I feel was the Going For The One album and Drama. He has a great feel and touch and excellent timing. I love the chime work he does on Awaken. Turn of the Century is a perfect choice and my favorite song Yes ever did. Harmonies and playing are superb. RIP Alan and Chris

Some of the greatest moments of my life have occurred with the sound of Alan White's drumming in the background. RIP indeed.

"Turn of the Century" is one of Yes' most beautiful songs. RIP Alan.

I was gifted front row tix for their 2015 tour at the Fox. Alan and Chris shared a brain, I experienced so much effortless music from both of them, I was lifted from my seat. Seeing Chris's wry smile when he went somewhere and Alan joined him, magical. Alan heard things that no one else did. A bit of Ringo, a bit of Ginger, a bit of Giles, and a huge dose of confidence and intelligence. When he hit a note, it was obvious it was him, his snare was so unique and full of personality and fire. I hate losing heroes.

Thank you Doug for such a fitting tribute to the late Alan White. He was more than just a drummer, he was the heartbeat of this truly unique and brilliant band of musicians. This shows us how good they were, being able to reproduce such intricate music live, in the 70's, when the sound equipment wasn't what it is today. I saw them perform Turn of the Century, in the early 70's. Steve absolutely nailed the guitar parts on it. As he played the solo, a ballet dancer appeared on top of the amps at the back of the stage. She danced across the amps, then suddenly jumped in the air and turned in a ball of fire that whizzed around behind them. It was a brilliant piece of back projection that fooled us in the audience, making her look real. The looks on the fan's faces was priceless! Once again, thank you Doug, RIP Alan, and thank you for your music and the enjoyment you brought us, on record, and on stage.

After the shock of Chris's death in 2015, Alan in turn has just left us. YES, how not to be sad! R.I.P Alan. Thank you, Master Helvering.

The true test of any band is their ability to reproduce their albums live. This is a perfect example of virtuosos at work.

One of the most beautiful songs ever. RIP Alan. You touched so many, and left us so much, but are gone too soon.

Simply Gorgeous.... (Turn of the Century) Thank you Alan White & YES

Close to the Edge is a masterpiece. Loved Alan’s playing on Yessongs

I have seen yes 22 times over 45 years until Jon left the band. I have met Alan several times. He was kind hearted and warm. I will miss him. Seeing Yes was a spiritual experience. The music effected you on more levels than just with your ears and eyes. It was combination excitement, awe and spiritual calm. Alan was awesome each and every time I saw them. He was a beautiful person.

Oh, I am so glad you did _Turn of the Century._ One of my favourite ever songs. {:-:-:}

Turn of the Century. Such a beautiful story and song. Love, loss, grief. And transcendence.

Yes music is a very important part of my life, and Alan's drumming is key in my favourites, including masterworks Ritual, Awaken, Gates of Delirium, Release Release, Endless Dream and Mind Drive among many others. One of the Finnest Drummers I ever seen! Thank you for all these beautiful songs and RIP Mr Alan White.

"On Silent Wings of Freedom" is one of my all-time favorite songs. Squire & White nail it !

I think Alan did his best work on "Relayer" and "Drama." A great guy who'll be dearly missed.

The genius of Close to the Edge is how the composition and arrangement feels like it's just one stray thread away from completely unraveling... close, so close to the edge -- but it never quite goes over.

I'd like to see all the surviving members and ex-members who are still musically active do a one time reunion show in honour of the legacy of Alan and Chris and the history of the band... They don't need to change the current lineup of the band... Just all get together and put the awkwardness aside and do a true "An Evening of Yes Music"... Just one time. Just for the legacy... Record it for the fans worldwide to see... I would love to hear the two Jons singing lead vocals together... A guy can dream, I guess. Thanks for this awesome tribute, Doug!

Iconic Yes music and a great choice to honor Alan’s vast legacy with this wonderful assemblage of virtuosos. Thanks, Doug.🙏🏻

Thanks Doug! Saw Alan roughly 40 times with YES. Incredible drummer, compser and Human Being. We have been hugely blessed by this man RIP

It's been a bad couple of weeks with losses starting with Klaus Schulze, Vangelis, now Chris White. I guess it's the era, them's all aging as are we all. Sadly they are my era. RIP Chris.

I totally broke down hearing this. Never fails to move me after all these years.

For me, this is Yes’ most beautiful song. I am giving thanks to Alan for all the years of enhancing my life. ❤️❤️❤️

Listening to this was an emotional experience for me. Alan white had some big shoes to fill but he more than stepped up to the challenge and in only 3 days yet! What a legend.

I went to the cinema to see this concert film. Fantastic in the big screen. This live album got me into YES in a big way. Chris Squires stage presence had a massive impact on me. Still one of my all time favourite bass players. I think I’m right in saying this was the first recording that Allan White appeared on. His first album in the studio was Relayer. An absolute masterpiece in my opinion. Totally mind blowing.

As a side note, EVERY track on Yessongs utterly blows away the earlier studio recordings of the same songs, IMHO. Without exception.

Sad news. Alan White was a very underrated drummer. While Bill Bruford is a genius and totally unique, I've also always loved Alan's straightforward, rock-oriented versions of the older stuff on Yessongs. I've always admired his extremely energetic performance on Anne Of Cleves from Rick Wakeman's The Six Wives of Henry VIII, his style and brutal sound really seemed ahead of its time. His drumming on Relayer is spectacular, too, especially Sound Chaser.

Turn of the Century is the only song that gives me chills every time I listen to it. Love it. RIP Alan White, we'll miss you.

This is a hard one. Other than Chris Squire, Alan White was a mainstay with Yes. What a bummer. If i remember, I think "Turn of the Century" was the first song I played in the year 2000

This wasn't the easiest of days, but your tribute made it better - thanks for this.

Turn of the century is one of those hidden gems. The guitar work is amazing and it perfectly captures the atmosphere of Victorian England as per the title.

R.I.P. Alan…thank you for everything. Doug, it’s entertaining watching you realize what us Yes fans have known for decades….

The magic that is YES-music. The magic that was Alan White. Many/most drummers don't get the recognition that they deserve. Alan was a giant of a drummer/percussionist.Alan White was a true legend.

Turn Of The Century can bring me to tears when someone HASN'T just died.

Sad to hear of Alan's passing. Andy Fletcher of Depeche mode too. Going for the one is my favourite yes album, beautiful throughout, a fitting tribute

When we listen to this song, we are not quite the same after.

Watching people re-‘Awaken’ to the incredible body of work that the YES alumni have created is pure joy !! Sadly, Yes’ heartbeat 💓 has left us. Chris & Alan, Thank God we will carry you ‘Onward’ in our ‘Hearts’. I know, eventually, we will meet again. RIP CHRIS & ALAN🥲🥲🥲

Turn Of The Century is one of their absolute best! Alan White also turned down an offer by Jethro Tull to join Yes. In 2019 I got to meet Alan & his wife Gigi at a Rock&Roll Fantasy Camp while in the recording studio with Eddie Kramer & Laurence Juber. We also saw Alan back in the lobby of the Universal Sheraton where he was alone & lost! He remembered my group from earlier in the day, chatted with us, took selfies, & was very grateful for our escort back to the elevator to go back to his room. God speed Mr. White. You were superlative & will be dearly missed.

I was blessed to be able to talk directly with Jon Anderson this week.. It was very touching; I told him of my experience meeting Alan White.. There have been so many wonderful musical artists that are leaving us.. as Jon Anderson said : "Alan is up there in heaven with Chris Squire" Jon just made it a tad easier to cope with this mourning... We'll love you and the gifts you have given us over the last 50 years, and I can honestly admit, I was introduced to them in 1971, and have been an avid fan; I've had the oppty to see him perform 17 different concerts over the last 50 years.. (* I definitely will hang out with all the best when it's my turn for heaven).

Turn Of the Century is the most beautiful love song ever written. IMHO. I have taken my entire family to see YES live.

Alan wasn't just drummer, he was a multi instrumentalist and composer. And like Stewart Copeland and Neil Peart, Alan taught me the value of learning to play as many instruments as possible. Because, music is ever changing, just like skiing or sailing. You never stop learning.

R.I.P Alan. I also raised my glass to my < All Time Favourite > drummer. Many thanks Doug for this beautiful tribute. Especially playing . This Song is Paradise On Earth. It is not beautiful, it is CELESTIAL.

Certainly one of the most beautiful ever. A true Materpiece! When they did that tour they had a holographic ballerina dancing behind them. They were the masters of PROG!

Turn Of The Century, MASTERPIECE, Close To The Edge, MASTERPIECE, Alan White, MASTER DRUMMER, PERCUSSIONIST, RIP

Tip a glass to a musical giant, indeed! Turn of the Century is a YES master piece, everyone at the top of their game. Alan is barely heard, a couple of toms and cymbals. But an inspired melody and perfectly realized. Whenever I get tired of my limited skill set, I go to Turn of the Century, Awaken or Close to the Edge and get re-inspired.

Steve Howe just crushed his guitar on this out of the world masterpiece! The tones and development of the song is one of the best examples of the band 's composition and performance skills . Kudos!

Thanks Doug for this magical tribute. Been riding the spiritual wave with Jon and YES for over 50 years now and seen them play live in every continent of this beautiful planet. Such Chakra spinning sounds. Thank you so much for sharing this with us all today. It has been such a pleasure watching you find Yes music and watching the impact it is having on you. Just let it in. I was a mere 14 year old in Scotland when I first heard CTTE and it just blew my mind and it still does.. I found YES the day after the passing of my father when I was 14……it was perfect timing and heaven sent. It’s a big toast to you Doug……Cheers

What a beautiful discussion and tribute to Alan White. RIP Alan. And thank you for all you do, Doug.

Although I had listened to Yes extensively, when I first discovered this album it cemented this band as one of my absolute favorites. It's still my favorite album by the band out of so many greats.

The Symphonic Live [2001 Blue Ray/DVD] with the Eurpoean Festival Orchestra was a phenomenal concert and is available on DVD. I have it and break it out every Christmas season for a watch. CTTE is in it and will bring a tear to your eye. Highly recommended. I first saw YES in Cleveland in '74 as a junior in HS at Richfield Coliseum, Ohio....then two more time after. My all-time favorite band.

Thank you Doug - I really think Alan deserves a ton of credit for his loyal contribution to Yes.👍👍👍

This album, and more importantly this lineup of musicians, spoiled any future Yes lineups for me. I tried to like 90125 and their 80s and 90s releases, but none of them could ever touch Rick Wakeman imho. RIP Alan, I wish I could have seen you and Rick in concert in my lifetime. See ya on the next plane I hope! Peace! 🤘✌👏👏👏

These Guys were so young, how could anyone that age not only compose such a masterpiece, but make it even better live! All are masterpieces themselves!

This is one of the bands/artist that kept me in touch with my spiritual side even though I tried so hard to run away from it. Always "Close to the Edge", but never fell over.

My favorite drummer, Mike Portnoy, has Alan White as an influence.

I’ve seen them at least over 30 times since 1976! The best live band! RIP Alan! You will be forever missed! You are now with Chris! ❤️🥁

I was lucky to see yes live many times. I am a Yogi and now live in Cambodia. Last night may 27th I was watching the colorful videos of Heart of the sunrise and perpetual change live ,Posted by Jon. I was meditating in a higher mind. After listening i got my phone from charging,I looked at it and the article from the BBC that Alan died was opened on my phone without me opening it. Hard to believe but that's what happened.

Time passes very quickly, it seems like yesterday when I was 12 years old and I heard that almost heavenly voice for the first time, and from then on Yes was part of my musical life, today at 61 years old I still get excited like when I was just a teenager discovering the most wonderful progressive rock musicians.

Great drummer. For me his best work, due to the complexity of the rhythm, is in "The Gates of Delirium". RIP brother.

TOTC- One of the few Yes songs where Jon's words have real world meaning. It's just a beautiful effort from all of the musicians.

I was lucky to see Yes with Alan on the Tales from Topographic Oceans in November 1973. They played the whole Close to the Edge album, then the whole Topographic Oceans album (the second ever live performance), then Heart of the Sunrise and Roundabout as encores! Those were the days - £2 for a seat in the second row!

Close to the edge was in 73 my introduction to Yes, i was only ten but listen to this intire album in a friends house ,was an eye opener,still one of my favorite albuns of all time. in 1990 i qwent to Madrid to see the first Yes Concert for me.

If you've not done a review of every song from "Going for the One" by Yes, please do. I rank it as my all-time favorite album in my catalog.

thanks Doug, that was great. Yes have been my favourite band since 1982 because of songs like these. I get the love for CTTE, although I put Awaken, Gates of Delirium and Ritual slightly over it. And Turn of the Century is staggerigly beautiful.

R.I.P Alan White Not only did he work with YES , but John Lennon and George Harrison on All Things Must Pass . I was lucky enough to see him play live 3 times. Thank you Alan , Godspeed brother! 🧠🌌♾❤

My first Rock concert was the July,8 1975 YES show in Nashville Tn. What a memory, what a band. After the show I was stopped in traffic behind the colosseum and they came out of the venue in their limousine just in front of us. Very happy memories!

Damn RIP Alan, he had such a huge influence on me I will miss him. Thanks Doug I love your videos!

TOTC is a beautiful song. I've been a huge fan of Yes fan for years, and I've never thought that Alan joining the band took away the band's potential as some may say. If anything, him being a rock drummer brought Yes to a wider audience. Also, learning the Yessongs repertoire in 3 days as he did is quite a feat. Although some may say he sounded like "a bull in a China shop" on that album, again, he was more of a rock drummer and put his own stamp on it. He seemed like a great guy to all who've met him, and during his time in Yes, especially in the earlier years, he was the mediator between the other band members during their many heated arguments, and probably has a lot to do with the band staying together as long as they have. RIP Alan. Thanks for the many years of music.

Met Alan on two occasions in Seattle. A wonderful man, an amazing musician! RIP, Mr. White. Heaven has one helluva band...

What a beautiful whiskey... tasty. Alan White ... the work remains and perpetuates its name for us to appreciate and reflect on. What a beautiful music and... I don't even know what to say... just listening. Music has to be another state of matter that has not yet been cataloged. It's just fascinating what humans can do.

RiP Alan White - a great tribute to an accomplished musician. Well done Doug....

Thank you Doug for a fitting tribute to Alan.

I was twelve when 90125 came out and I thought Yes was a new band...I bought the album and couldn't stop listening... When I heard the odd-timed intro to Changes (which is credited to Alan White) for the first time, I thought that was the coolest rhythm I'd ever heard. And at that point I didn't even know how many brilliant albums there were to discover from the band!

Rest in Peace Alan White. Saw Him perform many times with Yes. We all grow old with our musical Heros,when they leave us we are sad but they never really leave us.

Thank you for doing this. I loved Alan's playing. Turn of the century is one of my all time favs. And You and I, Awaken and Chris's masterpiece Onward.

Beautiful tribute Doug ! Glad you chose Turn of the Century, as it shows a different side of Alan, as a composer, and what a track it is !

So Sad, Seen Yes at least 3 times in my hey days in Pittsburgh, All of the members are top notch artists Yessongs Live is my best, Always jammin loud in the 70's!! along with Sabbath,Nugent,Skynard,Manfred Man,Uriah Heep and my Favorite Pink Floyd seen them 4 times including Animals Tour in Cleveland 77' Seen Roger 4 times plus gonna check him out again July 6th them years was real Rock, R.I.P Alan and Chris.. And another great reaction Doug Thanks ✌ out

Turn of the Century is so beautiful. It makes me cry every time I hear it.

Nice tribute Doug, thank you. Alan gave me a drumstick after a concert on the Drama tour. I couldn't believe how splintered it was from striking the rims. A life well lived.

Thanks Doug! What an outstanding career, and such a great guy! RIP Alan, make a racket in Heaven!

Turn of the Century might be my favorite by them. It was the first song we played in the delivery room when my daughter was born. Now every time I hear it it takes me back. Such a pure feeling of beauty and possibility. Such amazing optimism in this track.

RIP Alan White. Thanks for this post. There is percussion all over Turn of the Century -- temple bells, muted cymbals, etc. It's mixed in the background, but shows true ensemble playing. Also, compare Bill Bruford's and Alan's drumming on Close to the Edge. Bruford is very sparse -- excellent jazz drumming. Alan brought a rock drummer's approach to Yes. It brought the group to a new place.

CTTE...not only a masterpiece but how the bloody hell did they remember it all to play it live!!

Probably mentioned somewhere else, but Chris Squire learned is harmonies in Anglican church music.

Mr. White was always one of the best drummers ever, but never got the recognition he deserved. He was truly an amazing professional and a great guy. Condolences to his wife and children. Ouisiyes.

Doug, you understand the YES story, most have no idea how to interpret this amazing music (Story), understand the story of YES🌷, you will never have to question the music or the lyrics.......THE STORY.....Thank you Doug