The Buggles: The New Wave Duo That Saved Yes

In 1980 keyboardist Rick Wakeman and vocalist Jon Anderson quit Yes in the middle of preparation for their next album. An event that left Yes in a state of crisis. Up until that point, Yes had always had two core members bassist Chris Squire and vocalist Jon Anderson. Over the years Yes had hany many line up changes but never without both Squire and Anderson. Without Anderson the future of Yes was uncertain. Forutitously new wave duo the Buggles were sharing both a recording studio and management with Yes. The Buggles not only consisted of a vocalist Horn and a keyboardist Downes they were both big fans of Yes. The duo demoed material for Yes and were invited to join the group. The new version of Yes recorded the album Drama. The result sounded so much like classic Yes that the band brought back album artists Roger Dean. The band was ready to take their new line up and album to their fans with a United States and British Tour. The American fans greeted the new Yes with sell out concerts in every city, but British fans could not accept Yes without Jon Anderson.

After the Drama tour Yes called it quits. The end of Yes left Horn and Downes to return to work on the second Buggles album, Adventures In Modern Recording. However during the recording of the second Buggles album Geoff Downes would receive an exciting offer from John Wetton. The offer was to join Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake and Palmer), Steve Howe (Yes) and John Wetton (King Crimson). Geoff Downes of course answered YES to joining Asia. Downes quickly gelled with John Wetton…