Jon Anderson confirms Yes will unite for special performance at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Anderson, who co-founded the group almost half a century ago with the late Chris Squire, will join musical forces with current Yes members Steve Howe and Alan White together with fellow alumni Bill Bruford, Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman.

Describing music “as a healing force”, Anderson told Billboard: "We're definitely connected. It's a family. There's always animosity. People that you love you don't always like, and there's always going to be that.

“But when you're celebrating who you truly are, you forget about all that and just get on with meeting each other and seeing each other, and it's just one of those things. It's not a problem; We'll just get together and have fun. Music is a healing force on every level."

Anderson went on to say that inductor Geddy Lee of Rush will be taking Chris Squire’s place on a performance of ‘Roundabout’ – a claim that has quickly been refuted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

The foundation's statement reads: "Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were only confirmed to do the induction speech for one of their favourite bands and not perform. They, like all the other Yes fans, look forward to honouring them and watching them perform at the induction ceremony on April 7 and the HBO broadcast on April 29."

Reflecting on Chris Squire, who will be represented by his wife Scottie, Jon told Billboard: "Chris is going to be there in spirit. He always believed that we should have been in the Hall of Fame 10, 29 years ago.

“It wasn't high on my agenda; 'It happens when it happens' was my mantra. But we know Chris will be there in spirit, in energy. I loved the guy very much. Without him I wouldn't be here, that's for sure.

"And I can't believe it's nearly 50 years ago when me and Chris started the band. You think you're gonna be together two, three years maybe, if you're lucky, and here we are. Yes' music is still surviving."

Elsewhere, Trevor Rabin confirmed that Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman have been working on new material and they plan to reconvene in the studio once their UK tour wraps up.

"I think by June, July we'll pretty much have half an album finished," Trevor said. "It's very different from anything we've done before, which we're pretty happy about, hopefully breaking new ground, sound-wise."

The last remaining tickets to the Yes feat. Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman tour are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now. See them at the following shows:

MARCH 2017
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena - Sun 12th
Birmingham Symphony Hall - Mon 13th
Brighton Dome - Wed 15th
Bournemouth International Centre - Thu 16th
London Hammersmith Eventim Apollo - Sat 18th
London Hammersmith Eventim Apollo - Sun 19th
Nottingham Royal Concert Hall - Tue 21st
Edinburgh Usher Hall - Wed 22nd
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - Fri 24th
Manchester Apollo - Sat 25th