Yes Drummer Alan White Dies at 72

Alan White, longtime drummer for Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Yes, has died. He was 72.

White's death was confirmed in a statement from the band reading, "It is with deep sadness that YES announce Alan White, their much-loved drummer and friend of 50 years, has passed away, aged 72, after a short illness. The news has shocked and stunned the entire YES family. Alan had been looking forward to the forthcoming UK Tour, to celebrating his 50th Anniversary with YES and their iconic Close To The Edge album, where Alan’s journey with YES began in July 1972. He recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of his marriage to his loving wife Gigi. Alan passed away, peacefully at home."

The band's statement continued and served as a tribute to White adding, "Alan is considered to be one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. He was born in 1949 in County Durham and joined YES on 30th July 1972 for the Close to the Edge Tour. He had previously worked with John Lennon’s Plastic Ono band after a phone call in 1969 to play at the Toronto Rock Festival. Alan continued working with Lennon including on the Imagine album and with George Harrison on All Things Must Pass. He also worked with several other musicians over the years, including Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Joe Cocker, Gary Wright, Doris Troy and Billy Preston to name but a few. Alan White was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of YES in 2017."

The statement concluded, "A number of health setbacks since 2016, had restricted Alan’s time on stage with YES on recent tours with Jay Schellen filling in and Alan joining the band, to great applause, towards the end of each set. YES will dedicate their 50th Anniversary Close to the Edge UK Tour in June to White."

Yes is pretty much the poster child for the over-the-top progressive rock excess of the 1970s. But so what? Their music was incredible: precisely played, immaculately produced and the songs were incredible… and they dared to extend them past the usual five-minute limit. Sometimes they extended it waaaaay past five minutes.

But Yes always played by their own rules, and were always instantly identifiable. The band’s two leaders - singer Jon Anderson and bassist Chris Squire - are no longer in their ranks, Jon parted ways with the group in 2008 and Chris passed away in 2015. For this list, we’re focusing mostly on the eras when they were both in the band. And we’re starting from the very beginning.