I love Jon.  His voice and his lyrics have been my companion for many years, and my gratitude for all hae has given us knows no bounds.

But we all grow old, and every career comes to a close.  I started noticing in the mid-90's that Jon had some vocal problems, but also it seemed that he brought less energy and passion to his performance.  I can completely understand.  How many times can you sing "All Good People" and still feel like you mean it?

Then, a couple of years ago, I caught Benoit David performing with Yes outside of Seattle.  What I experienced was like a whole new band.  As if these songs had jsut been written, and urgently needed to be heard.

Benoit's voice was sweet and high and clear like Jon in the 70's.  It is obvious that his performance was influenced by Jon Anderson, and yet, he brought his own nuances to the songs.

That show, and the subsequent album, "Fly From Here" showed me that there is a future for YES music, that lives on beyond the personalities.

I think Jon Davison will do well, also.  I have not heard him perform with Yes yet, and they have not made an album, so it is too early to cast that vote.

But what Benoit David did was at least as good as what Trevor Horn did on Drama, and much more in the Spirit of Yes in my opinion.

Rather than say Jon Anderson could be replaced, I would like to offer my strong support for the idea that Jon can be succeeded, and that this can be a wonderful thing.

You know what, this is one of the best posts I have seen on this site. A very well argued, passionate, and intelligent point of view. The fact that I do not agree with it is really beside the point, because I genuinely believe Anderson cannot be replaced in Yes, but I do like the point about "succeeding".

Well said, Sir. 

if you are remotely interested, you can find Jon Davison performing with Yes on YouTube. I just listened to them today and I'll tell you, I was impressed with Jon's contribution. 

Indeed!!!!!

Ha! I wonder how many people will get that.

having said that Jon had to be replaced because his writing was getting more self-indulgent and bad---and he treated the group as his back up band and did Yes when he wanted to---the other guys were patient but they are strong talents in their own right---and he had a my way or the highway attitude toward the band--the fact that he can't or will not do long tours places the band in bad situation as they want to write and tour all the time---and be an active alive band---it's all too bad as Jon is the voice of Yes---I just wish he was an easier personality to deal with.

If in the list I'd go for Squire

 

However, I really like David Benoit's voice, both with Mystery and with Yes, so I'll vote for him.

 

From this list, probably Benoit closely followed by Trevor. Jon Davison has not recorded anything with Yes (and who knows if already toured with them), so his inclusion is a bit out of place.

A key point in replacing a unique and charismatic musician is not attempting to be a direct clone, finding the right balance between maintaining the spirit and sound of the band but introducing one's own personality and creativity.

From this point of view I really love Drama, Trevor did an excellent job, and Benoit also sang very well in Fly From Here.

From what I have heard in Glass Hammer and a couple of videos of Jon Davison with Yes I would say that he is the one who has the most alike voice as Anderson but this could be for good or for bad, we need to wait if they will release new material together. Singing Anderson's songs he is virtually indistinguishable from him, and the melodies he created in Glass Hammer are very strong, but it's too early to say if he will be the best replacement for Anderson in Yes.

Yes was, and will always be, it's best with Jon Anderson, no one else really.

 

I was speaking to one of the members of Druid last year (Neil Brewer) and they don't know exactly what has happened to Dane Stevens either. They think he's still around but not playing at all.

 

Shame; he had a fabulous voice (though it was a major factor in the "Druid are Yes clones" myth) and he was a very fine guitarist too. He would have added enormously to the Yes sound.

Who knows if Davison has already toured with Yes? Let's ask the know-it-all Mr. Google!
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WuWcvubyFo

Indeed, he has toured with them.  In fact, if it counts for anything at all, Annie Haslam saw them on tour last year and had high praise for Davison's singing.  

As a replacement for Anderson as a singer, I do think Davison is the best bet.  cstack was rooting for him when Yes still had Benoit David.   But as a musical visionary, it would be pretty tough for Yes to suitably replace Anderson.   That's probably one of the reasons they seem to be more interested than touring than making a new album.  

Exactly, it's a pointless poll. Because Jon Anderson CANNOT be replaced.

Face the facts. Without Jon they made the mediocre "Drama" (but fair is fair, that album still had one good song at the beginning, and one good song at the end). Then, when Jon left to do ABWH, "Yes-West" released NOTHING. And when it came to Union, Yes-West only had four songs to offer (out of the 15 tracks on that album). And "Fly from here" was largely written by The Buggles. Yes simply lacks good ideas, because Jon Anderson is the man with ideas.

http://progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78495" rel="nofollow - http://progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78495

Davison's vocals on the new Glass Hammer CD "Perilous" are worth a good listen as well!  Very impressive all-around effort by GH.  

OK, OK, we got it. No-one can replace Jon. No-one can compare to him. No-one can match him.

Now, let''s discuss - as someone creatively suggested a few posts earlier - who of the three listed singers could best succeed Jon A., since he is no longer the member of Yes.

 

Unfortunately, since the 70's  he has lot's of bad ideas--let's face it--if he was a great artist on his own---he'd have an amazing solo career all these years like Peter Gabriel---but without great Yes artists like Howe (who co-wrote many of the classics with Jon), Squire, Bruford, Moraz, Wakeman and White backing him up, collaborating and expanding his "doodle of an idea"  the songs don't sound like much and the proof is his many solo albums generally are half cocked, overall, suck IMO--(with the exception of the first and his Xmas album)---His solo stuff would be amazing if he were the only puppet master in Yes because you can always find other musicians to simply play his "great" compositions.

Bruno has a good voice--but Sara no thank you

I've listened it and I must admit Jon II. fits to Yes certainly better than Benoit & Trevor. I'm looking forward to a new album with him!

 

Anyway, I won't judge the latest new guy until they release an album with him. I like David's voice on "Fly From Here", I have a lot of respect for Trevor Horn but he never had the range required to sing Yes. I still remember him going red in the face at Hammersmith Odeon trying to get the high notes.

Yes, it was the same at Deeside Leisure Centre when I saw them there. It ended up ugly, with a few objects being thrown at the stage.