letters & correspondence
Another great YES moment as this card arrived in the mail a month or so before the solos tour played in Milwaukee. I had Jon's great album Olias of Sunhillow and was mesmerized by its beauty and freedom of artistic expression. The sounds ...those evocative sounds on that album were very innovative, unique and personal. This album and its pure idea of music is what truly set me on the path to creative sound design as my own albums will attest. Sounds never heard before led me to feel spaces and emotions never felt before. It was artistically very enlightening to my growing ears. I thank Jon for planting the seeds years later when we actually met.
Chris Squire's album Fish out of Water was also fantastic and probably the most likable on a general scale. I had sent a letter telling of my diligent duties to perform in order to get my allowance to buy his album as soon as it hit the shelves. I still think its a great album and I miss a second one. But I was certainly into what Anderson was exploring with music and spiritual themes a bit more. Topographic had an indelible impact on me and it was with the solo albums that I could actually begin to see who brought what to the big YES picture. I realized that Jon was the Cosmic element that made Yes music so grand and its scope so wide. These 2 solo albums overshadowed the others in a major way showing that the original YES combination of Squire and Anderson were the 2 elements that made the third element possible. Chris was also an energetic showman on stage and made me want to be a rock musician even more than the rest. (jumping around the room playing air bass to Close to the Edge) The above superimposed picture over the letter is an autograph from the '79 tour program (signed on the Rickenbacker body)
More words from Steve Howe preceding Tormato...and...
Steve was by far the most communicative answering most of the letters I sent with nice and simple responses. He also had a cool red sticker of his logo of which I cajoled a few. I managed to meet Steve 2 times. Once in '76 on the solos tours while he waited backstage for the loading of the limos. He was just standing there with guitar case in hand amid all the chaos of roadies tearing the stage down. I got his autograph and made banter. He was gracious and smiling the whole while. I also met Moraz that time but only saw Jon And Chris in the limo. I got Chris' graph through the limo window but Jon was just able to wave as they began to pull out of the back of the arena parking area. A very cool thing nonetheless as I was the only kid there again! My first experience meeting music celebs.
I wonder if they remember me??? Here's that kid again!