R.I.P. PETER BANKS (ORIGINAL YES GUITARIST) ORIGINAL YES GUITARIST PETER BANKS DIES
From: www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=804469 / British axeman Peter Banks, who played on the first two Yes
albums, passed away from heart failure last week. He was 65. Banks was
a member of the 1960s band The Syn which also included bassist Chris
Squire. When the band broke up in 1967 Squire and Banks went on to join
psychedelic band Mabel Greer's Toyshop. After meeting Jon Anderson in a
pub in 1968, Squire invited the singer to join MGT. When drummer Bill
Bruford joined the group, a new band eventually emerged – Yes – with a
lineup consisting of Anderson, Squire, Banks, Bruford and keyboardist
Tony Kaye.
But Banks wasn't destined to be a long-time Yes man. Having played on
1969's Yes and 1970's Time And A Word, Banks left after the second album
and was replaced by Steve Howe.
Shortly after leaving Yes, Banks founded the prog-rock band Flash, which
released three albums. The guitarist also started a band called Empire.
Banks' body was found after the guitarist failed "to show up for a recording session," according to Rolling Stone.
Former Genesis guitarist, collaborator and friend Steve Hackett tweeted, "I'm sorry to hear of Peter Banks' passing … a great pal and a great guitarist." --Jay Smith.
Ven 15 Mar - 17:07
