Early life and childhood
Jon Anderson was born in the town of Accrington, Lancashire, England, in a family of Scottish and Irish ancestry, his parents being Albert and Kathleen Anderson. He was later to drop the "h" from his first name in 1971, as he had a dream where he was given the name "Jonathan". Thus, on The Yes Album he is still credited as "John", and on the next album Fragile, credited as "Jon".
He attended St. John's Infants School in Accrington, and made a tentative start to his musical career at an early age by playing the washboard in "Little John's Skiffle Group", which played songs by Lonnie Donegan among others. Anderson left school at the age of fifteen, and went through a series of jobs including working as a farm hand, lorry driver, and a milkman. He also tried to pursue a football career in the club he is still a fan of, Accrington Stanley F.C., but he was eventually turned down because of his frail constitution
Early career
In 1962, Anderson joined The Warriors (also known as The Electric Warriors), where he and his brother Tony shared the role of lead vocalist. He quit this band in 1967, released two solo singles in 1968 under the pseudonym Hans Christian Anderson, and then briefly sang for the bands The Gun and The Open Mind.
In the summer of 1968, Anderson met bassist Chris Squire and joined him in a group called Mabel Greer's Toyshop, which had previously included guitarist Peter Banks. Anderson fronted this band, but ended up leaving again before the summer was over. He remarks on his website that his time with the band consisted of "too many drugs, not enough fun!"
Yes
Anderson, Squire, and Banks went on to form Yes, with drummer Bill Bruford and keyboardist Tony Kaye. Their debut album was released in 1969. He stayed with the group until 1980, and this period is now known as the classic period of Yes. Jon was a major creative force and band leader throughout the period (describing himself as the 'team captain'; nicknamed by his bandmates "Napoleon" for his diminutive stature and leadership of the band)-- and is recognized as the main instigator of the series of epics produced by Yes at the time. His role in creating such complex pieces as Close to the Edge, Awaken, and especially The Gates of Delirium is central, despite his limited instrumental abilities
He rejoined a reformed Yes in 1983 which produced their most commercially successful album 90125 with newcomer Trevor Rabin, and departed again in 1988 over the band's continued pursuit of major commercial success and mainstream radio play. In 1989, Anderson and other former Yes members formed the group Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe (ABWH), augmented by bassist Tony Levin who had played with drummer Bill Bruford in King Crimson. After the successful first ABWH album, a bizarre series of business deals caused ABWH to reunite with the then-current members of Yes, who had been out of the public eye while searching for a new lead singer. The resulting eight-man band assumed the name Yes, and the album Union (1991) was assembled from various pieces of an in-progress second ABWH album as well as recordings that "Yes proper" had been working on, without Anderson. A successful tour followed, but the eight-man lineup of Yes never recorded a complete album together before splintering in 1992. Many more personnel changes followed, but Anderson has been with the band ever since. He appears on all Yes albums except their 1980 album Drama.
Anderson was fond of experimenting within the band, also adding to what were at times conflicted relationships within the band and with management. He originally wanted to record the album Tales from Topographic Oceans in the middle of the woods, and instead decided to put hay and animal cut-outs all over the recording studio, causing lice to infest one of Rick Wakeman's keyboards.[citation needed] In another incident, Anderson had tiles installed in the studio, to simulate the echo effect of one's vocals in a bathroom.
Anderson last performed with Yes in 2004. A tour planned for summer 2008 with Anderson was cancelled when he suffered acute respiratory failure. The band have since announced a tour without him and he has been replaced by Benoît David[4], singer in a Yes tribute act Close to the Edge.[5]
Vocal and lyrical style
It is a commonly held misconception that Jon Anderson sings falsetto, a vocal technique which artificially produces high, airy notes by using only the ligamentous edges of the vocal cords; however, Jon Anderson does not sing falsetto. His normal singing (and speaking) voice is naturally above the tenor range. In a 2008 interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jon stated, "I'm an alto tenor and I can sing certain high notes, but I could never sing falsetto, so I go and hit them high."[6]
Anderson is also responsible for most of the mystically-themed lyrics and concepts which are part of many Yes releases. These elements are crucial components of the classic Yes sound, but have occasionally alienated some members of the band (most notably Bruford and Rick Wakeman), contributing to their leaving the group. The lyrics are frequently inspired by various books Anderson has enjoyed, from Tolstoy's War and Peace to Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. A footnote in Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi inspired an entire double album Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973). Recurring themes include environmentalism, pacifism and sun-worship.
Beyond Yes
In 1970, Anderson sang as a session singer on King Crimson's Lizard album, on the track "Prince Rupert Awakes", as it was outside the range of the then Crimson vocalist, Gordon Haskell.
In September 1975, Anderson guested on the Vangelis album Heaven and Hell.
When Anderson and Wakeman left Yes early 1980, Anderson started recording again with Vangelis and by summer 1980 Jon & Vangelis had released Short Stories, followed in November by Jon's solo album Song of Seven and a major UK tour with The New Life Band.
Guested on Rick Wakeman's 1981 concept album 1984.
In 1983, Jon worked as vocalist for Mike Oldfield's release of "In High Places" from the album Crises, and the song "Shine". He has also guested with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.
The song "Cage Of Freedom" was also featured on the 1984 soundtrack for the re-release of the classic black and white movie Metropolis.
In 1985, Anderson's song "This Time it Was Really Right" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie St. Elmo's Fire. He also sang "Silver Train" and "Christie" on the film soundtrack Scream for Help.
Also in 1985, along with Tangerine Dream he recorded the song "Loved by the Sun" for the film Legend directed by Ridley Scott.
The 1986 film Biggles: Adventures in Time features a song sung by Jon.
In 1987, Jon Anderson guest vocals on "Moonlight Desires" on Gowan's album Great Dirty World.
In 1988, Jon Anderson has a vocal appearance on "Stop Loving You" on Toto's album The Seventh One.
On the 1992 album Dream by Kitarō, Jon adds lyrics and vocals to the songs "Lady of Dreams", "Island of Life" and "Agreement".
In 1994 Jon Anderson sang on the 7th Level children's video game Tuneland.
In 1999 while 4Him was recording the song "The Only Thing I Need" for the special multi-group album "Streams", Jon Anderson offerd his assistance as vocalist for the main chorus.
In 2004, Anderson appeared with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland. The concert was recorded and released for the orchestra members, but was never publicly released, to the dismay of many concert attendees.
In 2006, Animation was finally released on CD but was sourced from a worn vinyl record. The mastering was also poorly done and was overly loud and distorted. The second pressing used a better source although the sound quality still leaves a lot to be desired. Voiceprint denies any differences between pressings.
In a 2006 tour, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (East Coast Troupe) got Anderson to appear in 2 concerts on December 16 in Philadelphia, PA to play "Roundabout".
In 2007, Anderson toured with The Paul Green School of Rock Music, finishing the tour with two sold out shows at B. B. King's Bar and Grill in New York City.
He also contributed vocals to the new album from American Progressive rock group Glass Hammer "Culture of Ascent".
Currently Jon is on tour for a second time with The Paul Green School of Rock Music
Jon appears on the new Dream Theater album Systematic Chaos, as part of a vocal ensemble on the fifth track "Repentance". The album was released on June 5th, 2007.
On the 2008 album Namah by Peter Machajdik, Jon adds lyric and vocal to the song "Sadness of Flowing".
Jon also contributed lyrics, musical collaboration and vocals in 2008 on the remaster of the former Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist Tommy Zvoncheck's CD, titled "ZKG."
Family
Jon Anderson's children include daughter Deborah Anderson (who has done work singing for the French electronica band Télépopmusik on the album Angel Milk, released in summer 2005), Jade Anderson (who has released a solo album in Japan) and Damion Anderson (also a musician).
Health and spirituality
Anderson was a smoker in the 1960s and 70s but now prides himself on a much healthier lifestyle. In the mid 70s, Anderson became a vegetarian, as did most members of Yes; however in a recent interview he states, "I was a veggie for a while, but again I grew out of that. But I do eat very healthy." [7] In an 16 August 2006 interview on The Howard Stern Show Jon said he eats meat, mostly fish on occasion. In the interview, he also stated he had a spiritual adviser that "helped him see into the fourth dimension". To this day, before live performances he often meditates in a tent with crystals and dreamcatchers, a practise he started in the 1980s. He considers himself to be part of the "elf culture" and this revelation occurred during a trip on mushrooms, which he experimented with once a year until recent years. Jon attributes certain abilities, including being able to play the piano, to a back injury. Anderson now refers to the reason for Yes's breakup(s) to be from over-touring. His current projects include a rock fantasy camp. Anderson's religious beliefs are syncretic and varied, including respect for the Divine Mother Audrey Kitagawa.[8] He has worked with the Contemporary Christian music band 4HIM: in 1999, his vocal was featured on the song "The Only Thing I Need", which appeared on a various artists CD entitled Streams.
One of Anderson's passions is his painting and uses his art as yet another channel for his creativity and self expression. His artwork is available to view on his official website.
On May 13, 2008, Anderson suffered a severe asthma attack which required a stay in the hospital. According to Yes' website, he is "currently at home and resting comfortably."[9] Yes' planned summer 2008 tour was subsequently cancelled, with the press release saying, "Jon Anderson was admitted to the hospital last month after suffering a severe asthma attack. He has now been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and was told by doctors this weekend that he needs to rest and not work for a period of at least six months or suffer further health complications."[10] In September 2008 John wrote that he's "so much better...so grateful and so blessed...I look forward to 2009 for the “Great Work” to come."
Posted January 2, 2010:
Since 2007, Jon has been collaborating with Alimar. Their repertoire includes orchestration of Jon's drafts by Alimar, brain-storming, and bringing to fruition new ideas and joint musical compositions, and the addition of Jon's vocals included on Alimar's songs.
Discography
With Yes:
Yes (1969)
Time and a Word (1970)
The Yes Album (1971)
Fragile (1971)
Close to the Edge (1972)
Tales from Topographic Oceans (1973)
Relayer (1974)
Going for the One (1977)
Tormato (1978)
90125 (1983)
Big Generator (1987)
Union (1991)
Talk (1994)
Keys to Ascension (1996)
Keys to Ascension 2 (1997)
Open Your Eyes (1997)
The Ladder (1999)
Magnification (2001)
With Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe:
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (1989)
An Evening of Yes Music Plus (1993)
Solo:
Olias of Sunhillow (1976)
Song of Seven (1980)
Animation (1982)
3 Ships (1985)
In The City of Angels (1988)
The Best of South America (1994)
Deseo (1994)
Change We Must (1994)
Angels Embrace (1995)
Toltec (1996)
Lost Tapes of Opio (1996)
The Promise Ring (1997)
Earth Mother Earth (1997)
The More You Know (1998)
Animation (Re-Release on CD) (2006)
The Lost Tapes (20 CD Box) (2006-2007)
With Kitaro:
Dream (a.k.a. Lady of Dreams) (1992)
With Mike Oldfield:
Crises (1983)
"Shine" (1986)
With Tangerine Dream:
Legend (1986)
With King Crimson:
Lizard (1970)
With Vangelis:
Heaven and Hell (1975) - Vangelis album with Anderson vocals on one track
See You Later (1980)
Jon & Vangelis:
Short Stories (1980)
The Friends of Mr. Cairo (1981)
Private Collection (1983)
The Best of Jon & Vangelis (1984)
Page of Life (1991)
Chronicles (1994)
Page Of Life (1998) - alternate version not approved by Vangelis
With The Fellowship
In Elven Lands (2006)
Flight of the Moorglade
Jon Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the slightest confrontation
Was dissolved before the start
Each man
Belonged
To each as one clear hand.
Asking only comfort creation
Each man
Open
Set sights to new lands.
And do remember you
The first to venture
First to gain
Exploring daylight
Clearer than the Talloplanic views
And there they were inside
The Moorglade to move and to chant
All through force to position
As rhythm raced inside the ship came alive
And was struck to the soul of perception
And raised our head to space
Beyond all the mass and the mountains
The sun they were headed
Headed
Word of life rejoice the sunlight
Course the flower to open wide
Open
They ride
Climb into the dark sky
Such a moment kindly lingered
They set sail from Tallowcross...
(A light to lead you
Is taken from the massland to the East
As words are spoken
All courage be the token
As the feast)
Wide Eyed Removing
The precious moment we have seen...
The lyrics of Flight of the Moorglade by Jon Anderson convey a sense of unity, cooperation, and exploration. The words suggest that a group of people - perhaps explorers or pioneers - have overcome their differences and come together with a common goal. They are willing to create a comfortable environment for each member, even if it means dividing resources equally. Together, they embark on a new adventure, open to new possibilities and opportunities for growth.
The song also speaks of the exhilarating experience of discovery and the joy it brings. It harkens back to the thrill of being the first to venture into new territories, exploring and charting unknown lands. The Moorglade, a ship or a metaphor for this journey, comes alive with the rhythm that glues the passengers together. The song encourages an optimistic view of the future, as the explorers raise their heads to the vastness of space, moving beyond mass and impediments that once hindered their view of the sun. The lyrics end on a note of hope and joy, recognizing the preciousness of the moment and the potential for more adventures.
Line by Line Meaning
And the slightest confrontation
Even in the face of a potential conflict or disagreement,
Was dissolved before the start
Any issues or problems were quickly resolved or avoided.
Each man
Every person involved,
Belonged
Had a shared connection or ownership,
To each as one clear hand.
As if they were all part of the same group or team working together.
Asking only comfort creation
Seeking only a sense of ease and relaxation,
He divided to the least
He shared or divided resources to those with the greatest need,
Each man
Each person involved,
Open
Approaching things with an open mind and sense of curiosity,
Set sights to new lands.
Looking towards uncharted territories or new areas to explore.
And do remember you
And don't forget,
The first to venture
Those who were brave enough to explore new areas first,
First to gain
And gained the most from their experiences,
Exploring daylight
Discovering new places and experiences during the day,
Clearer than the Talloplanic views
With a sense of clarity or understanding greater than that of traditional, pre-determined ideas.
And there they were inside
And in that moment, they found themselves within,
The Moorglade to move and to chant
A place of movement and shared experience and expression,
All through force to position
Driven by a sense of purpose and mission,
As rhythm raced inside the ship came alive
As a sense of rhythm or flow took hold, the voyage became more alive and meaningful,
And was struck to the soul of perception
Giving a profound sense of understanding or enlightenment,
And raised our head to space
And looking beyond, towards the vastness of the universe,
Beyond all the mass and the mountains
Further than the limits of gravity or geography,
The sun they were headed
Towards the sun, a source of inspiration or enlightenment,
Headed
Going towards,
Word of life rejoice the sunlight
Celebrating life and the brightness of the world around us,
Course the flower to open wide
Encouraging growth and exploration,
Open
With an open heart and mind,
They ride
They journey forth,
Climb into the dark sky
Moving towards the vastness of space, which is filled with unknown potential.
Such a moment kindly lingered
A sense of peace and calm was present in that moment,
They set sail from Tallowcross...
They departed from a place of familiarity, adventure and discovery lying before them.
(A light to lead you
A guiding light to direct your travels,
Is taken from the massland to the East
Comes from a distant, exotic place in the East,
As words are spoken
As if spoken from a sage or wise elder,
All courage be the token
Calling upon those bold enough and with enough courage to follow their dreams,
As the feast)
Invoking a sense of celebration and abundance.
Wide Eyed Removing
Removing societal and cultural constraints and approaching things with a sense of innocence and wonder,
The precious moment we have seen...
Reflecting back on a momentous experience that will be treasured and remembered forever.
Contributed by Tristan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jason Schultz
My favorite album of all time! Thanks for posting this!
vzqk50CL
@joeystinks This is from Wikipedia:The album's concept was inspired by the cover art by Roger Dean for the 1972 Yes album Fragile (left), which depicts a tiny planet breaking apart and a glider escaping into space. Another link to Fragile lies in the fact that both albums have pieces (Fragile's "We Have Heaven") consisting of multiple vocal parts, with Anderson singing all of them. Anderson has stated that works by J.R.R. Tolkien and Vera Stanley Alder were also an influence.
Marc Néron
Masterpiece Album & Magic
JB DelphiaIII
I remember listening to this while making my TTRPG world back in the 70s. I would crank up the base for it.
highlife0586
In my opinion, This album is Jon Anderson's solo masterwork.
Alobytes Ogniddove
fresh album! ^_^
joeystinks
What an amazing video. Wish my Dad was still here to see it. He loved this album. Even named my younger brother Jon (our last name is Anderson), Named 3 different sail boats....MOORGLADE MOVERS 1, 2, & 3. Question maybe u can only clear up. This is the 1st mention i find of the ship, but my dad had said it was the same ship from the Fragile album and other sitings. is this true? Or am I missing a mention somewhere in the yes albums of it? Once again KILLER VIDEO
THE REAPER MAN
Yes, the Moorglade Mover was the same ship first seen on the cover of Yes Fragile. Jon wanted to expand on the story first presented by Roger Dean in the album cover.
Sleepy S
joeystinks I am so sorry for your loss! Big hugs. Anyone who loves or loves Mr. Anderson is a friend of mine.
Sleepy S
nothing else to say except ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤