The Making of 'Fragile', The Birth of Prog and More with Yes guitarist Steve Howe

“Too bad he didn't they really exist for us, in our minds,” says guitar legend Steve Howe of Yes in the new episode of Rolling Stone Music nowexplaining his band's musical mission — and prog-rock itself. “There really was no such thing. If you could play it, then apparently it's not too confusing – because, wait, you're playing it! We wanted to shine, we wanted a surprise… We took untold risks and gambles and played with things.”

A new ultra-deluxe box set of Yes' 1971 classic, Fragileis out now, and Howe took the opportunity to look back on the making of this album, the early days of the band, why he loves Rush and more in our new interview. Here are some highlights. to listen to the full interview, go here for your podcast provider of choice, listen Apple Podcasts or Spotifyor just press play above.

Yes were a huge influence on Rush – and Howe is, in turn, a fan of that band. “We really admired them,” Howe says. “It was a very strong trio. Trios are very rare that you can do that. ELP, cream, there are a handful. So they had an incredible power to do this. And when your drummer is admired as much as he is, the other guys build their reputation too, Alex [Lifeson] and Gendy [Lee] … and I really love the kids, especially Geddy, who I had the chance to spend some time with. So basically, this is a great band with its own history, but they came from the embryo, if you will, of what ELP and Genesis and Yes started doing in the 70s. And I say well done. [Just as] I love Dream Theater Adventure. They took some of our ideas and I think that's quite flattering, more than in any way it could ever be annoying.”

Psychedelic rock – even taking psychedelics – led directly to prog-rock. “I noticed a lot of great things about the music I loved during those times when I was taking mild amounts,” Howe says. “Music was a central part of it. It took your breath away — 'wow, listen to that!' There was this other dimension. I think it was very creative – but not recommended. It's very risky. It's like anything. If you know it's dangerous, don't go there.”

Howe admires the amazing Dolby Atmos remix Fragile by Steven Wilson in the new box set, but will always prefer the original. “There are different mixes and they all have their different values,” says Howe. “And maybe it's time to admit that for me, the original mixes are the original mixes — I can't beat them. It's the last stop… I was there. I know the differences. They're incredibly small, incredibly light, but to my ear I can tell.”

It's a myth that former Yes singer Jon Anderson wrote songs without playing an instrument — in fact, he played guitar. “John knew some chords and was fooling around. Jon was an inspiring musician to work with because he was free in his mind to try many different things. The way he found those chords fascinated me because they often had nice twists in them.”

The Yes classic “Roundabout” started with a few simple chords. “I must have played it to John,” Howe recalls, “and he thought it was cool.” He is particularly proud of the song's intro, a piano chord recorded backwards: “The back piano, I believe, was my idea. It really gave him a moment. That was a beautiful minor… it turned the tape over and then lined up to peak backwards with the attack of the chord.”

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