Beyond and Before: The Formative Years of Yes [Hardcover]

Peter Banks (Author), Billy James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2002

Peter Banks is one of rock music's legendary guitarists - probably the best player you have never heard. He was a founding member of the influential group YES, and later the pioneering rock group Flash. In his book BEYOND AND BEFORE Banks talks frankly about the struggle to achieve musical success within early YES. He comments on his contemporaries and peers Jimi Hendrix, Robert Fripp and Pete Townshend, and includes many amusing anecdotes influenced by the exciting, supercharged atmosphere of 'Swinging Sixties' London. Not only is this book a documentation of the formative YES years and a history of the origins of 'progressive rock', it gives an insight into the daily tribulations and survival techniques of a contemporary musician in the late twentieth century. It is a testimonial to dedicated musicians, given by a man who has spent over thirty years as a foot soldier in the motley, shambling, and demoralized army of 'Rock.' Told with wit, insight, perspicacity, and even bigger words that Banks wishes he could spell, BEYOND AND BEFORE is a must for 'prog-rock' enthusiasts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A detailed biographical history...accompanied by Bank's... recollections and explanations of songs in his repertoire...the gigs he performed. -- Dave Thompson, Goldmine, December 13, 2002

Many Yes fans of today know little about Banks and those two albums that started it all. -- Martin Hudson, Classic Rock Society, UK, August 2002 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 221 pages
• Publisher: Golden Treasures Pub (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971049300
• ISBN-13: 978-0971049307
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,638,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for true yes fans, August 26, 2003

By 

joseph baglee "toast not" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond & Before: The Formative Years of Yes (Paperback)

i just finished it,read it in 3 days ,its really great for a perspective on what became of peter banks and his life,this book is definately not a ripoff,it will bring back memories of rock when it was still great and this guy is a real rocker not a phoney,he really was screwed by the band with malice and should be apreciated and recognized for being one of the founding fathers of real progressive rock,one of the founders of yes and a great musician and performer.im glad i baught the book and was satisfied,i hope he makes some money off this book and my purchase,because its well worth it.now i must buy some of his cds,other than the flash cds i already own.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Illuminating Tale, October 6, 2005

By 

Steven J. Schad - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond & Before: The Formative Years of Yes (Paperback)

This book is very enlightening about the early days of Yes and the subsequent career of Peter Banks. It is also kind of poignant when you consider that Banks was essentially the "Pete Best" of the Yes story, and missed out on the fame and fortune that followed his tenure with the band. The rest of his musical career didn't seem to work out so well. Lots of "Spinal Tap" type stories.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Way it Was!, July 25, 2005

By 

John E. Payne - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beyond & Before: The Formative Years of Yes (Paperback)

I remember seeing Earth Wind & Fire and thinking to my self, "that guitar looks just like the one Peter Banks guitarist for Yes had." In the book I learned that it was that guitar! The book is as honest as it gets about the way the music business really was. You had no friends and the ones who got the writing credit received the checks in the mail. After Peter covers the Yes period you might want to stop reading about his afterlife but don't. It gets better and shows how artists got screwed by the labels. If you have a friend considering a career in music buy them this book. I recommend that Peter Banks makes friends with the New York state prosecutor.