All About That Squire Bass

This past Saturday was a sad day. Chris Squire, bassist and backup vocalist for legendary progressive rock band Yes, passed away at age 67. He'd been unwell for some time, and finally lost out to leukemia. But his huge body of recorded work lives on, as inspiration and entertainment to musicians and fans alike.

I'm a long-time Yes fan, and have always admired Squire's abilities alongside those of his bandmates, including Steve Howe, who is perhaps my favourite guitarist (Alex Lifeson gives him a run for his money in my books). 

As an instrumentalist, few can touch Squire's level of talent. Technically and creatively, he forged a sound and style that is easily recognizable throughout the Yes catalogue. And dear Chris was the one constant among all the personnel changes in the band over their years... well, decades... together. To chart his progress: just listen to his work on the Fragile album... stunning; then try out Going for the One.... mind-blowing; and on to say Drama.... whoa! And even with the pop version of Yes in the 80's - on the album 90125, Squire was key to great songwriting, bass parts, and vocals. He's been the glue that kept things together even as the band fractured then reformed over and over again. 

Self-taught on bass, he quickly excelled on the instrument, developing new ways of expressing melody while serving as part of the rhythm section. Squire has long been hailed as one of the top rock bassists of all time, alongside fellow luminaries John Entwhistle, John Paul Jones, and Jack Bruce. Squire inspired and influenced generations of bass players, including notables Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, and Les Claypool. Those "youngsters" cut their teeth on music by Yes, The Who, Zeppelin, Cream and other progressive and hard rock bands of the 60's and 70's. 

Squire's tremendous singing voice was nurtured as a lad serving as choirboy in church. Taken to the prog rock arena (and studio), he turned that asset into yet another beautiful layer in the huge Yes sound, 

I've been a Yes fan for decades, casually in the 70's (as a kid), then seriously in the 80's, when I began to see the band in concerts. I had the pleasure to see Chris Squire a few times live onstage, and he, along with his prog cohorts, impressed the living hell out of me. 

A fond farewell to a legend... who will not be forgotten.